The Student Room Group

HMRC Graduate Tax Specialist Programme 2016

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Original post by rebecca_:)
Ahh well done!

I'm not sure- a years a long way away. If I could just get an O grade job in HMRC i'd be happy. If not I shall apply again- pretty disappointed at the minute though at falling at the first hurdle. Thank god for Sunday roast dinners to cheer me up ha!

In the rejection email it states it was extremely high -over 21000 applicants and they brought through just over 15% so you can all be proud of yourselfs for making it this far. And good luck for stage two!

I still keep checking my status hopeful someone's dropped out and they'll invite me. Living in hope 🙈


Rebecca! How are you? I have been away from TSR for too long. I hope you still remember me. :smile:

I am so sorry to hear you have been unsuccessful. :frown: 21,000 is a very, very big number! I am surprised they only take through 15%.

It seems they cut out most people here. I got through to stage 2. I have no idea what the tests will be like. I doubt I will pass them but I must stay positive.
Original post by OneJuanMata
Does anyone know where to get practice tests for stage 2? I googled it and found somewhere but had to pay for them


Logical reasoning is about squares/ patterns and all that, is it not?
The second test is just a numerical test but harder and with more information I believe.

If anyone here could confirm that, that would be great! :biggrin:
Original post by Arehman27
I've just got an email saying I've passed stage 1😀
Is anybody else having trouble with the civil service jobs website. Mines gone all funny ?


Yes. Only text is showing up, right? I am having the same issue. It was tough to navigate around the website and access my communications. I didn't even receive an email. I had to check the website.
Reply 143
Original post by Attercop
Logical reasoning is about squares/ patterns and all that, is it not?
The second test is just a numerical test but harder and with more information I believe.

If anyone here could confirm that, that would be great! :biggrin:


Is the deductive test like this ?
I think the shapes are a logical test not deductive
Original post by Attercop
Rebecca! How are you? I have been away from TSR for too long. I hope you still remember me. :smile:

I am so sorry to hear you have been unsuccessful. :frown: 21,000 is a very, very big number! I am surprised they only take through 15%.

It seems they cut out most people here. I got through to stage 2. I have no idea what the tests will be like. I doubt I will pass them but I must stay positive.


Hey Attercop! Yepyep, hopefully you'll hear good news over the investigative/intelligence role. And congrats in making it to stage two... If you can take anything from it - you're in good stead to be made an O/HO offer regardless. Good luck with the tests and hopefully you'll make it through to the next round.
Original post by dbdb
Is the deductive test like this ?


I've not sat this test in the past but I do think that's the sort of stuff we can expect. If anyone can chip in, that'd be helpful.
Original post by rebecca_:)
Hey Attercop! Yepyep, hopefully you'll hear good news over the investigative/intelligence role. And congrats in making it to stage two... If you can take anything from it - you're in good stead to be made an O/HO offer regardless. Good luck with the tests and hopefully you'll make it through to the next round.


I sure hope so! ;D
Original post by annaa2603
Hi, sorry to intrude but I have a question. Do they accept applications from people with any degree discipline? Would someone with an accountancy degree be preferred than someone with a Biology degree for instance?


Degree subject doesn't matter. :smile:
Reply 149
Congrats to those who got through. Unfortunately I wasn't successful.. I knew my numerical wasn't up to scratch anyway. Nevermind! I got interviews for other jobs and I'm applying for other hmrc roles so fingers crossed something good will materialise. Commiserations Rebecca... I may reapply next year... At least got a whole year to practise the numerical tests lol!
Reply 150
Original post by Shakedown
I think the shapes are a logical test not deductive


You are right. I think deductive is about If all A are B, all B are C then we can deduce all A are C that kind of thing.
Reply 151
I haven't received the successful email yet my application status is that I am successful and have been invited to complete the tests for stage 2. According to their FB page the links to stage 2 are in the email. Has anyone else had the same issue and contacted them about it?
Original post by LHC
I haven't received the successful email yet my application status is that I am successful and have been invited to complete the tests for stage 2. According to their FB page the links to stage 2 are in the email. Has anyone else had the same issue and contacted them about it?


You haven't missed the link, that's sent out in a 2nd email before 2nd December.

Here's the contents of the email I received:

"Tax Specialist Programme 2016 Stage 1 Successful Letter including your invite to Stage 2

Good Afternoon

Thank you for your application for the Tax Specialist Programme 2016.

I am pleased to be able to tell you that you have been successful at stage 1 and I would now like to invite you to complete stage 2 of the application process which will be an on-line Deductive Reasoning test and Analytical Reasoning test.

The tests will be available online from 2nd December 2015.

We will e-mail you before the 2nd December to give you more information about the tests and you will receive an e-mail on the 2nd December which will include the link and additional instructions.

Once you have activated the test link, you will need to undertake the test at that time, therefore please do not activate the test link until you are ready to sit the test.

We will consider any reasonable adjustment requests to assist applicants in the process. If you have not yet contacted HR CSR and require assistance, please do so immediately.

Any reasonable adjustments approved for stage 1 such as extended time will be automatically carried forward for stage 2.

Please ensure that you allow sufficient time to complete the Stage 2 Tests in full between 2nd December 2015 and 21st December 2015 as you will be unable to take the tests after midnight on 21st December 2015.

We will not be in a position to extend test timelines under any circumstances.

We therefore recommend that you take the tests as soon as possible, in case you incur any technical issues that will need resolving prior to 21st December 2015.


Good luck!

Kind Regards

Graduate Recruitment Team"
Hi Guys! Glad to see that the majority managed to pass Stage 1. Just opened my account and luckily I'm through as well!

I applied for the scheme last year as well but failed the Stage 2 tests and was offered an Executive Officer role, without any interview!

So yh, just give it your all in Stage 2 and you will surely get somewhere in HMRC.
Original post by College rocks
Hi Guys! Glad to see that the majority managed to pass Stage 1. Just opened my account and luckily I'm through as well!

I applied for the scheme last year as well but failed the Stage 2 tests and was offered an Executive Officer role, without any interview!

So yh, just give it your all in Stage 2 and you will surely get somewhere in HMRC.


Did you take the EO role last year? What role was it and what kind of salary did it offer?
Original post by theduffman82
Did you take the EO role last year? What role was it and what kind of salary did it offer?


I was put on a waiting list and started working as an Officer in the Fraud Investigation Service only earlier this month.

Basic Salary is £23k + £3298 Bonus for working in unsociable hours. The bonus is paid in advance and not when you end up working during unsociable hours. So you receive 1/12th of the bonus every month.
That's great to hear College rocks! Very motivating, cheers.
Original post by College rocks
I was put on a waiting list and started working as an Officer in the Fraud Investigation Service only earlier this month.

Basic Salary is £23k + £3298 Bonus for working in unsociable hours. The bonus is paid in advance and not when you end up working during unsociable hours. So you receive 1/12th of the bonus every month.


So, you are allowed to leave your current EO job after a year? I have applied for an EO role (in Criminal Investigation) and I am waiting for the interview results but I am also applying to the grad scheme. I am worried that if I take the EO job (if I am lucky enough to pass the interview) that they may not allow me to continue with the grad scheme. Do you know if this is generally the case?
You can opt for the grad scheme if you dont want to stay in CI as an EO. What they won't allow (once training in your CI role starts) are level transfers; i.e. another EO role in the Customs Team, for example. The Grad scheme is on a higher band than the EO role, so you will be allowed to move up within the organisation.
Original post by College rocks
You can opt for the grad scheme if you dont want to stay in CI as an EO. What they won't allow (once training in your CI role starts) are level transfers; i.e. another EO role in the Customs Team, for example. The Grad scheme is on a higher band than the EO role, so you will be allowed to move up within the organisation.


Oh that is great news! :smile: Thanks for your response.

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