Principal Officerin the Civil Serviceand Counsellor in The

Senior Management Opportunities

Principal Officerin the Civil Serviceand Counsellor in the

Dept. of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Stage 1

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,

Thank you for your application for Senior Management Opportunities in the Civil Service.

The Public Appointments Service (PAS) is committed to the principles of good recruitment practice and these principles involve fair and impartial selection. The process will comprise several stages. This first stage consists of assessment tests devised to measure key skills and attributes required to perform in the role.

As previously outlined in the Information Booklet for Candidates, you will take these tests online and in an unsupervised environment

The purpose of this pre-test information material is to help you to understand this stage of the selection process and introduce you to the format of the assessment tests. Work through this information carefully as it will help you understand what you have to do and what you can expect during this stage of the process. You can also expect the actual tests to be more difficult than the practice tests. It will also ensure that you are prepared to perform to the best of your ability.

Information on Stage 2 and each subsequent stage of the selection process will be made available to the candidates who are invited to progress.

PUBLIC APPOINTMENTS SERVICE

July 2017

©Public Appointments Service, 2017

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.

This stage will comprise2assessments

1) Critical Analysis Test
2) Job Simulation Exercise

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

You will be unsupervised when taking them. During the testing window an email support facility will be available to deal with any technical issues you may have.

Candidates must reach the required standard in both Exercises. Those who achieve the required standard will be ranked accordingly. Qualification at Stage 1 is no guarantee that a candidate will be invited to Stage 2 or subsequent stages.

There will be a set time window during which you must take the Exercises –

31st July to noon on 11th August 2017

Once the deadline for your testing window has passed, you will not be able to commence the tests. No time extensions will be given.

You can sit the Exercises in whichever order you prefer.

If you lose your internet connection, you can log back in to complete the Exercise.

Please note that while candidates complete these assessments 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 assessment is outside the expected scoring range from their unsupervised assessment, they may be excluded from subsequent stages of the selection process.

Preparing to take the Assessment Questionnaire
Candidates should note that:

you may take the tests in a venue of your choice wherever you have access to a computer and a reliable internet connection;
to access the familiarisation material click on the link in your message which contained this Pre-Test Information Booklet. Follow the instructions to practice the Critical Analysis Test and Job simulation Exercise. This link will also give you access to the live tests which will only be accessible from 31 July.

takingthese 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.

It is very important that you run through all of the Familiarisation materials using the computer and browser you intend to take the live assessment on. This will ensure the software works on your computer and that you are familiar with the format of the assessment. Please do this well in advance of the start of the live assessment and contact technical support on if you encounter any technical problems

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 tests on a PC or laptop and to use a mouse you are familiar with. We do not recommend taking 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 to terminate;
further information on the IT requirements to take the tests is provided at Appendix 1 at the end of this document

during this period, email support facilities will be available from the test provider to deal with any technical issues you may have in relation to their test.

Honesty Contract
Integrity and honesty are key values within the Civil and Public 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 questionnaire 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: Critical Analysis Test and Job Simulation Exercise

Preparation & Practice Material
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. You can return to the Familiarisation programme as often as you wish.

Critical Analysis Test (40 minutes duration)

The Critical AnalysisTest is designed to assess your skills in critically analysing information and your ability to make decisions. In this test, you will be asked to evaluate a series of documents that contain numerical and verbal information. There are three different answer formats that will be used in the Test and each of these will be explained in detail in the Familiarisation programmeIn the live Test, any Section could contain questions using any mixture of these answer formats.

You will have 40 minutes to answer the 30 questions in the Critical Analysis Test.

No specialist knowledge of the subject area is required and even if you feel that specific knowledge you may have in the area is relevant, you should use only the information provided in the brief.

Job Simulation Exercise(35 minutes duration)

In the Job Simulation Exercise you will be presented with a number of situations which are typical of the kinds of situations dealt with by Principal Officers. For each situation you will be given a number of possible actions for handling or managing that situation. Your task is to rate each of those actions in terms of their appropriateness.

There are 12 situations, each with 5 possible actions for you to rate and you will have 35 minutes to complete the Exercise.

Testing Window
You must complete bothtests between Monday 31st July andnoon (12pm) on Friday 11th August, 2017

You are strongly advised to give yourself sufficient time and not wait until the final hours of the deadline to complete the tests. No time extensions will be given.

Please note that you must NOT change your email address during the selection process. The PAS will not be responsible for non-delivery of messages to any new/revised email addresses you may provide.

Completing the Tests

The tests are delivered and administered on behalf of PAS by Creighton Hooper.You must complete and submit them within the set test window.

We strongly recommend that you complete the tests in a quiet environment with no distractions, which will allow you to give your full attention to the questions.

Answers are stored once you have completed a page and clicked ‘next’. If you unexpectedly end your testing session mid-assessment e.g. loss of internet connection, you must

Close down ALL browser windows
When you get your internet connection back/resume your session, open a new browser and log back into the Test using the original link in your invite email.

You will be able to continue the Test without losing time. Your answers will have been saved (except possibly those on the page you were working on when you lost connection). On logging on again you will be taken to the first page of the Test and you will be able to see that any previous answers have been preserved.

The Test will close automatically when the time allowed runs out. All your answers will be saved, including those you had made on the last page you were working on. You will see the message ‘The time limit for this assessment has been reached. Your responses have been submitted.’

Alternatively, if you wish to finish early without waiting for the time to run down, you should click SUBMIT on the last page of questions and the following message will be displayed. ‘Your responses have been submitted.’

There will be no emailed confirmation that your responses have been submitted. The above messages provide that confirmation.

Helpdesk support forthetests

In the unlikely event that you experience any difficulties, you should contact the test providers’ technical support help desk:

Helpdesk Support Information Only
Support will be available during office hours8:30am-6pm and also at weekends 10am-4pm
Email:
General Information

Candidates who are applicants for Counsellor will be permitted to take the assessment tests only once, irrespective if they applied for Principal Officer
Candidates should note that scores achieved on any test(s) taken as part of this campaign may be carried forward to subsequent open or other competitions for which they apply, that are conducted by the Public Appointments Service. This will be determined by the Public Appointments Service on a case by case basis.
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.

To access the familiarisation material click on the link in your message which contained this Pre-Test Information Booklet. Follow the instructions to practice the Critical Analysis Test and Job simulation Exercise. This link will also give you access to the live tests which will only be accessible from 31stJuly.

As stated, email support facilities will be available to deal with any technical issues you may have in relation to the tests. The support email, for technical issues only, will be
Please be aware that both of these tests are timed and they will automatically finish after the allocated time has elapsed. In that case, all your answers will have been saved, including those on the last page you were working on at time out. For your convenience a timer will appear on the screen and will indicate the time you have remaining on the test.

Appendix 1

PC/Laptop Minimum Specification Requirements

IT requirements for taking the online Assessment Questionnaire

The key requirement is to have a reliable connection to the internet.

All modern computers and laptops with modern browsers are likely to be able to run the tests successfully.

We would suggest that you do not use mobile phones or tablet devices.

You should ensure that you can access the Familiarisation programme successfully. If the Familiarisation materials work well on your IT system, then you can be assured that the live tests will work well too.

It is very important that you access the Familiarisation materials using the computer and internet connection that you intend to take the live test on WELL BEFORE the deadline for completion of the tests. Contact IT support immediately if you have a problem.

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.

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.
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.

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.