+- IRSE Exam Forum (https://irse.signalpost.org)
+-- Forum: MODULES (https://irse.signalpost.org/forumdisplay.php?fid=3)
+--- Forum: Module 3 (https://irse.signalpost.org/forumdisplay.php?fid=6)
+---- Forum: Control Tables- general (https://irse.signalpost.org/forumdisplay.php?fid=69)
+---- Thread: Control Table Format (/showthread.php?tid=247)
Control Table Format - PJW - 25-06-2009
Quote:xxxxxxxxx from IRSE Exam has sent you the following message:
------------------------------------------
Hi,
Network Rail Standard NR/L3/SIG/11202 depicts a new format of Control Table where as one of the Post in this Site is of an older one.
Please clarify the exact format that can be used if I want to attempt control tables with UK railway signalling principles.
Thanks & Regards.
------------------------------------------
It is quite clear; you can use ANY format with which you are familiar- this does not have to be exactly like any particular format of any particular railway. You'd be well advised to base it on one with which you are familiar, but do not be afraid to simplify it a bit- what is a good format for CAD / automated production in a real environment probably isn't for exam conditions.
The new standard (which incidentally I played a significant part in producing) will hardly yet have been used anywhere- I doubt whether any site has been commissioned that uses it yet. Hence I feel it unlikely that it would be anyone's preferred format. Indeed it has been designed exclusively for SSI (and derivatives) and has benefits for complicated areas and gives overall economy by separating out the route locking and approach locking lookback etc and putting on separate tables and utilises summation Control Tables. The overhead of producing these for the whole layout when only being asked to do the Control Tables for a couple of points and a few routes renders it TOTALLY INAPPROPRIATE for the exam. I guarantee that the examiners won't know the details of the new standard and may even be unaware of its existence- most of the regular mod3 examiners don't actually work for Network Rail!
I wouldn't use the previous version of 11202 either- at least without considerable simplification as explained in previous posts and for which several student's modified versions appear as examples on this site.
If you read the various past exam reviews you'll discover that the examiners generally recommend use of a column based Control Table. I think they may well be right re speed in the exam is concerned, and again there are examples of such on this site. If you are starting from scratch then I'd recommend; if however you work entails regular use of the older 11202 and you are experienced with them, then perhaps worth using a design based on that style to avoid needing to re-learn and potentially confusing yourself.
See also:
http://www.irseexam.co.uk/showthread.php?tid=52&highlight=format
http://www.irseexam.co.uk/showthread.php?tid=202&highlight=11202
RE: Control Table Format - yamini.peyyeti - 26-06-2009
Thanks a bunch for the reply. Earlier I was bit tensed to use the format as it was time consuming. Your reply helped us to produce in a simplified way.
Regards
RE: Control Table Format - alexgoei - 30-06-2009
Hello,
As an immediate past (and Pass candidate) for 2008's Module 3 exam, I can say I fully empathise with many who struggle with which format to use for the Signal Aspect and Route Control Tables. Like you, I went through that phase.
I must add that like many sitting for the exams, I am non-UK so I had to learn UK Network Rail practice.
When I first started taking the exams I used the Network Rail format. I found that the best time I could achieve was more than 10 minutes or a third of the 30 minutes set aside for answering the question. This was too long.
Last year I decided to use the column format as practically I found drawing the lines much easier and the entries in the less frequently used boxes to put them under the Remarks column. I took about 6 minutes for this format. I have included in this posting the format that I used with my practice answers and comments by PJW.
I think using Network Rail's format for the Point Control Tables is not an issue although I have posted the modified format for one of the answers for 2006. Entries for Swinging Overlaps etc (which are quite rare) can be put under the Remarks column.
Hope this posting helps
RE: Control Table Format - Peter - 01-07-2009
(30-06-2009, 10:32 AM)alexgoei Wrote: ....
When I first started taking the exams I used the Network Rail format. I found that the best time I could achieve was more than 10 minutes or a third of the 30 minutes set aside for answering the question. This was too long.
.....
Don't scare people like that! The CT question (section A of the paper) has in the past been 2/3 of the total marks for the paper, so you should budget for 1 hour.
RE: Control Table Format - alexgoei - 02-07-2009
(01-07-2009, 08:10 PM)Peter Wrote:(30-06-2009, 10:32 AM)alexgoei Wrote: ....
When I first started taking the exams I used the Network Rail format. I found that the best time I could achieve was more than 10 minutes or a third of the 30 minutes set aside for answering the question. This was too long.
.....
Don't scare people like that! The CT question (section A of the paper) has in the past been 2/3 of the total marks for the paper, so you should budget for 1 hour.
Sorry no intension to scare anyone. What I meant was 30 minutes for the Signal Aspect and Route Control tables question; 30 minutes for the Point Control table question and 30 minutes for the Aspect Sequence chart.
Hope that clarifies.
RE: Control Table Format - mlupton - 13-07-2009
I spent a long time trying to decide which format to use and eventually went for a slightly modified version of the NR standard one. Whilst it does take slightly longer to draw out, I found it quicker to fill in (and avoided the queue for the photocopier). I passed the exam (with a distinction) so my advice is to try the different options and choose the one that suits you.
RE: Control Table Format - PJW - 29-07-2010
(13-07-2009, 09:28 PM)mlupton Wrote: I spent a long time trying to decide which format to use and eventually went for a slightly modified version of the NR standard one. Whilst it does take slightly longer to draw out, I found it quicker to fill in (and avoided the queue for the photocopier). I passed the exam (with a distinction) so my advice is to try the different options and choose the one that suits you.
Here is an example of the format which another former student who also got a distinction used; I am sure they won't mind me sharing. It is an example of the "column format" on which several different routes can be included.
Note however it isn't the format itself that is critically important; it is your practice and familiarity in using it. This example sheet is filled out for the 2003 exam, but look at it carefully and there are other clear hints that this student was preparing well for the speed test within the exam- it was being completed against the clock and a decision had been taken to allocate 40mins to the routes and reduce the time available for the part B question to 20mins. This was an appropriate decision some years ago since production of an aspect sequence chart could be expected and with practice this could be completed pretty quickly. Such questions are no longer the regular fixture that once were, so this would now be a more risky strategy, but the concept of carefully planning how you are going too divide your time and then experience of putting that into practice certainly still holds true.
RE: Control Table Format - PJW - 29-07-2010
Another variation upon a theme