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Group Bourdon

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MrHappy

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21 Jan 2013
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Hi,
I was just wondering if anyone has a link to the online tool that used to be available for the dots test? Or maybe if anyone has a copy if they would be kind enough to email or PM it to me. Thanks in advance if anybody can help, I've got a assessment day coming up and I am bricking it!:lol:
 
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MrHappy

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Thanks doubleamber. Actually as a typical new member I should have read the sticky :oops:, there's a working attachment on page 26. Although if anyone knows if DB Schenker at doncaster use the computer or paper version I'd appreciate the heads up.
 

NI 271

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Thanks doubleamber. Actually as a typical new member I should have read the sticky :oops:, there's a working attachment on page 26. Although if anyone knows if DB Schenker at doncaster use the computer or paper version I'd appreciate the heads up.

I did the paper one a fortnight ago, so it's advantage lefties...
 

LCC106

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I practised online as I didn't realise you could print it off. My test was on paper and I passed. Important to block out the noise of other people as they put pencil to paper though... I could hear someone who was faster than me and it was a bit distracting, but nonetheless I am now a qualified driver!
 

doubleamber

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Thanks doubleamber. Actually as a typical new member I should have read the sticky :oops:, there's a working attachment on page 26. Although if anyone knows if DB Schenker at doncaster use the computer or paper version I'd appreciate the heads up.

I did the test at Doncaster on paper as well and passed, just pace yourself and work as fast and more importantly as accurately as you can.
 

W230

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IImportant to block out the noise of other people as they put pencil to paper though... I could hear someone who was faster than me and it was a bit distracting, but nonetheless I am now a qualified driver!
The bloke next to me kept saying "four" out loud everytime he came to a group of four dots. It was so off putting I stuck a finger in my ear!! :lol:
 

Joe20365

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21 Nov 2012
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When I took the test the room we were in had 6 tables with 2 seats at each table, but only 7 people in there. I ended up sat on a table on my own, and when it came to the Group Bourdon I could spread my sheet out right across the table, and others said afterwards they were struggling for space because of the person next to them.

So if there's a chance, try and get as much desk space as possible. :)
 

sw1ller

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The bloke next to me kept saying "four" out loud everytime he came to a group of four dots. It was so off putting I stuck a finger in my ear!! :lol:

That's awful... I hope you passed. I also hope you gave him a clip round the ear for it too. :)

I would just like to add a THANK YOU to whoever designed & posted that GB test on here. I've dramatically improved from about 1000 cells and 10 omissions to nearly 1300 and 1-2 omissions. All I have to do now is start pacing myself, slow down a tad and stop missing those pesky few and I'm sorted.
 

MrHappy

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Cheers again doubleamber and thanks too NI 271.

I'm pretty glad its the paper test as I find it a little easier than the PC tool, I'm still going to practice both though as the stats and scoring on the tool are really helping me see whats going on when I'm doing the test.
 

Geduzas

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22 Jan 2013
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Overall Statistics:
-------------------
Perception & Attention:
Targets Omitted ------------ 2
Marked Incorrect ----------- None
Speed:
Total Cells ---------------- 1391
Mean Cell Time ------------- 0.278
Median Cell Time ----------- 0.230
Completed Rows ------------- 54
Mean Row Time -------------- 6.959
Median Row Time ------------ 7.045
Vigilance:
Row Fluctuation ------------ 2.98
 

TDK

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Overall Statistics:
-------------------
Perception & Attention:
Targets Omitted ------------ 2
Marked Incorrect ----------- None
Speed:
Total Cells ---------------- 1391
Mean Cell Time ------------- 0.278
Median Cell Time ----------- 0.230
Completed Rows ------------- 54
Mean Row Time -------------- 6.959
Median Row Time ------------ 7.045
Vigilance:
Row Fluctuation ------------ 2.98

Was your last page a consistant as your first as without this information these figures mean nothing
 

sw1ller

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Was your last page a consistant as your first as without this information these figures mean nothing

Am I correct in thinking that you could complete 70 (1800 odd cells) rows with no mistakes but if your first 3 pages are ultra quick and last 2 are very slow then its PROBALLY a fail? Its all about consistency. So just 1100 cells completed but taking 8-10 seconds on each row throughout all 5 pages then you can be quite please and maybe get a pass?
 

evoluzione

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More about accuracy and consistency than out right speed.

I always did around 1350 cells, with 0 incorrect and 0 omitted and I got a top grade pass in the assessments, sorry cant remember what they actually call a top level pass.
 

KT530

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12 Jan 2013
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Does anyone know which TOCs use paper and which use computer based GB tests?

I was wondering what TPE used?

I find the computer version easier to practice on.

Thanks in advance
 

TDK

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Am I correct in thinking that you could complete 70 (1800 odd cells) rows with no mistakes but if your first 3 pages are ultra quick and last 2 are very slow then its PROBALLY a fail? Its all about consistency. So just 1100 cells completed but taking 8-10 seconds on each row throughout all 5 pages then you can be quite please and maybe get a pass?

The assessor will say what is needed and when I did the assessment we were told that this assessment is for concentration and we are looking for cosistancy and not quantity, please remember that you must mark from Left to right, do not omit any lines and be as accurate and consistant as you can. I do not know how many I did but I ensured that I didn't rush and completed over half a page on all pages and passed with a good grade where some had completed a lot more than me on their first 3 pages but dwindled on their last 2 and failed. The best way to tackle this is not to panic and go hell for leather - listen to what they ask of you and from experience many don't and fail due to not maintaining either their accuracy or quantity through out the assessment. I do not know how many cells there are to a page but I would comfortably say that half a page on all pages with no mistakes or ommisions will get you a good pass.
 

sw1ller

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The assessor will say what is needed and when I did the assessment we were told that this assessment is for concentration and we are looking for cosistancy and not quantity, please remember that you must mark from Left to right, do not omit any lines and be as accurate and consistant as you can. I do not know how many I did but I ensured that I didn't rush and completed over half a page on all pages and passed with a good grade where some had completed a lot more than me on their first 3 pages but dwindled on their last 2 and failed. The best way to tackle this is not to panic and go hell for leather - listen to what they ask of you and from experience many don't and fail due to not maintaining either their accuracy or quantity through out the assessment. I do not know how many cells there are to a page but I would comfortably say that half a page on all pages with no mistakes or ommisions will get you a good pass.

Thanks for this TDK. Your quite the fountain of knowledge. :)

I'm actually starting to do it to a beat in my head (i used to play the drums, ive seen a few people mention that it helps on here) i'll do it a few times at 8 sec a row (lets call that 8 SAR as apposed to 8 BPM) and then i go faster to about 7 SAR.

Im happy with it at the mo but its always 2 omissions. Still more nervous about the English/memory part if im honest. Its very hard to practice these as the only person i can get to write any questions about a passage of TOC news is me. but then the questions will be pointless!! ahh well. i'll just practice, practice hen practice some more.... if i fail, ive done my best. ;)
 

Geduzas

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22 Jan 2013
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Was your last page a consistant as your first as without this information these figures mean nothing

it is consistent , as that, today i made just 1 mistake of 56 rows, 6.6 sec a row
 

142094

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Remember that things on the day of the test will be rather different - you'll be in a much different state of mind, will be taking the test in an unfamilar place and will be working against the other people in the room. Remember to factor this in.
 

TDK

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will be taking the test in an unfamilar place and will be working against the other people in the room. Remember to factor this in.

I cannot see how you can be working against anyone, do your own thing and don't worry what others are doing otherwise you will be distracted and this is the whole purpose of the assessment, Concentration
 

snaps

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28 Jan 2013
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Hello

I would appreciate if anyone can email me the Group Bourdon Tool for pc as I think I need some practice and have tried everywhere with no success. snaps41 at gmail dot com.

Kind Regards

Si:)
 

142094

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I cannot see how you can be working against anyone, do your own thing and don't worry what others are doing otherwise you will be distracted and this is the whole purpose of the assessment, Concentration

Thinking about it logically, you are working against the other people in the room for the job. I'd agree the best thing to do is to not think about it, but you never can tell what will happen when undergoing the tests, and the pressure you are under to get the best score possible.
 

Beveridges

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You are not working against other people - how they perform in the tests has absolutely no effect on whether you pass or fail the assessment.

They might not even effect whether you ultimately get the job as they could be going for different Drivers positions to you.

I found the tests on the day very similar to running through the practice tool. It is exactly the same skill required, and if you can do it on the practice tool you can do it at the assessment center.
 

142094

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You are not working against other people - how they perform in the tests has absolutely no effect on whether you pass or fail the assessment.

No, but in the long run you are competing against them for the vacancy.

Beveridges said:
They might not even effect whether you ultimately get the job as they could be going for different Drivers positions to you.

'Could' being the operative word. I have no doubt that there will be many times where most, if not all those at the assessment centre will be going for vacancies by one company.
 

Beveridges

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When I sat mine I was the only one going for the Driver Opp role. Others were going for Blackpool / Manchester / Liverpool positions within the same company. But even if there are others going for the same vacancy (which yes it will happen sometimes), how they perform has no effect on whether you pass the assessment stage, so you don't even have to worry about the other people on that day. You can worry about them in the Interview as that is when you are competing against them.
 

snaps

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28 Jan 2013
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Sorry chaps may have been a bit miss leading in what I said in my last post. I meant to say I have tried to download the Group Bourdon Tool for pc everywhere with no success.

Regards

Si
 

TDK

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Thinking about it logically, you are working against the other people in the room for the job. I'd agree the best thing to do is to not think about it, but you never can tell what will happen when undergoing the tests, and the pressure you are under to get the best score possible.

But that is generic with train driving in an indirect way, you cannot be distracted, stay calm in adverse scenarios, maintain concentraion consistantly & need to maintain timings. Competition with others is irrelevent. so this test is relevent to the assessments!
 

lcar79

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29 Jan 2013
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A year or two ago i had the group bourdon tool installed on my pc over time it wasnt needed anymore so i deleted, now i thinking of applying for driver roles again. does anybody know where i can get this program again? as Si said above all internet links are .... dead (the links all go back to orginal website which has been removed or expired).

If not where would i get some paper patterns i can print off myself?

any help would be very greatly appreciated!



Lee
 
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