DWP Selection tests...

Gallagher · 22 May 2008 at 12:45PM

Hello, i was wondering if anyone could help...

I'm due to sit the selection tests for the DWP soon (literacy and numeracy tests)

Although i'm still very young it's been a couple of years since i was at school and had anything to do with maths! I didn't do very well at all in my GCSE Maths and have taken the selection test before and failed.
However i have already worked for the DWP as an AA for 9 months. I never had to sit any test for this and was always praised in my job (temp contract).

While i was working for the DWP my boss asked me to emial HR and ask if i could have an old test paper. I did this and was told i couldn't have one as they were a "secure item".

Ive taken the test twice now and it's been EXACTLY the same test. How this can be a "secure item" i don't know? :mad:

Anyway...

I was wondering if anyone had any example questions of the maths test (as the practice ones they send you before are nothing like the real ones).
Id be very greatful of any help, tips and practice questions. (A real paper would be handy:rotfl: )

Thanks:D

clarefrances84 · 22 May 2008 at 9:10PM

Hi

the literacy questions are like this:

john went too the shop. (circle the errors)

The maths ones are like this:

There are 10 class rooms in a school and 10% are being used. How many classrooms are being used? (answer 1)

Hope this helps!!!!

London_Exile · 23 May 2008 at 9:50PM

Is this a version of the Civil Service entrance exam? I had to do one similar about 9 years ago when I was an AA @ MAFF (as it was then).

I can't remember specifally what the questions were, but it wasn't a hard exam. So I think as long as you know the difference between "Their" and "There", you should be okay.

I'm presuming that this text is being taken so that you can convert from a tempt to perm?

AFAIR, the term "secure item" is just something that can't be removed from Government offices and should be kept in a locked tank. Rather than the contents of the document.

Lil2002 · 23 May 2008 at 9:59PM

Not sure if things have changed, but if you have already taken the test (and passed?), do you have to take it again?

When I got my pass marks, the letter said you would just show it to prove you had passed, and would not have to sit the test again. Maybe it's different now?

Gallagher · 26 May 2008 at 6:17PM

Thanks for the advice guys, i have taken it now, just waiting to hear back.

daviedude · 27 May 2008 at 5:57PM

These have just been held for the new recruitment going on at our office. Apparently the pass rate was terrible.

I did mine a few years ago. 40 people attended and only two of us got jobs from that test day.

But, funnily enough, whenever I do a jobsearch for someone the spelling and grammar on the job information is shockingly bad.

Gingernutmeg · 27 May 2008 at 6:10PM

daviedude wrote: »

But, funnily enough, whenever I do a jobsearch for someone the spelling and grammar on the job information is shockingly bad.

I had to do some selection tests with the 'Destiny' computer programme the other day. The test involved choosing alternative spellings etc from drop down menus on the 'wrong' word. What was amusing was that the test was filled with spelling errors that you couldn't correct lol

Gallagher · 30 May 2008 at 12:06PM

I passed!!!
Through to interview stage now, that should be ok :-)

MRS_TO_BE_2 · 31 May 2008 at 6:38PM

Well done on going through to interview...I'm sure you will ace it. Personally I think we should take an insanity test when we join up would be more appropriate..but then maybe its the 10 years of service whats warped my mind! Good luck and dont forget to look over your application form cos they will ask questions normally.

tinkerbelle · 3 June 2008 at 6:43PM

I have also passed the selection tests and have an interview for DWP in approximately 3 weeks. Does anyone have any idea on what type of questions they will be asking?

wickedwitch_2 · 4 June 2008 at 2:04PM

DWP uses competency based interviewing so you should expect questions like 'tell me about a time when you had to work with others to solve a problem' or 'tell me about a time when you have acted on negative feedback'.

What they are looking for is you to tell them four things...

S - situation - what happened, what was the problem?
T - task - what did you need to do?
A - action - what did you do?
R - result - what was the outcome of the action you took? What did you learn? What would you do differently?

If you apply STAR when answering the questions you should do just fine. If you google competency questions or interviews you should be able to find other examples.

Good luck!

DWP Selection tests...

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