Civil service fast stream 2014/2015

So did it not matter that I was only above 26% of people in the competences one? Would the fact that I'm dyslexic have affected my score on the verbal test?

So did it not matter that I was only above 26% of people in the competences one? Would the fact that I'm dyslexic have affected my score on the verbal test?

I have a question for everybody here, especially those who already live in London: How the hell are you going to live with the 28k the Fast Stream pays? As I see it you have to pay at least around 800 pounds (probably more) for a small room, most of them being located in dodgy areas. How are you planning to manage?
I am seriously asking myself if I really want to live in an overcrowded flatshare for at least 3 more years of my life. I am 25 years old and I feel as if it is time to try to rent my own place. I am not a student anymore, and working full-time but still not being able to afford my own place to live somehow sounds wrong to me. And then there are the living costs, transportation, etc. Can you afford anything else, dinner with friends or just going for drinks when you feel like it, or do activities like this involve financial planning? Please correct me, but I feel that the quality of life wouldn´t be very good. Is the FS really worth it? I would love to hear your experience.

Something I don't understand is that they say you are assessed on six competencies but then list more than six?

Something I don't understand is that they say you are assessed on six competencies but then list more than six?

Well, that was quick, my orientation session is on the 1st December-time to book trains.

Which scheme was this for and when did you find out?

It could be a combination of your verbal and competency score that brought you down or just the competences..

Which stream were you applying for?

If you're dyslexic you can tick the box saying so when you first register. You can then choose to skip the online tests. Presumably you didn't do this as you took the online tests. I don't know whether you can email them now to say that you are dyslexic though. If you do, please let me know what they say as I'm in a similar position...

Oh above 26%. I read that as top 26% for some reason. That could also have been the reason, as someone said above.

The cost of living in London is high and this situation is not going to get any easier as there is pressure to keep down public sector pay. Working in government you tend to find the fast streamers live a similar lifestyle to students, living in houseshares in mixed standard accommodation, and then older people with families etc often live outside London and have long commutes. You meet a lot of civil servants that live in Surrey, Kent, Sussex etc and commute.

At the moment most of the government departments are located in central London but this also may change over time as it is expensive for government to run buildings here and it saves money to sell or not renew leases on buildings in prime locations and look to take office space in cheaper areas, more likely on the outskirts of London. The Cabinet Office has an estate strategy designed to do that. It won't happen quickly because leases expire at different times but I would expect that in the next couple of decades we will see the end of the Whitehall cluster of buildings and a move towards the London suburbs, which will allow people to be based further out in more affordable places.

At the moment I think most fast streamers accept that they have to live a 'studentesque' lifestyle a bit longer but this has some advantages at least for the younger ones without families in that it is almost like university for making friends, if you move to London nervous about not knowing anyone its easy to quickly meet loads of people and the fast stream is quite well set up with socials. You just have to live on a budget but in London this is more the norm now. There are people in their 30s living in houseshares in London. Yes it has its frustrations but when so many others are in the same situation you don't feel like you are alone.

On the new fast stream they will probably base you outside London for at least one of your rotations and the money goes a lot further there. If you get a posting up north in Leeds, Sheffield, York etc then you can rent your own place and live a more comfortable lifestyle. If you get promoted in a job where you can be based up north then you will probably feel well off: Grade 7 jobs tend to pay about £40-45k outside London or £45-50k in London. Anything over £40k outside of London is quite comfortable.

They group them so:
1. Seeing the bigger picture / Changing and improving
2. Making effective decisions
3. Leading and communicating
4. Collaborating and partnering / building capability for all
5. Managing a quality service/ delivering at pace
6. Delivering value for money / achieving commercial outcomes

Have they not sent out details of what the FSAC involves yet?

It was for the General Fast Stream and I found out yesterday pretty much the same time as I posted on this thread.

Thanks for the advice, any idea about how the Competences test is marked? Is it just simply the number of best and worst answers or is consistency taken into account as well?



I didn't think that dyslexia would count as a disability for an online test. I shall message them. If you hear before hand could you tell me?

Bear in mind also, that the HoP scheme has about 6 places. The success rate is a bit less than for the Diplomatic stream, although I guess that shouldn't be what makes or breaks your decision.

It was for the General Fast Stream and I found out yesterday pretty much the same time as I posted on this thread.

Thanks for the advice, any idea about how the Competences test is marked? Is it just simply the number of best and worst answers or is consistency taken into account as well?



I didn't think that dyslexia would count as a disability for an online test. I shall message them. If you hear before hand could you tell me?

How do you know this number? I think 6 it's a bit too little...

Also, I was wondering something. I've put HoP as first preference, and CDs as second. I've been said by a friend who got into the FS last year that as long as you pass the FSAC it's sure you get in, even if you don't get your first choice, cause CDs look for a lot of people and you end up there. Any insight on that?

Did my etray about 3 hours ago and heard nothing yet. Does this mean I am amber banded or is there still hope I have passed outright?