Failed MMI

oneoneoneoneup · 28 Aug 2019

Hi,
I recently attended Stage 2 assessment at Watford for a trainee MTR Crossrail driver and unfortunately failed one of the six examples in the MMI after passing all the computer tests. I'm worried that I will not be able to pass in the future as I messed up the rules and regulations one.

What should I do for the 6 months cool off period?
And how do I go about re-starting the application process?

I'm a bit miffed I messed one up but it didn't feel right when I said it.

Any help much appreciated

RailUK Forums

Bigdriver · 28 Aug 2019

Just think and prepare for all the questions again and ask a friend or anyone on here to help you with the question you struggled on !

Dynamonic · 28 Aug 2019

I failed my first attempt at the MMI too back in 2014 on just one question, then went on to pass it on my second attempt in 2017.
The first important thing to remember is not to reattempt the MMI until you are confident you're ready, as you only get two attempts at it in total. Get those experiences in and don't feel you MUST reattempt it immediately after your 6 month cool-off period. Your other OPC passes are valid for between 2-5 years, depending on the TOC, so take your time if you must.
If you're not doing so already, get yourself some experience with working under strict rules and regulations, especially in a safety focussed environment, and make a note of anything interview worthy you encounter ready to look up when you're preparing for your next attempt.

MDCW · 28 Aug 2019

oneoneoneoneup said:
Hi,
I recently attended Stage 2 assessment at Watford for a trainee MTR Crossrail driver and unfortunately failed one of the six examples in the MMI after passing all the computer tests. I'm worried that I will not be able to pass in the future as I messed up the rules and regulations one.

What should I do for the 6 months cool off period?
And how do I go about re-starting the application process?

I'm a bit miffed I messed one up but it didn't feel right when I said it.

Any help much appreciated

sorry to hear that. I know how you feel. I failed my MMI 6 months ago next Thursday which is great as I can apply again soon. Did you get any feedback? I'm happy to be corrected, but i think the MMI is more about clear communication than the examples given.

strangemonk · 28 Aug 2019

Il come in with my 2 pence , I failed back in 2017 same place as you on 3/6 questions mostly because I hadn’t had any real relevant experience that answers what they are looking for.

I passed couple months back on my 2nd attempt and in regards to that question I used an example of being in a depot as there’s rules and regulations such as , high vis , authorised walking routes , Yard controller contact to authorise entry, stepping on ballast not on sleepers or running rail.

The ability to recall on rules and regulations when required I.e train fails and you need to fault find. Your rules will tell you the procedure in which to follow and who to contact etc so as long as your confident in answering it should be golden.

I’m railway so I had examples but it dosent have to be. If your fork lift driver you have rules and regulations before you start it and begin driving around etc

Just have to be patient and keep on daily it’s tough for the first week or two
But eventually you’ll be ok about it , it’s disheartening I know but all you have to do next time is one interview prior to DMI. Make various examples of the questions which I’m sure you now remember and your time will come.

Cyclist · 29 Aug 2019

the rules and regulations question should be one of the easiest to answer imo. Every single job must have some rules and regs to follow.

Boring office job? I bet your IT department can give you hundreds of regs for using the office PCs
McDonalds? food handling regs
Shop sales? using the till
etc etc.

whatever your current job, I'm sure you can think of some very boring rules that you have to follow.

I've had this question before and I just bored them about working for Royal Mail and passed.

2619 · 29 Aug 2019

Dynamonic said:
I failed my first attempt at the MMI too back in 2014 on just one question, then went on to pass it on my second attempt in 2017.
The first important thing to remember is not to reattempt the MMI until you are confident you're ready, as you only get two attempts at it in total. Get those experiences in and don't feel you MUST reattempt it immediately after your 6 month cool-off period. Your other OPC passes are valid for between 2-5 years, depending on the TOC, so take your time if you must.
If you're not doing so already, get yourself some experience with working under strict rules and regulations, especially in a safety focussed environment, and make a note of anything interview worthy you encounter ready to look up when you're preparing for your next attempt.

What question did you fail on in 2014?

Twotwo · 29 Aug 2019

Hi,

I too failed in January on the preserving question. Took the risk and did it 6 months later and thankfully passed. Just keep getting the experience in. Best of luck and let me know if you need any help.

Choochoo0001 · 29 Aug 2019

My advice (and this is what I did and passed mine first time) is to write out your answers before the interview.

Make sure to use the STAR format. (Google it if you’re unfamiliar with it) and then - try and compare your experience to the OPC Train Driver non-technical skills;
https://www.theopc.co.uk/files/Which NTS are most important for train drivers - Final.pdf

Try and make sure that your experiences are ticking off as many of these as possible. Maybe use bullet points and see where you’re lacking or not.

Then compare the 5 answers that you gave successfully to the one you failed on.

Anything obviously lacking, or underwhelming, try and fix it (or go get that experience)!

oneoneoneoneup · 29 Aug 2019

MDCW said:
sorry to hear that. I know how you feel. I failed my MMI 6 months ago next Thursday which is great as I can apply again soon. Did you get any feedback? I'm happy to be corrected, but i think the MMI is more about clear communication than the examples given.

So they only said I failed on that one question and aren't able to give more feedback. But I said something about some rules and regulationns being more important in this job rather than my current one and I just don't think it went well. oh well, always next time.

oneoneoneoneup · 29 Aug 2019

strangemonk said:
Il come in with my 2 pence , I failed back in 2017 same place as you on 3/6 questions mostly because I hadn’t had any real relevant experience that answers what they are looking for.

I passed couple months back on my 2nd attempt and in regards to that question I used an example of being in a depot as there’s rules and regulations such as , high vis , authorised walking routes , Yard controller contact to authorise entry, stepping on ballast not on sleepers or running rail.

The ability to recall on rules and regulations when required I.e train fails and you need to fault find. Your rules will tell you the procedure in which to follow and who to contact etc so as long as your confident in answering it should be golden.

I’m railway so I had examples but it dosent have to be. If your fork lift driver you have rules and regulations before you start it and begin driving around etc

Just have to be patient and keep on daily it’s tough for the first week or two
But eventually you’ll be ok about it , it’s disheartening I know but all you have to do next time is one interview prior to DMI. Make various examples of the questions which I’m sure you now remember and your time will come.

Nice one man, just a pain having to wait for another position to open up but it could be better in the long run. Thanks for the kind words

oneoneoneoneup · 29 Aug 2019

Choochoo0001 said:
My advice (and this is what I did and passed mine first time) is to write out your answers before the interview.

Make sure to use the STAR format. (Google it if you’re unfamiliar with it) and then - try and compare your experience to the OPC Train Driver non-technical skills;
https://www.theopc.co.uk/files/Which NTS are most important for train drivers - Final.pdf

Try and make sure that your experiences are ticking off as many of these as possible. Maybe use bullet points and see where you’re lacking or not.

Then compare the 5 answers that you gave successfully to the one you failed on.

Anything obviously lacking, or underwhelming, try and fix it (or go get that experience)!

This is very helpful, thank you! I'll give this a look over closer to the cool off period

Faye Clark · 30 Aug 2019

How long did you wait for feedback after having your MMI? Do the OPC email or call you?
I had mine yesterday and am eager to hear if I passed or failed! Really think I fluffed it up! I didn’t realise it would be like an interrogation! And on the spot they asked me to change one of my examples which really caught me off guard

fingers crossed though!

2619 · 30 Aug 2019

Which TOC did you interview for Faye?

Louby · 30 Aug 2019

Faye Clark said:
How long did you wait for feedback after having your MMI? Do the OPC email or call you?
I had mine yesterday and am eager to hear if I passed or failed! Really think I fluffed it up! I didn’t realise it would be like an interrogation! And on the spot they asked me to change one of my examples which really caught me off guard fingers crossed though!

that's the whole point of it to see how well you manage under pressure , fingers crossed

Faye Clark · 31 Aug 2019

2619 said:
Which TOC did you interview for Faye?

C2C

Stigy · 31 Aug 2019

Faye Clark said:
How long did you wait for feedback after having your MMI? Do the OPC email or call you?
I had mine yesterday and am eager to hear if I passed or failed! Really think I fluffed it up! I didn’t realise it would be like an interrogation! And on the spot they asked me to change one of my examples which really caught me off guard fingers crossed though!

If they gave you the opportunity to change one of your examples, I’d see that as a positive. The example you had wasn’t meeting the criteria obviously, but they wanted to give you as good a chance as possible but giving you another opportunity. If it was really not going well, I doubt they’d have done that. Good luck.

MYRTLE3000 · 7 Sep 2019

Twotwo said:
Hi,

I too failed in January on the preserving question. Took the risk and did it 6 months later and thankfully passed. Just keep getting the experience in. Best of luck and let me know if you need any help.

Hi, what do you mean by the preserving question? Was that a typo? If so which question did you fail on?
Thanks

Twotwo · 7 Sep 2019

MYRTLE3000 said:
Hi, what do you mean by the preserving question? Was that a typo? If so which question did you fail on?
Thanks

When have you had to preserver in order to achieve or learn something?

MYRTLE3000 · 7 Sep 2019

Twotwo said:
When have you had to preserver in order to achieve or learn something?

OK I see, thank you! Persevere

flavour · 16 Sep 2019

Hi guys.
Am waiting for a date to do my MMI. I've read there's a thread about what questions to expect, but I cant find it .
Would anyone be so kind to help me or let me know what questions am likely to be asked.
Much appreciated.

MostlyHarmless · 16 Sep 2019

flavour said:
Hi guys.
Am waiting for a date to do my MMI. I've read there's a thread about what questions to expect, but I cant find it .
Would anyone be so kind to help me or let me know what questions am likely to be asked.
Much appreciated.

These are typical questions and I think I had at least 4 of them at my MMI

1. Describe a time when you followed rules and procedures?

2. Describe a time when you have solved a difficult problem?

3. Describe a time you have been on a training course over 2 weeks?

4. Describe a time you have handled an emergency situation?

5. Describe a time you have worked for long periods alone?

6. Describe a role you have done similar to a train driver?

7. Describe a time when you’ve had to work hard to achieve something

flavour · 16 Sep 2019

MostlyHarmless said:
These are typical questions and I think I had at least 4 of them at my MMI

1. Describe a time when you followed rules and procedures?

2. Describe a time when you have solved a difficult problem?

3. Describe a time you have been on a training course over 2 weeks?

4. Describe a time you have handled an emergency situation?

5. Describe a time you have worked for long periods alone?

6. Describe a role you have done similar to a train driver?

7. Describe a time when you’ve had to work hard to achieve something

Thanks for your reply. They asked you 4 of them, does that mean they dont always ask all the 6?

MostlyHarmless · 16 Sep 2019

flavour said:
Thanks for your reply. They asked you 4 of them, does that mean they dont always ask all the 6?

No you will get asked 6 - I just can't remember all of the ones I was asked but I'm pretty sure 4 of of my 6 were in the list above. There are some more examples in the forum but you may have to search a bit deeper. You can use an answer more than once if it is relevant

flavour · 17 Sep 2019

MostlyHarmless said:
No you will get asked 6 - I just can't remember all of the ones I was asked but I'm pretty sure 4 of of my 6 were in the list above. There are some more examples in the forum but you may have to search a bit deeper. You can use an answer more than once if it is relevant

Ok. I get it. Got my date for Thursday.
Did u have to do the SJE too on the same day?

MostlyHarmless · 17 Sep 2019

flavour said:
Ok. I get it. Got my date for Thursday.
Did u have to do the SJE too on the same day?

Yep you do the SJE before the MMI and whilst its not a pass or fail in itself they use your answers in conjunction with the MMI.

Good luck for Thursday

flavour · 18 Sep 2019

MostlyHarmless said:
Yep you do the SJE before the MMI and whilst its not a pass or fail in itself they use your answers in conjunction with the MMI.

Good luck for Thursday

Thank u @MostlyHarmless . Am feeling very nervous about it.
Am stuck on the number 2 question though about solving a difficult problem. What example would you use if you dont mind me asking?

Also is it okay to use one example for 2 questions if it fits?
Thank you for your time.

34fh0131 · 18 Sep 2019

Try not to over think it..... what do you do for work?

You can use one example to cover multiple questions, if it fits. 2 examples on my MMI and it covered x4 questions. And I passed.

flavour · 18 Sep 2019

34fh0131 said:
Try not to over think it..... what do you do for work?

You can use one example to cover multiple questions, if it fits. 2 examples on my MMI and it covered x4 questions. And I passed.

That's good to know, thank you.
I work as a train guard but havent really had so many incidents as such.

Twotwo · 18 Sep 2019

flavour said:
That's good to know, thank you.
I work as a train guard but havent really had so many incidents as such.

You can talk about dealing with a door fault, ill passenger and disruption?

Failed MMI

Member

RailUK Forums

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

New Member

Member

Member

New Member

Established Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member