Civil service fast stream 2014/2015

Yep, I found that really difficult! I thought most applied to me, but then wondered if that made me sound arrogant? And for some of them, choosing a "least like me"....ummm......help!!

I think we'll have to wait for a while, not many people will have completed this much yet, so they have nothing to score us against.

How did you find the tests and how long did they take?

You have 7 days to complete most things from completing the last stage....So if you start an application for a stream, you have 7 days to do the first practise tests, then 7 days from doing them to do the next practise tests, then 7 days to do the real tests etc. I think most stages will be like this - once their end is updated, we have 7 days to act (but can request extensions from them if necessary).

The tests that I did were one set of compulsory practice qs, one set optional (numerical and verbal each time) which gave you feedback - you would have scored in top XX% of people who sat these tests - so you know if you need to do more practise or you're probably OK etc.
There was no practice for the competency questionnaire.

So basically, you probably have a maximum of 21 days from adding a stream to having to sit the actual online tests. Tbh, I think you're better off practising a bit elsewhere now, then sitting both sets of their practice tests AND the real tests in one go - it's a long slog that way, but probably better for knowing what you're doing.
I did this through the generalist stream application, not sure if the process is the same across the board!

I know its annoying... oh well, I guess we got e-tray exercise on the next stage, we got to practise on this one. I heard it takes 2 and a half hour long to complete the e-tray!

The closing date for the application windows is the date by which you need to have registered your application and chosen a scheme.

After that you have 7 days for each of the steps. So you could register on Nov 3 and have until Nov 10 to do the self-assessed tests, then Nov 17 for the practise tests, the 24th for the Situational Judgement Tests (which are new this year), and the 1st December for the verbal, numerical and competency tests.

Hi Katie, thanks so much for your fast and informative reply! So does that meant that, theoretically, I could start the application 21 days before the deadline (3rd of November), or does this 21 days not include other information you need to give, such as references, written application form etc? I'm not going to leave it that late of course, was just wondering how much time to give myself to practice. And do you have any suggestions for places to practice online? I feel a bit strange applying for graduate jobs I'm not interested in/ don't really know where to find them.

Also, is the competency test included in these 2 lots of practice tests?

Hello, thank you for your reply. This is very helpful. Oh dear, new tests as well. I wonder what is the best way to prepare for Situational Judgement Tests.

Can you fail the self-assessed tests? Or are they just a set of practice tests for the verbal and numerical / competency tests?

I realise the competency questionnaire is about fast stream competencies - all of this http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Civil-Service-Competency-Framework-July-2012.pdf

But could anyone explain what the competency questionnaire is actually like? Example questions etc.

Hello, thank you for your reply. This is very helpful. Oh dear, new tests as well. I wonder what is the best way to prepare for Situational Judgement Tests.

Can you fail the self-assessed tests? Or are they just a set of practice tests for the verbal and numerical / competency tests?

Hello, thank you for your reply. This is very helpful. Oh dear, new tests as well. I wonder what is the best way to prepare for Situational Judgement Tests.

Can you fail the self-assessed tests? Or are they just a set of practice tests for the verbal and numerical / competency tests?

Eeek! Just finished all the online tests for my application, and now I'm waiting for the results (or possibly enough other people to have done them for me to be banded, based on what previous applicants said?)!

It feels so weird to be applying for a graduate job when I only got back from my third year placement three weeks ago!

Me too. The competency questionnaire was so difficult I tried to just be honest, but I have no idea how it went.

Good luck with it, hopefully you find out how it went soon.

To everyone who is yet to do the competency tests: Do not be modest. Do not think "Oh, well I'm honestly probably only a 3 on that..." If it's a positive statement then you are a 4 in it, if it's negative you are a 1. For the "most like/least like" bit, look at the competency framework, think about what sort of person they're asking for, and choose accordingly.

You will have time to show what you are like when you reach the FSAC. Don't get yourself booted now by being too modest on a machine-marked screen out test.

The competency test is in the online tests - when you add a stream, you'll see a progress list, and there's "self-assessed online tests" "practice for online tests" and then finally "online tests" - the competency is in this last one............ I think you can just search verbal/numerical reasoning practice tests and try some of those, but probably not many will be that useful for this application. But I found the two they gave were definitely enough.

I will also be taking part in the application process this year (will be the second time applying). I would like to agree with comments above - do take care on the Competency questionnaire. I applied for two streams last year - the Generalist and European.

Eeek! Just finished all the online tests for my application, and now I'm waiting for the results (or possibly enough other people to have done them for me to be banded, based on what previous applicants said?)!

It feels so weird to be applying for a graduate job when I only got back from my third year placement three weeks ago!

Thanks for your message. Can somebody clarify this? You see I thought each person could only apply for one stream? So I was deciding between the Generalist, Diplomatic and European? But if you can apply for more than one I'll go for all three?

Thanks for your message. Can somebody clarify this? You see I thought each person could only apply for one stream? So I was deciding between the Generalist, Diplomatic and European? But if you can apply for more than one I'll go for all three?