Garda Recruitment - Stage 1a(1) - The Aptitude Test

want2b

Archer3083 wrote: »

I think we'll all be in the same boat. The tests were very tricky. I don't know why the results are going to take so long to be processed. You'd imagine it would be pretty much instantaneous when it was done electronically, but it's going to be a long wait til the end of February

It would be nice to know how many will be getting through to stage 2. Not sure if I will be anyways, not very happy with my tests.

Archer3083

All it said in the information we got was that people would be called forward in batches as required. That's as clear as mud! I don't think anyone is happy with their tests. I know I'm not. There's nothing we can do about it now though. It's tough but with so many applying, it's an employers market and the Gárdaí can be very very selective!

Faith and Justice

Lads your going to drive yourselves crazy worrying.

Nobody knows what's going to happen. If ye do pass this your going to be worrying about the next test, and the next one, and the interview etc.

Once you try your best that's all you can do.

I know I'll be devastated if I don't progress, but so will thousands of others.

If your good enough, and lucky enough, one day you will make it.

I know some people don't have the luxury of time, and the tests are a bit like Russian roulette

Archer3083

I completely agree! There are 25,000 people in this recruitment drive. If we don't get through this time it won't mean that we're failures. In fact I'm sure that lots of us well be above average but we won't get any where because of the numbers involved. No one is going to be a loser or a failure. It's important that every one knows that!

mycro89

Wouldn't you think that the result should be pretty instant seeing as it was an online test ?

Archer3083

mycro89 wrote: »

Wouldn't you think that the result should be pretty instant seeing as it was an online test ?

I said that too. I can't understand why it's going to take til the end of February. Without being too critical it's a long time for us to wait, and it's nerve wrecking for most of us cos we care so much!

mycro89

Based on the old system what was the return like with the results?

Scouser

Archer3083 wrote: »

I completely agree! There are 25,000 people in this recruitment drive. If we don't get through this time it won't mean that we're failures. In fact I'm sure that lots of us well be above average but we won't get any where because of the numbers involved. No one is going to be a loser or a failure. It's important that every one knows that!

great point!

sure the last batch in back in 2007/08 had something like 1000 people go for 500 jobs or something

thekopend

Scouser wrote: »

great point!

sure the last batch in back in 2007/08 had something like 1000 people go for 500 jobs or something

Well it was around 10 or 12 thousand but it was way less than now!

Scouser

thekopend wrote: »

Well it was around 10 or 12 thousand but it was way less than now!

not for the last crowd as far as im aware.....

thekopend

Scouser wrote: »

not for the last crowd as far as im aware.....

I was reading back trough the garda recruitment archived thread and it was mentioned somewhere about how much applied not Sure if it was the last one but it was no earlier than 2007 I'd say

HighburyLad

thekopend wrote: »

I was reading back trough the garda recruitment archived thread and it was mentioned somewhere about how much applied not Sure if it was the last one but it was no earlier than 2007 I'd say

I was reading some info through the net, again its the net so not sure how valid it is, but there was from 2004-2006 around 2000 gardai recruited, which is a massive amount, again don't know if this is true as I was only reading it on the net, and I take it all with a pinch of salt, lol, but maybe some on here would know. I'm afraid folks we're all a victim of the times as they say.

Archer3083

Exactly. There are such high numbers applying this time. Only the cream of the crop will get accepted.....

Here's a thought that should help everyone. The kinds of people that will be do well are the people that do well at aptitude tests. It's like everything else in life. Politicians are really good at winning elections but hopeless at running the country. So, let's not kid ourselves, the aptitude tests aren't a fair reflection of how good a person is. Some people have posted on here and they seem ultra confident while others have been pretty realistic and have genuinely said that they haven't done great with the tests!

I'm going to be honest and say that I didn't do great on the tests. I found them pretty tricky. I'm also going to tell the truth and say that I've got a BA and a Masters. I'm no dummy but again I have to reiterate that the tests were very tricky for a number of reasons. No one should feel low or depressed if results are bad.!

Shifty13

Archer3083 wrote: »

Exactly. There are such high numbers applying this time. Only the cream of the crop will get accepted.....

Here's a thought that should help everyone. The kinds of people that will be do well are the people that do well at aptitude tests. It's like everything else in life. Politicians are really good at winning elections but hopeless at running the country. So, let's not kid ourselves, the aptitude tests aren't a fair reflection of how good a person is. Some people have posted on here and they seem ultra confident while others have been pretty realistic and have genuinely said that they haven't done great with the tests!

I'm going to be honest and say that I didn't do great on the tests. I found them pretty tricky. I'm also going to tell the truth and say that I've got a BA and a Masters. I'm no dummy but again I have to reiterate that the tests were very tricky for a number of reasons. No one should feel low or depressed if results are bad.!

Good point archer. Aptitude tests are not fair on people that haven't done a test in years but would make great Guards.

"If you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”

D Trent

Shifty13 wrote: »

Good point archer. Aptitude tests are not fair on people that haven't done a test in years but would make great Guards.

"If you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”

Not really fish have a memory span of only 3/4 seconds it's not just goldfish

mfergus

Scouser wrote: »

great point!

sure the last batch in back in 2007/08 had something like 1000 people go for 500 jobs or something

Ya. That's not true. It was somewhere between 11k and 12k...
After the results of this aptitude test, it won't be far off the same kind of competition.

mfergus

Shifty13 wrote: »

Good point archer. Aptitude tests are not fair on people that haven't done a test in years but would make great Guards.

"If you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”

Aptitude tests are an extremely fair way of doing it imo.
It ensures everyone has the same chance of passing and does no favors for people with "pull" etc.

lukesmom

Just say you were to have 'pull'. At what stage should this pull be mentioned, if at all? I'm speaking theoretically.

galalala123

lukesmom wrote: »

Just say you were to have 'pull'. At what stage should this pull be mentioned, if at all? I'm speaking theoretically.

Doesnt help any more to have "pull" in any of these stage as they are controlled by public appointments. Gardai only take over at physical/medical.

whatinthe

mfergus wrote: »

Ya. That's not true. It was somewhere between 11k and 12k...
After the results of this aptitude test, it won't be far off the same kind of competition.

Just over 1400 people applied in May 2008, the last recruitment campaign to take place. Over half of them went forward to interview.

That will not be the case this time around!

thekopend

lukesmom wrote: »

Just say you were to have 'pull'. At what stage should this pull be mentioned, if at all? I'm speaking theoretically.

At interview stage the senior garda might just give you top marks!

Faith and Justice

whatinthe wrote: »

Just over 1400 people applied in May 2008, the last recruitment campaign to take place. Over half of them went forward to interview.

That will not be the case this time around!

From what I remember there was a campaign starting in January of that year, and it's not possible to apply more then once in six months.

I applied and I was unable to reapply in May. So where thousands that also didn't make it.

Those people had it easy because there were such few applicants.

whatinthe

thekopend wrote: »

At interview stage the senior garda might just give you top marks!

Gardai are no longer on interview board. Remember, they made it very clear that AGS takes over after Stages 1-4 are completed. It is a very similiar model to the PSNI recruitment process/

thekopend

whatinthe wrote: »

Gardai are no longer on interview board. Remember, they made it very clear that AGS takes over after Stages 1-4 are completed. It is a very similiar model to the PSNI recruitment process/

Who told you that there is no garda on the panel? Just because pas run it doesn't mean there won't be a garda!

stargazer9

Archer3083 wrote: »

I said that too. I can't understand why it's going to take til the end of February. Without being too critical it's a long time for us to wait, and it's nerve wrecking for most of us cos we care so much!

I recently got some temping work with a company doing a recruitment drive. It was similar to this Garda recruitment drive, in that they were highly sought-after positions, the company were hiring 100-200 people and received many thousands of applications.
The company used Cut-e to do the psychometric testing.
The results do take a while to come back from Cut-e. They grade the tests, fit the results onto a curve, and provide the company that's doing the recruiting with a database of people's results and also the curve with suggested pass rates, and interpretations of what the results tell you about the person.
For example, if a company was recruiting people to work on an assembly line in a factory, one of the tests might be to see how quickly they can learn how to do a task. So the testing would be something like 8 boxes and you have to put them in the correct order every time after seeing it done once. When the results come back, the recruiters look at the list. Obviously the top of the list is the 'cream' of the crop. So at this point they might decide that everyone who scored over 60% (or whatever pass mark they like) will progress to stage 2, and so on.
At every stage the recruiters have to balance people's results in each test and give weighting to each stage as some are more important than others.
I realise I have gone on a tangent here but what I'm trying to say is that it's not just a matter of getting computerised test results and going from there. The recruiters will spend a lot of time deciding on the pass rate, weighting etc. I think they will cast the net very wide going into stage 2, as they won't want to rule out people who may have only got 40 or 50% in the tests, but at later stages may prove that they have other qualities that would make them excellent Guards.

On a separate note, at what stage do we submit our CVs for this role? I'm nervous about that tbh, my CV is a bit of an embarrassment! There are several gaps in employment, and I also dropped out of college :-0

D Trent

whatinthe wrote: »

Gardai are no longer on interview board. Remember, they made it very clear that AGS takes over after Stages 1-4 are completed. It is a very similiar model to the PSNI recruitment process/

And that is how false rumours start

Gardai will most definitely be on the interview panel alongside pas staff.

lukesmom

D Trent wrote: »

And that is how false rumours start

Gardai will most definitely be on the interview panel alongside pas staff.

Yeah I was thinking they will!

air assault

does any one know roughly when you get your results from the aptitude test?

carzony

whatinthe wrote: »

Just over 1400 people applied in May 2008, the last recruitment campaign to take place. Over half of them went forward to interview.

That will not be the case this time around!

1400 people for 500 jobs? I like those odds:D and don't forget a panel was also created so most of the ones who didnt get in were told 'won't be long till your next' Miles away from what's happening these days lads... :o

STIG83

air assault wrote: »

does any one know roughly when you get your results from the aptitude test?

End of February

Andrea345

stargazer9 wrote: »

I recently got some temping work with a company doing a recruitment drive. It was similar to this Garda recruitment drive, in that they were highly sought-after positions, the company were hiring 100-200 people and received many thousands of applications.
The company used Cut-e to do the psychometric testing.
The results do take a while to come back from Cut-e. They grade the tests, fit the results onto a curve, and provide the company that's doing the recruiting with a database of people's results and also the curve with suggested pass rates, and interpretations of what the results tell you about the person.
For example, if a company was recruiting people to work on an assembly line in a factory, one of the tests might be to see how quickly they can learn how to do a task. So the testing would be something like 8 boxes and you have to put them in the correct order every time after seeing it done once. When the results come back, the recruiters look at the list. Obviously the top of the list is the 'cream' of the crop. So at this point they might decide that everyone who scored over 60% (or whatever pass mark they like) will progress to stage 2, and so on.
At every stage the recruiters have to balance people's results in each test and give weighting to each stage as some are more important than others.
I realise I have gone on a tangent here but what I'm trying to say is that it's not just a matter of getting computerised test results and going from there. The recruiters will spend a lot of time deciding on the pass rate, weighting etc. I think they will cast the net very wide going into stage 2, as they won't want to rule out people who may have only got 40 or 50% in the tests, but at later stages may prove that they have other qualities that would make them excellent Guards.

On a separate note, at what stage do we submit our CVs for this role? I'm nervous about that tbh, my CV is a bit of an embarrassment! There are several gaps in employment, and I also dropped out of college :-0

All this sounds very fair I have to say and puts me at ease.


I don't think having "pull" is going to have anything to do with this campaign or any other future campaign. I'm not even sure if it had in the past, it's not for me to comment on, it's hear say. You have to have faith in the system otherwise what is the point. If potential recruits don't have faith in the selection process then what does that say to the general public about the Gardaí, or the recruiters and what does that say about us? The best of the best will get in, in this campaign, it's pointless talking about pull because everyone is in the same boat.

galalala123

Andrea345 wrote: »

All this sounds very fair I have to say and puts me at ease.


I don't think having "pull" is going to have anything to do with this campaign or any other future campaign. I'm not even sure if it had in the past, it's not for me to comment on, it's hear say. You have to have faith in the system otherwise what is the point. If potential recruits don't have faith in the selection process then what does that say to the general public about the Gardaí, or the recruiters and what does that say about us? The best of the best will get in, in this campaign, it's pointless talking about pull because everyone is in the same boat.

I dont agree that the best of the best will get in at all but at least its a fair and equal process!!

Andrea345

galalala123 wrote: »

I dont agree that the best of the best will get in at all but at least its a fair and equal process!!

Well we can agree to disagree. Everyone had a chance to prepare for the aptitude tests and do their homework. As for the interview well that's again something that can be prepared for and is based on the persons individual merits. I have no doubts that the people getting though will be fit for the job.

Canyon86

Personally I believe that ' pull ' will only come into play at interview level,

And down the line when applying for specialised positions within ags pull will come in to play hugely!

whatinthe

D Trent wrote: »

And that is how false rumours start

Gardai will most definitely be on the interview panel alongside pas staff.

Not what I heard, but I may be wrong. Again, it is very strongly worded both externally and internally(within AGS) that PAS have full responsibility for Stages 1-4.

As I said, I may be wrong. However, I do believe that the recruitment process has changed dramatically. Anyone who has been successful in the PSNI process can attest to how hands off the PSNI are for the initial stages. The Garda Trainee process is looking to go down the same route.

From what I've personally heard and read, the process has been altered to ensure they get candidates into Templemore solely on merit.. learn from mistakes of the past etc.

Anyway, good luck y'all.

Scouser

a member of AGS will most deffo be meeting you at interview stage!

thekopend

To think that there will be no one on the interview panel for the job of a garda who has first hand experience in the job (eg a garda), is noncence to say the leased.

ann.lewis

Is this new ?
What happened to the retired member on the panel with a member from pas ? Thats how it was when they reduced the panel of interviewers from 3 to 2.

Devil08

ann.lewis wrote: »

Is this new ?
What happened to the retired member on the panel with a member from pas ? Thats how it was when they reduced the panel of interviewers from 3 to 2.

Yes it's a retired member. A cushy job where they can still use their authority! Full time AGS members have better things to be doing than sitting on interview panels. At least I'd hope so

mycro89

I guess we have to hope we get that far, one step at a time! The wait continues.....

longhalloween

I got an email saying I didn't complete all stages, but I definitely did.

I even went back a few hours later to make sure there was no other options available.

fergie199

longhalloween wrote: »

I got an email saying I didn't complete all stages, but I definitely did.

I even went back a few hours later to make sure there was no other options available.

Are you sure you answered both e.mails as in the questionnaire plus the aptitude/verbal tests

scheister

longhalloween wrote: »

I got an email saying I didn't complete all stages, but I definitely did.

I even went back a few hours later to make sure there was no other options available.

so im not the only one that got that email today. im the same as you i taught i had completed all the sections till i got the email today

Andrea345

scheister wrote: »

so im not the only one that got that email today. im the same as you i taught i had completed all the sections till i got the email today

I think longhalloween is saying that he/she had completed all tests whereas you hadn't. Slightly different from your incident. Did you get two emails because there was one with the two tests and one separate with the questionnaire.

fergie199

Andrea345 wrote: »

I think longhalloween is saying that he/she had completed all tests whereas you hadn't. Slightly different from your incident. Did you get two emails because there was one with the two tests and one separate with the questionnaire.

Pretty much the same as what I said

Mark37

Will you both get to do the exam's again??

longhalloween

Mark37 wrote: »

Will you both get to do the exam's again??

I forgot the questionnaire. Both emails ended up in my junk folder. I saw the aptitude test email and moved it to the main folder, but the questionnaire email arrived a few hours later and I missed it.

My reminder email said I'll receive a link to the questionnaire. Nothing else was mentioned.
I'll get to do it from 12pm tomorrow to 2pm on Friday.

want2b

longhalloween wrote: »

I forgot the questionnaire. Both emails ended up in my junk folder. I saw the aptitude test email and moved it to the main folder, but the questionnaire email arrived a few hours later and I missed it.

My reminder email said I'll receive a link to the questionnaire. Nothing else was mentioned.
I'll get to do it from 12pm tomorrow to 2pm on Friday.

It a disgrace, if somebody wanted the job enough they would of made sure to do all exams. Should be hard luck if they didn't do it. It only slowing up the process.

longhalloween

want2b wrote: »

It a disgrace, if somebody wanted the job enough they would of made sure to do all exams. Should be hard luck if they didn't do it. It only slowing up the process.

It is absolutely none of your business so keep your comments to yourself.

want2b

longhalloween wrote: »

It is absolutely none of your business so keep your comments to yourself.

No I won't. I am as entitled as you are to post on here....