It’s all about the shape of them, the more you practice then the more the shape will be the biggest factor for knowing its 4 dots
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Group Bourdon Tool
- Thread starter newlearner
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Luckyflames
Member
There are 25 on each row and 21 rows. If you can get down to row 6 on each. You will pass. Practice the shape of dots there are only so many. Once you learn them. You’ll fly.
TreacleMiller
Member
Getting to line 9 at the moment.
I have no idea if Northen require an enhanced pass these days or not.
I have no idea if Northen require an enhanced pass these days or not.
rustyh6281@gma
Member
TreacleMiller
Member
Im currently covering around 1175 to 1250 cells - 9 to 10 rows per block. I have not made an error in around 8000 cells when doin gloads and ive got omissions down to around 1/2 per 1250. Will be practising more this evening.
Does anyone know what Northern need as a pass? Conflicting information around.
Turns out, yes, yes it is
Does anyone know what Northern need as a pass? Conflicting information around.
Turns out, yes, yes it is
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Balloonthief
Member
Does anyone know the Scotrail pass mark for this test?
Luckyflames
Member
No one really knows the pass mark. I got down to around row 7/8 on each of the five sheets on my assessment day with GTR and passed. Secret is to learn the patterns of the dots. There’s only so many for the four dots.
Balloonthief
Member
Thanks for the reply.
Im consistantly achieving 9 compleated rows but need to improve accuracy... usually around 5-10 errors. Is there anything else you would say is worth practicing?
Im consistantly achieving 9 compleated rows but need to improve accuracy... usually around 5-10 errors. Is there anything else you would say is worth practicing?
TreacleMiller
Member
Keep practicing. Work on getting errors down consistently to <2 per 5 sheets.
Real test has less pattern variations so is easier than the practice material.
Real test has less pattern variations so is easier than the practice material.
Flying Scott
Member
Thank you to @newlearner for sharing the Group Bourdon Tool, as well as those who have offered advice as it is really appreciated. I will certainly be putting some practice in.
I hope this helps.
I downloaded the Zip file and scanned it for viruses but none were present. I then unzipped the Zip file, scanned the .exe file and no virus was detected either.
I downloaded the Zip file, extracted the .exe file and ran the installer without any problems. The application also ran without any problems either. Before I extracted the .exe installer, I right-clicked on the Zip file, choose Properties, ticked the Unblock checkbox and clicked the OK button. This allowed the Zip and installer files to function normally without additional restrictions being imposed due to the file being downloaded.
I hope this helps.
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No worries. Must have been my laptop. It’s not in the best shape now. I was able to use some online tests and managed to pass the assessments a few weeks ago
Flying Scott
Member
Congratulations on passing your assessments! I wish you all the best with the rest of your job application.
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Thank you.
I never got the software working for this (I have a Mac and emulation wasn’t too cooperative).
Bit of a nerd anyway and wanted to practice so I coded an online version on p5js.
If you run the sketch (play button in top left) it will generate a sheet for you to print out and do it the paper way. Which is how the actual test is so why you wouldn’t just practice like that from the start I don’t know.
If you click on the page it should go fullscreen so that, depending on your browser, you can print just the page of boxes without the rest of the web page.
Press ‘r’ to re-draw the page with new dots. It’s all generated at runtime so the clustering of the dots within the boxes are random and you will get a different page each time you refresh (the hope was that you should learn the skill not the shape / pattern of how the dots appear but I guess that’s somewhat inevitable).
The code is pretty basic and provided on the site and it’s set up in such a way you can tweak it if there are any other code inclined folk who want to play around with the settings. Hope other people find it useful.
TLDR;
Dots test without installing any software.
https://editor.p5js.org/klkl/sketches/vonVA1VZK
Bit of a nerd anyway and wanted to practice so I coded an online version on p5js.
If you run the sketch (play button in top left) it will generate a sheet for you to print out and do it the paper way. Which is how the actual test is so why you wouldn’t just practice like that from the start I don’t know.
If you click on the page it should go fullscreen so that, depending on your browser, you can print just the page of boxes without the rest of the web page.
Press ‘r’ to re-draw the page with new dots. It’s all generated at runtime so the clustering of the dots within the boxes are random and you will get a different page each time you refresh (the hope was that you should learn the skill not the shape / pattern of how the dots appear but I guess that’s somewhat inevitable).
The code is pretty basic and provided on the site and it’s set up in such a way you can tweak it if there are any other code inclined folk who want to play around with the settings. Hope other people find it useful.
TLDR;
Dots test without installing any software.
https://editor.p5js.org/klkl/sketches/vonVA1VZK
Luckyflames
Member
Absolutely brilliant for potential applicants. Wish I’d had this when I applied.
Overall Statistics:
-------------------
Perception & Attention:
Targets Omitted ------------ 3
Marked Incorrect ----------- None
Speed:
Total Cells ---------------- 1188
Mean Cell Time ------------- 0.319
Median Cell Time ----------- 0.250
Completed Rows ------------- 46
Mean Row Time -------------- 7.968
Median Row Time ------------ 7.930
Vigilance:
Row Fluctuation ------------ 3.66
---------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------
This is my most recent practice. Is this any good or am I way off?
-------------------
Perception & Attention:
Targets Omitted ------------ 3
Marked Incorrect ----------- None
Speed:
Total Cells ---------------- 1188
Mean Cell Time ------------- 0.319
Median Cell Time ----------- 0.250
Completed Rows ------------- 46
Mean Row Time -------------- 7.968
Median Row Time ------------ 7.930
Vigilance:
Row Fluctuation ------------ 3.66
---------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------
This is my most recent practice. Is this any good or am I way off?
AverageJoe
Member
Print it out and do it, testing on the computer is nothing like the real thing on paper.
Also no one can really tell you if it is good or bad because on the day you are only told pass or fail.
I've been doing them on paper and gave actually found it easier than on the computer.
Barlos1973
Member
Do different TOCs have a different standards. With a bit of practice ( 4 or times) I have now got to 9 lines.
Yes, with all the driver testing there is national standard and then certain TOCs set higher pass scores which are considered enhanced. But each TOC can set a different pass level so being enhanced for one may not be a pass on another
Barlos1973
Member
Thanks. This is all a bit confusing then. Any ideas how many 'lines' would be sufficient for a pass with Northern
Luckyflames
Member
I’ll guarantee that if you can get to line 7/8 with no mistakes. The proper Paper test 5 sheets A3 You’ll pass. At enhanced.
TacoTraveller
Member
- Joined
- 30 May 2018
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I'd say 7/8 lines with no errors.
That being said I've heard that the GBT tool on here is harder than the actual test
Barlos1973
Member
Cheers. Will keep on practising. Just hope the interview went well. As I sit here this evening and start anyaslising more and more the less confident I'm getting
Prodigy1989
Member
I used the tool and printed out pages. I did one session a day for about a week and passed easily. You really do pick it up quickly once you get going.
AverageJoe
Member
How do you know you passed easily?
No one knows the scoring and even if when at home you were getting something daft like 20 lines with no mistakes it doesn’t mean you got that on the day since you are not able to mark it yourself.
I agree with the advice you are giving but it’s not right to say you passed easily as you may have only just scrapped through and it could also dishearten those that have tried and failed.
Prodigy1989
Member
My apologies for my choice of wording.
To rephrase, I went from 6-7 lines with multiple mistakes to around 9-10 lines with zero mistakes.
AverageJoe
Member
Well done for getting through, whether it was by 5 lines or 1 mark, the pass is all that matters
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