Borden test failure

[JAMES BENGE]

I've been reading threads for quite a while about the recruitment process, I finally discovered today how frustrating it is.

I went for a shunter driving job for se trains, the group borden test and memory testing etc.

8 of us went in and 4 failed after only the first hour. I was amongst the first 4 to fail. The reason I wanted to post this is for anyone who hasn't been through this process yet.

Everyone tells you "don't worry" or "there's always next time" but to be honest I feel totally gutted, especially the fact I've got to wait another 6 months, plus the fact I only get one more shot and that's it, game over.

Good luck to anyone who has an impending test upcoming, one thing I learnt, be quick yet methodical, you must practice and lastly it's not a race, your better to finish last but with every answer correct than finish first and get half them wrong.

Oh well, again, gutted, good luck to you all.

 

[Bucephalus]

Sorry to hear that James. I failed my GB in May last year for a shunter job. It's a really hard test. Those six months will go quickly.

 

[Paulm36]

I've been reading threads for quite a while about the recruitment process, I finally discovered today how frustrating it is.

I went for a shunter driving job for se trains, the group borden test and memory testing etc.

8 of us went in and 4 failed after only the first hour. I was amongst the first 4 to fail. The reason I wanted to post this is for anyone who hasn't been through this process yet.

Everyone tells you "don't worry" or "there's always next time" but to be honest I feel totally gutted, especially the fact I've got to wait another 6 months, plus the fact I only get one more shot and that's it, game over.

Good luck to anyone who has an impending test upcoming, one thing I learnt, be quick yet methodical, you must practice and lastly it's not a race, your better to finish last but with every answer correct than finish first and get half them wrong.

Oh well, again, gutted, good luck to you all.

I failed my first attempt, funnily enough with Southeastern for a shunt driver position, and know exactly how you're feeling. I was devastated. It felt like the 6 months might as well have been 2 years. However after a couple of weeks I realised I knew exactly where I'd gone wrong and exactly what to expect next time. I spent the 6 month exile working on the MMI interview with the odd bit of group Borden practice thrown in. Before I knew it the 6 months was up and I could start applying again.
The next trainee position that I managed to make it through the sift for, I passed all the tests and landed a trainee position. Should be doing my final assessments in the next week or 2.
I know its devastating, but use the experience to your advantage, use the time you've got now to improve where you went wrong and ultimately if you want it don't give up. It's definitely do able.
Good luck going forward.

 

[richfoz84]

I failed my first go, I remember the feeling afterwards it was awful. However 6 months soon comes around. Then you have to wait to hear back from a new application which takes another 6 months.. but pleased to say I passed my bourdon and assessments yesterday. What I would say is download the practice papers from this forum, do two a night for two or so weeks leading up to it, get yourself used to the different shapes the 4 dots come in, find your rhythm and work quickly. I was doing 11/12 rows yesterday and was told I had minimal errors.

Good luck for the future

 

[stevem39]

Hi
I have recently passed all the assessments for GTR, is there anyone on here that has recently passed them same and have any idea which interview is next, I'm quite sure the guy at the assessment centre told me it was the MMI interview next?

Also does anyone have any of the questions they may ask in either interview , I have research and got some but thought I may ask on here as theres as hole heap of knowledge in this forum

Thanks in advance

 

[Bucephalus]

There's some on this thread:

https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/multimodal-interview-mmi.142360/

I think there are other MMI threads someone will know

 

[JAMES BENGE]

Thanks for all the kind words, today is a new day hey, thanks again.

 

[HTR]

Hi James with regard to the Bourdon test (and others) I would respectfully disagree with you about getting everything right in my experience. I failed the enhanced Bourdon test first time around and it was indicated to me that every answer was correct but didn't complete enough. I wasn't far off the cut and if I had got some wrong but completed more I would have been ok. Thankfully I've progressed through to interview stage now and I definitely know that I wasn't completely accurate with my computer tests but passed. That said, with the computer tests they run at a pace that you have no control over apart from the 2 hand co-ordination. I believe (my opinion) all the tests are a balance between speed and accuracy. Best of luck for the future!

 

[paully617]

Hi James with regard to the Bourdon test (and others) I would respectfully disagree with you about getting everything right in my experience. I failed the enhanced Bourdon test first time around and it was indicated to me that every answer was correct but didn't complete enough. I wasn't far off the cut and if I had got some wrong but completed more I would have been ok. Thankfully I've progressed through to interview stage now and I definitely know that I wasn't completely accurate with my computer tests but passed. That said, with the computer tests they run at a pace that you have no control over apart from the 2 hand co-ordination. I believe (my opinion) all the tests are a balance between speed and accuracy. Best of luck for the future!

how many lines were you completing then?

 

[Tezza32]

Sorry to hear I failed my assessment 19th september last year. I am hoping to have another go at it.if it's ment to be it will be if not then.oh well at least I've gave it my best shot.

 

[Nevergiveup]

Try prepare as much as you can, which part you failed on? I failed last week on one of the computer tests, will give it another after 6 months

Sorry to hear I failed my assessment 19th september last year. I am hoping to have another go at it.if it's ment to be it will be if not then.oh well at least I've gave it my best shot.

 

[Tezza32]

Sorry to hear. All I got back from the Opc that I didn't meet the advanced scores for WMT so I asked if I passed any and they said I got standard on group bourdon and glop test so I'm guessing I failed most of the test.

 

[Nevergiveup]

Ahh, you sure? You must have passed all but on national standard.. with SWR they did tests in stages so if you had failed any they wouldn’t of let you sit next one so if you went through all paper tests then you must have passed them but it could be different with different TOCs. Better luck next time buddy, it is really hard to take it in

Sorry to hear. All I got back from the Opc that I didn't meet the advanced scores for WMT so I asked if I passed any and they said I got standard on group bourdon and glop test so I'm guessing I failed most of the test.

 

[scouseyb123]

I remember failing the bordon test and thus being sent home on my first attempt. I came to realise that for me personally the practice material they send you was not sufficient and I needed to go and research and understand what it takes to pass it. When I then applied for another suitable vacancy that came up elsewhere 18 months later and got invited to do the tests, I bought some proper practice material online, ones that would be like in the tests. And I practiced practiced practiced until I got much better. I passed that and the next tests and I am now a trainee driver! So don’t give up, its a nasty knockback when you get sent home, but research what it takes to pass the tests and practice to enhance your own ability and it can be done.

 

[GemGem]

I remember failing the bordon test and thus being sent home on my first attempt. I came to realise that for me personally the practice material they send you was not sufficient and I needed to go and research and understand what it takes to pass it. When I then applied for another suitable vacancy that came up elsewhere 18 months later and got invited to do the tests, I bought some proper practice material online, ones that would be like in the tests. And I practiced practiced practiced until I got much better. I passed that and the next tests and I am now a trainee driver! So don’t give up, its a nasty knockback when you get sent home, but research what it takes to pass the tests and practice to enhance your own ability and it can be done.

agreed!

 

[Tezza32]

Yeah well this time if I get another chance I'm going to get some books to study so I have a better chance on my final attempt. All opc said that I passed group bourdon and glop to standard rest I failed.

 

[Nevergiveup]

I bought materials online and it helped a lot I should’ve pass everything on first attempt if I didn’t slack during the Vigilance test. I’m sure I’ll pass it next time but I don’t know how I will do on MMI though

I remember failing the bordon test and thus being sent home on my first attempt. I came to realise that for me personally the practice material they send you was not sufficient and I needed to go and research and understand what it takes to pass it. When I then applied for another suitable vacancy that came up elsewhere 18 months later and got invited to do the tests, I bought some proper practice material online, ones that would be like in the tests. And I practiced practiced practiced until I got much better. I passed that and the next tests and I am now a trainee driver! So don’t give up, its a nasty knockback when you get sent home, but research what it takes to pass the tests and practice to enhance your own ability and it can be done.

 

[HTR]

how many lines were you completing then?

To be completely honest I dont recall!

 

[paully617]

To be completely honest I dont recall!

Where are you based?

 

[Jake1544]

Out of interest were they using paper or on a computer? I've practised on both but seem to be faster with the paper ones.

 

[PickleTree]

Out of interest were they using paper or on a computer? I've practised on both but seem to be faster with the paper ones.

Bourdon test is completed on paper.

 

[HTR]

Where are you based?

Salisbury ish

 

[Jake1544]

Bourdon test is completed on paper.

don’t suppose you know how many sheets in a row on average?, I’m assuming it’s multiple sheets in quick succession?

jake.

 

[Intermodal]

don’t suppose you know how many sheets in a row on average?, I’m assuming it’s multiple sheets in quick succession?

jake.

5 sheets, 2 minutes per sheet.