DWP interview scores

jessbob

Can anyone tell me what the pass mark is for the interviews with DWP? I am sure I have seen it somewhere on here, but can't find it

qadsey

From what I know the pass mark is 20. As you have four competencies you are asked a question for each one. To pass each competency you have to get 4 and the highest is 8 so if you do bad in one question you can make up for it in the other.

Hope this helps?!

jessbob

Thanks, gadsey. Must be higher than 20 tho, cos I was unsuccessful and my mark was 24. Its all very confusing

qadsey

My interview was last year and once I recieved my feedback from DWP I was given a mark and was told the pass mark is 20. I don't know if it is different for other areas or if it has changed.

Maybe someone else could put more light on this please?!

lili2008

Dunno what the pass mark is, but I do know that there are 45 available points with 9 points for each of the 4 competences and 9 for overall communication, and that you have to score above the passmark (whatever that might be, but let's call it 5 for arguments sake) in all the categories to pass the interview. In other words, if you scored 9 on one but 2 on another, you wouldn't pass. So the overall score might not be helpful in understanding why someone with an overall higher mark didn't pass the interview. You could have got 5 points in each (25) and passed, whereas someone with 26 didn't, as they didn't trigger a 5 in one of the categories.

...or something...my head hurts...

ETA: That was for the EO interviews. May be less/different for AO.

smirkyguy

jessbob wrote: »

Thanks, gadsey. Must be higher than 20 tho, cos I was unsuccessful and my mark was 24. Its all very confusing

I was also unsuccesful in my interview with the DWP so I asked for feedback. I got a two page document sent to me with the scores and comments for each competency. It's worth doing the same as it helps you get an idea of where you could improve. In my case it was clear that the examples I gave just flew over the panel's heads (that's the downside of working in I.T. I guess I came across as a bit geek!):D

Thankfully I managed to secure another interview which I passed. The feedback scores were much higher this time around - I used really simple examples for the competencies asked for and spoke very slowly when answering.

As the previous poster mentioned, scores are out of 45 with 9 points available in each category. I don't know what the pass mark is though. The position I applied for was for an Admin role.

qadsey

All i can say for people who have not got through is to keep trying. DWP have vacancies coming up every few months so keep getting feedback and go for them that's what I did.

jessbob

Thanks you guys ! Smirky - I did ask for feedback, and all they sent me was a short letter, saying my score was 24 and unsuccessful. Also stated that they needed further evidence of working with other people. God knows what they want

There's a few more vacancies come up on their website I notice this week, so don't really know whether to have another go.

lili2008

jessbob wrote: »

Thanks you guys ! Smirky - I did ask for feedback, and all they sent me was a short letter, saying my score was 24 and unsuccessful. Also stated that they needed further evidence of working with other people. God knows what they want

There's a few more vacancies come up on their website I notice this week, so don't really know whether to have another go.

Don't know when you last applied but don't forget they've changed the interview now. Different categories of competence.

qadsey

Hello I would keep trying as I went for the AA interview 3 times before I was successfull. As each time I went I gained new ideas on what they could ask me. They only ask 4 main questions for each of the competencies but I didnt answer them well.

Also iv noticed that they always asked me follow up questions if they thought they needed to know more on a particular competency.

jessbob

Lili - the interview was at the beginning of May and followed the old interview route I do believe. I will check the new vacancies and see what the competencies are now.

qadsey - Been for 2 interviews now, and as the competencies have changed don't know if I can face another interview not knowing what they are going to be asking ! They always asked me follow up questions as well.

Problem is, I am a legal exec, and work (until I was made redundant! ) in an office carrying out all my own admin work. I have had experience of team working, but DWP obviously did not feel that this was sufficient.