Clerical Officer

in the

Civil Service 2016

Stage 1(B)

Pre-Test InformationBooklet

This is an important document so please set some time aside to read it in advance of the test session.

©Public Appointments ServicePage 1

Dear Applicant,

The Public Appointments Service (PAS) is the central recruiter for theCivil Service. Through this competition, PAS will establish panels of suitably qualified individuals from which clerical vacancies may be filled. Please note that not all vacancies will be filled through the PAS competition.[1]

The PAS is committed to the principles of good recruitment practice and these principles involve fair and impartial selection. This selection process has been developed to assess the key skills and attributes necessary to perform in a clerical role.

Further to your completion of Stage 1 Part A – Assessment Questionnaire, you are now invited to undertake Part B Aptitude tests.

You will take these tests online and in an unsupervised environment, as previously outlinedin the Information Booklet for Candidates.

This purpose of this pre-test information material is tohelp you to understand Stage 1 (Part B) of the selection process and introduce you to the format of the Aptitude tests. Work through this information carefully as it will help you understand what you have to do and what you can expect during Stage 1.

Information on each subsequent stage of the selection process will be made available to the candidates who progress.

PUBLIC APPOINTMENTS SERVICE

July 2016

©Public Appointments Service, 2016

The reproduction of any part of this document by any process whatsoever is breaking copyright law.

Overview

To facilitate candidates the initial selection stage will be conducted online in an unsupervised environment. Therefore you will require a PC or laptop to complete the tests.

Stage 1 Part B of the selection process will comprise two assessments:

(i) Measurement of Numerical Reasoning

(ii) Measurement of Verbal Reasoning

You have already completed the Assessment Questionnaire (Part A).

There will be a set time window (details in booklet) during which you must take the Aptitude tests. You are strongly advised to complete all of your tests early in the testing window.

Candidates must reach the required standard in both Part A and Part B. Those who achieve the required standard will be ranked accordingly. Only those who qualify and are placed highest at Stage 1 will be invited to Stage 2. However, the number to be invited forward will be determined by the PAS from time to time, having regard to the likely number of vacancies to be filled in the particular locations.

Qualification at Stage 1 is no guarantee that a candidate will be invited to Stage 2 or subsequent stages.

Please note that while candidates complete these assessment tests online in an unsupervised environment, those who qualify and are placed highest on the order of merit may be required to sit similar tests in a supervised environment at a later stage in the process. If a candidate’s performance at a supervised test is outside the expected scoring range from their unsupervised test, it will call into question the validity of their unsupervised test scores and they may be excluded from subsequent stages of the selection process.

Preparing to take the tests

Candidates should note that:

  • You may take theAptitude tests in a venue of your choice wherever you have access to a computer and a reliable internet connection;
  • taking these tests within a secure IT network e.g. such as your workplace or college network which may have firewalls or other security technology in place, may cause you technical difficulties. In such instances PAS (or any company or service provider operating on behalf of PAS) will not be liable;
  • As the tests will require your full concentration, please ensure that you take the tests in a quiet environment, where there are no distractions and where you will not be disturbed;
  • You are advised to take the Aptitude tests on a PC or laptop and to use a mouse you are familiar with. Do not attempt to take the tests on a smart phone, mobile or tablet device;
  • You must close down all other applications except for your browser windows and internet connection, and stop all other activity on your computer e.g. printing could cause the assessment / tests to terminate;
  • Further information on the PC /Laptop requirements to take these testsis provided at Appendix 1 at the end of this document;
  • During the period of the test window, email support facilities will be available to deal with any technical issues you may have.

Honesty Contract

Integrity and honesty are key values within the Civil Service. As potential employees you are expected to honour these values, both in how you approach this competition and by agreeing to follow the rules and procedures laid down. By taking part in the selection process, you are confirming that you are the person named on the application and you agree to complete the tests honestly and without assistance. A third party must not personate a candidate at any stage of the process. Your attention is drawn to the important information set out in Appendix 2. By accessing or attempting any assessment/test materials you are agreeing to be bound by the terms set out.

Stage 1

Part B –Aptitude Tests

Preparation and Practice Material
We strongly recommend that you read the online Preparation Guides for the Verbal and Numerical tests very carefully, then complete the examples and the timed practice tests. This will help you understand what you have to do before you undertake the actual tests.

The practice tests are designed to give you an opportunity to familiarise yourself with the type of questions you can expect to face in the real test. They are similar in structure and format to the actual tests but remember the number of practice questions is less than the number of questions on the real test.

To access the practice tests log on to

Test Information

The online Verbal and Numerical tests are timed tests. Due to the advances of online testing, the scoring of assessments has become more complex. It is suggested that you do the tests quickly and accurately and avoid wild guessing.
During the actual test, you must NOT:

  • Click the “back” button on your browser
  • Press F5 on your keyboard
  • Refresh your browser page

If you do, your test will be invalidated, you will be unable to finish and your responses will not be saved.

Test 1: Measurement of Numerical Reasoning

The numerical reasoning test measures your ability to analyse and evaluate data from tables and diagrams.

You will be presented with statements that need to be evaluated against information provided within a number of data sheets. These are accessed via labelled tabs.

Your task is to evaluate the validity of each statement based only on the information provided in the data sheets.

During the test click on the appropriate button provided, following the rules given below:

Click on A if the statement is True, given the information contained in the passage

Click on B if the statement is False, given the information contained in the passage

Click on C if you Cannot Say whether the statement is true or false without further information.

You will have 12 minutes to complete the 36 questions in the actual test.

Please note – the practice test has 6 tasks to complete in 3 minutes.

Note: you should have a calculator, pencil and note paper on hand for this test.

Test 2: Measurement of Verbal Reasoning

The verbal reasoning test measures your ability to analyse and evaluate data from texts.

You will be presented with statements that need to be evaluated against information provided in a number of data sheets. These are accessed via labelled data tabs.

Your task is to evaluate the validity of each statement based only on the information provided in the data sheets.

During the test click on the appropriate button provided, following the rules given below:

Click on A if the statement is True, given the information contained in the passage

Click on B if the statement is False, given the information contained in the passage

Click on C if you Cannot Say whether the statement is true or false without further information.

You will have 12 minutes to complete the 42 tasks in the actual test.

Please note – the practice test has 6 tasks to complete in 3 minutes.

General Information

  • Candidates should note that test scores attained at any stage in this campaign may carry forward, should they apply for subsequent similar campaigns run by the Public Appointments Service within 12 months.
  • All test materials and content are subject to copyright and all rights are reserved.
  • Data Protection Acts 1988 & 2003:
    Records created is subject to the rights and obligations set out in the Data Protection Acts, 1988 & 2003. Where the services of a third party are used and there is a requirement to provide them with information, all necessary precautions will be taken to ensure the security of your data.
  • All other queries regarding the selection process should be emailed to

Appendix 1

PC/Laptop Minimum Specification Requirements

The following are the minimum requirements to successfully take the tests on a PC or laptop. Most computers will meet these requirements.

Internet connection:

Minimum 250 kbp/s (2G)

Recommended 1 Mb/s (3G)

Screen resolution

Minimum. 1024 x 786

Requirements for the system (Desktop)

The following browser and operating system combinations are supported:

  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 9 – Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 10
  • Microsoft Edge – Windows 10
  • Firefox 4.0 (and higher) – Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10 and OS X from version 10.6.8
  • Safari 5.1 (and higher) – OS X from version 10.6.8
  • Chrome Version 16 (and higher) – Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10 and OS X from version 10.6.8

Additional Plugins:

For security reasons, please make sure to use the latest version

  • Adobe Acrobat Reader from version 9
  • Adobe Flash from version 9

Requirements for the system (mobile)

  • Min iOS 7
  • Min Android Version 4.3
  • Windows Phone 8.1 (min. Lumina 925)

Tests and questionnaires:

Flash based processes:

  • Adobe Flash Plug-in from version 9

HTML based processes:

Some tests have specific requirements for display resolution and display alignment

  • Min Internet Explorer 11
  • Chrome from version 30
  • Firefox from version 30
  • Safari from version 6.2

The following hardware and software is not supported by cut-e:

  • Safari 7.0 and Flash
  • Opera 12

All recommendations are based on the standard installations. Additional Plug-ins,

System extensions or changed settings may affect performance.

Appendix 2

IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Terms and Conditions
Your attention is drawn to this important information. By accessing or attempting any assessment / test materials you are agreeing to be bound by the terms set out below.
  1. All test and assessment materials are subject to copyright and all rights are reserved. No part of the tests/ assessment materials (including any text, questions and/or potential answer options) or associated materials (including practice and/ or familiarisation materials) may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means including electronic, mechanical, photocopying, printing, photographing, recording, written or otherwise, at any stage. To do so is an offence and may result in you being excluded from the selection process. Any person(s) who contravenes this provision, whether an applicant or other, or who assists another person(s) in contravening this provision, is liable to prosecution and/ or civil suit for loss of copyright and intellectual property.
  2. Your attention is drawn the Commission for Public Service Appointment’s Code of Practice for Appointment to Positions in the Civil Service and Public Service. In particular please note Section 5 - Responsibility of Candidates (see below).

Canvassing
Candidates should note that canvassing will disqualify them and will result in their exclusion from the appointments process.
Candidates’ obligations
Candidates in the recruitment process must not:
  • Knowingly or recklessly provide false information
  • Canvass any person, with or without inducements
  • Interfere with or compromise the process in any way.
A third party must not personate a candidate at any stage of the process.
Penalties for failure to comply
Any person who contravenes the above provisions, or who assists another person in contravening the above provisions is guilty of an offence. A person who is found guilty of an offence is liable to a fine and/or imprisonment.
If a person found guilty of such an offence was or is a candidate in a recruitment process, then:
  • Where he/she has not been appointed to a post, he/she will be disqualified as a candidate
  • Where he/she has been appointed subsequent to the recruitment process in question, he/she
shall forfeit that appointment.
  1. The admission of a person to the competition, or invitation to undertake any element of the selection process is not to be taken as implying that the Public Appointments Service is satisfied that such a person fulfils the essential requirements.

©Public Appointments ServicePage 1

[1]Some Civil Service organisations may conduct their own recruitment independently of PAS