Southeastern
TEA-OCC Test
Count tones. Match symbols. Both at once. — here is everything you need to know about the TEA-OCC Test before your Southeastern OPC assessment.
Why the TEA-OCC matters for Southeastern drivers
Southeastern operates services across London, Kent & parts of East Sussex. Southeastern operates commuter and regional services across London, Kent, and East Sussex. Its driver selection process includes the OPC psychometric test battery — the Vigilance Test (WAFV) and ATAVT being among the most critical components — and the TEA-OCC Test is one of the key assessments that determines whether you will be shortlisted for the role.
Busy commuter driving generates a constant stream of concurrent demands: platform approaches with passengers near the edge, station announcement timing, timetable pressure, signal compliance, and radio communications. Divided attention — the ability to monitor all these channels without dropping any — is a daily requirement. The TEA-OCC measures whether candidates have the cognitive foundation to manage this multi-stream environment safely.
The TEA-OCC Test forms part of the OPC (Occupational Personality and Cognitive) battery used across all UK train operating companies, governed by RSSB standard RIS-3751-TOM. The format is identical at Southeastern as at any other operator — but the stakes are specific to this application.
How the TEA-OCC works
Test format & scoring
TEA-OCC Test
Part of the Southeastern OPC battery
Three parts: (1) Auditory only — count low tones, ignore high. (2) Visual only — click matching symbol pairs in 45 seconds. (3) Combined — both simultaneously. Your Part 3 score is compared against your Part 1 and 2 baselines to measure divided attention capacity.
What it measures: Divided attention — the ability to process two independent information streams simultaneously without degrading performance on either. One of the most safety-critical cognitive capacities for train drivers.
How to prepare
Preparation tips for Southeastern candidates
Master each part separately before attempting Part 3
Get the auditory count and the visual scan each to near-automatic before combining them. Part 3 is hard enough without simultaneous novelty.
Let the count run in the background
Most people anchor on the visual task and run the count as a background process. Trying to split attention equally typically degrades both.
Use headphones in a quiet environment
The tone discrimination is harder with background noise. Practise in the same quiet, headphones-on conditions you will have during assessment.
Complete multiple full three-part sessions
The divided attention deficit reduces with practice. Track your Part 3 performance across sessions — it should approach your Part 1/2 baselines.
Southeastern-specific tip
Focus on reducing your Part 3 deficit versus Part 1/Part 2 baselines — this gap is what matters in back-to-back commuter operations.
FAQ
TEA-OCC Test — common questions
What are the three parts of the TEA-OCC?
Part 1: auditory only — count low tones, ignore high. Part 2: visual only — click matching symbol pairs in 45 seconds. Part 3: both simultaneously. Part 3 is the core divided attention measure.
How is the TEA-OCC scored?
Each part is scored independently. Part 3 performance is compared against your individual Part 1 and Part 2 baselines, measuring how much (or how little) your performance degrades under dual-task conditions.
Is the TEA-OCC in the standard OPC battery?
The TEA-OCC is an additional assessment used by some operators alongside the standard battery. On Train Driver Tests it is included in the premium plan.
Can divided attention actually improve with practice?
Yes. The divided attention deficit reduces as the individual sub-tasks become more automatic, freeing cognitive capacity. Multiple full sessions show measurable improvement in Part 3 relative to baseline.
Does Southeastern offer trainee train driver roles?
Yes. Southeastern periodically recruits trainee train drivers (TTDs) with no prior driving experience. These roles include full training and the OPC assessment is a mandatory step in the selection process.
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