As I quickly posted earlier under the 2010 thread, things are still moving in the background ... but for myself towards 2011 rather than 2010 .
Because it is background, I had not posted - to avoid stealing the thunder of others.
Perhaps I should have updated, so my apologies, but I was holding back for something more definite to post.
When I made the original posting in June 2009 I had intended sitting M4 and M6 this year. It has since come to light a couple of experienced railways telecoms engineers are giving their time and effort to creating study material. I understand the aim is for mid-2010 for inclusion in the 2011 study pack. With this in mind, I moved my own plans to sit M4 / M6 to 2011 - and hence my interest in study groups - perhaps this where I really should have updated this forum.
I have volunteered myself to set up / assist / co-ordinate / administer / whatever a London based study group for 2011 M4 / M6. I doubt I'll be able to lead any study though ... I am very much a ''student'' rather than a ''teacher'' as my exam technique is rusty. The last time I sat a formal exam was 1982!!! Even though I have near 25 years in telecoms technical support with two multinationals, I have very little railway experience. CCTV for example - I know nothing. Thus while I might have the technical knoweldge I have zero confidence to turn that into what is needed to pass an exam for myself, never mind advise others.
One important factor to bear in mind for the IRSE 2010/2011 year - the incoming IRSE President [*] for 2010/2011 is apparently keen to promote telecoms within IRSE. With main line ERTMS ETCS containing, and GSM-R itself, telecoms elements - likewise TBTC/CTBC TETRA within the (my) metro domain - this area is going to grow. I hope the President-elects' direction will catalyse IRSE members and potential members with telecoms backgrounds - and maybe experience more exam support. If we can look forward to increased telecoms IRSE Technical Papers over the next year well then thats material for examiners to base questions on and study material for ourselves.
This answer probably does not help you much for 2010 exams, so again my apologies for not updating the thread.
Of course, none of this prevents M4 or M6 study groups for 2010 ... perhaps there are others interested in 2010 M4 and/or M6 ... and maybe would want to set one up.
If it were in the London area probably participate to some degree, if only to gain experience and thus feedback into the 2011 ideas.
[*] Paul Jenkins
--
Nick
I am also thinking about an official approach to IRSE asking for a one off dispensation to release a further one years past M4 + M6 exam papers for use in this group.
I am aware of IRSE policy ... while I can understand their viewpoint, I do not wholly agree with it. I think there is good reason for making M4 + M6 a special case - the paucity of M4 + M6 material. The number of candidates sitting mainstream M1 M2 M3 M7 makes for higher availability of past questions, worked examples, and sample attempts.
M4 + M6 are in a chickens and eggs situation - we need more examples to help kick start self study or exam groups. I myself have only seen complete M4 + M6 papers for 2009 (currently on IRSE web site) and 2008 (IRSE site last year).
M4 + M6 have 7 rather than the 10 questions that M2 M3 etc have. Candidates looking at say the last 5 years papers for M2 or M3 have up to 50 sample questions per module to draw on /somewhere/ for 2005-2009. For the same years, M4 or M6 candidates have only the 14 questions from 2008 and 2009 - only 28% of equivalent material yet carry the same exam marks and module weighting.
So I am thinking about approaching IRSE for official permission for 2007 M4 + M6 exams questions to be released to this forum, in a different format if necessary. Would increase our past papers examples by 50%.
--
Nick
Because it is background, I had not posted - to avoid stealing the thunder of others.
Perhaps I should have updated, so my apologies, but I was holding back for something more definite to post.
When I made the original posting in June 2009 I had intended sitting M4 and M6 this year. It has since come to light a couple of experienced railways telecoms engineers are giving their time and effort to creating study material. I understand the aim is for mid-2010 for inclusion in the 2011 study pack. With this in mind, I moved my own plans to sit M4 / M6 to 2011 - and hence my interest in study groups - perhaps this where I really should have updated this forum.
I have volunteered myself to set up / assist / co-ordinate / administer / whatever a London based study group for 2011 M4 / M6. I doubt I'll be able to lead any study though ... I am very much a ''student'' rather than a ''teacher'' as my exam technique is rusty. The last time I sat a formal exam was 1982!!! Even though I have near 25 years in telecoms technical support with two multinationals, I have very little railway experience. CCTV for example - I know nothing. Thus while I might have the technical knoweldge I have zero confidence to turn that into what is needed to pass an exam for myself, never mind advise others.
One important factor to bear in mind for the IRSE 2010/2011 year - the incoming IRSE President [*] for 2010/2011 is apparently keen to promote telecoms within IRSE. With main line ERTMS ETCS containing, and GSM-R itself, telecoms elements - likewise TBTC/CTBC TETRA within the (my) metro domain - this area is going to grow. I hope the President-elects' direction will catalyse IRSE members and potential members with telecoms backgrounds - and maybe experience more exam support. If we can look forward to increased telecoms IRSE Technical Papers over the next year well then thats material for examiners to base questions on and study material for ourselves.
This answer probably does not help you much for 2010 exams, so again my apologies for not updating the thread.
Of course, none of this prevents M4 or M6 study groups for 2010 ... perhaps there are others interested in 2010 M4 and/or M6 ... and maybe would want to set one up.
If it were in the London area probably participate to some degree, if only to gain experience and thus feedback into the 2011 ideas.
[*] Paul Jenkins
--
Nick
(20-02-2010, 04:43 PM)nicklawford Wrote: As I quickly posted earlier under the 2010 thread, things are still moving in the background ... but for myself towards 2011 rather than 2010 .
I am also thinking about an official approach to IRSE asking for a one off dispensation to release a further one years past M4 + M6 exam papers for use in this group.
I am aware of IRSE policy ... while I can understand their viewpoint, I do not wholly agree with it. I think there is good reason for making M4 + M6 a special case - the paucity of M4 + M6 material. The number of candidates sitting mainstream M1 M2 M3 M7 makes for higher availability of past questions, worked examples, and sample attempts.
M4 + M6 are in a chickens and eggs situation - we need more examples to help kick start self study or exam groups. I myself have only seen complete M4 + M6 papers for 2009 (currently on IRSE web site) and 2008 (IRSE site last year).
M4 + M6 have 7 rather than the 10 questions that M2 M3 etc have. Candidates looking at say the last 5 years papers for M2 or M3 have up to 50 sample questions per module to draw on /somewhere/ for 2005-2009. For the same years, M4 or M6 candidates have only the 14 questions from 2008 and 2009 - only 28% of equivalent material yet carry the same exam marks and module weighting.
So I am thinking about approaching IRSE for official permission for 2007 M4 + M6 exams questions to be released to this forum, in a different format if necessary. Would increase our past papers examples by 50%.
--
Nick
