Need advice for the process of retaking one of the opc psychometric assesment

[Stevecairns]

Hi guys, so i applied for a job as trainee train driver with NTS (nuclear transport solutions) i did all my assesments with the OPC and failed just one of them, the ATAVT Perception test. I am desperate to retake this and pass, im aware that i must wait for 6 months. Now, do you guys know if i will have to start from scratch with NTS and submit a new application then retake the one assesment if they are happy to continue my application or will they still have my application open and fast track me to retake my assesment? Any advice about retaking assesments and also applying for other companies would be great.

 

[richfoz84]

Hi mate.

You will have to wait 6 months to re apply for a role. If successful in your application, you only have to resit the assessment centre task you failed, not the ones already passed!

 

[cancatsdance]

I had to retake everything so it's down to the TOC to decide not OPC.

 

[Stevecairns]

Hi mate.

You will have to wait 6 months to re apply for a role. If successful in your application, you only have to resit the assessment centre task you failed, not the ones already passed!

So do you have to submit a brand new application? They dont fast track you at all?

I had to retake everything so it's down to the TOC to decide not OPC.

That sucks. If you dont mind me asking, what did you fail on and how did you get on the second time?

 

[Frankie4763]

Fast track? Some people on here having been waiting years to get a job.

 

[Stevecairns]

Fast track? Some people on here having been waiting years to get a job.

Yeah but those people have failed on multiple tests. I passed all to an enhanced standard apart from the ATAVT. Surely i shouldnt be ignored.

 

[ComUtoR]

Yeah but those people have failed on multiple tests.

Has any application stated that testing or retesting or even reapplying is based on the number of tests that were failed ? Generally they say if you have failed 'Any' part of the process.

I passed all to an enhanced standard apart from the ATAVT.

So, like others you failed. I'm not sure the number of tests passed/failed is significant. You need to pass all of the assessments to the required standard.

Surely i shouldnt be ignored.

Ignored ? In what way ?

A company could consider your application as complete, and then close it, if you fail any part of the process. Others have passed so would progress first. Would it be fair if those who have applied in the interim were held back for anyone who failed previously ? If the vacancy you applied for was filled, then any further vacancies should be reset in the interest of fairness. Unless you have applied for a talent pool ?

I wish you luck with any reattempt and potentially you could apply for private testing to save you the typical 6 month wait.

 

[Frankie4763]

Yeah but those people have failed on multiple tests. I passed all to an enhanced standard apart from the ATAVT. Surely i shouldnt be ignored.

It’s not a case of being ignored. You either meet their benchmark or you don’t. If you don’t then you have to reapply. The companies are not short of applicants.

 

[Stevecairns]

It’s not a case of being ignored. You either meet their benchmark or you don’t. If you don’t then you have to reapply. The companies are not short of applicants.

Ok thanks for the advice. How are you getting on?

Has any application stated that testing or retesting or even reapplying is based on the number of tests that were failed ? Generally they say if you have failed 'Any' part of the process.



So, like others you failed. I'm not sure the number of tests passed/failed is significant. You need to pass all of the assessments to the required standard.



Ignored ? In what way ?

A company could consider your application as complete, and then close it, if you fail any part of the process. Others have passed so would progress first. Would it be fair if those who have applied in the interim were held back for anyone who failed previously ? If the vacancy you applied for was filled, then any further vacancies should be reset in the interest of fairness. Unless you have applied for a talent pool ?

I wish you luck with any reattempt and potentially you could apply for private testing to save you the typical 6 month wait.

Thanks for the advice. Is private testing an option?

 

[Twotwo]

Yeah but those people have failed on multiple tests. I passed all to an enhanced standard apart from the ATAVT. Surely i shouldnt be ignored.

You don't have the best attitude unfortunately. People waiting are those waiting for assesment dates or in talent pools.

Your in the same situation as the others who have failed as you have also failed. Doesn't matter if you passed everything else enhanced.

Don't think your attitude and entitlement will take you very far in this career.

 

[Stevecairns]

Ok thanks for the advice. How are you getting on?


Thanks for the advice. Is private testing an option?

You don't have the best attitude unfortunately. People waiting are those waiting for assesment dates or in talent pools.

Your in the same situation as the others who have failed as you have also failed. Doesn't matter if you passed everything else enhanced.

Don't think your attitude and entitlement will take you very far in this career.

Thanks for the reply. Sorry i didnt mean to sound arrogant. Im just dissapointed in myself for failing at the last hurdle and im just looking for help and advice as im new to applying for a train driver. I made my first application a couple months ago.

 

[cancatsdance]

So do you have to submit a brand new application? They dont fast track you at all?


That sucks. If you dont mind me asking, what did you fail on and how did you get on the second time?

I failed the MMI and on just one question which I even knew at the time I chose the wrong scenario lol

I just reapplied 6 months later and passed with no issues.

 

[Stevecairns]

I failed the MMI and on just one question which I even knew at the time I chose the wrong scenario lol

I just reapplied 6 months later and passed with no issues.

Thats great im glad you passed. How did you get to retake the mmi? Was it by reapplying to the TOC?

 

[43066]

So do you have to submit a brand new application? They dont fast track you at all?

Slightly unsure as to why you think an employer would “fast track” someone who has failed part of the process previously?

 

[Stevecairns]

Slightly unsure as to why you think an employer would “fast track” someone who has failed part of the process previously?

Thanks for the reply. I was just wondering if this was the case but i can see now that it isnt.

 

[ComUtoR]

Is private testing an option?

Try these people. Last I heard it was about 500 notes.

Railway Competence Group - Psychometric testing

Providers of Train Driver Psychometric testing and End-point assessment for the Train Driver apprenticeship standard. Private booking available

rcg.org.uk

RCG are an ESFA and NSAR approved End-point assessment organisation for the Train Driver apprenticeship standard.
We also specialise in Train Driver Psychometric testing and are members of the RACF and as such our testing is compliant with the industry standard.

 

[43066]

Try these people. Last I heard it was about 500 notes.

Railway Competence Group - Psychometric testing

Providers of Train Driver Psychometric testing and End-point assessment for the Train Driver apprenticeship standard. Private booking available

rcg.org.uk

Makes you wonder who has set that up, really. Very enterprising!

 

[skyhigh]

Thanks for the advice. Is private testing an option?

Don't forget, however, that the two-lives rule still applies to private testing.

 

[cancatsdance]

Thats great im glad you passed. How did you get to retake the mmi? Was it by reapplying to the TOC?

Had to wait until they advertised the job again so full application

 

[Stevecairns]

Had to wait until they advertised the job again so full

Had to wait until they advertised the job again so full application

did you just retake the mmi? What company was it?

 

[richfoz84]

So do you have to submit a brand new application? They dont fast track you at all?


That sucks. If you dont mind me asking, what did you fail on and how did you get on the second time?

So I failed on the bourdon test so didn’t make it to the MMI phase, on my first go. I was told it must be 6 months before I re apply. I waited then re applied with TFW and Northern in the same week. I never heard back from TFW but when Northern invited me for interview (which I passed) they sent me to the assessment. I rang DB and they confirmed I would only sit what I failed at the assessment centre. I did remind them when I arrived but they already had it written down. So I did the Bourdon test with everyone else then waited an hour or so for her to come get me. Then we did the MMI which I passed and a few months later I had done the medical and got my start date!

Knowing I only had to do the Bourdon test and MMI, I practiced the bourdon test a lot with the practice material on this forum! I had a go most nights on the run up to it. I used YouTube to get an idea about the MMI and using buzz words etc for my examples. I felt prepared and less stressed this time around which helped.

There won’t be any fast tracking mate I’m afraid, you start from scratch with a brand new application and wait to hear back. Hopefully you’ve saved your old application to help you copy and paste the answers to save time as job adverts can come down after being live for 24 hours.

Best of luck!

 

[cancatsdance]

i had to retake everything again.

Each TOC has a different view of it I guess in my first attempt there were a few just doing parts they failed.

Didn't phase me to have to go through it all again and the second time was a breeze.

I know for a fact the limit is 3 attempts due to this very fact.

 

[ComUtoR]

I know for a fact the limit is 3 attempts due to this very fact.

You are the first person to say that. Do you have proof of it being a "fact" ?

As far as I am aware, there is no limit to the number of times you can take an assessment. The rule is you cannot fail any part of it twice. I have never heard of, or read, any limitation on the number of attempts.

There was even a time where everyone's lives were reset to zero when they introduced new tests.

 

[Luckyflames]

Thanks for the reply. Sorry i didnt mean to sound arrogant. Im just dissapointed in myself for failing at the last hurdle and im just looking for help and advice as im new to applying for a train driver. I made my first application a couple months ago.

Just so you know some pass everything first time. And sit in a talent pool for years. And never get a course date. Best of luck for your future.

 

[cancatsdance]

You are the first person to say that. Do you have proof of it being a "fact" ?

As far as I am aware, there is no limit to the number of times you can take an assessment. The rule is you cannot fail any part of it twice. I have never heard of, or read, any limitation on the number of attempts.

There was even a time where everyone's lives were reset to zero when they introduced new tests.

yes you are correct sorry i wasn't being clear

 

[Stevecairns]

So I failed on the bourdon test so didn’t make it to the MMI phase, on my first go. I was told it must be 6 months before I re apply. I waited then re applied with TFW and Northern in the same week. I never heard back from TFW but when Northern invited me for interview (which I passed) they sent me to the assessment. I rang DB and they confirmed I would only sit what I failed at the assessment centre. I did remind them when I arrived but they already had it written down. So I did the Bourdon test with everyone else then waited an hour or so for her to come get me. Then we did the MMI which I passed and a few months later I had done the medical and got my start date!

Knowing I only had to do the Bourdon test and MMI, I practiced the bourdon test a lot with the practice material on this forum! I had a go most nights on the run up to it. I used YouTube to get an idea about the MMI and using buzz words etc for my examples. I felt prepared and less stressed this time around which helped.

There won’t be any fast tracking mate I’m afraid, you start from scratch with a brand new application and wait to hear back. Hopefully you’ve saved your old application to help you copy and paste the answers to save time as job adverts can come down after being live for 24 hours.

Best of luck!

Hey thankyou for the message. Im glad it all worked out for you the second time and didnt take too long. I only failed the ATAVT do you remember much about that one? I think i failed because i was confused by the pedestrian crossing lights as the images werent from the uk.

 

[richfoz84]

Hey thankyou for the message. Im glad it all worked out for you the second time and didnt take too long. I only failed the ATAVT do you remember much about that one? I think i failed because i was confused by the pedestrian crossing lights as the images werent from the uk.

Is that where you have to look for things, like lamp posts and traffic lights which only shows you 1 second clip of each? If so.. I was ok with that I just answered very quickly as the longer you think about what you’ve seen, the easier it is to talk yourself out of the right answer and allow your mind to think too much and plant the element of doubt.

 

[ComUtoR]

yes you are correct sorry i wasn't being clear

No problem.

The OPC isn't known for their clarity or consistency. Hence the question.

 

[Stevecairns]

Is that where you have to look for things, like lamp posts and traffic lights which only shows you 1 second clip of each? If so.. I was ok with that I just answered very quickly as the longer you think about what you’ve seen, the easier it is to talk yourself out of the right answer and allow your mind to think too much and plant the element of doubt.

Yeah thats the one. I was putting down the pedestrian crossing lights as traffic lights and i think thats why i failed.

 

[PK96]

Yeah but those people have failed on multiple tests. I passed all to an enhanced standard apart from the ATAVT. Surely i shouldnt be ignored.

Unfortunately, it doesn't work like that. I passed all enhanced exams first time around and then failed my DMI. Still doesn't mean I get an advantage from the other just because I passed first time and at a enhanced level. Unfortunately we are on the same boat!