Hi all

[Peter]

I am interested in the non availability of the Study Packs; I assume that you actually registered for the exam some time ago?

I am afraid that my experience is that the IRSE HQ leave it far too late to make this available eah year- since it rarely changes much from year to year (other than add the previous years exam paper) then I really can't see why the work for this cannot be done well prior. Once the exam has been sat in October, surely the papers could be made available to the HQ team and the DVD updated prior to the Christmas / New Year period which has the heavy exam resuts workload. Even if left after this, then surely the DVD ought to be available by March at the latest. The examiners complain (with very significant justification I personally feel) that candidates do not prepare themselves adequately- the flip side of this coin is that the Study Packs ought to be available at least 6 months before the exam. Frankly if I were in charge and someone registered for the exam before the latest DVD available, then I woud at least send the previous year's version and follow up with the amended version as soon as produced.

This is not a one-off; it is a systematic fault that reappears each year. I cannot directly do anything about it, but I am quite prepared to "rattle the cage" of those in a position to be able to do so. The IRSE does charge a significant fee for sitting the exam and includes the provision of the DVD in this- hence definitely seems grounds for complaint. I don't suggest you formally complain, but I promise that I will find the opportunity in due course to express my view of the situation. I don't mind making mysef unpopular if the cause is just.

I spoke to them about the study packs when they had a stand at Railtex. I, like Peter, cannot see the reason about "getting it updated" as being realistic. Why would it only be done in response to the last exam. Learning information is either valid or not and the world does not move on with the exam cycle. Given that last year's papers are available on the website, holing up the pack for their inclusion is bunk.

Speaking of online, why is the pack not online.

Another idea is that why get it free when you register. Why not have a fee when you buy it but the agreement that if you have bought the study pack, you get a discount in your exam fees, valid for four modules totalling the amount paid for the study pack. Gets the student access to the pack as soon as they want it, and becomes cost neutral on both sides. We planted that seed - does anyone have some water and sunshine to nurse it?

Peter