JV620

Congratulations to all who passed the test. I traveled all the way from SE Mass to take this test. I thought that I failed it when I was walking out of there on June 11/PM Session... Well, I got an 86.66666......It may not be enough to get a phone call, but no question about it - I passed and now the wait begins I just hope that with that score, it will be enough to get a shot.

Is it now official that this list has expired? I feel bad for the ones that did not get called, or that were almost supposed to be called...what have you.

Just some thoughts on yesterday: I was there Saniter. Luckily, I do not know about you, but I got a room on the third floor with A/C! Stood in the heat from about 12:35 until 1:30. Got a nice suntan on my bald head . Test did not even start until 3:00PM like the 2:00PM as advertised in the letters. Then they had to sort out the ones that showed up yesterday without letters. Two lines out the gazoo . Other people seemed pretty pleasant that I spoke to despite the sweltering heat. The test itself I found to be not rocket science but not terribly simple either. However, without giving too much away, the diagram questions were the ones that tended to take the most time, and they were smack dab right in the middle of the test booklet. I kept going back and forth, and back and forth on those. I think that I passed. IF I did, it was just barely at that. If I got a 70, and managed to get on the list, I'll take it. There has been some back and forth talk on whether or not a person can get called back with even a 70, but one thing is for sure: You cannot get called unless you get at least a 70. So, that is what I am hoping for. When 5:30PM bell rang, one guy in the classroom did not put his pencil down and needless to say, the monitor was none to pleased and gave him hell for it like .. All in all, even if I failed it, I am proud of myself. Driving 500 miles RT from MA to take that test is better than not even trying. At worst, even if I failed it, my specialty is bus driving, coach buses, motor coaches, so I plan on taking that one for B/O in October as well as the two other ones that you only need to do the BOSS exam for depending upon your list #. Call me a dreamer, but a good quote summed up the experience for me quite simply from some movie with some famous actor: "It's supposed to be hard. If it wasn't hard, everyone would do it. The hard, is what makes it great". Touche Mr. Hanks. Touche.

Paid my $68 for #7612. Put in for this one, and $61 for #7300. Also going to put in for the next other one, MsBSTOA #7105 opening up on June 9. Plus, taking T/O exam #7604 on 6/11. I figure with all of these, I will get lucky hopefully. What are some of the main differences between the three different tests? Different authorities I believe but as far as routes...

Uh Oh! Did you say comprehension intense? Lol Choose keywords? I know that you cannot say what actual questions were, and I do not expect that. Can you elaborate on choose keywords though somehow? Lol I am trying to get ready for 6/11. We all only have 1 shot at this test. Biggest test of our lives. I am already overthinking it LOL

My test date is in the afternoon of Sunday June 11 at 2:00P at Midwood. But, I am coming all the way from MA, so I think I will just hotel-it the night before the test and do some last minute studying. 60 questions, huh? And straightforward as Future ENY OP stated. How much time do they give you anyways to complete the test? That has been the overwhelming message: To utilize all of the time given. I will do just that. Do you think that it might help to skim over the answers briefly BEFORE the actual question to make it easier or does that even matter? Scenarios and Policy procedure is the word that the questions are based on. The NYPD police officer word expressions on the practice tutorial I looked at (according to Jchambers2120) I got a few wrong in practice https://cdn-static.f...dated-11-16.pdf Oh well.

I realize that you cannot give specifics on questions asked and so forth, but can you elaborate on how difficult you thought that the test was given the reading comprehension and so forth? I, myself, am not the best test taker. It's the process of reading it over and then absorbing the information and answering questions on it afterwards. I have trouble because I usually need to re-read it over again.

Not to get off topic since this is the T/O exam thread but what are your thoughts on this passbook for the MTA BOSS exam provided I score high on one of the three upcoming B/O exams and get a shot at the BOSS. I guess I would have to take three different BOSS exams if I scored high enough to get called back from the written exams that will be coming up - is that correct? Here is the link for that passbook that I am thinking about buying. Note that the Copyright date states as 2015 so that looks fairly recent. http://www.passbooks.com/bus-operator-selection-survey-boss-c-4553/ Your thoughts?

I am sure that this has been asked before, but I cannot quickly find it. Study Material: Nothing that we can brush up on except reading comprehension books from our local public library is pretty much the best way to study for this one? And knowing some famous landmarks?

I signed up for this exam, and the B/O #7300 and plan to sign up for the other two B/O #7612 and #7105. Not to get off subject but, I find out yesterday that on the B/O exams, the next step assuming you pass is the BOSS. As a former B/O myself here in MA, I actually failed the Culture Fit Assessment Test when I took it for a Passenger Conductor position at Amtrak. I am seriously concerned about that BOSS test assuming I pass the first one. It is not as easy as they make it seem, or they say it is.

Gotti, looks like we might run into each other on the 11th of June as well. I bet I have the longest drive out of anyone though, coming ALLLLL the way from Southeastern Massachusetts for this dream job. This is my one shot. I'd rather go down swinging, and strike out then never get a chance to bat at all. And who knows, maybe. Just maybe I will hit a Homer and do well and get a call back somewhere on down the line. Betting on myself for a change. Looks like a lot of us are for the June 11 at Midwood exam. Oooohhh this is going to get exciting REAL quick. Lol Are you guys getting excited yet? I am! I think I will head to my public library and get some freshening up on Reading Comprehension and some math questions like Train A leaves at such and such time, Train B leaves at such and such time. At which time will they meet each other along the route? I HATE those!

Thank You for the clarification on that. Much appreciated.

Hi All...Just a question about the 'How To Qualify' part of the Notice of Examination. I currently reside in Massachusetts, so I do not have a NYS drivers license . But I do obviously have a valid Massachusetts license. And a CDL at that. From the way that I read the qualifications, as long as I have a valid drivers license that I can operate in the state of New York, I should be good, but on the other hand before I pay the $82.00 to apply to take the test, I just would like to confirm this as it may be that only people who have a NYS drivers license are eligible to take the test and not really anyone from out of state. Can anyone speak to what the actual requirement is? Thanks.

Wow! Now I am regretting not making the trek from here in SE Massachusetts (Cape Cod), down to the greatest city in the world. I honestly took a good long and hard look at how comfortable I felt with the material, how much I had learned in the twenty (20) days that we were given to study the materials, and having no real solid background in the Railroad field, or operations (only as a bus driver here in MA), I was not comfortable that I could go in, and ace the test with no problem. The reason why I thought that to be the case was simply because I believed that it was going to be all verbatim. I was actually hoping that it would be multiple choice, come to find out that it was. Ah well. I hate to throw away the chance at my dream job, and while I realize that coming off as a "foamer", so to speak, is rather looked down on, if I had to answer questions in a verbatim sense on that test, it would not have been pretty. I simply needed more time to study. Unfortunately, that was not to be the case. TheSaniter, you stated that there were 1,000 questions on the test. I don't think I quite understand: There were 62 definitions, and 12 signals. How did they come up with 1,000 questions on the test? And could you give me an idea of what types of questions were on there? I know that you mentioned 70 were on the signals alone. Damn! Also, any idea roughly as to how many current Metro North employees were there taking the test as a promotional versus off the street people? Or just how many took the test period? Good Luck Saniter and to all that took the test. For me, I want to be sure that to drive 4 hours from home, invest in parking, or a train ticket to Penn Station, the cost of lunch and gas afterwards, etc, etc, I had to feel that I could nail it. 95 or better. I did not feel that way, hence why I did not make the trip. Perhaps I will regret it later, perhaps not. I have always wanted to be apart of the railroad industry as a conductor, locomotive engineer, or a subway motorman. I hope to realize this dream someday. I may try put in for the open competitive exam for the train operator for the subway, but I don't think that I can take that because I am not a resident of NY state, but of MA. *Sigh*

So, FYI, if you guys who are studying for the upcoming test want to prepare better, try going to quizlet.com and searching for Metro North LET Definitions and Signals. Unfortunately, the 12 question signals name and indications are not on there, just the definitions. There are a bunch of different options for test taking. For example, you can set it up so that you can do it exactly how we are (or at least I am) preparing for the test - by writing out verbatim, word for word, all 62 answers. You can also set it up to try it multiple choice. Or True/False. A word of warning though: If you do try it word for word, you will get the answer marked wrong if your punctuation is not right as I have noted myself. If they are going to mark answers wrong for punctuation, I think I will just stay home. Check it out: ENGINE INCORRECT: You said A unit, other than a track car, propelled by any form of energy. Or a combination of such units, operated by a single control used in train or yard service. Engines include diesel and electric multiple unit cars. ANSWER: A unit, other than a track car, propelled by any form of energy, or a combination of such units operated from a single control, used in train or yard service. Engines include diesel and electric multiple unit cars. As you can see, because I did not put the period in after the word energy, or place the comma after the word control - I got no credit for virtually having the actual answer itself correct. This is insane! Hope everyone will have their punctuation on tap on Wednesday!

Thanks for the welcome NJT. Appreciate that. I'm curious about how you are making out with the studying and how any others are on here as well? Feel free to chime in on how it is coming. Truth be told, I am having a bit of a struggle with trying to grasp some of the definitions. I have read, re-read, and re-re-read them and it just is not sticking yet. I have taken blank pieces of paper and written, and re-written, and re-re-written the definitions down to the terms and still nada I have Googled different methods for trying to learn to grasp verbatim if we are to assume that they will want the answers in that respect. One method I read about was to try and take the first letter of each word in the definition of the term and try and "connect-the-dots" that way. Has not really helped I read somewhere on some other thread that if you do not have great study habits, to really not even bother trying to take the test I still have some time before I decide if I am going to make the trek to Manhattan to try and take the test. I'm going to keep plugging away and try and do the best that I can in preparation for the 14th. As it gets closer to the date, I will have a better idea where I stand. But one must learn to crawl before he/she can walk, and babble before he/she can speak And so, with that said, I must keep trying to learn these definitions! On the flip side, I am getting the signals better than the definitions! How do you figure that one?! It is the "tell it back to me verbatim" that has me stumped. But anyhow, I was just curious, how are you (all) making out?

My first post on the NYC Transit forum site. A lot of great information here. I also received an invitation email to take a test for this next month as well. I will actually be coming from out of state (MA) to be exact to take this test. Jokingly speaking, I bet a few people might be snarling about an outsider coming in from another state that is not NY or NJ, lol. Anyhow, a solid background in coach bus driving here in the SE part of MA might be why I got an invitation since coach operators are always on the go as well. I was actually not expecting an invite TBH. I realize though that I am up against it in some ways. I would think that I have even more pressure to score say a 95 at the very least or better than that, being from out of state and what have you. I called the number in the first e-mail. Then when I called to confirm and verify my attendance spot, they sent me the second e-mail with the time at the Hotel. I have my 9 page study guide which contains a lot of information in it. I have been able to take a lot of the information and put it on flash cards and it has helped. Study, study, study! =) I am not sure if anyone would have the answer to this but my question is does anyone know if this test will be 'definition given and fill in the word' type of thing, or would you think that we are going to have to write out the definition to the term down to the T as it is on the study guide? I have pretty much figured that it is not going to be True/False, or multiple choice. Best of luck to all!