2003 Q4 TESTING

[mangeshwakankar]

Hi,
I was having some old IRSE module 1 paper hope this is helpful to any body preparing for this.

[Joompot]

Hi,
Do you have the answers?

[PJW]

To think that there is "the answer" for any question, particularly Module 1, is to miss the point. The questions are supposed to get the student to give a reasoned argument (drawing upon their general experience in the industry and supported by illustrations of their detailed knowledge of specific examples) in order to address the question topic(s) raised.

Hence everyone's answers would be different, depending on the railway environment with which the person is familiar, the roles they have played in the industry etc. "Model answers" do exist for certain questions for some years' papers (in the official Study Pack- a few others posted on this website) but these would better be described as "typical" rather than "model".

For example certain questions are phrased to include: would you select option 1 or option 2. The important thing to recognise is that is NOT a RIGHT ANSWER. The examiners are expecting an answer on the lines of: "option 1 has these advantages and disadvantages; option 2 has these other ones. In certain site situations a particular theoretical advantage is particularly significant, in certain others then it is less so. Conversely in a particular case, a particular general disadvantage can have so severe consequences that it is virtually ruled out as a viable option and thus the other must be selected and attempts made to mitigate its weaknesses. Hence a scenario in whch option 1 would be preferable is (an example) and an option where option 2 would be better is (give example). In another example the decision on the better option ios far more evenly balanced and would require detailed assessment of (example of the most significant factors) to determine." It is this discussion that would earn the marks, not the bland statement of option 1 or option 2!

To attempt Module 1 does need a fair amount of experience of the field, and indeed practice in attempting to answer so the student can learn what the examiners are after. We know that not all students are in a workplace where such supportive feedback is available which is why we launched this website. There are people here who will comment on an attempt that is made and therefore, in time, this Forum would then build up a larger number of such typical answers.

We feel we have now done enough to have "primed the pump" and had hoped that students would currently be inundating us with their attempts- so far we have received NIL. If posting an answer directly on this site is too daunting, get in touch directly and you could then send privately for an initial review to give you a chance to amend before actually posting for wider viewing if that is what is detering.

Joompot, I am unable to give any more specific advice re your own situation because I have no idea about your background and experience (which is why we ask people to fill in their Bio details)- if you want help it is available but you do need to help us to help you.

PJW

Hi,
Do you have the answers?

[Straw Man]

I have had a go at question 4 which I hope will generate some helpful comments.[attachment=64]

I have handwritten it as I had a go against the clock without any planning - just like it will be in the exam, so hope you can read it - something I guess candidates need to be conscious of. I was quite surprised how much you think you know until you come to write it down first time.

One learning point I can suggest to others without any feedback from this is that reports into previous incidents are a good source of information. That said, it is a couple of years since I read the reports into these incidents so some of the factual bits might be a bit out, but then again, the approach I took was to deal with the issues and not just to regurgitate a copy of the official report.

[PJW]

I have had a go at question 4 which I hope will generate some helpful comments.

I'll respond fully in the next couple of days but can you check that your attachment contained all your pages- you only seem to have addressed the first part of the question.

If in the exam the examiner only gets a part answer they can only award marks on what they have. We don't know the split of marks on this one, but if we make assumption that split equally, then the reality is that you'd need to have done absolutely brilliantly on the first bit even to scrape a pass on the question as a whole. A salutory lesson for several I think.

regards,
PJW

[Straw Man]

I have had a go at question 4 which I hope will generate some helpful comments.

I'll respond fully in the next couple of days but can you check that your attachment contained all your pages- you only seem to have addressed the first part of the question.

If in the exam the examiner only gets a part answer they can only award marks on what they have. We don't know the split of marks on this one, but if we make assumption that split equally, then the reality is that you'd need to have done absolutely brilliantly on the first bit even to scrape a pass on the question as a whole. A salutory lesson for several I think.

regards,
PJW

Sorry, should have said part of question 4.

[PJW]

Please find attached comments.
In brief much of the answer was good BUT you do need to think things through before getting stuck into the writing. Realistically this part of the question must be completed in 15 minutes and hence have to restrict yourself to the essence- hence cut some of the prose and replace by bullet point summary lists.
Some detail is good, but err towards BREADTH rather than DEPTH. Think where you believe the marks are likely to be allocated.