Garda Recruitment - Stage 3b - Physical Competence Test

Shield · 07-05-2008 7:47pm #1

Wondering what the PCT is like? This link will give you a good idea. Post your questions or comments on the PCT on this thread.

kerry4sam · 07-05-2008 9:05pm

The PCT comprises of a circuit course (available to see on www.garda.ie) and the push-pull machine and both are held in a small sports hall in Templemore College

Random · 12-05-2008 1:21am

Do they provide a changing room and stuff?

How long does it all generally last? (including hanging about)

Is the whole smart dress / suit lark required ?

ojewriej · 12-05-2008 10:26am

random wrote: »

Do they provide a changing room and stuff?

Yes, you can even take a shower if you want, but no one does really.

random wrote: »

How long does it all generally last? (including hanging about)

Mine was about an hour - but I was a second one to go out of 11 people. They picked up us a bit late, then there was changing and filling out few forms, and then the course. Once you do it, you can go, you don't have to wait for the others.

random wrote: »

Is the whole smart dress / suit lark required ?

No. When we were waiting at the reception with my group, thy were all wearing tracksuits, I had my jeans on. I was bit worried, thinking that maybe I was supposed to change beforehand, but no, they all changed into different tracksuits later.
So basically wear whatever you want.

CharlieCroker · 12-05-2008 3:50pm

The worst thing about the PCT is that the hall it takes part in has 2 of the walls made of glass with no air conditioning.
This basically means that by the end of the course your lungs can feel like they're about to explode. Drink plenty of fluids before you go in, we were told not to bring drinks into the hall

srdb20 · 21-05-2008 4:16pm

Lads what kind of training is everyone doing for the PCT?

High intensity stuff or more Endurance based???

What kind of pace would you want to be running around the course?

Cheers

ojewriej · 21-05-2008 4:49pm

srdb20 wrote: »

Lads what kind of training is everyone doing for the PCT?

High intensity stuff or more Endurance based???

What kind of pace would you want to be running around the course?

Cheers

Circuit Training is optimal imo.

As for a pace - you don't want to be going to fast. 3.20 is enough time to do it, and you don't want to be wrecked after one lap. rather than the speed, i would reccomend focusing more on negotiating the obstacles correctly, so you won't have to repeat them.

srdb20 · 21-05-2008 4:50pm

Cheers ojewriej, for the advice!

Dr_MaSoN · 21-05-2008 5:09pm

the course is actually a fair bit shorter than shown on the garda site video.

the time is easily obtainable, i had 52 seconds to spare when i finished my third lap.

If you have any sort of fitness it wont be a problem.

blue2b · 01-06-2008 8:06am

is der any other tests this pct day ie -blood ...urine etc

Celtic07 · 01-06-2008 11:23am

blue2b wrote: »

is der any other tests this pct day ie -blood ...urine etc

nope..they do your height and weight all right but this is done at the medical to anyway

blue2b · 04-06-2008 9:31pm

jasus this section is slow!!!are there no pct s on at the minute. mine is 24 june. has anyone got ders any earlier. or do yis know when do they start

Dr_MaSoN · 04-06-2008 9:48pm

fair few meds and mostly appy tests going on atm mate.

controller · 04-06-2008 10:57pm

Anybody got any tips for the Push/Pull? I hear alot about technique. Pity there isn't a devise similar in any gym. I'm a 5ft 3" female and am working out as much as I can but am very uncertain about this.

Dr_MaSoN · 04-06-2008 10:58pm

you get a practice go before your actual 'logged' go.

Mainly its just about your stance i found, watch the video on the garda site.

cpstears · 06-06-2008 10:00pm

blue2b wrote: »

jasus this section is slow!!!are there no pct s on at the minute. mine is 24 june. has anyone got ders any earlier. or do yis know when do they start

Ditto, 24th for me too. See you down there

controller · 07-06-2008 10:09am

cpstears wrote: »

Ditto, 24th for me too. See you down there

I've pulled a shoulder muscle and mines on the 25th aaaaaahhhhhh!:eek:

Paolo5 · 08-06-2008 4:25pm

Can anyone tell me what type of distance you run on the PCT? What would a comparable road run be and in what time?

X miles in X mins?

I know conditions are different ie indoor, hot, flat etc. I am not worried about the strength / drag / push n pull etc and more the endurance.

Still waiting for the medical but just want to know what target should be.

Dr_MaSoN · 08-06-2008 6:06pm

the dummy you drag is around 45-50kg.

the distance u run id say is 250-300m for the 3 laps.

Probably much less...

Paolo5 · 08-06-2008 9:10pm

250 - 300 per lap? Sounds very short for the whole thing.

Concentration should me more on 300 metre runs and some upper body work so?

What is the big deal with the pct then - is it just the push and pull that catches people out. I hope that did not sound cocky!

Dr_MaSoN · 08-06-2008 9:55pm

its a short course, it looks along longer than it is on the video on the garda site.

Any sort of upper body str and push pull is a joke, same with any mediocre level of fitness and the course will pose you no problems.

Making mistakes on the course ie. touching the cone's and knocking the beam off is were you mess up the course part. While on the push n pull machine not getting the beeps causes you to fail it also if you fail to get the required standard :P. 3 beeps and your gone if i remember right.

Paolo5 · 08-06-2008 10:12pm

Do you get time added like the horse jumping or do you just fail if you knock a cone or barrier etc?

Dr_MaSoN · 08-06-2008 10:31pm

you have to do the obstacle again.

Ladyt · 10-06-2008 11:52pm

Any one that is doing their physical and medical at mo how long ago was your interview i did my interview in April and havent heard anything yet about my medical or physical... could anyone please inform me how long they were waiting to be called?? thanks...

blue2b · 11-06-2008 9:43am

done interview april first .had med end of may i think. pct in two wks. hope this helps ya

Ladyt · 11-06-2008 12:02pm

thank you for the info im just worried why im not getting called and afraid to ring hq case they think im a paranoid freak lol take it ur in August, if so congrats

Ladyt · 11-06-2008 12:03pm

thank you for the info im just worried why im not getting called and afraid to ring hq case they think im a paranoid freak lol take it ur in August, if so congrats:)

controller · 11-06-2008 12:36pm

Ladyt wrote: »

thank you for the info im just worried why im not getting called and afraid to ring hq case they think im a paranoid freak lol take it ur in August, if so congrats:)

Hey, I had my interview mid April & had my medical there last week. I was told they wait for the background check to reach a certain stage and then they call you but if it's taking to long they may just call a candidate anyway in order to avoid delay. There is no point worrying and if a phone call puts your mind at ease ring HQ they've been very nice and patient anytime I've rang.

Good luck & hope you get called soon.

Ladyt · 11-06-2008 12:59pm

Hey thanks for the feedback hope your physical goes well for you and how did you find the medical???Are you doing much training for the physical??

cathalfeely · 11-06-2008 2:11pm

Ladyt wrote: »

Any one that is doing their physical and medical at mo how long ago was your interview i did my interview in April and havent heard anything yet about my medical or physical... could anyone please inform me how long they were waiting to be called?? thanks...

hey done my interview at the end of april and am still waiting on the result of the interview, (im from the north and waiting on results to be recognised), wish they would hurry up haha

Dr_MaSoN · 11-06-2008 2:20pm

long as you dont have to wait as long as i did you'll be grand

13 weeks give or take a day was horrible..

Ladyt · 11-06-2008 2:22pm

did you ring them???

Ladyt · 11-06-2008 3:00pm

cathalfeely wrote: »

hey done my interview at the end of april and am still waiting on the result of the interview, (im from the north and waiting on results to be recognised), wish they would hurry up haha

i know the feeling but you still dont know about interview results i would ring them that must be so hard are you doing much for physical??

Dr_MaSoN · 11-06-2008 6:35pm

Ladyt wrote: »

did you ring them???

Twice yeah, basically its a long process you have to have patience.

Just told that the checks are on going ect and that you will just have to wait, calling wont speed it up believe me

Ladyt · 11-06-2008 6:47pm

Dr_MaSoN wrote: »

Twice yeah, basically its a long process you have to have patience.

Just told that the checks are on going ect and that you will just have to wait, calling wont speed it up believe me

i know i just hate the waiting to hear part plus my current job is wrecking my head :mad:

wat stage are you at again ive read so many posts today

Dr_MaSoN · 11-06-2008 6:58pm

im starting on august 5th

Ladyt · 11-06-2008 7:06pm

Dr_MaSoN wrote: »

im starting on august 5th

ah congrats hopefully i might not be too far behind u:p how did u find the last two stages?? do u need to be seriously fit for the physical- been walking between 3-7 miles three to four times a week been trying to jog parts and been doing a bit weights wise but ive a weak left hand what do chances are of getting through???

Dr_MaSoN · 11-06-2008 7:14pm

Its not really anything special, you have ample time really to do the course just keep up what your doing and you'll be fine id say.

Ladyt · 11-06-2008 7:17pm

Dr_MaSoN wrote: »

Its not really anything special, you have ample time really to do the course just keep up what your doing and you'll be fine id say.

thank you for the advise enjoy your next few weeks take it easy...

widget64 · 12-06-2008 3:31pm

I am just curious as a lot of people seem to be delayed with back ground checks. What and where exactly are they checking? i know they obviously check their systems and your family backgrounds but it seems to take very long they have to be checking other things surely??

Do they go international or something or is it just a slow process?

sfhawke7w · 12-06-2008 4:05pm

widget - i am only at aptitude stage but when i originally applied for the reserves it took my security check a while to come back as my brother lives in Jersey and the police there were very slow to get back to them.

when i spoke to garda hq they had even contacted jersey a couple of times.

good luck anyway

have aptitude test on saturday - getting nervous now! but excited at the same time!

widget64 · 12-06-2008 4:13pm

sfhawke7w wrote: »

widget - i am only at aptitude stage but when i originally applied for the reserves it took my security check a while to come back as my brother lives in Jersey and the police there were very slow to get back to them.

when i spoke to garda hq they had even contacted jersey a couple of times.

good luck anyway

have aptitude test on saturday - getting nervous now! but excited at the same time!

Hey,

I am only at the aptitude stage as well. Its just from reading through the different threads a lot of people seem to be held up with back ground checks. I just find it hard to understand why it takes so long should all the info not be on there system.....besides in your case what else do they have to check?

Best of luck on saturday. I have mine saturday week. It doesnt seem to bad, i am actually looking forward to it!

ojewriej · 12-06-2008 4:17pm

widget64 wrote: »

Hey,

I am only at the aptitude stage as well. Its just from reading through the different threads a lot of people seem to be held up with back ground checks. I just find it hard to understand why it takes so long should all the info not be on there system.....besides in your case what else do they have to check?

They check all your family too, aunts and uncles. It usually takes longer who lived/have family abroad. But there were cases of people who had almost no family, lived with their parents for their whole life, and still waited for ages.

Truth is, noone really knows what's the story with that, it's all very hush hush. For a reason I suppose.

widget64 · 12-06-2008 4:23pm

ojewriej wrote: »

They check all your family too, aunts and uncles. It usually takes longer who lived/have family abroad. But there were cases of people who had almost no family, lived with their parents for their whole life, and still waited for ages.

Truth is, noone really knows what's the story with that, it's all very hush hush. For a reason I suppose.

I think its a bit harsh in some cases, i have a 2 cousins (i have over 40) that have been in a bit of trouble in the past both are about 20years my senior and i have only ever met them twice at a funeral. I hope that wont land me in trouble!!

sfhawke7w · 12-06-2008 4:30pm

i have one brother and one sister, but there is 14 in my mums family - although most of them now living in ireland.

never any problem with mine i think it is just red tape that slows this things down.

Paolo5 · 13-06-2008 1:02am

I did interview in Mid April.
Results in the last week of April.
Still waiting on checks.
No medical or PCT appt yet.

I have to give at least 1 months notice to job - no way of getting out it - Safe to say I wont be going down in the August batch.

pvt.joker · 13-06-2008 8:10am

Paolo5 wrote: »

I did interview in Mid April.
Results in the last week of April.
Still waiting on checks.
No medical or PCT appt yet.

I have to give at least 1 months notice to job - no way of getting out it - Safe to say I wont be going down in the August batch.

Same boat I was in. Would you consider letting an GS talk to your boss to let you down on short notice? They offered to do this for me in May with 4 days notice

Good thing I failed the medical so they didnt have to , cos id say he wouldnt of been too pleased :eek:

Mark63 · 14-06-2008 6:23pm

Haven't been on in a while so just checking in.

Paolo5 wrote: »

I did interview in Mid April.
Results in the last week of April.
Still waiting on checks.
No medical or PCT appt yet.

I have to give at least 1 months notice to job - no way of getting out it - Safe to say I wont be going down in the August batch.

I'm exactly in the same position. For me I would actually prefer Novemeber if all goes to plan to get things sorted out rather than heading down in a rush.

cathalfeely · 16-06-2008 3:32pm

Ladyt wrote: »

i know the feeling but you still dont know about interview results i would ring them that must be so hard are you doing much for physical??

am not doing that much, i play soccer twice a week for an hour and a half and am just starting to go back to gaelic twice a week so hopefully that will be enough for my fitness wise, im a big fella 6 foot 6 so will have ta do a bit of weights to, so i wont be a bit lanky. you get your dates for medical yet??

Ladyt · 19-06-2008 7:48pm

woohoo got the call today to say ive been deemed medically fit and have my physical on the 3rd of July can anyone tell me how long does it take to drive from Dublin and is the N8 or N7 the best way to go??

ojewriej · 19-06-2008 8:09pm

Ladyt wrote: »

woohoo got the call today to say ive been deemed medically fit and have my physical on the 3rd of July can anyone tell me how long does it take to drive from Dublin and is the N8 or N7 the best way to go??

Take N7, once you are out of Dublin it takes about 2 hours, without rushing or anything.

Garda Recruitment - Stage 3b - Physical Competence Test

Comments