Assesment day nerves!!! HELP!!!!

rorybreaker · 7th August 2012, 20:41

I have heard today from Northern and i have my assesment day next week. Only 8 days to prepare worries me slightly. I am good with Bourdon and reaction and confident on interview. It is the mechanical paper that worries me!!! Could anyone advise the best things to revise in the short time i have. I have the guide book but would be great to hear from people who have been through it already!!! Any advise would be much appreciated. Cheers

ml · 9th August 2012, 10:42

SHL tests online free mechanical tests.

Psychometric books, mechanical books online

Look carefully, often part the work is working out what the problem is... can be very subtle. Sometimes you have to work out in your mind what way all the different cogs will be turning. It is very easy if you learn the principles! Learn to calculate how far the fulcrum needs to be from two weights to balance. All you do is create an abstract zero reference point and work out the length of the plank. Then you multiply by the weights and divide or something like that link below makes it very easy. If it is the other kind of test you have to go by instinct based on the principles with no numbers involved (see how2become book)

Gears, fulcrums, mechanical advantage, forces all common. Some tests only rely on diagrams others might include simple math eg working out volumes

Good luck
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/Win...of_forces.html
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
http://www.explainthatstuff.com/toolsmachines.html

rorybreaker · 9th August 2012, 13:37

Thanks a lot ml

I will certainly read through the links. They look like they will be a great help. I feel a lot better about it already now i have practised a whole varitey of test and read some books.

Re the GB test. I am getting on average 60-65 lines, 1-3 missed and 1-2 mistakes. I have the download practise that most people use. 5 sheets, 2mins a sheet. Is this good enough standard?

Thanks again.

185 · 9th August 2012, 13:41

Group Bourdon is the one many come unstuck on, so practise is advisory, the idea of the test is to see if you can concentrate for a period of time, fixated solely on a task without your mind wandering.

Take my advice, practicing helped me pass.

fgwrich · 9th August 2012, 14:51

Which job is it your going for? Strangely, i was fine with my Group Bourdon, but failed on the final part of the reactions test. But Good Luck with whatever your going for, Practice is vital and fortunatly, i was sent all the docs 3 weeks before the actual assesment day.

rorybreaker · 9th August 2012, 21:55

Trainee train driver with Northern. I have been practising as much as i can without going over board. I only had the manager interview a week ago and then assesment day next week!! 3 weeks would of been great!!! But i will continue to practise as much as i can, trying to make sure i cover all the areas needed.

I feel more at ease as the days go on. When i first got the practise material i thought there is way i'll be able to practise enough to be prepared but in fact i have found i am doing well on practise tests. I know they will be harder and different from practise material though. Well all i can is my best as they say!!!

34Short · 10th August 2012, 10:51

Stop flapping.

455driver · 10th August 2012, 18:51

If you cant stay calm for a couple of tests how do you think you will stay calm if a fire starts on your train and passengers are jumping out the (egressed) doors onto open running lines?

Beveridges · 10th August 2012, 19:06

I remember the assessment day nerves when I did mine 4 years ago. It felt awful at the time, couldn't sleep for 3 days in a row leading up to the test due to nerves. I even gave an excuse not to turn up the first time as well. The best way to calm yourself down is to realise that the job is probably not as good as you expect so its not worth getting so stressed about it. Also its still possible to pass these tests even if you have not slept for days, made no difference to my performance on the reactions or concentration tests.

feliner · 10th August 2012, 19:29

Anyone know what the carry on is for qualified driver interviews with Northern,i have an interview in a couple of weeks at Sheffield.

455driver · 10th August 2012, 19:35

Anyone that thinks driving trains for a living is a "glamorous" job is in for a rude awakening, it can be boring in the extreme with the odd bit of excitement.

Going to bed before the kids because you are getting up at 0300 for an 0400 start, going to work just as the kids are getting home from school/ the wife getting in from work, finishing work at 0130, working weekends when your mates are down the pub, having your "summer" holiday in October, getting ear ache off the passengers when things go wrong, being completely ignored by the passengers when things go right, not having a "social life" because of the drink and drugs policy (you can legally drive your car to work but fail the railway test, be sacked with no appeal) and legally drive your car home. I could go on.
Would I swap the job for another? Never in a million years, I do the job because I enjoy the job, there certainly isnt any "glamour" involved (well except our new/ young/ fit guard but thats a bit different

)!

Beveridges · 10th August 2012, 20:05

Anyone thinking of applying should just think of the shifts. If its Depot Driving then its going to be nights including 0600 to 0700 finishes. Or 12 hour nights, starting at 1900 and finishing at 0700. If its mainline passenger theres probably going to be early starts. Even worse than the traditional 0600-1400 earlys. I've seen stuff like 0400-1300 and 0500-1530 on diagram papers I've seen left on trains arriving on depot. If its freight then expect even worse, shifts starting at times like 23:00, 01:00, 03:00! Thats what it was when I looked into DRS.

MR_P · 10th August 2012, 20:15

I'm writing a basic app to simulate the reactions test so I can practice it (Not got boppit) - Do the colours that appear on the screen always appear in the same place or move about?

185 · 10th August 2012, 21:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by 455driver

If you cant stay calm for a couple of tests how do you think you will stay calm if a fire starts on your train and passengers are jumping out the (egressed) doors onto open running lines?

Compared to my flame-ridden class 158 hurtling towards Poulton-le-Fylde at 65mph, with the fire bells going off and the automatic extinguisher discharging, the OPC assessment tests were infact many many, more times more stressful.

Seriously

ml · 10th August 2012, 22:16

Surely sleep is a good idea??

I am surprised the managers int is first in your case as usually it is the other way round.

Fault finding test: Is this simply various shaded dials where you work out the answers from a key? Do you also have to work out which switches work from sequences of switches? The latter is harder as you have to imagine in your head the changing sequences

7th August 2012, 20:41	#1
rorybreaker Member Join Date: 21 Jul 2012 Posts: 11	Assesment day nerves!!! HELP!!!! I have heard today from Northern and i have my assesment day next week. Only 8 days to prepare worries me slightly. I am good with Bourdon and reaction and confident on interview. It is the mechanical paper that worries me!!! Could anyone advise the best things to revise in the short time i have. I have the guide book but would be great to hear from people who have been through it already!!! Any advise would be much appreciated. Cheers

9th August 2012, 10:42	#2
ml Established Member Join Date: 16 Nov 2009 Posts: 1,435	SHL tests online free mechanical tests. Psychometric books, mechanical books online Look carefully, often part the work is working out what the problem is... can be very subtle. Sometimes you have to work out in your mind what way all the different cogs will be turning. It is very easy if you learn the principles! Learn to calculate how far the fulcrum needs to be from two weights to balance. All you do is create an abstract zero reference point and work out the length of the plank. Then you multiply by the weights and divide or something like that link below makes it very easy. If it is the other kind of test you have to go by instinct based on the principles with no numbers involved (see how2become book) Gears, fulcrums, mechanical advantage, forces all common. Some tests only rely on diagrams others might include simple math eg working out volumes Good luck --- old post above --- --- new post below --- http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/Win...of_forces.html --- old post above --- --- new post below --- http://www.explainthatstuff.com/toolsmachines.html Last edited by ml; 9th August 2012 at 10:51. Reason: Double post prevention system

9th August 2012, 13:41	#4
185 "no, it's not valid" Established Member Join Date: 29 Aug 2010 Location: In the aisle. Posts: 2,165	Group Bourdon is the one many come unstuck on, so practise is advisory, the idea of the test is to see if you can concentrate for a period of time, fixated solely on a task without your mind wandering. Take my advice, practicing helped me pass. __________________

10th August 2012, 18:51	#8
455driver Established Member Join Date: 10 May 2010 Location: Feltham Posts: 2,551	If you cant stay calm for a couple of tests how do you think you will stay calm if a fire starts on your train and passengers are jumping out the (egressed) doors onto open running lines? __________________ I am just a train driver, so obviously know very little about driving trains!

10th August 2012, 19:29	#10
feliner ex 56 driver Member Join Date: 20 Nov 2009 Location: Wakefield Posts: 33	Assesment day nerves!!! HELP!!! Anyone know what the carry on is for qualified driver interviews with Northern,i have an interview in a couple of weeks at Sheffield.

9th August 2012, 13:37	#3
rorybreaker Member Join Date: 21 Jul 2012 Posts: 11	Thanks a lot ml I will certainly read through the links. They look like they will be a great help. I feel a lot better about it already now i have practised a whole varitey of test and read some books. Re the GB test. I am getting on average 60-65 lines, 1-3 missed and 1-2 mistakes. I have the download practise that most people use. 5 sheets, 2mins a sheet. Is this good enough standard? Thanks again.

9th August 2012, 14:51	#5
fgwrich Established Member Join Date: 15 Apr 2009 Location: The North (Of The South) Of the Southern Great Western! Posts: 2,349	Which job is it your going for? Strangely, i was fine with my Group Bourdon, but failed on the final part of the reactions test. But Good Luck with whatever your going for, Practice is vital and fortunatly, i was sent all the docs 3 weeks before the actual assesment day.

9th August 2012, 21:55	#6
rorybreaker Member Join Date: 21 Jul 2012 Posts: 11	Trainee train driver with Northern. I have been practising as much as i can without going over board. I only had the manager interview a week ago and then assesment day next week!! 3 weeks would of been great!!! But i will continue to practise as much as i can, trying to make sure i cover all the areas needed. I feel more at ease as the days go on. When i first got the practise material i thought there is way i'll be able to practise enough to be prepared but in fact i have found i am doing well on practise tests. I know they will be harder and different from practise material though. Well all i can is my best as they say!!!

10th August 2012, 10:51	#7
34Short Member Join Date: 21 May 2012 Posts: 53	Stop flapping.

10th August 2012, 19:06	#9
Beveridges MDD Established Member Join Date: 8 Sep 2010 Location: BLACKPOOL Posts: 1,065	I remember the assessment day nerves when I did mine 4 years ago. It felt awful at the time, couldn't sleep for 3 days in a row leading up to the test due to nerves. I even gave an excuse not to turn up the first time as well. The best way to calm yourself down is to realise that the job is probably not as good as you expect so its not worth getting so stressed about it. Also its still possible to pass these tests even if you have not slept for days, made no difference to my performance on the reactions or concentration tests.

10th August 2012, 19:35	#11
455driver Established Member Join Date: 10 May 2010 Location: Feltham Posts: 2,551	Anyone that thinks driving trains for a living is a "glamorous" job is in for a rude awakening, it can be boring in the extreme with the odd bit of excitement. Going to bed before the kids because you are getting up at 0300 for an 0400 start, going to work just as the kids are getting home from school/ the wife getting in from work, finishing work at 0130, working weekends when your mates are down the pub, having your "summer" holiday in October, getting ear ache off the passengers when things go wrong, being completely ignored by the passengers when things go right, not having a "social life" because of the drink and drugs policy (you can legally drive your car to work but fail the railway test, be sacked with no appeal) and legally drive your car home. I could go on. Would I swap the job for another? Never in a million years, I do the job because I enjoy the job, there certainly isnt any "glamour" involved (well except our new/ young/ fit guard but thats a bit different )! __________________ I am just a train driver, so obviously know very little about driving trains!

10th August 2012, 20:05	#12
Beveridges MDD Established Member Join Date: 8 Sep 2010 Location: BLACKPOOL Posts: 1,065	Anyone thinking of applying should just think of the shifts. If its Depot Driving then its going to be nights including 0600 to 0700 finishes. Or 12 hour nights, starting at 1900 and finishing at 0700. If its mainline passenger theres probably going to be early starts. Even worse than the traditional 0600-1400 earlys. I've seen stuff like 0400-1300 and 0500-1530 on diagram papers I've seen left on trains arriving on depot. If its freight then expect even worse, shifts starting at times like 23:00, 01:00, 03:00! Thats what it was when I looked into DRS.

10th August 2012, 20:15	#13
MR_P Member Join Date: 24 Apr 2012 Location: Cambs Posts: 73	Reactions test I'm writing a basic app to simulate the reactions test so I can practice it (Not got boppit) - Do the colours that appear on the screen always appear in the same place or move about?

10th August 2012, 22:16	#15
ml Established Member Join Date: 16 Nov 2009 Posts: 1,435	Surely sleep is a good idea?? I am surprised the managers int is first in your case as usually it is the other way round. Fault finding test: Is this simply various shaded dials where you work out the answers from a key? Do you also have to work out which switches work from sequences of switches? The latter is harder as you have to imagine in your head the changing sequences