Just took the POSS/MASS/BMST, a reflection

[underpar3535]

Well I took the POSS Test yesterday and passed. All of the information that I found on hear was very beneficial, but I think you also have to think outside the box and go after some things on your own. The test was pretty straightforward I thought. I really didn't feel pushed for time as much since I took some of Braodzilla's advice and kept decreasing the amount of time I had to finish practice tests. It almost felt like at some points of the test I was expecting time to be called, but due to the way I practiced  I still had plenty of time. Some of the conversions were a little different from the practice test , but most were the same. Thanks to everyone for their helpful posts. The best advice I can give you for the test is this quote.
                                             
                                                                                     "A wise man will make more opportunities than he finds."

                                                                                                              Francis Bacon

[UncaBuffalo]

Well I took the POSS Test yesterday and passed. All of the information that I found on hear was very beneficial, but I think you also have to think outside the box and go after some things on your own. The test was pretty straightforward I thought. I really didn't feel pushed for time as much since I took some of Braodzilla's advice and kept decreasing the amount of time I had to finish practice tests. It almost felt like at some points of the test I was expecting time to be called, but due to the way I practiced  I still had plenty of time. Some of the conversions were a little different from the practice test , but most were the same. Thanks to everyone for their helpful posts. The best advice I can give you for the test is this quote.
                                             
                                                                                     "A wise man will make more opportunities than he finds."

                                                                                                              Francis Bacon

Congrats on nailing the test!

Do you have a concrete example of 'thinking outside the box' that might help future test-takers?

[underpar3535]

What I meant by thinking outside of the box is don't just rely on this site. Don't wait on someone to give you answer to questions that you can find on your own by doing a little bit of hard work and research. By doing all of this I believe it will be very helpful in the test taking process. I have seen a lot of posts on here where it seems as if people just want you to come out and tell them everything they need to do to be successful.

[irsmusic]

Hey guess whats going on? well i took the test on Thursday and i just got my results in the mail i did not pass..I really felt confident that i did well, I just don't know what happen...Well the lady told me i have 30days to wait till i can take it again, at least now i know what I'm up against and whats my weakest points on the test...but till then I'm going to have to continue hitting the books and trying my hardest to make it....To everyone that helped me thank you very much i greatly appreciate all the advice that was given..

[BoilerHP]

You are lucky it is only 30 days... some places are 3 months even up to 6 months!

[irsmusic]

i really dont know what happen...I didnt think the test was hard at all, I think maybe the time issue was i my head and it might have disrupted me a little bit..but the assembly was pretty easy, the mech. was easy table n graphs easy the reading gave me a little bit of a problem...because i started to read the question n skim through the paragh to look for key words to find the asnwer but i found out that thats the worst thing you can do....I should have read the hole thing then answer it...the math really isnt that hard....i think i skipped maybe 2 conversion questions..then the second page of the math its just alot of fractions n decimals..i think maybe i spent a little too much time on the conversion section...i dont know...but lets see what i can do next time..hopefully i can pass it...now with me knowing whats on the test i can be more calmer...

[dagiffy]

you know what always makes me nervous about those tests...is when you skip one or two answers. I'm always afraid I'll go on to the next question but put the answer in the number of the question I skipped. You could end up answering everything correctly but have the answer sheet off by one number. If you found the test easy, perhaps that's what happened?

[irsmusic]

I think it was maybe just me trying to hard n i kept thinking about the time issue...but what can i do their will always be a next time...

[BoilerHP]

Did you finish the reading section? Also did you do the practice test under timed conditions? When you retake the practice tests (wait as long as possible so you don't have any memory bias of the questions) do them with speed and also skipping questions you recognize to be lengthy. I skipped about 3 questions in each section. I would highly recommend doing just more reading in the time being, any reading you do will help with that section. You know how to get a hold of me if needed. Best of luck and keep working on it!

[ebaca8]

I have been invited to take the POSS on Monday for a position at Turkey Point.  I have taken the practice test as well as the ASVAB practice exam.  Most of the information that I have been able to gather from this website is pertains to the problems people are having with the time constraints on the exam.  I am going to continue to research for any information I am able to obtain.  If anyone has any other information or suggestions they would be greatly appreciated.

[BoilerHP]

I calculated how much time I was spending per problem on the practice test, then calculated how much time (avg) I could spend per problem on the actual POSS. If you read the information EEI gives on their website you can determine that by the # of problems and time in each section. This helped with mental preparation of the speed aspect.

[dagiffy]

take the practice POSS test. Note the names of the five sections. Google those names. I found a site that let you download free tests that worked on what was in the POSS practice test sections, but I can't remember the name of the site off the top of my head. They want you to buy their tests which are bigger and more thorough, but the practice versions are roughly the same size as the practice test you get on EEI. I found it good practice, especially the section that asks you to assemble various pieces/parts and the mechanical aptitude section; which valves do I close to get this piston to move to the right? Which set of pulleys will require the least amount of force to lift the weight.  etc etc

[pip1972]

take the practice POSS test. Note the names of the five sections. Google those names. I found a site that let you download free tests that worked on what was in the POSS practice test sections, but I can't remember the name of the site off the top of my head. They want you to buy their tests which are bigger and more thorough, but the practice versions are roughly the same size as the practice test you get on EEI. I found it good practice, especially the section that asks you to assemble various pieces/parts and the mechanical aptitude section; which valves do I close to get this piston to move to the right? Which set of pulleys will require the least amount of force to lift the weight.  etc etc

I have been looking for some assembly questions as I do not think that the ASVAB guides that I am using cover this very well. If you could locate that web site I would appreciate it.
Thanks in advance.

[pip1972]

Dag

If this is the site let me know. If not than may be some one here can use it as the spatial tests/combine test and Mechanical reasoning are pretty good.

http://www.psychometric-success.com/downloads/download-practice-tests.htm

[dagiffy]

yes! that's the site. I felt it really helped my preparation. I nearly bought the longer versions but decided the cost didn't justify the small benefit. How much practice does a person need, after all, before it's just too much?

[MightyMouse]

Ok, here's the deal. This is my second time taking the POSS. The first time I didn't do so well and the HR specialist told me based on the results, I needed some work on Mechanical reasoning and the Math section.

I took it again on Monday. The assembly part killed me this time. I've been a company employee for 2.5 yrs, so she wants me to pass it and is trying to help me any which way she can.

She gave me the results and they were as followed: I answered 6 correct and 12 wrong on the assembly section, so this killed me from the start. The rest of the test looked positive; I answered 31 correct and 14 wrong on the Mechanical reasoning. Had a perfect score on the table and graph section, answering over 35; Paragraph composition I had a very high score (she didn't even go into how many I had right/wrong). The Math section, I answered 24 correct and 5 wrong.

Now, I have to wait another 3 months to take the test, but I'm basically guaranteed the Aux. operator position if I pass the test. The Plant Shift Manager has already hinted that. I guess that's a plus if one already works the company and has good standing.

I've bought the Arco book mentioned in another thread and I've done the practice test numerous times, memorizing the examples with ease. From what I recall, there is only one question that is on the actual test from the practice test. With this being my second time taking it, I've just about memorized alot of the answers in the other sections without even looking through the passage or factoring out the problem. Any recommendations on how I can better prepare for the Assembly section? 10 minutes to do 20 problems is a kicker, but from what I've read one only needs 11 correct from each module, with wrong answers counting against you.

[cole256]

Well you are lucky to have so much individual help.  (People pulling for you, getting individual scoring results, knowing what you need to work on, etc.)  I'm sure with all of that you will do just fine.  The lady that gave me the test said that it wasn't graded that way though but I don't know one way or the other.

[BoilerHP]

I would have to agree, as I am sure you have read... No one can get info like that. I had great connections and still couldn't get any details on my first attempt. Best of luck and just search the internet with specific and detailed searches... also become a regular at your local library.

[dagiffy]

In the assembly section I just focus on two parts that go together, then search the choices to see which of those have those two parts together correctly. If there is more than one, I look for another part to add and only look on the ones that fit the first two assembled pieces. You can narrow your answers down quickly that way. If I can't get it in 15 seconds or so, I go on to the next.

[lionhart]

The test isn't that hard.  If you're having that difficult of a time passing it, then maybe you don't have the Aptitude to be successful as an NLO.  Just saying, there's no use in gaming the test just to fail on the job.  I'm surprised that the company would give someone the opportunity to retake the test multiple times.

As long as they are willing to help you, keep working.

[MightyMouse]

The test isn't that hard.  If you're having that difficult of a time passing it, then maybe you don't have the Aptitude to be successful as an NLO.  Just saying, there's no use in gaming the test just to fail on the job.  I'm surprised that the company would give someone the opportunity to retake the test multiple times.

As long as they are willing to help you, keep working.

I disagree with your statement. The best Aux. operator here can't past the test and has been an operator for over 20 years. He was grandfathered in as an Aux. Operator when Fire & Safety downsized here and didn't have to take the POSS. I feel as though a high school student has a good chance at passing the POSS due to the Math section being a killer for most and it being fresh in their head since they do it on a daily basis. So you're telling me someone with a B.S. degree with a high gpa should be disqualified if he/she doesn't pass the test?  Navy nukes fail this test all the time, and to say that they don't have the aptitude to be successful is absurd. Only 15-20% of people who take the test pass it.

[HydroDave63]

The best Aux. operator here can't past the test and has been an operator for over 20 years. He was grandfathered in as an Aux. Operator when Fire & Safety downsized here and didn't have to take the POSS.

Since you haven't passed the POSS or spent time as a qualified Aux. Operator, how are you able to assess whether the AO you mention is the best, or even competent? Maybe your Site's Nuc. Training Dept. has weak JPMs and assessment?

So you're telling me someone with a B.S. degree with a high gpa should be disqualified if he/she doesn't pass the test? 

Oddly enough, that's why nuclear utilities still use that there standard EEI POSS test. It has served as a fairly accurate predictor of training success rate.

Navy nukes fail this test all the time, and to say that they don't have the aptitude to be successful is absurd. Only 15-20% of people who take the test pass it.

And your vast data scatter to substantiate that assertion would be what??

[MightyMouse]

Since you haven't passed the POSS or spent time as a qualified Aux. Operator, how are you able to assess whether the AO you mention is the best, or even competent? Maybe your Site's Nuc. Training Dept. has weak JPMs and assessment?

Oddly enough, that's why nuclear utilities still use that there standard EEI POSS test. It has served as a fairly accurate predictor of training success rate.

And your vast data scatter to substantiate that assertion would be what??

Based on what other AO's have told me, they are saying that he's the most knowledgable AO on site.

Confirmation from the HR Specialist that administers the exam which includes the statistics from our sister sites.

[kp88]

I'm surprised that the company would give someone the opportunity to retake the test multiple times.

As long as they are willing to help you, keep working.

The utility has already invested a lot in an existing employee.  It only makes sense to hire from within, if possible.  I've run into many people that I'd be more than happy to work with, if only they could pass the darn test.

[heavymetal atom]

I disagree with your statement. The best Aux. operator here can't past the test and has been an operator for over 20 years. He was grandfathered in as an Aux. Operator when Fire & Safety downsized here and didn't have to take the POSS. I feel as though a high school student has a good chance at passing the POSS due to the Math section being a killer for most and it being fresh in their head since they do it on a daily basis. So you're telling me someone with a B.S. degree with a high gpa should be disqualified if he/she doesn't pass the test?  Navy nukes fail this test all the time, and to say that they don't have the aptitude to be successful is absurd. Only 15-20% of people who take the test pass it.

Of course that guy is the "best" AO on site.  He's been doing the same thing for 20+ years!  At the same time, do you really think that all of the other AO's who were there during that timespan are inferior to him?  At least many of them managed to get licensed and move up.  It doesn't seem to me like he is the "best of the bunch" as you make out.

A B.S. with a high GPA won't necessarily make you a better operator than a high school graduate.  If the HS grad can pass the POSS and you can't then he/she will most likely be above you on the hiring totem pole.  What you said about HS grads passing the POSS more easily isn't true though, because from what I've heard the 15-20% pass rate holds up across educational backgrounds.  In other words, 15% of HS grads will pass, 15% of those with a B.S. will pass, 15% of those with a M.S. will pass, etc.  Obviously, the people on site know you well and want you as an operator so you've got that going for you.  Will you take the test again in 3 months?