NHS keyboard skills test.

oily_rag

Hi,

I've got an interview for a lowly NHS job this week and I have to complete a 15 minute keyboard skills test and I was wondering if anyone that has already sat it could let me know what's required? I imagine it's a typing speed test or maybe I have to demonstrate some basic word processing skills or something?

Any advice gratefully received....

Thx.

ali-t

I used to work in a team that had NHS and council staff in it and both appeared to have similar typing tests. the ones I had staff doing had a timed element i.e. you were given a piece of text to type and had 5 mins to do it. the text is always far longer than anyone can type in 5 minutes though so don't panic.

then there was a skill bit where you are given a task to prepare something e.g. a table, spreadsheet or charts and this is where you show you know what you are doing and can follow instructions. they aren't difficult unless you have been lying on your application about your skills

oily_rag

ali-t wrote: »

then there was a skill bit where you are given a task to prepare something e.g. a table, spreadsheet or charts and this is where you show you know what you are doing and can follow instructions. they aren't difficult unless you have been lying on your application about your skills

Thx ali-t. I didn't lie about my qualifications but I haven't had to do anything like that for a while so I do need to refresh my memory.

Do you think if I emailed the interviewer they'd give me an idea of what the test might involve? Or would that be frowned upon?

chickywiggle

i had an interview for NHS 2 year ago for an admin job and the test was same for me as ali-t says.

oily_rag

Thx cw. So let me see if I've got this right. It's called a keyboard skills test yet from what you and ali-t are saying it's part keyboard skills, part Microsoft Office?

bee78

i recently went for key app test with council.It lasted about 20 mins and there 3 sections. First was to give a typed letter on MSword given and to modify it to the instruction.eg,create tables,bullets and bold and increas font. Next was spelling.Some typed text on MS word,with speller checker off.I would have to check and modify it. And after that i had to send it as an attachment e-mail to someone.Next section was to give alot question and asked me to research and find answers on the council intranet,which was fairly easy.Timing is the key to everything.Try to be accurate rather than finishing it on time.Good luck,leave your nerves at home.;)

loisa

I had one recently. I was given instructions on a bit of paper and then I basically had to put into my own words a letter to send to all staff reminding them to lock the gates behind them.

I then had to print it out on letterhead which seemed a bit strange to me and there was no time limit, I think I missed the point of that excercise!

TEDDYRUKSPIN

As ali and bee78. USUALLY two part exam. Tests are for word count and capability of microsoft office. This will depend on the position. You may only need to use the word only but sometimes excel or access. Only you will know this.

ali-t

oily_rag wrote: »

Thx ali-t. I didn't lie about my qualifications but I haven't had to do anything like that for a while so I do need to refresh my memory.

Do you think if I emailed the interviewer they'd give me an idea of what the test might involve? Or would that be frowned upon?

I wasn't suggesting you had lied about your qualifications or experience, sorry it was interpreted that way. I was merely suggesting that some people do.

Personally I wouldn't phone up and ask as it might send out a message to the employer that you can't think on your feet and react quickly to new challenges.

One way you could practice is to pick any article online or in a paper and copy it within a time limit, checking yourself for accuracy. If the article talks about figures, find an alternative way to present them e.g. in a table if currently in a chart and vice versa. Practice with different fonts, colours and line widths etc as these are the things you may be asked to do if preparing info for reports.

On the other hand if it is a typing job, if such a thing exists anymore, you may be solely tested on your typing. Practicing the example another poster gave about writing a letter would be good too. then you will be prepared for almost anything.

Good luck :beer:

barbara_anne

I had one for NHS admin that was one part prioritising a list of tasks, creating a Word document explaining why I had prioritised them in such an order, and one part a task using Excel.

chickywiggle

yup - you will defo need to know the basics of word and excel.

I think once I had done the table I had to sort it.