Bourdon Dot Test Results

[hstmatt]

Hello,
I have a Assessment day next week with Virgin Trains for an apprentice train driver, and I've spent the last two days going over the dot test.
I found that I was omitting too many targets on my first few attempts however this was taking the test just after doing an eight hour shift.
I have taken then test again today, when I am less tired and got these results:

Overall Statistics:
-------------------

Perception & Attention:

Targets Omitted ------------ 6
Marked Incorrect ----------- 2


Speed:

Total Cells ---------------- 1011
Mean Cell Time ------------- 0.385
Median Cell Time ----------- 0.300

Completed Rows ------------- 37
Mean Row Time -------------- 9.734
Median Row Time ------------ 9.480


Vigilance:

Row Fluctuation ------------ 7.24

I know I'll have to do a lot more practice, but are these results good, or should I be aiming for higher?
I am aware that the actual pass/fail grades are not visible online.
Another question, I understand you can only take the dot test twice? Does this mean if I failed it twice in the application to a drivers role, that I could not take it for a guards role?
Thanks
Matthew.

 

[Pepperami]

The test is not just to measure how FAST your able to do it, much more emphasis is on the accuracy

If you miss a couple its no big deal, but if you get a couple wrong, then that counts more negatively on the final score

Work at your own pace, yes I would encourage you to practice, but not over do it, 30 mins a day is more than sufficient, work at a pace your comfortable with. after a few days you will notice if there is a difference in accuracy, and accuracy is what they are looking for at the end of the day, no good knocking out the sheets at a rate of knots if your getting loads wrong

If you can print the sheets out, give them to your wife/girlfriend/mate and have them start the test for you, say TURN when you need to start a new one, so its actually like a classroom based test, that would be better

 

[ComUtoR]

I know I'll have to do a lot more practice, but are these results good, or should I be aiming for higher?

0/0 is your target.

Sloooooow right down and aim for 0/0 then as your practising you increase your speed but maintain accuracy.

 

[Kev.]

hstmatt,

As already suggested mate, slow down and go for accuracy is the best bit of advice there is for this test.

When I did it I only got down to line 10 on every sheet and got a enhanced pass.

Good luck mate

 

[E&W Lucas]

The acceptable number of errors on the real test is in the very low single figure range. Very low indeed. I echo what others have said to you.
BTW practice after work is a good idea. Drivers still have to function at the end of a long shift!

 

[hstmatt]

Thanks for the help everyone! I've been told my assesment is on paper rather than on a computer, does this make is any easier?
Not going to lie, I've been really nervous the last two days, so worried of messing my chances up!

 

[Aivilo]

It will be on paper and it's kinda different strokes for different folks.

I would practice on paper just so it's familiar

 

[Sig01]

All I can say is practice!
A year or so ago I attended a gtr assessment day and that is the only thing I failed on at that stage, I was 100% accurate but not fast enough with the dots.
****ed the rest until I was sent home. Plus I attended after a week of nights so didn't realise how much I should have prepared.
Good luck to you, make sure you're prepared for all the tests!

 

[1986deano]

I just printed off copies of the test from Google images they were not the best quality and very small but I just cracked on with it and practiced hard from what I had.. come the day it mattered the sheets what got put on the table and the dots were huge compared to what I was practicing on and if I'm honest found it a lot easier as instead of really concentrating on small dots these dots was in my face!!! I know different ways to practice works for others but this way really helped me!! Good luck mate!!

 

[Aivilo]

You have a Pm

 

[hstmatt]

Thanks for the help everyone! I've got a Bop It to assist with my reactions, as well as spent the last three days practicing all day.
Just a quick question, apart from the Dot Test program and the booklet I got sent to me, does anyone know of any other programs or sources that could help me?
Thanks a lot!
Matthew

 

[Shrimper]

Not sure how much bop-it will help now that the bell/buzzer reactions test no longer exists - the current reaction tests is staring at a grey square for 30 minutes and pressing a button when it changes to a darker shade of grey. Possibly the longest 30 minutes of my life!

(Incidentally, to reassure anyone, if you do hit the button by mistake you don't automatically fail. I did twice and still passed).

 

[Kev.]

Thanks for the help everyone! I've got a Bop It to assist with my reactions, as well as spent the last three days practicing all day.
Just a quick question, apart from the Dot Test program and the booklet I got sent to me, does anyone know of any other programs or sources that could help me?
Thanks a lot!
Matthew

Matt, I got my hands on a BOP-IT when I was going through the assessment process and if I'm honest I was absolutely awful on it and I still passed.

 

[hstmatt]

I've reached 100 (Highest score) on the Bop It twice which has helped, I'm just trying to do the tests over and over again for accuracy and speed
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Just another question regarding the paper dot test...are the dots on the sheet in boxes? I'm currently practicing on print outs off a program, but the dots are not in boxes.

 

[Shrimper]

No, they aren't boxed but you can clearly see gaps between the groups.

 

[hstmatt]

Thats brill, just that on the practice which is just print outs off the computer, the gaps are really small and it can get confusing which dot is from which

 

[JIMBOfred]

I've got tests with virgin this week aswell. Some of the tests seem quite daunting in the booklet. Can practice the gbd test but not sure what I can do to practice for the others.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
This is my best so far after about an hour of practicing today:

omitted - 5
incorrect - 2

Total cells - 1256

Completed rows - 47

Fluctuation - 3.42