PCA/Fitness test

C3POPO

Homer01 wrote: »

So pleased to get my PCA done and dusted

Had I passed on the first attempt then I wouldn't have met some really great folk at the sessions. Glad they all passed too

Nice one Homer01! Congratulations :)

What did you feel made the difference between your first session and this one? Were you just fitter overall or did they give your tips on technique that helped with the time? What was the training programme that they gave you - are you allowed to share it?

Delightscience

Congrats Homer!! They use the bleep test as a tool to see how fit you are and also as a training method. They advise interval sprints and to follow the programme they set out in the original guidance document

Homer01

C3POPO wrote: »

Nice one Homer01! Congratulations :)

What did you feel made the difference between your first session and this one? Were you just fitter overall or did they give your tips on technique that helped with the time? What was the training programme that they gave you - are you allowed to share it?

I definitely trained harder but the sessions helped improved confidence and settle nerves.

Each session involved a beep test. This helps them and you get an idea of your fitness level. PT said we should all be aiming for 6.5.
I personally noticed big improvements each time I took it.
Then we got a good bit of time to practice on the course and speak with the PT's.

Finally we got two timed laps of the PCA followed by push/pull. This is the gold in the session. It allows you to see your time improve each time and allow you try different techniques without fear of failure.

The whole atmosphere in the sessions is very relaxed and helpful.

I do think it would be beneficial to offer these type of sessions pre PCA.

Homer01

Dust off this thread for those heading that direction. Loads of good info in here

letsdoit2013

Well done to the guys on getting the progression emails I'm sure it's a great relief ! Been a good while since I completed my PCA now for 1509 (ac score early 60s) but just want to give my 2 pence worth while I'm chilling (yea right... lol) waiting on the call. I wouldn't consider myself fit in the slightest but got stuck into the running coming up to the PCA, it definately got me through it. I think I was around 20 secs under the pass mark and gave it my all. Came out of it on the verge of throwing up but it is maximal after all. My advice would be to get stuck into the cardio asap and you'll get through it no bother, if I can do it anyone can! Good luck everyone!

Timetravel

Worth a bump as some of us will probably be getting PCA dates in the next few weeks. Everyone training?l

MrBlack93

Timetravel wrote: »

Worth a bump as some of us will probably be getting PCA dates in the next few weeks. Everyone training?l

Hard to pull oneself out of bed to go for a morning run these cold mornings but hating my current job makes it alot easier.

shanevendrell

Would i be right in thinking they will wait to see who doesnt return vetting forms before sending out PCA dates?

Homer01

shanevendrell wrote: »

Would i be right in thinking they will wait to see who doesnt return vetting forms before sending out PCA dates?

Probably about right.

Timetravel

If you were in two minds about it the vetting forms could definitely put you off taking it further

Muffins5520

Hi guys, which comes first, the medical or fitness? And can anyone advise on how soon you are informed of this after you complete online learning? Are the medical/ PCA dates dependant on your vetting outcome?
Thanks

Bunsen1burner

Muffins5520 wrote: »

Hi guys, which comes first, the medical or fitness? And can anyone advise on how soon you are informed of this after you complete online learning? Are the medical/ PCA dates dependant on your vetting outcome?
Thanks

Hey Muffins
PCA/Fitness comes before the medical! Our PCA appointments came out before online learning was completed so I cant answer that question. Personally my vetting cleared just after passing PCA but I know others on here that cleared before that or even weeks after their medicals. Hopefully they will be in a position to sort out your PCA appointments now that online learning and vetting has all returned.

Muffins5520

Hey Bunsen burner, thanks for the reply, are you 1509/ what stage are you at currently?

Bunsen1burner

No probs Muffins! Yes im in the 1509 campaign and have all stages complete! Im currently in the "Waiting Room" hoping to get that dream phone call within the next few months!

If I can help with any other queries just give me a shout!

jordansp21

Bunsen1burner wrote: »

No probs Muffins!  Yes im in the 1509 campaign and have all stages complete!  Im currently in the "Waiting Room" hoping to get that dream phone call within the next few months!

If I can help with any other queries just give me a shout!

is the PCA hard Bunsen or just average?

Bunsen1burner

jordansp21 wrote: »

is the PCA hard Bunsen or just average?

PCA is very doable if you have a decent level of fitness. I had to retest but I was soooo nervous the first time and felt like my chest was going to cave in!! The support sessions are grest though! Thankfully I was slightly more confident on the second attempt and passed!

jordansp21

Bunsen1burner wrote: »

jordansp21 wrote: »

is the PCA hard Bunsen or just average?

PCA is very doable if you have a decent level of fitness.  I had to retest but I was soooo nervous the first time and felt like my chest was going to cave in!!  The support sessions are grest though! Thankfully I was slightly more confident on the second attempt and passed!

Cheers Bunsen are the support sessions only offered if you fail the first time?

Bunsen1burner

Yip! There is the Familiarisation day before your PCA! Defo get to it, really helps and you get to see the course all set up!

Trainee bob

So If you fail first time they let you redo the fitness?alsI do you have to take a form to your GP for the medical?

Trainee bob

So If you fail first time they let you redo the fitness?alsI do you have to take a form to your GP for the medical?

hopeful2017

Yes you take the medical form to your gp and you fill in the sections marked and leave the rest for your gp.

Personally if you focus more on cardio towards the pca focusing on sprints circuits and maybe some weight training for strength personally worked for me I passed first time I actually made a mistake during the fitness test and still had a good amount of time left if you give it your all from start to finish focus on your breathing throughout the first lap should be your fastest naturally your second and third will be slower I felt like I was walking on the third lap during the sprinting element of the test make sure your give it your all that's when you will make time up

Trainee bob

Yes I'm working on fitness just didnt realise that they let you re-test?also do you send the form to your GP or make an app?

Worldmap23

For the PCA and familiarisation sessions are you able to park at the venue? Or park close by and walk?

blueboat

Yup. Room at the venue for parking.

Worldmap23

blueboat wrote: »

Yup. Room at the venue for parking.

That's great, thanks!

Trainee bob

Have you guys got a date for fitness,if so what a bracket are you in

shanevendrell

Just back from familarisation. Well worth going to.

Johannes_Cabal

shanevendrell wrote: »

Just back from familarisation. Well worth going to.

I was also at familiarisation, plenty of people there.

Definitely worth going to even (as in my case) if you have done it before. It's helpful getting to attempt any sections we may have been worried about.

Trainee bob

What scores are they down to with regards pca?

Timetravel

Familiarisation a great help! Few of us must have been at the same one lol

Johannes_Cabal

Timetravel wrote: »

Familiarisation a great help! Few of us must have been at the same one lol

Do they have a morning and afternoon session for familarisation or is it just a one for all?

Timetravel

Johannes_Cabal wrote: »

Do they have a morning and afternoon session for familarisation or is it just a one for all?

Think there's a good few sessions throughout the day

Johannes_Cabal

Timetravel wrote: »

Think there's a good few sessions throughout the day

Didn't know that, I know they do more than one per day for the actual test.

I suppose they would need to, considering the number of candidates still waiting.

Muffins5520

How's everyone feeling about it after today? The drag was the biggest snag for me personally!

Timetravel

Muffins5520 wrote: »

How's everyone feeling about it after today? The drag was the biggest snag for me personally!

A lot happier after trying the stuff. Push/pull only thing I never bothered with but didn't like the tunnel much lol

shanevendrell

Having seen it in person I personally thought the cardio aspect of it has been slightly exaggerated compared to the actual reality.

Accuracy and attention to the small details seem to be the key.

C3POPO

shanevendrell wrote: »

Having seen it in person I personally thought the cardio aspect of it has been slightly exaggerated compared to the actual reality.

I hope you are still thinking that by the third lap :)

Trainee bob

What score bracket are us in ,just so I can guesstimate when I will get a date

Muffins5520

Trainee bob wrote: »

What score bracket are us in ,just so I can guesstimate when I will get a date

Maybe give recruitment a call rather than trying to guess, every intake that's been processed seems to have had various differences each time in regards to time scales. Have you seen the other threads or the FOIs?

Trainee bob

Yes floating in and out of threads and only seen one foi,do you know of a foi with breakdown of scores etc

Muffins5520

Hi, some FOIs below:

1: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/393218/response/949481/attach/html/3/F 2017 00664 FOI Response.pdf.html

2: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/392591/response/953959/attach/html/3/F 2017 00643 FOI Response.pdf.html

3: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/388343/response/938701/attach/html/3/1509 Recruitment Update.pdf.html

4: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/385442/response/935837/attach/html/3/F 2017 00308 FOI Response.pdf.html

5: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/384184/response/934941/attach/html/3/F 2017 00253 FOI Response.pdf.html

6: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/375717/response/925697/attach/html/3/F 2016 02100 FOI Response.pdf.html

7: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/390209/response/945960/attach/html/3/00487 Final Response.pdf.html

RedPool2891

I was there today too.

I was most concerned about the stair aspect so it was good to give it a go and see which technique worked best, as with the tunnel.

Onwards to the real thing!

Trainee bob

Thanks muffins

Bunsen1burner

Good luck to all you guys headin to do PCA! Just give it your all cos its less than 4 minutes that can land yous your dream job!

Babybuns

Bunsen1burner wrote: »

Good luck to all you guys headin to do PCA! Just give it your all cos its less than 4 minutes that can land yous your dream job!

How do you hear about the familiarisation days

Muffins5520

Babybuns wrote: »

Bunsen1burner wrote: »

Good luck to all you guys headin to do PCA! Just give it your all cos its less than 4 minutes that can land yous your dream job!

How do you hear about the familiarisation days

An email with your PCA date and Familirisation date

Trainee bob

What score bracket are you guys that are fishing the pca in,going by the FOI how many more people are they going to appoint because 8 intakes and 40-50 in a intake is big numbers

Trainee bob

What score bracket are you guys that are fishing the pca in,going by the FOI how many more people are they going to appoint because 8 intakes and 40-50 in a intake is big numbers

Trainee bob

Anybody on here in the group that finished online at the start of the month?

Trainee bob

How do you go about asking for these foi