POSS/MASS test, has anyone taken them?

[StartingEarly]

I have to take a POSS/MASS test for a power plant and want to talk to some people that have taken them in the past.

[soccerluvof4]

Never heard of them so you peaked my interest. There's this-

https://www.nukeworker.com/forum/index.php?topic=7188.0   

[StartingEarly]

I've already been on nukeworker.com, I am looking to see if anyone has taken the test that I can actually talk to, the guys on nukeworker tend to be a little hostile to non nuke guys and I am applying for a biomass facility.

[SomethingFishy]

I'm a lurker here, but I used to administer these tests, along with CAST and TECH, so I felt compelled to post. I'll answer any questions I ethically can.

[StartingEarly]

Is it scored consistently from facility to facility? How is it scored? There seems to be a huge argument among people who have taken the test whether guessing is good or bad. Some say you are deducted more points for a wrong answer than for a blank answer, like negative two points verses negative one. Some say that it's like a regular test where wrong answers are just wrong.

It seems like all companies have different levels of requirements to pass and have different versions of the test. Mine is POSS C with math if that helps. I will be taking the test for an entry level job for a non nuclear facility but for a company that owns nuclear facilities, will I be required to pass at the nuclear level or just pass at fossil and be told pass fail on nuclear for future use?

I am having trouble finding out how best to study for the test since there is so much confusion on what is on the test. The major breakthrough I made so far was discovering that the practice charts section gives three minutes for 24 answers when it should give two since the actual test is reported as 60 answers in 5 minutes (5 seconds per problem vs 7.5) which might explain why so many struggle on the graph section of the test.

Any help you can give will be greatly appreciated, I hope my response wasn't too lengthy.

[SomethingFishy]

The scoring itself is consistent (i.e., what's a right answer, what's a wrong answer), but different facilities can indeed decide what an acceptable score is. For example, a company with nuke and non nuke jobs might require higher scores for the nuke jobs. Companies do not share the specific scores they use. Even if you knew you needed X points to pass, I would recommend trying to answer as many right as you can, and not stopping when you think you've gotten X right.

The best thing I can recommend to practice is to use the EEI practice tests you've found. Here's another link to where you can find the log on with a password. https://www.firstenergycorp.com/content/fecorp/careers/hiring_process/eei_testing/practice_tests.html Take them under time pressure. POSS is timed, you need to answer fast. Don't assume the time on the practice tests is an exact match with the real test, just assume that you need to be fast and accurate. The practice tests are most useful in showing you what the items will be like on the test.

When you take the test, really pay attention to the instructions they read. They'll tell you exactly how much time you have.

I can't remember which tests deduct points for guessing, but listen carefully to the instructions. If they tell you that you're better off if you can eliminate a wrong answer and guess from what's left, then follow that. They aren't trying to trick you. The ideal scenario for HR is that everyone is awesome, passes, and there's a ton of candidates to choose from! One other thing, there should be a pause for questions when the administrator reads the instructions. You can ask how wrong answers are scored and see if you get a useful answer.

Good luck with it. If you can answer questions like the practice questions correctly and fast, you'll do well on the test. Try not to stress over it once you get to that point.

[StartingEarly]

A lot of people mentioned content on the test that wasn't on the EEI practice tests. Is there any content you know offhand that I should be studying in addition to the practice test content?

[SomethingFishy]

Unless something has changed, the five topics in that link I included are everything. If I recall correctly, not every company uses the reading section, and the POSS C math section is more detailed than the other POSS versions. I think there also used to be a background/experience section, but the company I worked for didn't use it. Maybe that's what people were referring to?

I've seen brilliant people take the test and very confused people take the test. People in that later bucket complain that the exact questions from the practice test aren't on the real thing. No kidding. That's why it's a practice test. I've also seen confused people complain about questions that weren't on the POSS practice tests, after taking CAST or TECH. Once again, no kidding.

The types of items on the practice test should be a good match to the types of items on the real thing. Get comfortable with items like that, and it should help. It's also possible things have changed since I left the job, so take this with a grain of salt.

[StartingEarly]

I guess it would depend on when you left. As far as I can tell, the POSS hasn't changed much since 2009.

Are there ever any answers that are more than one answer? IE: pick all that are right?

I know the questions won't be identical, I am more concerned about problem type, there weren't any word problems on the practice test and those are almost sure to be on the POSS C since I'm pretty sure that's the nuclear level version with long math.

[SomethingFishy]

I left after 09, so that may be helpful. All questions are one correct answer only, no multiple selections. You will have problems that give scenarios and require you to use reference tables plus math to solve. The very last section of the Math Usage practice test is a good match to that. All of the math is one section, so answer the questions you can answer easily first, and then go back to ones that will take you longer. You want as many correct answers as possible, but it's the same to answer 1-10 and 20-30, instead of 1-20.

[StartingEarly]

Do you remember any of the content? I know for the test that fulcrums will come up either in math or mechanical reasoning.

Is the print quality and graphics high enough that the assembly test isn't ambiguous? The EEI practice test was done well, but I worry since my spatial practice book is junk.

I heard the graphing test isn't like the test on the practice and is more like following a line from start to end then writing down where it ended up on the y axis.

What kind of breaks are there during the tests?

[SomethingFishy]

I can't ethically share test content. Look at the practice tests and think about basic mechanical principles. That's going to include things like levers, fulcrums, pulleys, gears, ramps, etc. That's not me giving you a list of test content, just a list of basic mechanical principles.  Think about the stuff you learn in introductory physics: momentum, mass, pressure, temperature, flow. How do you use mechanical devices to make work easier? If you understand and can apply those basic concepts to real world situations, you're prepared.

As for tables, graphs, and the rest, don't get too hung up on specific content. Do you understand how to read a table? Do you understand how to calculate information from a table using the table's contents and math? If the axes are clearly labeled, can you read a graph and find specific information from it? If you can do those things, you're got the important skills you need.

I would say the quality of images on the practice tests is exactly equivalent to what you'll see on the real thing. They're not stunning 1080p resolution, but they're all legible.

I think each organization has some flexibility on breaks. We ran straight through the entire test, stopping only to read instructions between sections. You can stay focused on the test and not start worrying about upcoming sections because there isn't enough time to worry. If there's a medical reason you need breaks after a set amount of time, tell the company when they schedule you for the test.

[StartingEarly]

I just tend to have to pee a lot when I get nervous, or sometimes even get the runs when I'm really nervous. I'm not worried about reading a graph or a table, I am worried about getting out sixty answers in 5 minutes for tables and 24 answers in 4 minutes for graphs.

[SomethingFishy]

Back in highschool, I use to do competitive sports. I always got nervous and had to pee right before going out, as did most of the team. Our coach told us that having to pee when you go out to do your event is good luck. I'm sure she made that up, but I think it's funny so I remember it to this day.

The time pressure is tough. Practice under tightly timed conditions and then have faith in yourself. I'm in HR and I passed it, so there's hope for just about anyone! :)

[bobechs]

I just tend to have to pee a lot when I get nervous, or sometimes even get the runs when I'm really nervous. I'm not worried about reading a graph or a table, I am worried about getting out sixty answers in 5 minutes for tables and 24 answers in 4 minutes for graphs.

Adult diapers ftw.

Can't help with the rapid fire though.

[StartingEarly]

Are you able to write on the test packet or do they reuse them?

[SomethingFishy]

They reuse them. Some locations may also administer on the computer. They will give you several pieces of scratch paper, and they'll collect them again afterward.

[StartingEarly]

Are all the assembly drawings relatively straight forward if you know how to put things together or are there some with minuscule differences?