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?

I too am applying for a CS role - upper end of EO level, so quite a bit lower than you. I've just done their two sample VR and NR tests and scored 5/6 and 6/6 on them, but when I've done other [timed] sample tests I've scored between 49% and 81% .

Better do some more practice in case I get called for interview. Am heartened that the tests aren't timed though - slightly less stressful!

@Kernowgal are the percentages expressed in terms of how you have fared against other candidates? I got a "you did better than x% of candidates so therefore failed".

As far as I know my tests aren't timed.

Yes, although they were just general sample tests so didn't give a pass/fail, just a percentile. I found the CS practice ones really easy, but the others had five possible responses, which made it even trickier! The 49% one didn't tell me what I'd got wrong, which was supremely unhelpful

The CS website says their tests aren't timed, thank goodness!

I got the rest of my family to try the VR test and may 15 year old daughter was the only person who passed! The rest of us were the bottom quartile.
I tried again using my daughter's advice - if you are certain you can't tell the answer then go for 'can't tell', otherwise go for whichever seems more likely despite arguable grey areas. I passed that time... It's a bit odd.

I’ve done these kinds of things for other jobs over the years. Ime this kind (true, false, unsure) are very badly drafted and usually the answers are wrong so if you are good with verbal reasoning you should answer what you think a less skilled person would (this usually results in fewer can’t say answers).

@c4p1

I got the rest of my family to try the VR test and may 15 year old daughter was the only person who passed! The rest of us were the bottom quartile. I tried again using my daughter's advice - if you are certain you can't tell the answer then go for 'can't tell', otherwise go for whichever seems more likely despite arguable grey areas. I passed that time... It's a bit odd.

Well I've done my tests. With the VR one the advice on this thread - especially @c4p1 helped. As did taking lots of time over each question. This one wasn't timed so there wasn't any pressure there.

And I got my head around the logic problems so I was pleased.

We'll get the results this week which is nice and quick. In the meantime I'm applying for every CS job I am eligible for to keep practicing.

Thanks everyone for taking the time to reply, really appreciate it

Glad it helped. Now i've passed the test I am wrestling with how to fill in the name blind CV and application form given that I have quite a long gap (10 years). Any thoughts on that gratefully received!

@c4p1 I think the CV format should help with gaps? You could just leave dates off completely? Or write a skills-based CV rather than a chronological one. Disclaimer - I am not an expert and have not progressed very far through the CS recruitment process.

Fingers crossed for you!

Be interested to hear how you get on with it op, it is a wierd science isn't it

DorisLessingsCat I found this thread as I’m about to take some tests and was wondering if you got through in the end?

Hello @Sailingblue

An update. I got a reply yesterday. I got 79% on numeracy and 74% on verbal. I.e. I was better than 79% and 74% of candidates respectively. Which I was bloody delighted with given where I started.

But, that combined with my application and the massive numbers of applicants means that I didn't get through. Which is fine, it was a good learning experience and will hopefully pay off in future applications. I hope others had better luck?

Advice is practice, practice, practice. And pick "can't say" if you don't know the answer to something!

Eek I wonder what the cutoff was then if 79% didn’t get you through. This thread has been a great help in knowing that I can’t just wing it.

Yes, don't wing it! There are sample tests on gov.uk and also companies that sell practice tests.

I think that "pass" marks will depend on the number of applicants and other information in your application. I did another application and I did the tests before sending in my CV so each vacancy seems to be a little different.