IRSE Mod B Self Post-Mortem

That sounds a bit morbid, “self post-mortem”. Maybe a better wording is my own self review on what happened during the exam. This is meant more as a self reminder in the future, should I need to prepare for mod B again (hopefully not!) or even for the next exams.

---

Recently I completed the Institute of Railway Signalling Engineers examination for module B, or in short IRSE mod B. Alhamdulillah. To describe the exam in simple words, it was harder than expected.

The Challenges

1. Technicalities and administration
   • The exam requires remote proctoring, i.e. a software will monitor every action I do on my laptop AND in person, as the software also records my movement through my videocam. Kinda creepy but that is not an issue. The exam uses Moodle platform and it has its own format and tools in answering the questions. The tools are appalling. Maybe not that bad, but it is surely not easy to format answers. Tables, indents and all the formatting are really hard to handle. The unfamiliar interface and the time pressure doesn’t also help.
   • Due to that, it is recommended to try the software earlier. I did, only that I didn’t spend too much time.
   • Another option is to write answers in Word, then paste everything into the Moodle. I realised this a bit late, like one day before the exam, and the manual didn’t specifically say I could, or could not, do this. I should have thought it earlier and confirmed with the committee well before the exams.
   • Candidates (that was me) can mark or flag the question they think dubious or need more focus. Use that.
2. Exam techniques
   • Mod B requires candidate to answer three questions, out of ten. Choosing the questions to do, is a chore. I think I spent 10-15 minutes more than recommended, to read the questions. I was still reading and considering which remaining questions to attempt, AFTER finishing my first question. I think in the future instead of flagging the question I want to answer, I would be flag questions that I want to avoid – that way, I won’t be clicking them again and second guessing myself.
   • The questions have sub-questions, as in question a) and b) etcetera. Questions a) might asks about a list of examples, while b) asks something related or even not. It is easier to attempt a) and then jump to b), even if I didn’t finish with the former. It helps getting the ‘juice flowing’. Also sometimes the answer to b), gives ideas for a). I realised this halfway, after being stuck at the first sub-question and wasted a few minutes. It would be to consciously skip any sub-question in the future, instead of dwelling on it.
3. Mental readiness
   • I think this is the hardest but most important part that can be improved. Get into ‘EXAM MODE’. This might be different to other people but in retrospect, I should be firstly typing like crazy, or at least get my WPM up in the few day in advance to the exams and secondly be in an answering mode, i.e. ready to spout things out.
   • There’s also the problem that when you are taking a professional exams, which is similar to your job scope, there is hesitation to just write anything down. That’s because in your work, there is a risk if you do something wrong; the product or system might fail or even worse, someone might get hurt. Also work normally encourages you to work with others and refer documents and sources. Exams on the contrary pressures you into plucking things from the inner depth your understanding, and when they don’t exist, to bring things from your imagination. I really struggled halfway the exams, having confidence issue that I do not exactly know what to answer. I think this is called or similar to having ‘Imposter’s Syndrome’ and I would say an exam is the last place to have an internal crisis, lol. In the end I convinced myself that it was just an exam, and it is totally okay to be wrong.
   • It would have been better, and recommended, to have this mentality before taking the exams. It is still hard if your work is in the same vein of the questions, but it would still be possible to dissociate yourself before the exams.

What next?

A natural progression would be C, and D, in that order. Have you registered for that, my future self?

Looking back, I had benefitted a lot by having study group way early in the year. I guess lesson learnt for that is to prepare for module C as soon as possible but maybe I’ll wait a few more weeks…

Last but not least, I would to greatly thank John Chaddock for all the teachings, Peter for passing his knowledge (and tips, “Bill please”), Park Signalling for the supports, and IRSE and IRSE YM for the resources and study day.

Thank you for reading.