Minisitry of Justice Online Test For AO - Failed Again!

Morglin

uknick wrote: »

Truegho


The "old" way into the civil service was exams and then interviews. At least it was for entry at Executive Officer grade or above in the 1990s

When I sat them they were incredibly tough. To the extent the exam invidulator warned us it was rare all questions were even attempted in the time available.

You needed to get 75% in the exam to be considered for the interview stage. Even then only about the top 10% who passed the exams went forward for the interview stage.

I don't know what the entry tests were for Admin Officers, but I do believe A-levels were required as minimum academic background.

I started as an EO, in the 80's and had to take the equivalent of an O level in Maths, same in English, at a formal college exam, and then present a document, showing that I could construct letters etc.,

I had 6 of the old style O levels to my name, but no A levels.

I then had a board interview, and after being accepted, at the DWP, had 6 weeks intensive training, and then 6 months with a mentor having overview, before I was let loose, single handed, on an unsuspecting public!

Pity they don't get back to that. :whistle:

Lin

Truegho

To judge by your comments strongly defending these tests, it seems to be that you have passed every single one of these things. I should point out, by the way, that I am not the only jobseeker who thinks these test are a bad and stupid idea. Read the careers forums.

LTL wrote: »

Yes, looks like more than enough do for the jobs. They're not "accursed"





Why were they lucky? What about them just being good at the test and knowing the right answer?




"barmy and shallow and useless"


They're a fantastic idea.


Maybe you should try to improve yourself or look elsewhere?

Truegho

Morglin wrote: »

I started as an EO, in the 80's and had to take the equivalent of an O level in Maths, same in English, at a formal college exam, and then present a document, showing that I could construct letters etc.,

I had 6 of the old style O levels to my name, but no A levels.

I then had a board interview, and after being accepted, at the DWP, had 6 weeks intensive training, and then 6 months with a mentor having overview, before I was let loose, single handed, on an unsuspecting public!

Pity they don't get back to that. :whistle:

Lin

I totally agree with you. Why on earth they had to go and introduce these barmy behavioural tests is beyond me.

Truegho

LTL wrote: »

Yes, looks like more than enough do for the jobs. They're not "accursed"





Why were they lucky? What about them just being good at the test and knowing the right answer?




"barmy and shallow and useless"


They're a fantastic idea.


Maybe you should try to improve yourself or look elsewhere?

And what on earth are you on about, try and "improve yourself?" I'll have you know that I have worked in the Civil Service MANY times as both an AO and an AA in the past. So I hardly think that I need to go and look "elsewhere", as you put it. It is the introduction of these stupid tests that has made it hard - even hard for former civil servants - to get back in. So before you start pointing the finger, get your facts right.

fufu_banterwaite

Truegho wrote: »

Has ANYBODY managed to pass these accursed tests???

Yes, I found it a bit too easy, so turned the job down.

pelirocco

uknick wrote: »

Truegho


The "old" way into the civil service was exams and then interviews. At least it was for entry at Executive Officer grade or above in the 1990s

When I sat them they were incredibly tough. To the extent the exam invidulator warned us it was rare all questions were even attempted in the time available.

You needed to get 75% in the exam to be considered for the interview stage. Even then only about the top 10% who passed the exams went forward for the interview stage.

I don't know what the entry tests were for Admin Officers, but I do believe A-levels were required as minimum academic background.

I didnt have to do an exam for CO entry , because my olevels covered me , but i did have to face an interview board which was pretty scary at 17 , this was for the then Tax office , I didnt get the job but was called for an informal interview a few months later for another department and was given the job n the spot .

We had a lady join us when she was in her early forties for a CA position for some reason she didnt have the exam grades required despite being a very intelligent and public school educated . She said she had to sit a very basic easy test

pelirocco

This is a sample of questions for prison officer on MOJ site

Here are two examples of questions that you might find on the POST.
Sample Question 1

120 Prisoners live on A Wing. Of these -

• 30 have gone to the exercise yard
• 16 have gone to the health care centre
• 9 have gone to the workshop
• 11 have gone to the education centre
• 6 have gone to the gym
• 40 have gone to the dining hall

How many Prisoners remain on A Wing?
Sample Question 2

84 Prisoners live on B Wing which is fully occupied. There are 2 beds in each cell.
How many cells are there on B Wing?

Truegho

pelirocco wrote: »

I didnt have to do an exam for CO entry , because my olevels covered me , but i did have to face an interview board which was pretty scary at 17 , this was for the then Tax office , I didnt get the job but was called for an informal interview a few months later for another department and was given the job n the spot .

We had a lady join us when she was in her early forties for a CA position for some reason she didnt have the exam grades required despite being a very intelligent and public school educated . She said she had to sit a very basic easy test

That was in the good old days when recruitment methods were more straightforward. Sadly, it's changed now, and not for the better either.

Truegho

pelirocco wrote: »

This is a sample of questions for prison officer on MOJ site

Here are two examples of questions that you might find on the POST.
Sample Question 1

120 Prisoners live on A Wing. Of these -

• 30 have gone to the exercise yard
• 16 have gone to the health care centre
• 9 have gone to the workshop
• 11 have gone to the education centre
• 6 have gone to the gym
• 40 have gone to the dining hall

How many Prisoners remain on A Wing?
Sample Question 2

84 Prisoners live on B Wing which is fully occupied. There are 2 beds in each cell.
How many cells are there on B Wing?

The questions that I had to answer were totally different. I was given 15 situational questions, each of which had answers graded A-C. I had to put A for the behaviour I would display most, B for my second choice of behaviour etc. As I say, the annoying thing was, even though I gave what I thought were reasonable answers, I was still knocked back.

agrinnall

Truegho wrote: »

The questions that I had to answer were totally different. I was given 15 situational questions, each of which had answers graded A-C. I had to put A for the behaviour I would display most, B for my second choice of behaviour etc. As I say, the annoying thing was, even though I gave what I thought were reasonable answers, I was still knocked back.

Well then, presumably the people who decided how to grade the answers must have disagreed with your view of what is reasonable - perhaps you should take it as a strong hint that you are not suitable for these jobs.