[chrisb23]

I just did the practice tests again (for e-tray) and did pretty bad! Wtf is up with my scoring on these, I swear they are sometimes quite easy and sometimes hard.. I hope I don't fail the e-tray due to inconsistency

[G50]

(Original post by chrisb23)
I just did the practice tests again (for e-tray) and did pretty bad! Wtf is up with my scoring on these, I swear they are sometimes quite easy and sometimes hard.. I hope I don't fail the e-tray due to inconsistency

I thought the practice e-tray didn't give you your score? Is there some other website with a similar exercise?

[Jimdog]

(Original post by Sherkba)
I'm not sure I want to apply to the fast stream, but am interested in discussing this 'meritocratic' system.

It doesn't seem right to me that you don't provide a CV, and are not assessed based on what you have actually done, but on standardized tests and tasks at the ACs.

The principles of Civil Service recruitment were set in the 1954 Northcote-Trevelyan report, which proposed an apolitical UK civil service, recruited and promoted on merit rather than as a result of patronage. This principle is still relevant today, with the well-connected and well-endowed able to build a strong body of experience from internships and the like, without necessarily demonstrating exceptional ability. Having stood the test of time, it is surprising to hear the term 'meritocratic' used in a pejorative sense. I feel it should be applauded that the Fast Stream looks to assess ability directly, rather than judging ability based on the proxy of experience.

On a separate line of argument, the Fast Stream can be seen as an attempt to recruit high-calibre employees before they build significant experience in the private sector, where they would earn salaries which the public sector could not later compete with.

[G50]

(Original post by G50)
I thought the practice e-tray didn't give you your score? Is there some other website with a similar exercise?

Can anyone give an answer to this? I've got my e-tray tomorrow afternoon, so if anyone knows of a website which has practice tests where you can actually see your results, that would be much appreciated!

[chrisb23]

Oh sorry. To clarify, I meant the practice numerical and verbal tests which are made available again once the e-tray is booked. You get a mark similar to the second set of practice tests initially undertaken.

[G50]

(Original post by chrisb23)
Oh sorry. To clarify, I meant the practice numerical and verbal tests which are made available again once the e-tray is booked. You get a mark similar to the second set of practice tests initially undertaken.

Oh right, I forgot we take those again at the e-tray (I think?). They're supposed to be easier though, aren't they?

[chrisb23]

(Original post by G50)
Oh right, I forgot we take those again at the e-tray (I think?). They're supposed to be easier though, aren't they?

I would hope so! They seem to always be easier when it counts thankfully.

I'm not feeling to stressed as I have just secured a pretty decent 'normal' Admin job in a local NHS. Pressure off! Phew.

Good luck for tomorrow

[G50]

(Original post by chrisb23)
I would hope so! They seem to always be easier when it counts thankfully.

I'm not feeling to stressed as I have just secured a pretty decent 'normal' Admin job in a local NHS. Pressure off! Phew.

Good luck for tomorrow

Nice! I wish I had that assurance. I have this e-tray tomorrow and three (!) assessment centres in February, with possibly two more to add to those (waiting to hear back). Lots of pressure and a busy schedule.

I just want a good 'graduate' job, but obviously the Civil Service is my first choice of call (if I get an offer). Getting in is so hard and a bit of a lottery until you get to the assessment centre though.

[chrisb23]

(Original post by G50)
Nice! I wish I had that assurance. I have this e-tray tomorrow and three (!) assessment centres in February, with possibly two more to add to those (waiting to hear back). Lots of pressure and a busy schedule.

I just want a good 'graduate' job, but obviously the Civil Service is my first choice of call (if I get an offer). Getting in is so hard and a bit of a lottery until you get to the assessment centre though.

Ha! Yes, I do as well, but have been pretty unlucky with graduate schemes. Shouldn't have applied so hastily before I'd prepared for the numerical tests, thus I basically have to wait again for a year to re apply to most of them :|

[Martysip]

Guys incase anyone is waiting for e-tray results still, I think they may have released another batch as I just found out I passed!! So pleased waiting for my FSAC invite now. That was for the NI FS by the way. Good luck!!

[monthen]

Hi folks.

I had my FSAC for the European Fast Stream yesterday, which seemed to go reasonably well.

Someone at it mentioned that they thought it was the first one of the year - does that sound possible to anyone else? Presumably you have a slightly better chance of getting through to the FCO FSB is you're in one of the early FSACs.

I was also wondering how quickly you tend to find out about your results. I understand that it can take ages, but also that it's possible to find out quickly if you're immediately (un)successful.

Anyone have any experience of this? Any advice much appreciated.

Cheers

[TruckBear]

(Original post by Martysip)
Guys incase anyone is waiting for e-tray results still, I think they may have released another batch as I just found out I passed!! So pleased waiting for my FSAC invite now. That was for the NI FS by the way. Good luck!!

They've released some results for the non-NI FS as well. Just found out I'm through to the FSAC for the standard Graduate Fast Stream. Very excited

[Nemo500]

I was amber banded, just found out I'm through to the FSAC on the 9th Feb, anyone else on the same day?

[cherno_samba]

Has anyone who applied for the Operational Research stream found out if they have been successful at the FSAC yet?

I had mine on Wed 18th and am still waiting.

[ellejaytee]

(Original post by monthen)
Hi folks.

I had my FSAC for the European Fast Stream yesterday, which seemed to go reasonably well.

Someone at it mentioned that they thought it was the first one of the year - does that sound possible to anyone else? Presumably you have a slightly better chance of getting through to the FCO FSB is you're in one of the early FSACs.

I was also wondering how quickly you tend to find out about your results. I understand that it can take ages, but also that it's possible to find out quickly if you're immediately (un)successful.

Anyone have any experience of this? Any advice much appreciated.

Cheers

Hey,
The first official FSAC of the year was the 4th of January. I know some people who have heard, but I haven't yet. I don't really know if that answers your questions, but I'm just letting you know that the immediate pass and fails for some schemes have already been set

[gt94sss2]

(Original post by monthen)
Presumably you have a slightly better chance of getting through to the FCO FSB is you're in one of the early FSACs.

It won't make a difference - the scheduling of your FSAC has more to do when you applied/passed the e-tray than anything else.

I was also wondering how quickly you tend to find out about your results. I understand that it can take ages, but also that it's possible to find out quickly if you're immediately (un)successful.

You have to pass (i.e. get a minimum score) in each competency at the FSAC - otherwise you automatically fail. Hence, why people sometimes find out very quickly if they have been unsuccessful (and regardless of how well they scored elsewhere)

[backspace]

(Original post by Willowi)
Ok another quick question on the GFS E-Tray section 3. What is the consensus on how long these emails be? I would assume two or three paragraphs at the very most, and say about 400 words? I am guesing being clear and succint is the main goal here, but being given 50 minutes implies they expect you to write more. Or is this just because we are expected to be looking through information and re-reading things a lot, as we obviously don't know any of the information (and in real life we would have been dealing with it daily)?

I feel like I am going into an exam without ever having seen a past paper! Which I suppose is the idea, and how they seperate student thinking from graduate thinking, but it is still unnerving!

Again I feel like I am asking for an unfair advantage when most people have already done their's, but if anyone wants to share their experience or opinion it would be really interesting.

Does anybody have any info on this, as I was wondering the same thing myself? To the point, is there any way to prepare for this, or is it just a case of turning up and doing your best given the situation you find yourself in. Thanks in advance, and congratulations to those who have already made it through .

EDIT: For anyone who was also looking for pointers regarding that post I quoted, you can find some useful info here http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/show....php?t=1138664

[shellybean01]

I have just had an email for HR scheme to say I was successful at e-tray and invited to assessment end of Feb for those still waiting it looks like they are now coming through.

[Shaz007]

To those of you that have recently received your E-tray results, I know that they revised the pass mark today, I contacted the fast stream team to find out when you should expect to hear back if you have been successful/unsuccessful at this stage. I was told that I should hear back in 24 hours, otherwise im still in the amber band.

Some of you have received invitation to the FSAC, did you get an email to your personal account or did you just log in and see if there there had been any updates. Im sick of continuously logging in like 20 times a day to check! If you receive an email, it would make life easier!

[borneouk]

Just done etray today...was a challenge! No result yet though. Wonder if it'll be soon? Guess I'm amber banded atm!