IRSE - Institution of Railway Signal Engineers > Qualifications & Careers > Exam Support Resources > Module C
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  1. Licensing
  2. Membership & Registration
  3. Qualifications & Careers
  4. Publications & Resources
  5. Get Involved
    Sold out! ASPECT 2023 Melbourne Australia, click below for full details
    November 21 - 23
    Melbourne AUS
  6. News
  7. Store

Module C: Principles of railway control and communication systems

Exam support resources - Principles of railway control and communication systems (module C)

Module C builds on the broad understanding of module A and assesses, in more depth, your understanding of the principles of operation of railway control and communications systems and sub-systems.

This paper combines the previously available modules of signalling principles (module 3), communications principles (module 4) and part of signalling the layout (module 2). These were available until October 2020, with the exception of module 2 which was last available in October 2021.

This module is a compulsory module for the Advanced Diploma in Railway Control Engineering (also known as the IRSE Professional Examination). If you have passed at least one of the previously available modules (modules 1-7), then use the online checker tool to see whether you are exempt from passing this module.

To sit module C, you must have previously passed an IRSE exam module and be an IRSE member.

Syllabus

The syllabus for principles of railway control and communications systems (module C) can be downloaded here and is in the document library below (visible for logged in IRSE members only).

Closed book exams

All IRSE exams are closed book, which means that candidates should not have anything open in their exam environment which could assist them in their exam. This includes, but is not limited to, having social media and other apps / programmes open on their computer, having study guides and information open and communicating with other candidates.

All exam candidates will be monitored by remote invigilation software and answers for modules B, C and D will be reviewed by anti-plagiarism software.

Latest exam paper

The October 2022 Module C paper can be downloaded here, and is in the document library below (visible for logged in IRSE members only).

Study materials

Logged in IRSE members can download support materials for principles of railway control and communication systems (module C) of the exam from the document library at the end of this page (visible to logged in members only). 

Study videos are also available for members and non-members on IRSE's Vimeo channel via https://vimeo.com/showcase/study - please note that these videos are based on previously available modules, so look for videos about modules 2, 3 and 4.


As study materials are only available to IRSE members, please ensure that you apply for your membership to give you sufficient time to prepare for your exam.

Preparation advice

Read John Alexander's article inIRSE News February 2021 and watch Andy Stringer's IRSE 10/// Talk on panic in the exam room

Prerequisites

To apply to sit principles of railway control and communication systems (module C) of the exam, you must:

  • be a member of the IRSE with your subscription payments up to date, and
  • have passed one or more exam module(s)

As study materials are only available to IRSE members, please ensure that you apply for your membership to give you sufficient time to prepare for your exam.

How and when to book

Module C can be sat only once a year, in early October.

Bookings for the October exam normally open in the May / June and close at the end of July.

Candidate guides (in the document library below) will give further details.

For 2023, the next exam will be on Saturday 7 October and bookings have now closed.

Location of exam

There will be no exam centres in 2023, with all exam candidates sitting the exam at a suitable location for them. Candidates will need a computer or laptop and a reliable internet connection which can access the exam website and software. Candidates will be given access to practice sessions to ensure that this works for them (see terms and conditions in document library below).

Candidates are reminded that all IRSE exams are closed book exams and that they will be monitored by remote invigilation and anti-plagiarism software.


 

Looking for help for your exam studies?  Watch the study videos collated by IRSE Younger Members' Section on our Vimeo study channel at https://vimeo.com/showcase/study