2015 Exam Feedback

[PJW]

I am a bit more surprised if there wasn't any question on the topic of aspect sequence in mod3, although it would not have surprised me for there to have been a more common type of written question that did not have a layout or ask for a chart to be produced; there have been some hints from the examiners over the last couple of years that it might go that way.  However they have made clear that there is no guaranteed question, so if it was actually entirely absent then students can't claim they weren't warned.

 Having now had a chance to look at the mod3 paper, I was actually surprised how MANY questions related to aspect sequence in some way.
Q2 (partial): Information which drivers receive from lineside.
Q3 (primary): Discussion of proposed signalling using novel aspect colour combinations
Q9 (partial): Boundary of two distinct forms of signalling 
So no layout sketch, no explicit requirement to draw aspect sequence chart; however area of syllabus was covered. Hence very much in line with my interpretation of what was said at the exam review earlier in the year.

[asrisaku]

Dear PJW

Last year, I took the exam Mod2 & 3. I got the exam result via the email. However, I could not see my name officially announced on the IRSE News. Is there any problem with that? Why couldn't I see the result of the candidate attempt in the IRSE News this year? Any idea about that?

Thanks in advance.

Best wishes
Arnut

[PJW]

Dear PJW

Last year, I took the exam Mod2 & 3. I got the exam result via the email. However, I could not see my name officially announced on the IRSE News. Is there any problem with that? Why couldn't I see the result of the candidate attempt in the IRSE News this year? Any idea about that?

Thanks in advance.

Best wishes
Arnut

When I get home (not for some days) I'll check my back numbers of IRSE News to see (or not!) for myself.
The results which should be published are all the successful ones; hence unless a candidate passes a module then their name will not appear, similarly if they sit four and get a Fail, Near Miss, Pass and Credit then as far as the IRSE NEWS is concerned they simply passed one and got a Credit for the other.

In your case you passed so should have been included; if you were missed (and the IRSE do make mistakes as Dorothy can testify a couple of years ago) then that was wrong.  It certainly does not matter in terms of your exam record, but yes if we are sharing people's successes then it should be done consistently.  If I find that you were actually missed off then I shall alert the editor of the IRSE News and ask him if he would publish an errata.

I am actually due to write a piece resulting from my review of IRSE Exam results re trends etc over the last few years (I expect won't get that done until early 2016) but a footnote to such an article might be a suitable opportunity to correct the record

[dorothy.pipet]

Good point. Following the 2013 exam they got my name wrong, so I do remember results going in the IRSE News, but I have just checked my back issues and you are right that no exam results have been published this year.

[StrongLifts5x5]

I am a bit more surprised if there wasn't any question on the topic of aspect sequence in mod3, although it would not have surprised me for there to have been a more common type of written question that did not have a layout or ask for a chart to be produced; there have been some hints from the examiners over the last couple of years that it might go that way.  However they have made clear that there is no guaranteed question, so if it was actually entirely absent then students can't claim they weren't warned.

 Having now had a chance to look at the mod3 paper, I was actually surprised how MANY questions related to aspect sequence in some way.
Q2 (partial): Information which drivers receive from lineside.
Q3 (primary): Discussion of proposed signalling using novel aspect colour combinations
Q9 (partial): Boundary of two distinct forms of signalling 
So no layout sketch, no explicit requirement to draw aspect sequence chart; however area of syllabus was covered. Hence very much in line with my interpretation of what was said at the exam review earlier in the year.

Peter did you happen to get a look at the Mod 1 exam?? Your opinion would be good??

Also I was looking for my name the the IRSE news and no exam results were published.

[PJW]

I am a bit more surprised if there wasn't any question on the topic of aspect sequence in mod3, although it would not have surprised me for there to have been a more common type of written question that did not have a layout or ask for a chart to be produced; there have been some hints from the examiners over the last couple of years that it might go that way.  However they have made clear that there is no guaranteed question, so if it was actually entirely absent then students can't claim they weren't warned.

 Having now had a chance to look at the mod3 paper, I was actually surprised how MANY questions related to aspect sequence in some way.
Q2 (partial): Information which drivers receive from lineside.
Q3 (primary): Discussion of proposed signalling using novel aspect colour combinations
Q9 (partial): Boundary of two distinct forms of signalling 
So no layout sketch, no explicit requirement to draw aspect sequence chart; however area of syllabus was covered. Hence very much in line with my interpretation of what was said at the exam review earlier in the year.

Peter did you happen to get a look at the Mod 1 exam?? Your opinion would be good??

Also I was looking for my name the the IRSE news and no exam results were published.

Yes I did have a brief look at Mod1. I didn't think that the wording was that very different to usual, but perhaps there was more use of the word "you" than usual, so it may be that there has been some application of the "Plain English" campaign guidelines.
However the thing that most caught my eye was the question about the set of points that were not locked when they should have been owing to an error within vintage electronic interlocking data that had recently been modified.  Very certain I know which set of points provoked that particular question- been there, done that, got the tee-shirt. Perhaps someone was wanting to get some ideas about how we could have reacted better in that particular situation.


Are you saying that the 2014 results were never published in IRSE News or that the results were published but your name was omitted from them?

I'll be home tomorrow night so I may have the chance to go through the backnumbers myself then.

[dorothy.pipet]

Are you saying that the 2014 results were never published in IRSE News or that the results were published but your name was omitted from them?

I'll be home tomorrow night so I may have the chance to go through the backnumbers myself then.

The results were never published as far as I can see.

[Peter]

Are you saying that the 2014 results were never published in IRSE News or that the results were published but your name was omitted from them?

I'll be home tomorrow night so I may have the chance to go through the backnumbers myself then.

The results were never published as far as I can see.

I did not see them in IRSE news.