(02-04-2009, 11:52 AM)Peter Wrote:(02-04-2009, 10:41 AM)mangeshwakankar Wrote: Hi,
I am planning for giving exam for module 2, just wanted to know how worth is buying the resource pack from IRSE. As presently it seems that module 2 resource pack is under preparation....
Mangesh
My understanding is that you get the study pack when you register for the module, so if you are serious about sitting the module, get your application in ASAP. The pack is not necessarily as complete as it could be (PJW is working on developing it further) but since it comes free with your exam fee, it is a lot better than nothing!
I think IRSE need to update that page of information; this was true for the 2008 edition (though indeed it was even then substatially complete albeit with gaps- most notably aspect sequence that should really be in the module 3 Study Pack anyway!).
The 2009 edition is indeed pretty well complete for UK Mainline apart from the section on ETCS; however I suspect there is actually far more detail in that section than any of the examiners who mark that module are aware of! The truth is that no-one really knows how to apply ETCS to a real layout of the nature of those that feature in the IRSE exam but I have included my "first stab" and have discussed with colleagues how I might solve some of the problems I came up against, but we came to no firm unanimous decision.
I do want to put more on foreign railways and particularly Metros; until someone comes forward withe experience of those environments then this will remain an aspiration only. I think "UK Mainline centric" is a valid criticism of many of the Study Packs, but it has to be down to those sections of the industry that feel themselves under-represented to help rectify.
In my opinion (and obviously I cannot be unbiased) it is by far the most useful Study Pack for self study. It is indisputable that it is larger than all the other study packs put together; the main text is something in excess of 600 pages; so that is at least 4 pages for you to read / do the relevant exercises every day from now to the exam!
When I worked for MHA Consultants, the boss tended to review all our deliverables (woe betide us if we used the wrong sort of bullets or fonts!) and one of his measures was whether the report "felt worth the cost" for what we were charging the client and I think he had a yardstick of
PJW