14-03-2008, 04:08 PM
That's great, James. I'm happy to help with tips for Module 6 (whatever my tips are worth), and you can help me with Module 4 (as you've rightly said, you would have covered most of it in your degree and at Network Rail; not something I was that privileged to have done).
Wow! You've got a proper study plan there. I'm impressed.
My plan isn't that established yet, sad to say, but I do have one. I plan to start and complete a relevant telecoms textbook (that's not too detailed, but detailed enough to cover Module 4 syllabus) in the next 2 months. Thereafter, I'll review where I stand at that time, and plan forward for the next 2 months, and so on. The question is, what's a relevant telecoms textbook? The exam syllabus certainly doesn't help there. And IRSE's "Railway Telecommunications" textbook didn't do the trick for me last time (though it worked wonders for my Module 6!). Would you be able to recommend me any textbooks that would fit the role, based on what you've seen from the syllabus, past papers and your NR experience?
I fully agree with Peter about interpretation of the syllabuses; the past exam papers are the best guide we have. They do give us quite a good indication of what's expected. IRSE have informed me that they don't have a Study Pack for Module 4 (I'm not sure about Module 6). They will, however, give us 5 years' free past papers instead upon registration (because other Modules give their Study Packs free upon registration).
As to my approach to Module 6, it was mostly based on study of IRSE's "Railway Telecommunications" textbook and attempting (or pseudo-attempting...) the past papers. I would certainly recommend that to you as well. If you don't already have the textbook, I think it costs about
Wow! You've got a proper study plan there. I'm impressed.
My plan isn't that established yet, sad to say, but I do have one. I plan to start and complete a relevant telecoms textbook (that's not too detailed, but detailed enough to cover Module 4 syllabus) in the next 2 months. Thereafter, I'll review where I stand at that time, and plan forward for the next 2 months, and so on. The question is, what's a relevant telecoms textbook? The exam syllabus certainly doesn't help there. And IRSE's "Railway Telecommunications" textbook didn't do the trick for me last time (though it worked wonders for my Module 6!). Would you be able to recommend me any textbooks that would fit the role, based on what you've seen from the syllabus, past papers and your NR experience?
I fully agree with Peter about interpretation of the syllabuses; the past exam papers are the best guide we have. They do give us quite a good indication of what's expected. IRSE have informed me that they don't have a Study Pack for Module 4 (I'm not sure about Module 6). They will, however, give us 5 years' free past papers instead upon registration (because other Modules give their Study Packs free upon registration).
As to my approach to Module 6, it was mostly based on study of IRSE's "Railway Telecommunications" textbook and attempting (or pseudo-attempting...) the past papers. I would certainly recommend that to you as well. If you don't already have the textbook, I think it costs about