Southeastern - Trainee Driver - Recruitment Discussion

[jjjjjjonny]

finally got an assessment date after waiting over a year! I’ve been reading through the practice material. My question is do we do all of the assessments covered in the practice material? I don’t want to be practicing for something I won’t be using on the day. Cheers.

Not the MMI.

 

[newbiewannabe]

Yes, it was a full day of all 8 (I think?) assessments that were included in the practice materials I received. Edited to add not the MMI, as jjjjjjonny said.

Ok cheers, I just don’t remember seeing anything on this forum about attention tests (searching for upper and lower case letters) apart from the group bourdon. Better get practicing!!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 Aug 2025 ==

Not the MMI.

Ok brilliant. It says wear smart professional attire. Did everyone wear suits?

 

[jjjjjjonny]

Ok cheers, I just don’t remember seeing anything on this forum about attention tests (searching for upper and lower case letters) apart from the group bourdon. Better get practicing!!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 Aug 2025 ==


Ok brilliant. It says wear smart professional attire. Did everyone wear suits?

Some people wore full suits, some people including myself just wore a shirt and trousers. I don't think they're too bothered as long as you don't wear trainers, jeans and a t shirt!

 

[NeoNeko]

Ok cheers, I just don’t remember seeing anything on this forum about attention tests (searching for upper and lower case letters) apart from the group bourdon. Better get practicing!!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 Aug 2025 ==


Ok brilliant. It says wear smart professional attire. Did everyone wear suits?

Yeah, not all the practice material accurately conveys what the tests are actually like, imho. Attention is bourdon, and the VSE is very hard to convey accurately on paper, though the practice material does its best. I ended up buying a few bits of software to practise some of the tests in a more accurate way.

I'm a girl, so my outfit tips won't apply But smart/smart casual is definitely the way forward

 

[newbiewannabe]

Some people wore full suits, some people including myself just wore a shirt and trousers. I don't think they're too bothered as long as you don't wear trainers, jeans and a t shirt!

Nice one, cheers!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 Aug 2025 ==

Yeah, not all the practice material accurately conveys what the tests are actually like, imho. Attention is bourdon, and the VSE is very hard to convey accurately on paper, though the practice material does its best. I ended up buying a few bits of software to practise some of the tests in a more accurate way.

I'm a girl, so my outfit tips won't apply But smart/smart casual is definitely the way forward

Brilliant cheers! So should I just practice the bourdon in terms of attention tests? Just don’t want to waste time practicing the attention tests with the letters if I don’t need to, would rather invest my time practicing what I’m actually going to use on the day.

 

[NeoNeko]

Nice one, cheers!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 Aug 2025 ==


Brilliant cheers! So should I just practice the bourdon in terms of attention tests? Just don’t want to waste time practicing the attention tests with the letters if I don’t need to, would rather invest my time practicing what I’m actually going to use on the day.

Yes - I started with the free programme that's on this site, then printed off a bunch and started doing them on paper as it's different to doing it on screen.

 

[newbiewannabe]

Yes - I started with the free programme that's on this site, then printed off a bunch and started doing them on paper as it's different to doing it on screen.

Brilliant! You’ve saved a lot of time and printer ink! Thank you

 

[NCDA79]

congratulations on getting an assessment, that’s a long wait - hope it goes ok.
Anyone heard about the MMI yet?

 

[newbiewannabe]

congratulations on getting an assessment, that’s a long wait - hope it goes ok.
Anyone heard about the MMI yet?

Thank you!

 

[jjjjjjonny]

Anyone heard about the MMI yet?

Not yet

 

[NCDA79]

Hope it’s soon!

 

[Chibi_robo]

Just been invited for DMI, much quicker than I thought! I know the TPWS is one of the main points as well as company knowledge but was anyone asked any questions regarding anything else or just basic interview questions?

Hi, can I ask when you received the TPWS sheet please? Do you only get it when you have a DMI invite?

 

[NeoNeko]

Hi, can I ask when you received the TPWS sheet please? Do you only get it when you have a DMI invite?

Yes, once you have the DMI invite, you will receive a question bank and the TPWS info sheet.

 

[vc99]

Can I ask. What's a tpws sheet?

 

[newbiewannabe]

Can I ask. What's a tpws sheet?

Train protection and warning system

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 31 Aug 2025 ==

Hi people, quick question. My printer printed the entire page for the group bourdon including all text and banner, making the dots pretty small. Are the dots bigger than this on the day? I’ve attached an image. Cheers!

 

[NCDA79]

I don’t think so, maybe marginally but they are very small.

 

[newbiewannabe]

I don’t think so, maybe marginally but they are very small.

Ok cheers, was just hopeful

 

[Chibi_robo]

Yes, once you have the DMI invite, you will receive a question bank and the TPWS info sheet.

Thank you

 

[reg_91]

Do you guys think I could use troubleshooting as an example of task similar of a train driver task?

My background is in IT and was hoping to use it for the MMI question.

Any feedback will be greatly appreciated!

 

[NeoNeko]

Do you guys think I could use troubleshooting as an example of task similar of a train driver task?

My background is in IT and was hoping to use it for the MMI question.

Any feedback will be greatly appreciated!

So, after my DMI was wrapping up and we were just chatting, I mentioned something about troubleshooting/fault-finding (helping my partner fix the heater fan in his car, as I'm a woman and felt an anecdote of me being technical and hands-on was worth dropping in). My interviewers both chuckled and said something along the lines of me not being expected to actually do anything like that when I'm a driver.

When I'd been looking around on here for help with examples that would work with that particular MMI question, a few people suggested driving long distances alone, which is what I used, as I have some experience of that. I think the question is open for sure, but I feel like an answer where you can demonstrate working alone for long periods, being able to focus and concentrate for long periods while doing something safety critical, etc., would be a good option.

But, I think if you can articulate your troubleshooting the right way, and demonstrate that it ticks the boxes they are looking for in the MMI (methodical, working to procedure, tenacious, etc.), then it's a totally valid answer.

 

[newbiewannabe]

Hi people, I’m sure it’s been asked before but can’t find it in the thread. Does anyone know the pass mark for the group bourdon? I’m averaging 8-9 lines with no mistakes. I’ve only had 4 attempts so far. Is this enough or do I need more? Cheers!

 

[Unobrow]

Hi people, I’m sure it’s been asked before but can’t find it in the thread. Does anyone know the pass mark for the group bourdon? I’m averaging 8-9 lines with no mistakes. I’ve only had 4 attempts so far. Is this enough or do I need more? Cheers!

Nobody knows the “pass scores” for any of the tests. Different companies may well have different benchmarks too for standard and enhanced. Just practise for as many correct lines as you can do in the time.

 

[newbiewannabe]

Nobody knows the “pass scores” for any of the tests. Different companies may well have different benchmarks too for standard and enhanced. Just practise for as many correct lines as you can do in the time.

Ok cheers

 

[reg_91]

So, after my DMI was wrapping up and we were just chatting, I mentioned something about troubleshooting/fault-finding (helping my partner fix the heater fan in his car, as I'm a woman and felt an anecdote of me being technical and hands-on was worth dropping in). My interviewers both chuckled and said something along the lines of me not being expected to actually do anything like that when I'm a driver.

When I'd been looking around on here for help with examples that would work with that particular MMI question, a few people suggested driving long distances alone, which is what I used, as I have some experience of that. I think the question is open for sure, but I feel like an answer where you can demonstrate working alone for long periods, being able to focus and concentrate for long periods while doing something safety critical, etc., would be a good option.

But, I think if you can articulate your troubleshooting the right way, and demonstrate that it ticks the boxes they are looking for in the MMI (methodical, working to procedure, tenacious, etc.), then it's a totally valid answer.

Thanks for your input. I'm hesitant to use the driving scenario as it may be too common and can't shake the feeling they'll mark me down for plagiarism. lol

Can I ask if you were successful in your MMI where you used the driving example?

Thanks again!

 

[NeoNeko]

Thanks for your input. I'm hesitant to use the driving scenario as it may be too common and can't shake the feeling they'll mark me down for plagiarism. lol

Can I ask if you were successful in your MMI where you used the driving example?

Thanks again!

I think if you can give some specific examples, and give enough information around them, it would be personal to you. But I understand your reservation at the same time. I think troubleshooting has potential, if you answer in a way that covers what they're looking for.

Yes, I was - in my case it was driving a car back solo from Gibraltar to the UK over 2 days, so I had quite a few things I could talk about from that sort of journey that fitted with what they were looking for.

 

[nasontherails]

Hi all, I applied in July. Had my assessment earlier this week after missing my first email (went to spam)... passed all the tests on the day, now waiting for my MMI.

Great facilities at the assessment centre, pleasant HR team too. Felt a bit like squid games each time waiting for the results of each test. Arrive early, relax and stay calm, when it comes to the tests focus on accuracy, whilst being conscious of time. The last test (Visual) has a common failure of about 50%, so ensure you practice multi tasking and keep concentration at all times. Concentration being key for everything.

 

[newbiewannabe]

Hi all, I applied in July. Had my assessment earlier this week after missing my first email (went to spam)... passed all the tests on the day, now waiting for my MMI.

Great facilities at the assessment centre, pleasant HR team too. Felt a bit like squid games each time waiting for the results of each test. Arrive early, relax and stay calm, when it comes to the tests focus on accuracy, whilst being conscious of time. The last test (Visual) has a common failure of about 50%, so ensure you practice multi tasking and keep concentration at all times. Concentration being key for everything.

Hi, congratulations! Is there anywhere near there to get lunch? Good luck with your MMI

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 7 Sep 2025 ==

Afternoon guys, on the ATAVT are all of the images of traffic with the same group of multiple choice answers or do the multiple choice answers change for each image?

 

[reg_91]

Is the MMI done on a separate day to the paper/computer assessments?

 

[jjjjjjonny]

Hi, congratulations! Is there anywhere near there to get lunch? Good luck with your MMI

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 7 Sep 2025 ==

Afternoon guys, on the ATAVT are all of the images of traffic with the same group of multiple choice answers or do the multiple choice answers change for each image?

Its near to town with lots of food and also not far from a big Aldi.

And yes it's always the same options.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 7 Sep 2025 ==

Is the MMI done on a separate day to the paper/computer assessments?

Yes

 

[newbiewannabe]

Its near to town with lots of food and also not far from a big Aldi.

And yes it's always the same options.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 7 Sep 2025 ==


Yes

Brilliant, thank you.