Thank you for being brave and also for the feedback.
Does seem you were doing things right in your preparation, so I can see why you are disappointed. On the face of it, I don't understand your results either. It is good to know though that you are not disheartened and will try again.
I wonder whether it is sometime since you have done other exams; exam technique is pretty important and those who are in their young 20s not long out of university tend to do diproportionally well- i.e. what they lack in railway experience is more than compensated by them still being "exam passing machines". It may be that it is the pressure of getting things done in the time allowed that may be a difficulty- as you say you are having to think too much and perhaps using up too much time. Against this you have obviously practiced against the clock and can write enough for the written questions, so it isn't simply that. The one thing that I would point out is that despite your other contributions to this Forum, you haven't submitted your efforts for scrutiny here. Perhaps that is because you can get this done more suitably by your local mentor which would probably be even better, but it could indicate that you weren't getting feedback on your efforts as a matter of routine and hence might have thought you doing better than you actually were.
Re specific point on the Control Tables; I personally used to feel that it would be better to do most CTs well even if that meant omitting one as demonstrating better knowledge and understanding. However I do gather from the examiners that there are marks for each CT, so on that basis then the better technique is "the low hanging fruit" on all of the CTs. Hence think you got that approach correct.
Module 2 does seem particularly odd result given your initial feelings and also that the pass rate this year is actually quite high. Guessing of course, but the most likelyexplanation would be that you had failed to comprehend the notes about operational moves required on the layout etc and therefore't provide appropriate signalling, either as couldn't run the train service needed or provided far more facilities than could be justified. That would be an explantion why you left thinking it was in the bag (i.e. obviusly comfortable with the level of completion and unaware it presented you with something you didn't know how to handle). Otherwise can only think that you perpetuated loads of howlers re issing trap points, not providing sigals to protect conflicts, having insufficient brking between caution and stop signals etc; this is pretty unlikely if you have been studying the Study Pack I feel.
RE feedback- the IRSE is quite adamant that they will not consider giving papers back or individual feedback, other than that limited info available for people getting an "N".
I can see both sides:
a) why unsuccessful candidates would like
b) why IRSE doesn't want to go down that road.
To be honest, you wouldn't expect a univesity or a schools examination board to do so, would you? [Actually don't answer that question! Judging by the recent allegations about certain UK exam board examiners tipping off school teachers about which questions were going to come up in forthcoming exams, one dreads to think what one should expect!]
So the only option really is the Exam Review meeting where we can expect an overall summary and identification of common errors / where people lost marks. They won't get drawn into individual cases, but you most certainly ask your question re how best to utilise your available time if unable to complete all CTs. Also could get them to comment in reasonably general terms whether it was the CTs or the written questions that were weak. If there is something specific to that particular year's paper (e.g. you didn't know what to show for possible flank locking with a switch diamond) then you can certainly ask that sort of thing.
If there is a group with a specific detailed interest then can sometimes persuade a particular examiner to attend a local study group to give a session. There is a limited time window in which this is possible (typically Feb & March) because then start compiling next year's paper. Perhaps that is something that we could request- for example in the Signet offices at Derby and this might also make it possible for different people than can easily attend the London session to get some feedback.
Any way, it is Christmas; this is one for next year!
Does seem you were doing things right in your preparation, so I can see why you are disappointed. On the face of it, I don't understand your results either. It is good to know though that you are not disheartened and will try again.
I wonder whether it is sometime since you have done other exams; exam technique is pretty important and those who are in their young 20s not long out of university tend to do diproportionally well- i.e. what they lack in railway experience is more than compensated by them still being "exam passing machines". It may be that it is the pressure of getting things done in the time allowed that may be a difficulty- as you say you are having to think too much and perhaps using up too much time. Against this you have obviously practiced against the clock and can write enough for the written questions, so it isn't simply that. The one thing that I would point out is that despite your other contributions to this Forum, you haven't submitted your efforts for scrutiny here. Perhaps that is because you can get this done more suitably by your local mentor which would probably be even better, but it could indicate that you weren't getting feedback on your efforts as a matter of routine and hence might have thought you doing better than you actually were.
Re specific point on the Control Tables; I personally used to feel that it would be better to do most CTs well even if that meant omitting one as demonstrating better knowledge and understanding. However I do gather from the examiners that there are marks for each CT, so on that basis then the better technique is "the low hanging fruit" on all of the CTs. Hence think you got that approach correct.
Module 2 does seem particularly odd result given your initial feelings and also that the pass rate this year is actually quite high. Guessing of course, but the most likelyexplanation would be that you had failed to comprehend the notes about operational moves required on the layout etc and therefore't provide appropriate signalling, either as couldn't run the train service needed or provided far more facilities than could be justified. That would be an explantion why you left thinking it was in the bag (i.e. obviusly comfortable with the level of completion and unaware it presented you with something you didn't know how to handle). Otherwise can only think that you perpetuated loads of howlers re issing trap points, not providing sigals to protect conflicts, having insufficient brking between caution and stop signals etc; this is pretty unlikely if you have been studying the Study Pack I feel.
RE feedback- the IRSE is quite adamant that they will not consider giving papers back or individual feedback, other than that limited info available for people getting an "N".
I can see both sides:
a) why unsuccessful candidates would like
b) why IRSE doesn't want to go down that road.
To be honest, you wouldn't expect a univesity or a schools examination board to do so, would you? [Actually don't answer that question! Judging by the recent allegations about certain UK exam board examiners tipping off school teachers about which questions were going to come up in forthcoming exams, one dreads to think what one should expect!]
So the only option really is the Exam Review meeting where we can expect an overall summary and identification of common errors / where people lost marks. They won't get drawn into individual cases, but you most certainly ask your question re how best to utilise your available time if unable to complete all CTs. Also could get them to comment in reasonably general terms whether it was the CTs or the written questions that were weak. If there is something specific to that particular year's paper (e.g. you didn't know what to show for possible flank locking with a switch diamond) then you can certainly ask that sort of thing.
If there is a group with a specific detailed interest then can sometimes persuade a particular examiner to attend a local study group to give a session. There is a limited time window in which this is possible (typically Feb & March) because then start compiling next year's paper. Perhaps that is something that we could request- for example in the Signet offices at Derby and this might also make it possible for different people than can easily attend the London session to get some feedback.
Any way, it is Christmas; this is one for next year!
(24-12-2011, 11:51 PM)fil Wrote: Disappointing results for me to say the least! Didn't pass M2 or M3
Obviously I'm not quite up to scratch as yet. Not too much of a big deal, it has always been a goal to work towards for me, not the decoration of the MIRSE, so my CPD will continue down the same path to try again next year.
To give some feedback PJW.
PJW