TEA-OCC

1. I have found this sample material which makes reference to finding tradesmen with a specific area code. Can anyone confirm that this is no longer how the test is conducted and that in fact all you have to do is mark any two matching symbols (for example mark XX but not XY or YY) and therefore this sample material is outdated and not useful?
2. If the above is true that you only have to mark matching symbols, where do the area codes come into it? Do all matching symbols have the same area code? Can anyone categorically tell me that if the test is simply matching symbols that I can just ignore everything else and do that?
3. Do you only match one set of symbols or more than one?
4. Does anyone have any good advice for practising the counting of the tones? I have found one sample track here but I've listened to it so many times that I cannot use it anymore as I know the answer. Can anyone comment on whether the sample track linked is realistic?
5. Did you consider this test difficult when you sat it?

Intermodal said:

Hello all

Does anyone have some further information regarding the TEA-OCC, please? I have a few specific questions.

1. I have found this sample material which makes reference to finding tradesmen with a specific area code. Can anyone confirm that this is no longer how the test is conducted and that in fact all you have to do is mark any two matching symbols (for example mark XX but not XY or YY) and therefore this sample material is outdated and not useful?
2. If the above is true that you only have to mark matching symbols, where do the area codes come into it? Do all matching symbols have the same area code? Can anyone categorically tell me that if the test is simply matching symbols that I can just ignore everything else and do that?
3. Do you only match one set of symbols or more than one?
4. Does anyone have any good advice for practising the counting of the tones? I have found one sample track here but I've listened to it so many times that I cannot use it anymore as I know the answer. Can anyone comment on whether the sample track linked is realistic?
5. Did you consider this test difficult when you sat it?

Many thanks for your help!

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UPS1550 said:

I just failed this Saturday, basically there is 3 parts
1) you only mark the matching double symbols in a 'telephone directory' , ignore everything else
2) counting the low tones while ignoring the high tones
3) mark the double symbols again while counting ALL the tones - these are all the same, no low/ high tones
3rd part is what I failed on

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UPS1550 said:

I just failed this Saturday

Click to expand...

UPS1550 said:

I just failed this Saturday, basically there is 3 parts
1) you only mark the matching double symbols in a 'telephone directory' , ignore everything else
2) counting the low tones while ignoring the high tones
3) mark the double symbols again while counting ALL the tones - these are all the same, no low/ high tones
3rd part is what I failed on

Click to expand...

Intermodal said:

Hello all

Does anyone have some further information regarding the TEA-OCC, please? I have a few specific questions.

1. I have found this sample material which makes reference to finding tradesmen with a specific area code. Can anyone confirm that this is no longer how the test is conducted and that in fact all you have to do is mark any two matching symbols (for example mark XX but not XY or YY) and therefore this sample material is outdated and not useful?
2. If the above is true that you only have to mark matching symbols, where do the area codes come into it? Do all matching symbols have the same area code? Can anyone categorically tell me that if the test is simply matching symbols that I can just ignore everything else and do that?
3. Do you only match one set of symbols or more than one?
4. Does anyone have any good advice for practising the counting of the tones? I have found one sample track here but I've listened to it so many times that I cannot use it anymore as I know the answer. Can anyone comment on whether the sample track linked is realistic?
5. Did you consider this test difficult when you sat it?

Many thanks for your help!

Click to expand...

DunfordBridge said:

With regard to point 4, the real test seemed much slower than the practice test in your link where the speed seems to vary.

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Intermodal said:

The tones are my biggest concern about the assessments overall also so I'm greatly appreciative of all of your replies.

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PickleTree said:

Honestly don't worry too much as you get a couple of practice runs that clearly indicate the difference between the high and low tones.

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CreamNCookies said:

The sample test you linked earlier I failed. Simple as.

The actual test by the OPC I passed to an enhanced standard.

When it came to the symbols and tones combined, i stopped looking for symbols when the tones started and kept track of the tones on my fingers. You know when you count on your hand and each finger has little lines in so you could count to 19 on one hand, thats what I did.

If that makes any sense whatsoever.

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Intermodal said:

That's really helpful, thanks. Especially where you said that practise test is way too hard! Puts my mind at rest a lot.

So can you confirm that on part 3 of the test that the tones only play for one part of the time allotted and the rest you are just looking for symbols without tones, as opposed to it being constant tones and constant symbol searching?

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CreamNCookies said:

That sample test is very hard indeed and nowhere like the actual test.

It was very much slower.

I remember using my fingers under the table to count the tones in the actual test and passed. In stage 1, the tones test was what I was most nervous about.

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Intermodal said:

That's really helpful, thanks. Especially where you said that practise test is way too hard! Puts my mind at rest a lot.

So can you confirm that on part 3 of the test that the tones only play for one part of the time allotted and the rest you are just looking for symbols without tones, as opposed to it being constant tones and constant symbol searching?

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Intermodal said:

Again, I really appreciate your help. I already work on the railway and while everyone is extremely eager to assist with questions it's a common theme that nobody can really remember! Perhaps that's how they keep the details so secret!

I think I'll just give the whole thing a rest mentally now, doesn't sound like an overly complex task and I think I've begun to make a mountain out of a molehill.

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