https://irse.signalpost.org/ Fri, 15 May 2026 22:38:08 +0000 MyBB https://irse.signalpost.org/showthread.php?tid=2429 Tue, 27 Oct 2020 11:34:53 +0000 Peter]]> https://irse.signalpost.org/showthread.php?tid=2429 exam pages.

Given that there is not a 1:1 mapping between the old and new modules, if you have passed some modules already, you should check the useful tool for checking Exam Equivalents to make sure that you are not studying for modules that are already covered by your achievements.]]> exam pages.

Given that there is not a 1:1 mapping between the old and new modules, if you have passed some modules already, you should check the useful tool for checking Exam Equivalents to make sure that you are not studying for modules that are already covered by your achievements.]]> https://irse.signalpost.org/showthread.php?tid=818 Mon, 20 Jun 2011 17:13:47 +0000 PJW]]> https://irse.signalpost.org/showthread.php?tid=818 Believe however it will broadly as discussed at the Exam Review in January:

1. Module 1: 3 questions to be answered, 90 minutes

2. Module 3: 3 from 11 questions to be answered (CTs only count as one)- see more details in Mock Paper post.

3. Apart from Module 2, each question on each module will be marked on the basis of "a mark a minute of writing"- i.e. all scored from 25 for a 30min question (you need to think a bit before launching into the actual writing, number the pages, candidate number etc)

4. 10 mins reading time for all candidates for all modules.]]> Believe however it will broadly as discussed at the Exam Review in January:

1. Module 1: 3 questions to be answered, 90 minutes

2. Module 3: 3 from 11 questions to be answered (CTs only count as one)- see more details in Mock Paper post.

3. Apart from Module 2, each question on each module will be marked on the basis of "a mark a minute of writing"- i.e. all scored from 25 for a 30min question (you need to think a bit before launching into the actual writing, number the pages, candidate number etc)

4. 10 mins reading time for all candidates for all modules.]]> https://irse.signalpost.org/showthread.php?tid=129 Mon, 06 Oct 2008 14:30:25 +0000 nthomso3]]> https://irse.signalpost.org/showthread.php?tid=129
Just heard a little rumour that (not just for Module 3) all sections of all questions answered must be passed for an overall exam pass? So good marks in 2 out of 3 questions would not be good enough if the third is poor.

Could anyone confirm or deny such rumours?

Neil]]>
Just heard a little rumour that (not just for Module 3) all sections of all questions answered must be passed for an overall exam pass? So good marks in 2 out of 3 questions would not be good enough if the third is poor.

Could anyone confirm or deny such rumours?

Neil]]> https://irse.signalpost.org/showthread.php?tid=123 Fri, 03 Oct 2008 11:25:21 +0000 BedfordBoy]]> https://irse.signalpost.org/showthread.php?tid=123
Also, are all the papers sent to London for marking?
If they are, how are candidates marked who have answered the papers based on their own local signalling principles and equipment?

If they are not, how does the IRSE make sure it isn't easier to pass in one country than in another?

Does anyone here have any insight as to the process, or any other thoughts?]]>
Also, are all the papers sent to London for marking?
If they are, how are candidates marked who have answered the papers based on their own local signalling principles and equipment?

If they are not, how does the IRSE make sure it isn't easier to pass in one country than in another?

Does anyone here have any insight as to the process, or any other thoughts?]]> https://irse.signalpost.org/showthread.php?tid=113 Mon, 15 Sep 2008 18:08:59 +0000 PJW]]> https://irse.signalpost.org/showthread.php?tid=113 BedfordBoy Wrote:there are also questions that would really only suit those from a maintenance background and others that would only suit those from a testing background.

, I think most people in this industry learn to express important information very concisely......they feel a bit intimidated by the essay type questions.

I hope I'm not coming across as too negative - so far I've done well at the modules I've attempted, but I definitely have some frustrations so I thought I'd just get some thoughts out there. Back to the study now...

I was kind of joking about walking out of the exam, too.
Module 5 is of course one of the more difficult ones for someone with only design experience. The whole point of the exam is to encourage a wide appreciation of all elements of signal engineering; hence it is designed to deliver an output, not to make it easily do-able by someone with any specific background. It does tend to be much easier for a designer to get some outside experience (e.g. correlation, design cover on testing jobs or even as a module 5 assistant tester) than it is for a maintenance person to get design experience. This is particularly true of signalling the layout, so they find module 2 extremely difficult and a hard subject to learn from books.

One of the problems of the last 15 years on the mainline UK railway is that it training out of one's specialism has become more difficult. It is partially a matter of needing an enlightened employer, but it certainly can be done; I worked for a small consultancy and yet we did manage to get our graduates some placements with maintenance, testing etc with other employers and in return introduced some of their employees to what we did. I believe the IRSE is attempting to encourage and make more formal such "exchanges"; however people in positions such as yourself can help by drawing your manager's attention to the existence of the current problem. I am afraid (and this goes both for students and their employers) that there is generally far more interest in "getting something out for own benefit" than "putting things in" to the common pot.

I agree that many are intimidated by the essay questions; I'd very much disagree though that people are used to expressing themselves succinctly. Also leaving the pen and paper out of it, try running a discussion group and you'll often find that there is very often a deadly silence. Try and drag information out and you often discover significant ignorance.

I don't underestimate the difficulty but it can be overcome; I have helped someone who rarely leaves a design office, is not a native speaker of English and would often take 5 minutes to read a single question and still not get all the nuances within it- a definite challenge but with hard work it was overcome.

I am pleased that you have aired your views; I don't consider them negative, rather just a bit too fixed upon your specific viewpoint; I expect once you have finished the exam by a year or so and look back then you'll probably be able to take a more balanced view. It;d be good to get some discussion going on the Forum - but probably AFTER the coming exam.

And no, I didn't really think you were intending to lead a walk-out ......]]> BedfordBoy Wrote:there are also questions that would really only suit those from a maintenance background and others that would only suit those from a testing background.

, I think most people in this industry learn to express important information very concisely......they feel a bit intimidated by the essay type questions.

I hope I'm not coming across as too negative - so far I've done well at the modules I've attempted, but I definitely have some frustrations so I thought I'd just get some thoughts out there. Back to the study now...

I was kind of joking about walking out of the exam, too.
Module 5 is of course one of the more difficult ones for someone with only design experience. The whole point of the exam is to encourage a wide appreciation of all elements of signal engineering; hence it is designed to deliver an output, not to make it easily do-able by someone with any specific background. It does tend to be much easier for a designer to get some outside experience (e.g. correlation, design cover on testing jobs or even as a module 5 assistant tester) than it is for a maintenance person to get design experience. This is particularly true of signalling the layout, so they find module 2 extremely difficult and a hard subject to learn from books.

One of the problems of the last 15 years on the mainline UK railway is that it training out of one's specialism has become more difficult. It is partially a matter of needing an enlightened employer, but it certainly can be done; I worked for a small consultancy and yet we did manage to get our graduates some placements with maintenance, testing etc with other employers and in return introduced some of their employees to what we did. I believe the IRSE is attempting to encourage and make more formal such "exchanges"; however people in positions such as yourself can help by drawing your manager's attention to the existence of the current problem. I am afraid (and this goes both for students and their employers) that there is generally far more interest in "getting something out for own benefit" than "putting things in" to the common pot.

I agree that many are intimidated by the essay questions; I'd very much disagree though that people are used to expressing themselves succinctly. Also leaving the pen and paper out of it, try running a discussion group and you'll often find that there is very often a deadly silence. Try and drag information out and you often discover significant ignorance.

I don't underestimate the difficulty but it can be overcome; I have helped someone who rarely leaves a design office, is not a native speaker of English and would often take 5 minutes to read a single question and still not get all the nuances within it- a definite challenge but with hard work it was overcome.

I am pleased that you have aired your views; I don't consider them negative, rather just a bit too fixed upon your specific viewpoint; I expect once you have finished the exam by a year or so and look back then you'll probably be able to take a more balanced view. It;d be good to get some discussion going on the Forum - but probably AFTER the coming exam.

And no, I didn't really think you were intending to lead a walk-out ......]]> https://irse.signalpost.org/showthread.php?tid=54 Mon, 12 May 2008 18:55:05 +0000 Peter]]> https://irse.signalpost.org/showthread.php?tid=54 https://irse.signalpost.org/showthread.php?tid=18 Tue, 05 Feb 2008 13:55:43 +0000 Peter]]> https://irse.signalpost.org/showthread.php?tid=18
The IRSE information to students states:

[quote]It is possible to obtain exemptions from individual modules (except module 1) where you can demonstrate that you have passed an examination by a recognised body, which has substantially covered the syllabus of a particular IRSE examination module. Due to the specialised nature of the IRSE Examination, the scope for exemption is fairly limited.
Claims for exemption must be made within five years of obtaining the particular qualification for which recognition is being claimed. The reason for this condition is that the exemption is based on information that may not be available where a qualification has been discontinued
or changed. When an exemption is granted it will always remain ]]>
The IRSE information to students states:

[quote]It is possible to obtain exemptions from individual modules (except module 1) where you can demonstrate that you have passed an examination by a recognised body, which has substantially covered the syllabus of a particular IRSE examination module. Due to the specialised nature of the IRSE Examination, the scope for exemption is fairly limited.
Claims for exemption must be made within five years of obtaining the particular qualification for which recognition is being claimed. The reason for this condition is that the exemption is based on information that may not be available where a qualification has been discontinued
or changed. When an exemption is granted it will always remain ]]>