mpfol
Member
Hello just after a bit of advice. have just been told I’ve passed my mmi and computer tests so awaiting my dmi date. What was peoples experience of them and what practice shall I do in the lead up to the day. Thanks everyone
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Transport for Wales - Trainee Train Drivers
- Thread starter L33mcc
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RailUK Forums
I’m not sure if there is much you can do in the way of practice. On the day, have a good feel for the sensitivity and use the practice go to good effect (have a few goes without moving the ball to the end). Good luck.
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Well done with the MMI. The DMI felt more relaxed in comparison. It’s like any other interview. As long as you research the company and have relatable experiences to aspects of driving a train, customer service, working shifts etc, you’ll be fine. I was a bag of nerves going in but they quickly settled. Good luck.
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Congrats to everyone who's passed the first and second stages of the testing - I sat the Avanti Jan-April 2022 campaign and came so tantalisingly close, failing only one of the three cpu tests after having done everything else they had thrown at me January to April (the application, the home based SJT, the VSE circuit testing, the 3 x paper tests at Crewe and then falling at the 3 x CPU tests - only by one. I passed the Handheld coordination, and passed the ATVAT (photo flashing, mark out traffic lights etc), failing only on the RAVT (black squares). I had to have had Enhanced levels of passes on everything to get as far as I did, as this was for Avanti WC.
I now have an appointment in Cardiff for CPU and MMI with TfW. My question is this; I passed two of the three CPU tests, will I need to sit them all again, or would I just sit the one I previously failed before (if I pass this time!) and then do the MMI?
Many thanks. Best of luck to everyone else in a driver's campaign - if you get to the MMI, you are doing super well!
I now have an appointment in Cardiff for CPU and MMI with TfW. My question is this; I passed two of the three CPU tests, will I need to sit them all again, or would I just sit the one I previously failed before (if I pass this time!) and then do the MMI?
Many thanks. Best of luck to everyone else in a driver's campaign - if you get to the MMI, you are doing super well!
Did you fail the RAVT or did you not meet enhanced? If you met national standard then you won't need to resit any, if you failed it then it's just that test to redo
Avanti wouldn't tell me. They just told me whether I'd passed each test - so two yes but the RAVT was a fail. They just told me I wasn't going any further and walked me out. Judging from the TfW email saying I've got computer tests and MMI, I must have not met national on the RAVT so I am going in on that basis. Good to know as I passed the hand eye and the photo flash tests.
D-Lo
New Member
Hi everyone. Passed my paper tests last week (TfW) but was late picking up the email for computer tests and was told all slots were filled 
Does anyone know how long I’ll be waiting for more dates?
Does anyone know how long I’ll be waiting for more dates?
I don't think you will be waiting too long maybe 4-6 weeks but that is just an estimate based on how long I waited when I didn't get on the paper tests 1st time around. I would imagine there is going to be some more tests in April. Well done on passing, your patience will pay off.Hi everyone. Passed my paper tests last week (TfW) but was late picking up the email for computer tests and was told all slots were filled
Does anyone know how long I’ll be waiting for more dates?
That's poor form from Avanti as they will know whether you met national standard as they have to input the scores for the national database regardless.
At least you know what to expect, and hopefully will be more at ease which should help you pass on the 2nd attempt.
RainDriver
Member
I had my DMI in Chester and seem to have had a different experience to other's I've seen in here. It was quite an intense interview and the interviewers didn't seem interested in making me comfortable or settling my nerves. I completely understand the approach but it definitely caught me off guard after everyone I'd spoken to had told me it was relaxed and informal.
I'd prepare for questions on motivation for role as a train driver specifically and why not any other role on railway, customer service and how you can influence it as a driver and some scenarios around "what ifs..."
I feel like I'll be a lot more prepared if I get through again in future.
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Dorian Grey
Member
Hey was just wondering on day 2 assessments do you do the sjt after the 3 tests? Do they then give you a break after giving you your MMI questions and answers? (If I get that far!) Was just wondering since I can’t remember fully what the questions and answers were. For example ‘a time you worked to a high standard while encountering difficulties’ and ‘time you were relied upon to solve a difficult situation’ are similar but subtly different. I’m preparing alternative answers but checking if you get extra time to look through them? Thanks
You do sjt first. Then 3 tests. Then you go into a room whilst they do the results.
You'll then be told if you passed or not. Depending on numbers you'll then go into mmi, you might get another wait here.
They give your sheets back to you after the 3 tests, so you'll have time to read them but can change your answers if you wish
For me they did the 3 tests and then the SJT, followed by a break then MMI.
Heads up, if you fail one but pass two of the cpu tests elsewhere, so you have to do a resit with tfW you have to do all three again. Not just the one.
Order of the day is SJT, the 3 x psychomet tests, break while the results are being processed, group split into pass and failures, fails go home, the passes then go into the MMI.
Order of the day is SJT, the 3 x psychomet tests, break while the results are being processed, group split into pass and failures, fails go home, the passes then go into the MMI.
Dorian Grey
Member
Thanks, getting tense just reading this lol!
Velocity93
Member
Good afternoon everyone,
I applied in September, and did my paper assessments, computer & SJT with MMI in Jan/Feb and week ago DMI.
I successfully passed each stage and I am now in the talent pool.
I am so proud to achieve this, and hope I have a medical (anxious about) and date to start soon.
Be devastated if the 2 years expire!
I literally prepared for the interviews myself doing my own research about the company and life/work experiences in my job is all safety critical. So it all felt straight forward.
Be yourself, confident, safety + follow rules / procs is extremely important.
Here to help.
Regards
I applied in September, and did my paper assessments, computer & SJT with MMI in Jan/Feb and week ago DMI.
I successfully passed each stage and I am now in the talent pool.
I am so proud to achieve this, and hope I have a medical (anxious about) and date to start soon.
Be devastated if the 2 years expire!
I literally prepared for the interviews myself doing my own research about the company and life/work experiences in my job is all safety critical. So it all felt straight forward.
Be yourself, confident, safety + follow rules / procs is extremely important.
Here to help.
Regards
Well done. It’s a great feeling to get it all sorted and I’m sure the medical will be fine. I was anxious too but there was no need to be. To give you an idea, a week after passing my DMI I was contacted and offered a start date so it’s moved pretty quick for me. ( 1.5 months from DMI result to start).
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medical is nothing to worry about
Height Weight - BMI
Eyesight
Hearing
ECG
Blood Pressure
Drugs screening
Alcohol screening
A few general health questions
BMI is nothing to worry about mine was 32
If you wear glasses - get an eye test and take your prescription with you
Very unlikely the 2 years will expire the way things are going at present in terms of recruitment
Height Weight - BMI
Eyesight
Hearing
ECG
Blood Pressure
Drugs screening
Alcohol screening
A few general health questions
BMI is nothing to worry about mine was 32
If you wear glasses - get an eye test and take your prescription with you
Very unlikely the 2 years will expire the way things are going at present in terms of recruitment
Velocity93
Member
Yeah, it’s the
Blood pressure test I get it go up when someone tests it (white coat syndrome haha)
And the ECG I did one last year with my job and it came back abnormal (low resting heart rate due to high levels of fitness I do) maybe I should take my print out of that with me incase.
Regards
Blood pressure test I get it go up when someone tests it (white coat syndrome haha)
And the ECG I did one last year with my job and it came back abnormal (low resting heart rate due to high levels of fitness I do) maybe I should take my print out of that with me incase.
Regards
mpfol
Member
Thanks for everyone’s messages I’ve got my dmi on Friday so fingers crossed it all goes ok I’m just going over all the areas everyone had advised and revising as much as I can.
So much is made of the MMI and I don’t understand why. It’s an interview, nothing more nothing less, only difference being that they may (will) ask you to elaborate further into your answer.
You’re right that safety is key… Give them answers (if possible) that allow you to give detailed examples of experience with safety critical work, shift work and unsociable start/finish times, lone working, work requiring absolute concentration etc. I came from a railway job after a career in the armed forces so naturally had a lot of experience to recall, but one question where I clearly failed to elaborate enough, I found that the interviewer essentially prompted me with leading questions for more.
Stay calm and relax, if your answers are true and accurate, you will be able to elaborate further with ease. My other tip would be to use the time between finishing the tests and starting the MMI (40-60m) to go over your answers in your head in prep for the MMI… I was adamant I may have failed one of the computer test so couldn’t concentrate fully on my MMI prep, so try not to do that
The reason the MMI is asked by almost everyone is it forms part of the phsycometric testing and the 2 lives, unlike any other interview you will probably ever face.
A lot hangs on it, whereas a DMI you can sit a thousand times if required.
Also, depending on where you are sitting the MMI (OPC Watford, I'm looking at you!), It can be a very intense interview where they really do try and trip you up like an interrogation. Thankfully TfW is much more chilled and like a traditional interview.
I sat the MMI I'm Watford a few years ago with an OPC assessor and it was very intense. I passed, but it wasn't pleasant.
I sat it with TfW earlier in the year and it was really chilled out in comparison, almost enjoyable. The 2 women hosting the PC and MMI session in Cardiff were really lovely and kept everybody at ease.
That does seem to be a common feeling in here. I had 2 people in my OPC MMI, was like quick fire questioning and constant for about 90 minutes.
Passed both, but would rather the TfW approach if I need to do so again
That's why I asked I don't want to be caught out in anyway if I get to do the MMI. I can't even remember what questions I was given at paper tests. I know they give you the sheet back but I wish I could just remember then I can prepare more thoroughly.
As long as the examples given were true situations you've been in then the 30-40 minutes you get after the computer testing should be fine to bring it back to the front of your memory. Don't fret over it, they will push for more detail if needed and then ask questions if they don't understand fully.
They are all true examples I would never make anything up. Fortunately I've got plenty of safety critical examples as I'm ex forces.
Sorry, my previous response wasn't meant to come across accusatory. Some people will embellish an experience to make it sound better which can certainly trip you up in an MMI.
I'm sure you do just fine.
Well I just hope I get to that stage. I was talking to someone at work today who failed the WAVF they said it felt like ages doing the test and pressed the button twice by accident and couldn't tell sometimes if it had changed or not but they passed the other two tests and they thought they were easy. Read some tips on here about refocusing your eyes and counting so I'm doing all I can to prepare myself the best I can. I've even been playing video games to improve my hand eye coordination and I don't play games usually.
It can seem to go on for a while as it's around 30 minutes long. There are tips around, mostly about having a relaxed focus and moving your focus around, especially as there is never 2 dark squares close together so after pressing the button refocus. Anything to not stare at the square would be my advice.