2008 Mod 5 Q4

[Hort]

HI,

I have attempted Q4 of the 2008 paper (comparison of track circuits and axle counters). any comments would be welcome.

[PJW]

HI,

I have attempted Q4 of the 2008 paper (comparison of track circuits and axle counters). any comments would be welcome.

I had a brief look. In brief this wasn't at all a bad attempt but I have added some comments in the attached. However even as written I think this answer would probably have scored a high Pass or low Credit

I think it got too bogged down in detail re reset / restore when time might have been better spect taking a wider view, particularly as the wording of the detail did confuse two slightly different methodologies and present as if one and the same. This would not have een obvious if a slightly higher level approach had been taken! In particular focussed rather too much on axle counters and insufficiently on track circuits with which being compared.

For exam purposes I'd have made greater use of bullets and comparison tables and have had less plain text- it is just a bit quicker and easier for the examiner to assimilate and therefore less likely to miss one of the points you are making; to me a candidate presenting a thought in a bullet point is effectively saying to the examiner "I claim that this is worth a mark; are you going to deny me that",
whereas continuous prose seems to leave the examiner with more freedom to decide upon an overall mark.

I also think that it is easier to recognise when you are not truely focussed on the actual question whereas when "writing a story / explanation" it is easier to drift off a bit, just because "it reads well".