(Aug 17) NEW Interdepartmental HEO comp (Serving civil servants only)

eimaj18

carnie wrote: »

I'm trying to decide whether or not to get the practice test from jobtestprep but I'm not sure I'm too bothered shelling out 30/40 quid for it.

I take it that the job scenario and verbal are the only tests that go towards our final score?

I did for each time and got through to the next round. I figure what's 30 quid now that helps you towards earning 45k+.

Verbal and numerical are counted in the final score - they'll get you through to the next round.

Kanovara

eimaj77 wrote: »

I did for each time and got through to the next round. I figure what's 30 quid now that helps you towards earning 45k+.

Verbal and numerical are counted in the final score - they'll get you through to the next round.

I would've thought that the practice scenarios on cut E would be enough to practice on

eimaj18

Kanovara wrote: »

eimaj77 wrote: »

I did for each time and got through to the next round. I figure what's 30 quid now that helps you towards earning 45k+.

Verbal and numerical are counted in the final score - they'll get you through to the next round.

I would've thought that the practice scenarios on cut E would be enough to practice on

Yeah they can be, but there's only so many there. You start to learn the answers off if you know what I mean. I'm not great at all at these tests so any extra help is needed. Some people can just get them straight away and the practice tests given are more than enough. Not for me though.

Tayto2017

gerrybbadd wrote: »

Is the management scenario being used this time? They only ever provide that one example.

For the sample management scenario, is anyone able to allocate the points or is the example just to show us what we have to do without actually being able to do it?? Thanks!

tea and coffee

Tayto2017 wrote: »

For the sample management scenario, is anyone able to allocate the points or is the example just to show us what we have to do without actually being able to do it?? Thanks!

The latter. It's just a pic of "here's what you have to do"

Optiplexy99

May I ask would it be strongly recommended to pay the €40 for the jobs test prep in order to do very well in the aptitude tests?

just wondering - Thanks :-)

Tayto2017

tea and coffee wrote: »

The latter. It's just a pic of "here's what you have to do"

Well that makes for a great example then!!:rolleyes: Thank you!!!!

eimaj18

Optiplexy99 wrote: »

May I ask would it be strongly recommended to pay the €40 for the jobs test prep in order to do very well in the aptitude tests?

just wondering - Thanks :-)

It's really up to yourself. Have you done this type of competition before?

Addle

Colleagues taking this so much more seriously this time.
It will be a tough competition.

gmisk

Good luck to everyone wish I had been allowed to enter but AOs arent allowed

PopTarts

I bought the cut e tests but they don't seem to be the questions with tabs - just a general chart asking questions.

The numerical aren't "true" "false" "cannot say" either but Number answers.

Anyone know if there is any with the tabs / numerical with the true / false answers rather than what I paid for?

Optiplexy99

eimaj77 wrote: »

It's really up to yourself. Have you done this type of competition before?

yes I have done it all before without any help or practice - failed the presentation on final stage - under Team Leadership

So am hoping to get some help this time around & hopefully do "alot" better if possible....................

carnie

PopTarts wrote: »

I bought the cut e tests but they don't seem to be the questions with tabs - just a general chart asking questions.

The numerical aren't "true" "false" "cannot say" either but Number answers.

Anyone know if there is any with the tabs / numerical with the true / false answers rather than what I paid for?

If it's this package you bought https://www.jobtestprep.co.uk/cut-e-scales-bundle-practice the two full test should be with the tabs. I think the other practice tests are a mix. I bought the package earlier this year so I can't remember the exact interface

eimaj18

Optiplexy99 wrote: »

eimaj77 wrote: »

It's really up to yourself. Have you done this type of competition before?

yes I have done it all before without any help or practice - failed the presentation on final stage - under Team Leadership

So am hoping to get some help this time around & hopefully do "alot" better if possible....................

That's great! Well done. I failed Team Leadership by 5 points in the interview! Gah!

I was looking at the cut-e on Jobs Test Prep - I don't think I'll get it. When I got it for the last HEO it was great. Loads of practice tests but they seemed to have changed their system. (Btw there's a 15% off code online somewhere - I have it in work, I'll post tomorrow if required.)

Chieftain

Has anyone gotten the link for the online tests yet?. Email said we were supposed to have it by the 14th September, but no sign yet

gazzer

Chieftain wrote: »

Has anyone gotten the link for the online tests yet?. Email said we were supposed to have it by the 14th September, but no sign yet

Well we still have 14 hours to go. I suspect it will be sometime in the afternoon that we will receive the link.

Red Wolf

Just got the test link. All systems go - good luck all

billyhead

All I will say is if anyone can get all those questions for both the verbal & numerical exam finished within the timeframe your the next Stephen Hawkins;)

sinorita

billyhead wrote:

All I will say is if anyone can get all those questions for both the verbal & numerical exam finished within the timeframe your the next Stephen Hawkins

Done and dusted already?!!

Optiplexy99

eimaj77 wrote: »

That's great! Well done. I failed Team Leadership by 5 points in the interview! Gah!

I was looking at the cut-e on Jobs Test Prep - I don't think I'll get it. When I got it for the last HEO it was great. Loads of practice tests but they seemed to have changed their system. (Btw there's a 15% off code online somewhere - I have it in work, I'll post tomorrow if required.)

Yeah I fell down on marks on presentation & team leadership by about 10 points.
I knew presentation I done was crap.......
Hopefully practice makes perfect & some confidence building!!
No regrets -try & try again!!!

Kanovara

Hard to know how to prepare for that presentation! I was nervous & the laptop was not co-operating. I think il write it freehand if I get to stage 3 this time. So frustrating to ace the interview after you've scored 130 points in a presentation where you needed 150 to pass.

Starry12

Holy moly, there's a lot of pressure in those tests. Got numerical finished but only got about 70% of the verbal completed. Irritating when they dont usually count the numerical scores

Chieftain

Starry12 wrote: »

Holy moly, there's a lot of pressure in those tests. Got numerical finished but only got about 70% of the verbal completed. Irritating when they dont usually count the numerical scores

I found the same....not sure i quite got 70% of the verbal done but did get the numerical finished. Gonna leave the management scenario for another day i think

Hi everyone. I'm just about to start the tests and I have one quick question before I do. It is asking me for my PAS ID.. is this my candidate number or the user name i use to login on PAS?

Kanovara

Littlefinger wrote: »

Hi everyone. I'm just about to start the tests and I have one quick question before I do. It is asking me for my PAS ID.. is this my candidate number or the user name i use to login on PAS?

Hi! It's your candidate id! I did it yesterday. Best of luck

Kanovara

Kanovara wrote: »

Hi! It's your candidate id! I did it yesterday. Best of luck

Thanks A million I'll let you know how I get on! How did you find it?

Kanovara

Littlefinger wrote: »

Thanks A million I'll let you know how I get on! How did you find it?

Difficult to be honest!

Kanovara

Kanovara wrote: »

Difficult to be honest!

I just finished. That was horrific. I've failed for sure

meandmymonkey

Just finished the tests.
Horrendous 😫😫

alrightiwill

For the Verbal test, does the content change for the questions at times? Or is it the same content for the entirety of the test?

I'm doing practice tests where there is 4 questions per passage/text and then it changes. I'm not sure if this will be useful considering the timeframe to answer 50 questions.

alrightiwill

alrightiwill wrote: »

For the Verbal test, does the content change for the questions at times? Or is it the same content for the entirety of the test?

I'm doing practice tests where there is 4 questions per passage/text and then it changes. I'm not sure if this will be useful considering the timeframe to answer 50 questions.

same content for all the questsions

eimaj18

Littlefinger wrote: »

same content for all the questsions

Are you sure? I haven't done this test yet, but the other ones I've done have all been something like one scenario and 4/5 questions, then a new scenario and 4/5 questions, continued a couple of times. I can't imagine them asking loads of questions on just one passage of text. I might be wrong though.

PopTarts

eimaj77 wrote: »

Are you sure? I haven't done this test yet, but the other ones I've done have all been something like one scenario and 4/5 questions, then a new scenario and 4/5 questions, continued a couple of times. I can't imagine them asking loads of questions on just one passage of text. I might be wrong though.

it's all tabs so same info but across 6 different tabs.

eimaj77

eimaj77 wrote: »

Are you sure? I haven't done this test yet, but the other ones I've done have all been something like one scenario and 4/5 questions, then a new scenario and 4/5 questions, continued a couple of times. I can't imagine them asking loads of questions on just one passage of text. I might be wrong though.

well considering I said a few posts above that I did the tests today, I am pretty sure.

eimaj18

Littlefinger wrote: »

eimaj77 wrote: »

Are you sure? I haven't done this test yet, but the other ones I've done have all been something like one scenario and 4/5 questions, then a new scenario and 4/5 questions, continued a couple of times. I can't imagine them asking loads of questions on just one passage of text. I might be wrong though.

well considering I said a few posts above that I did the tests today, I am pretty sure.

Good for you. Hadn't noticed the username. So, can I just clarify - there's about 50 odd questions and they're all on the same passage of text (including all the 6 tabs)?

carnie

eimaj77 wrote: »

Good for you. Hadn't noticed the username. So, can I just clarify - there's about 50 odd questions and they're all on the same passage of text (including all the 6 tabs)?

The Cut-e test are unique and there's nothing out there that uses a similar format. All the questions are related to the 6 tabs that are provided. The information doesn't change. There's plenty of data contained on the tabs to get 50 questions. However, they may ask for the same information in a multiple of ways.

Also make sure you have the correct tab selected when answering. You might get docked points if you have the wrong tab open.

eimaj18

carnie wrote: »

eimaj77 wrote: »

Good for you. Hadn't noticed the username. So, can I just clarify - there's about 50 odd questions and they're all on the same passage of text (including all the 6 tabs)?

The Cut-e test are unique and there's nothing out there that uses a similar format. All the questions are related to the 6 tabs that are provided. The information doesn't change. There's plenty of data contained on the tabs to get 50 questions. However, they may ask for the same information in a multiple of ways.

Also make sure you have the correct tab selected when answering. You might get docked points if you have the wrong tab open.

Thanks a mil. Haven't done the cut-e tests in a good while so can't really remember. Will do them tomorrow. Best of luck to everyone.

bronzesheep

Littlefinger wrote: »

I just finished. That was horrific. I've failed for sure

Most difficult aptitude test I've done, wow, can't say that went well!

khlebnikov

Just finished. I haven't done an aptitude test in a few years but jesus, that was difficult. A few people at work mentioned during the week some aptitude testing websites that you can subscribe to for a fee. I was thinking of signing up to one in preparation for more of these down the line. Does anyone have any recommendations or experience of any such sites?

bronzesheep

khlebnikov wrote: »

Just finished. I haven't done an aptitude test in a few years but jesus, that was difficult. A few people at work mentioned during the week some aptitude testing websites that you can subscribe to for a fee. I was thinking of signing up to one in preparation for more of these down the line. Does anyone have any recommendations or experience of any such sites?

The practice sites don't have that cut-e style of aptitude test laid out over tabs. Unless cut-e offer practice tests that are similar which you can pay for, you might be wasting your money. Although, I don't know if PAS intend to keep the cut-e style or change to another style down the line. I've done other styles with PAS over the last few years and all of them were much more manageable than that cut-e test I just savaged! ðŸ˜

love_love

carnie wrote: »

Also make sure you have the correct tab selected when answering. You might get docked points if you have the wrong tab open.

Can I ask what your basis for this statement is?

gerrybbadd

love_love wrote: »

Can I ask what your basis for this statement is?

It says it in the instructions. It only makes sense. If you don't have the correct tab open, relevant to the question, how are they to know you're not simply taking a guess at the answer?

love_love

But on the same token, you could be penalised for remembering information, or double checking that the information was not available in an alternative tab before selecting your answer. It seems ludicrous.

eagle1978

Did the tests last night. Madness pure madness. 10 times harder than the EO tests. Fair play to anyone who passes.

Stickmam

Thank God that's done. Didn't get it all finished - not sure I did enough in the Numerical test to pass.

Good luck to anyone still to take it.

I suppose it's just a waiting game now.

carnie

Just finished. I think I did alright on the numerical, verbal might be 50/50. I think I answered more questions compared to the last HEO comp. Job scenario is anyone's guess

patrickSTARR

About to do my tests in a few,

Are the questions the same as the practice tests, ie the same company Top Connectixx and just more questions or is it a new company and charts ???

billyhead

gerrybbadd wrote: »

It says it in the instructions. It only makes sense. If you don't have the correct tab open, relevant to the question, how are they to know you're not simply taking a guess at the answer?

No one knows this for sure. It could be quoted in the instructions to dissuade people from guessing. Same applies for negative marking. If you get a question wrong does this offset against a correct answer. Nobody knows if either scenario applies.

gerrybbadd

billyhead wrote: »

No one knows this for sure. It could be quoted in the instructions to dissuade people from guessing. Same applies for negative marking. If you get a question wrong does this offset against a correct answer. Nobody knows if either scenario applies.

Well, they do say to avoid guessing, and to answer accurately. Reading between the lines, I think my statement makes the most sense

eimaj18

Just did it now! Phew is right. It's hard, but doable. I got all answers done in both timed tests, but some were guesses. I don't think I'm allowed comment on the content of the test until the testing window is finished...so I'll ask my question tomorrow after 12 - hope that's ok with Mod?

In relation to the above posts, you can interpret it both ways, but I found: to find the answer to the question, you will need to navigate to that tab, but I don't think that it means you have to open that tab, it's just saying that's where the answer is.

Best of luck to everyone yet to do their test.