Just passed my assessment - here's what helped me
Great news - I found out yesterday that I passed my assessment! Wanted to share what worked for me in case it helps others.
DATV: The practice tests on this site are incredibly realistic. I did about 30 practice runs and my scores improved from 65% to 92%.
TRP: Focus on the checking sequence - left to right, or whatever method works for you, but stick to it.
Group: Be collaborative, not dominant. They want team players, not leaders.
Good luck everyone!
15 Replies
Page 1 of 2Congratulations! That's brilliant news 🎉
Really helpful to hear about your experience. I've got my assessment coming up in a couple of weeks and this has given me a much better idea of what to expect.
Could you elaborate a bit more on the group exercises? What kind of tasks did they give you?
Well done! Great to see another driver make it through 🚂
The DATV practice on this site is excellent - I used it loads when I was preparing. The key is getting your speed up without sacrificing accuracy.
Thanks for sharing! Quick question about the group exercise - did they give you a specific scenario to work through, or was it more general teamwork stuff?
Congrats! 👏
I'm currently on the DATV practice and stuck around 75%. Any particular tips for improving concentration during the test?
@nightshift - for concentration, the key is practice and developing a rhythm. Don't panic if you miss one - keep going and don't dwell on it.
I found that doing 20-30 practice tests really helped build my stamina for the real thing.
This is really encouraging to read. I've been putting off applying for ages but this makes it feel more achievable.
What TOC did you apply to in the end?
@guardtodriver - I went with Northern in the end. They've got a good training programme and Manchester is a good base for me.
Great advice on the TRP! I found that having a consistent checking pattern made all the difference. I go top-left, work across, then move down.
The STAR method is so important for the group exercise. I think a lot of people fail because they try to dominate rather than collaborate.
Good point about asking for clarification too - better to ask than to answer the wrong question!
Does anyone know if different TOCs have different pass marks? Or is it standardised across the industry?
@northern.driver - the assessment content is standardised but individual TOCs might have slightly different requirements. Best to check with them directly.
Congratulations again! How long from applying to getting the assessment date? Just trying to manage my expectations.
@rookie - for me it was about 3 months from initial application to assessment day. But it varies a lot by TOC and how many applications they're processing.
This is brilliant, thanks for sharing! I've been practising the DATV and getting around 80% consistently - hopefully that's enough!
@commuter.champ - 80% is solid! Just keep practising and you'll be fine. The real test feels a bit easier than the practice ones somehow.