Failed

[Hunter]

Well I failed my fire fighter examination on maths, I could see that happening as my maths are a weak point. This week I will really be revising and have made some sacrifices.

 

I have sworn I will never drink alcohol untill I pass this exam, and for those of you who dont know me, I do like a good British ale or three where possible. So its going to be hard, but without keeping a clear mind and having a few things to work to, I will never get around to studying maths as I hate maths. On my wall is a shelf, on it is a small bottle of Special Reserve Tawny port, three ales, and the chance of a change in career.. something exciting. None of which I will touch untill I pass this exam, no matter how many times I have to go to the stressful testing center, and be put under high pressure of time to complete maths qeustions.

 

Prehaps I will have to ask a moderator to ban me from here for a while to stop me posting when I revise online. My retake is on the 18 of July, very little time, but this time I understand just how much I ned to learn, and for a dyslexic plank like myself this will be quite a challenge, the most important exam in my life since my driving practical exam.

 

For me walking into the test center and sitting down is like a bad dream you really want to escape from, but you have to wait it out.. B)

[monkeyjaimz]

Chin up mate, you have the resolve and gumption to fulfill your dream. I'm sure you'll get there in a few weeks time and be able to celebrate with an ale afterwards

[kev 1]

Good luck for next time

[starlight32]

Well I failed my fire fighter examination on maths, I could see that happening as my maths are a weak point. This week I will really be revising and have made some sacrifices.

 

I have sworn I will never drink alcohol untill I pass this exam, and for those of you who dont know me, I do like a good British ale or three where possible. So its going to be hard, but without keeping a clear mind and having a few things to work to, I will never get around to studying maths as I hate maths. On my wall is a shelf, on it is a small bottle of Special Reserve Tawny port, three ales, and the chance of a change in career.. something exciting. None of which I will touch untill I pass this exam, no matter how many times I have to go to the stressful testing center, and be put under high pressure of time to complete maths qeustions.

 

Prehaps I will have to ask a moderator to ban me from here for a while to stop me posting when I revise online. My retake is on the 18 of July, very little time, but this time I understand just how much I ned to learn, and for a dyslexic plank like myself this will be quite a challenge, the most important exam in my life since my driving practical exam.

 

For me walking into the test center and sitting down is like a bad dream you really want to escape from, but you have to wait it out.. B)

 

Beats me why the fire service needs people with a strong mathmatical background anyway.

 

I would have thought the fire service would require people with other types of interpersonal skills?

 

I agree there has to be a a certain level of abtitude in such professions but really I feel sometimes it is a little daft....

[mr lee]

Best of luck for the resit mate!

 

One week off the ale is nothing compared to a life changing career option.

[myzeneye]

hunter mate, i feel for you, im useless with numbers... i mean useless....even the simplest of calculations draw a complete blank in my head.... i often wonder is there such a thing as numerical dyslexia as i honestly dont believe its because im thick or anything, i've got loads of other qualifications, some rather technical... and with my job as a gas fitter i often have to do a few long calculations to check gas rates, ventilation requirements etc... i do o.k with them with a calculator, but ask me to do a few simple calculations in my head and like i said, it just literally locks up !!!

 

if you've done the test once, you'll know what kind of questions they'll expect of you.... practice practice practice mate and if thats where you wanna be, you'l get there in the end. good luck pal.

[Hunter]

Thanks guys!

I have another timeline though.. There are (or were) only a couple of slots for that station, and if I dont pass soon, they will be filled and I will be at square one, in which case I will probably be looking at joining the army for a job, as there is nothing here for me. Or go to Canada.

[marky123]

never in my life have I had clear goals

hope you have the resolve

MARK

[Muddy Funker]

Thanks guys!

I have another timeline though.. There are (or were) only a couple of slots for that station, and if I dont pass soon, they will be filled and I will be at square one, in which case I will probably be looking at joining the army for a job, as there is nothing here for me. Or go to Canada.

 

Sorry to hear your news, have you thought about the police?

I tried applying to all the fire services around London and home counties and got no where, then my Dad said why not the police?

Indeed why not, and now i'm coming out of my probation in Surrey, love my job, get to meet and help so many different people and see quite a few sights along the way.

I really can't understand the whole maths thing, it really is a joke! Why would that stop you from being a great fire fighter?

Good luck with whatever you choose to do and never stop trying.

[DaveK]

Hunter, get your butt down to the local college and enrol on a key skills course. All you need by the sound of it is application of number at level 2. If I remember correctly you're applying for the retained service? I can't see that your local brigade can be that selective to be able to knock someone back on that issue. I know in my area, if there's a retained vacancy even the station cat is in with a chance.

 

Good luck.

[Blackbart]

Look on the bright side hunter if they let henry D in............(I will let the rest of you fill in the blanks )

[jonno 357]

Keep working at it

[deeksofdoom]

Stick up some of the maths problems you got and we'll see if anyone can help you with them.

[Cranfield]

Its good that you have a strong resolve and it will always stand you in good stead, especially if you emigrate.

 

Good luck next time.

[Pedro]

Stick at it Hunter

 

Bear in mind what muddyfunker says too, I've done some brilliant thing since I've been in

 

P.

[me and my lad]

get yourself some key stage maths papers from wh smiths and work through them, that should help

[jonno 357]

Stick up some of the maths problems you got and we'll see if anyone can help you with them.

 

 

Not too sure it would be a good idea for him to post the maths problems on here. There's going to be different levels of educated people of here and if he posts what is relatively easy questions to the educated ones. He is going to look a right ******

 

Jonno

[decroyffe]

Tough luck hunter, hope you do ok next time. Wouldn't give the Army a second thought tho, i dont belive that 24 weeks basic training prepares any man or women, for close quarter battle.

 

Sounds like your heads on the right way, so a better choice would be the RAF. Better jobs, pay and quality of living

Edited July 12, 2008 by decroyffe

[Mrs Sweepy]

Dear Hunter,

you have not failed. You only failed if you give up and dont try again.

And that is not your style(Is it young man).

Like i have said before i know that what ever you do you will put 100% into doing it.

Life likes to chuck these little obstacles in are paths every now and again.

Its what keeps as on are toes.

I understand what you mean about resitting the test.(anything like that and i would be a jibbering wreck.)

Mind you say that i come out in a cold sweat .When i have to remember what everyone wants from the fish and chip shop.

 

So babes try not to worry to much.If you really want this job so bad . Then you will get it, Its just that sometimes some things take that little bit longer to achieve then others. And the harder the effort you put in to get to your goal . The more you will enjoy it when you reach it .

You are a young man.Starting out in life. So just sit back and enjoy the ride.

xxxxmumsuzy

[Dirty Harry]

Better luck next time. Try getting a DS and brain trainer to help your mental maths.

 

I think maths would be an important skill. For example, a fire engine holds X ammount of water, you are pumping it out at x rate, how long will the water last?

Your mates are in a building fire and have their BA's on. They have been in X ammount of time, how long do they have left before they suffocate?

The big ladder will take X kilos, a fat fireman with all his kit weighs Xkg. How many fat fireman will the ladder take?

 

All the sort of things that would require sums in the head nice and quick.

 

Harry

[DaveK]

you're on a multi pump station with a special appliance meaning maybe a watch of up to 17 and its breakfast time and you're duty man. if everyone wants 3 slices of toast how many loaves of thick sliced bread will you need and how many tins of beans (apart from the one awkward sod that wants tomatoes).

 

Probably the most important calculation you'll have to make

 

Best of luck

[Hunter]

Thanks for all the encouragaing and helpful replies! Very much appreciated from everyone.

 

I took the suggestions above, and went into town and bought some maths revision stuff. I will very likely fail on this test because it is on thursday, but from now on I will study hard untill the next test and the test after that etc, untill I have reached the right degree of maths needed.

 

Im sat here in my room watching the staff from my place going off out to town to party, I know I have to get my head straight now and study for these exams. Its amazing how hard I have to work to pass an exam that will never be used in the fire service (basic calculations are all you need ) but here goes.

 

I have considered the police service for quite some time and studied/trained in the Uniformed Public Services course for it, but the fire service is all a bit less theoretical, much more practical, and the chaps are very friendly where as the police service can be a little too serious at times, and involve lots of pen pushing. I dont want to take on a job, where I cant do my duties because of all the regulations. If I join the police it would be to get to a specialist unit such as firearms. But thats another can of worms..

 

Thanks everyone

 

It was embarrasing going into WH smith and asking a young lady where the maths revision books where, and being led into the childrens section but the truth is my maths are still at GCSE level E or worse.

[scolopax]

Good luck with the maths exam, have you thought of aquiring the services of a private tutor for a few revision sessions, it could be a very wise investment?

 

My brother is a fire fighter and from what I remember because the fire service is such an appealling career for many folk they have to be ruthless when recruiting, turning down a great many excellent candidates because there is always a great many more applications than posts available.

 

BTW. make sure you are fit, very very fit. Also when my brother took his tests thay look for the never say die attitude and will push you physically beyond your limits, just do not give up, even if you are crawling along on your hands and knees keep going.

[Mrs Sweepy]

All the best for tomorrow .

Try not to worry to much .

xxxxsuzy

 

 

 

 

 

 

p.s just remember what i said the other night

xxxxxsuzy

[Biffo1262]

Maths is an important integral part of the job I'm afraid. If basic maths is a problem you'll never get to grips with the Hydraulics Module. One of the jobs you would be required to do eventually would be a pump operator. It's not just a case of opening a delivery and sending the water up the hose to the branch. Certain criteria have to be taken into account and I don't want to bamboozle you put here are a few -

 

Loss of pressure due to head (height of the branch above the level of the pump).

 

loss of pressure due to friction ( the internal surface of the hose is slighlty rough and causes a loss of pressure per 25m length used and the internal diameter of the hose used is also a factor).

 

Size of the branchpipe used.

 

Even as a branchman you have to do a metal calculation to work at the optimum pressure at the branch for an effective firefighting jet.

 

Hydraulics isn't the only subject either. You will be required to work out volumes of water to anticipate how long a given supply will last if no mains supply is handy.

 

Complicated hydraulic formulae are used throughout even basic training.

 

Breathing Apparatus. The duration of the contents of the cylinder is set for normal working but you are still required to do mental calculations (under life threating situations - your own) as to when should commence to retrace your steps in a smoke logged building so you can exit with your life intact and that of your partner all based on the gauge reading on your BA set. It's called turnaround time. The Yanks would call it the point of no return and unfortunately on a number of occassions in my career it has been proved to be just that for some of our colleagues

 

Physics and chemistry both have an element of mathematics.

 

Maths and to a great extent good spelling are important as without a competent foundation you just wil not be suitable for basic training. The Police perhaps don't have the same need for a good grounding in maths as their main work is written and involves more character and commonsense (awaits sarcastic comments).

 

My advice is get to night school and do a foundation course on basic maths and the calculation of areas and volumes. It has been done before.

 

A little sarcasm of my own here, perhaps. All Brigades are required to fill up their ethnic and minority sex recruit quotas and with intending to be disrepectful a lot of Brigades have a habit of letting the minimum physical & educational standards slip, ever so slightly, to enable them to meet government targets (awaits shocked replies).