01-06-2012, 02:31 PM
This was one of the questions I done last year and didn't like it one bit.
In the months before the 2011 exam we were warned that a DC tc calculation question might well not come up due to the problems encountered in the few years previous. That said, I couldn't help look on it as anything other than a real 'banker' if it did come up because I found the calculation questions easier than the essay ones. Therefore I spent more time practicing this type of question than any other before the exam. When I opened the paper on the day and read the question I wasn't that surprised though, in a way was still relieved there was a track circuit question in there at all.
Remember being about 25 minutes into the question and I had to keep reading the question over and over again, just couldn't figure out what the examiner was after. Ended up making up my own track circuit for the last part, doing the calculation and then writing a small essay on why the figures turned out they way they did. Didn't feel right as i was doing it and ended up taking about 40 mins. Just had time to leave a note to the examiner telling him/her that I didn't like their question - not recommended (was the last question of a long hot day in my defence).
After the exam review in 2012 and going on what has been said in the last few years I would steer well clear of the dc track circuit questions this time around. Think this will be the year they finally get dropped and your revision time might be better spent elsewhere. If they do drop it would be nice to see another calculation type question in its place though (give the writing hand a slight break for 30mins, constant essay questions are a real killer....including extra one in Mod 3).
Not offering any advice on your answer (will leave that to those who know something) just wanted to let you/others know what I thought of this particular question.
Q5 Mod 5 - 2011....still bugging me, but I'm on the road to recovery.
In the months before the 2011 exam we were warned that a DC tc calculation question might well not come up due to the problems encountered in the few years previous. That said, I couldn't help look on it as anything other than a real 'banker' if it did come up because I found the calculation questions easier than the essay ones. Therefore I spent more time practicing this type of question than any other before the exam. When I opened the paper on the day and read the question I wasn't that surprised though, in a way was still relieved there was a track circuit question in there at all.
Remember being about 25 minutes into the question and I had to keep reading the question over and over again, just couldn't figure out what the examiner was after. Ended up making up my own track circuit for the last part, doing the calculation and then writing a small essay on why the figures turned out they way they did. Didn't feel right as i was doing it and ended up taking about 40 mins. Just had time to leave a note to the examiner telling him/her that I didn't like their question - not recommended (was the last question of a long hot day in my defence).
After the exam review in 2012 and going on what has been said in the last few years I would steer well clear of the dc track circuit questions this time around. Think this will be the year they finally get dropped and your revision time might be better spent elsewhere. If they do drop it would be nice to see another calculation type question in its place though (give the writing hand a slight break for 30mins, constant essay questions are a real killer....including extra one in Mod 3).
Not offering any advice on your answer (will leave that to those who know something) just wanted to let you/others know what I thought of this particular question.
Q5 Mod 5 - 2011....still bugging me, but I'm on the road to recovery.