Civil Service Verbal and Numeracy tests

[DorisLessingsCat]

Hello,

I applied for a CS job and now have to do the above tests. Does anyone have any tips (I've read all the guidance from the CS)? And does anyone know if the practice tests sold by various companies are any good?

We're just bumping this thread in case anyone's around with some advice for the OP.

What grade is it for?

Thank you for replying. It's for Deputy Director.

I have just read it's worth applying for a job you don't want and trying out the test first on that...I think it's good advice as i just applied for a (G7) job i did want and failed the verbal reasoning test despite having worked there and joined via the Fast Stream. And then my husband tried it as an experiment and he failed too. And I think, without wishing to sound too full of myself, that we would both have expected to pass.

In fact I would be interested in hearing from somebody who did pass as I am not sure what i did wrong!

Thanks @c4p1. I wondered about that but do your results count across multiple job applications?

I've looked at the sample verbal reasoning and you do have to read them really carefully. Some seem slightly ambiguous between true/false and impossible to say.

Also, when/how do you get your results?

I have passed the verbal reasoning twice, doing much better the second time than the first.

I didn't do anything before it, although there is a sample test.

I haven't personally done the numerical test but my partner did and it was quite intense.

You find out straight away.

You often then need to do a situational judgement test after it which is based on behaviours.

The verbal reasoning and numerical tests are standard across the board, whether you're applying for a basic admin job or as a DG. You should be absolutely fine, at that level it's just there to sift out folk who can't understand the salient point from a piece of writing (critical if you'll be SCS). Best of luck, PM me if you need any help.

@DorisLessingsCat I'm not sure but i don't think the mark counts across multiple jobs unless you do pass in which case it's 'banked'. There certainly is some ambiguity in the impossible to say vs clear cut true/false. Could you get somebody else to try it and see how it goes first?

I'm a civil servant and did these to gain promotion to C1. I passed both. My advice is to read the question then read again. Dont rush. The questions especially in the "maths" one gets harder as you answer them correctly.

I've just tried a verbal test on a throwaway job and I failed - bottom quartile as well! So not just a bare fail. A fail fail.

I thought I was quite clever!

I did read and read and read. And think and deliberate.

I'm stuffed, aren't I?

I hate those tests. Especially the numerical reasoning one. Never do well in them sadly, the verbal ones I usually pass, but it's a 50/50 gamble on the numerical one.

I've been doing some sample tests and despite my numeracy being worse than my verbal skills I'm actually doing better on the numbers.

I think my problem is not ensuring the information is explicit in the text.

The one I did had logic problems - e.g. Sally, Ben and Mary work in the same team. One person sits by the window, one person sits by the door, one person sits by the fire escape. One person had oranges for lunch, one person had apples, one person had bananas. Sally didn't eat bananas. The person who sits by the fire escape ate oranges. Mary ate apples.

Ben had bananas for lunch. True/False/Can't say

I’ve always been far better at English than maths, but I did really well in the CS maths test and relatively poorly in the VR.

I’d actually really like to argue the toss with them over some of my answers!

I wonder whether it’s almost better not to overthink them?

I think you're right. I went full on drawing grids etc. but if it's literally just verbal reasoning then if the information isn't there and isn't flatly contradicted then it's just "can't say"?

Doesn't fully explain my woeful score!

I’d actually really like to argue the toss with them over some of my answers!

Me too @flatoutpanic. Maybe that means I'm not suited to a career in Civil Service!

Ha! Yes, I wondered whether you weren’t supposed to use too much original thought...doesn’t bode well for an exciting career 🤣

I ended up turning down the job after it took nearly 6 months to get a start date (from initial application).

Good luck!! Let us know how you get on 🤞

Ben obviously ate a banana as the other two didn't.

Are the sample Tests easily located? I'm just starting to look into CS jobs but am a bit worried now. I'm prone to overthinking.
Good to know it can take that long for offers to come through. I better get a move on investigating.

I think so too Irene but I'm now doubting myself

But what if Bob sat by the fire escape....?

I think it's just practice for the verbal reasoning test, and bear in mind it's about ignoring information you don't need as much as it is about looking for what you do need. In the example above I immediately said True. If it had opened "Sally, Ben and Mary work in a team of five" then it would have been Can't Say.

But what if Bob sat by the fire escape....?

If Bob is Ben, he can’t have been sitting by the fire escape, because he’s the only one who could have eaten the bananas. Sally can only have eaten oranges, so sat by the fire escape.

(Ex-SCS. The key test is the psychometric interview. You want to be seen as decisive and authoritative, collaborative without being a pushover.

Bob isn't there, must be working from home today!

Sorry, Ben!

So this is something I just made up and you are all right - Ben did eat the bananas. The questions were more obscure, like the scenario above with the question:

Mary sits by the window. True/False/Can't say.

Am feeling frazzled!