HMRC Graduate Tax Specialist Programme 2016

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I was bored this morning so completed both the analytical & deductive reasoning tests... And now I've just found out that we aren't supposed to activate the link until tomorrow!! How can they just put it on their Facebook page, how do they know that everyone will be following it!?!!? Oh dear.

Ah well, here's some info on the tests I did anyway..

The analytical is quite tricky in my opinion, the questions were slightly ambiguous and it wasn't immediately obvious which calculations you were supposed to make. Just practice numerical reasoning/critical numerical reasoning beforehand. The deductive reasoning was written logical problems (no images), e.g if X is adjacent to Y and opposite Z, who is below W, where is Y in relation to W. That kind of thing..

How did you find the deductive? What were the time limits for the tests? Don't worry about doing the tests, email them that you completed the test and you didn't know, worst case they will reset the link and make you do the tests again.

Reply 181

ShammyJam21

Original post by cheese.

Aaah, I kinda did the same - well, I opened the email link (but didn't start the test) BEFORE seeing on FB that we shouldn't activate it before 2nd Dec, a tad annoying as they didn't make this obvious within the email info!
I followed instructions from HMRC to email them and get the Stage 2 test email link resent so (hopefully) it doesn't affect my answers when I do take it. Maybe you could email them to let know what's happened and they may be able to reset it? (fingers crossed!)

Many others have done the same, i.e. activating the link and have asked on FB on what to do so I've copied & pasted the response/instructions below:

"Please email [email protected] and request a reset. Please title your email TSP 2016 Stage 2 Test Link. All resets will be dealt with once all candidates have received their stage 2 test links by 2nd December. Please note the stage timeline is detailed in the advert, on the candidate's timeline and stage 2 details were included in the stage 1 result letter. Thank You"

& thank you for that info, will definitely practise beforehand!

Reply 182

lawgrad13

Were the tests timed?

Reply 183

McDude

Original post by OneJuanMata

Am I right in saying it's £29 each for the practice tests? So £58 in total? Do you just get a link online or is something sent by post or what?

Yes there are 2 separate, £29 test packs. It says they are licensed for 3 months so I imagine it's something online that'll stop working when your time is up.

Original post by lawgrad13

Were the tests timed?

The tests have unlimited time but how long it takes you is sent to the recruiters. I don't know how much the length of time it takes you affects things, you'd have to ask HMRC.

Reply 184

dbdb

I thought the link in the email was for another graduate scheme and accidently clicked on it. I'm quite worried now :s-smilie:

. I've emailed hmrc about this and really hope it's reset.

Reply 185

DeeDeeC

Hi, I am interested in splitting it - would this be OK?
Would we all be able to access the tests at the same time?

I will also attempt to PM you, as not really familiar with this site.

Reply 186

McDude

Original post by cheese.

The analytical is quite tricky in my opinion, the questions were slightly ambiguous and it wasn't immediately obvious which calculations you were supposed to make. Just practice numerical reasoning/critical numerical reasoning beforehand. The deductive reasoning was written logical problems (no images), e.g if X is adjacent to Y and opposite Z, who is below W, where is Y in relation to W. That kind of thing..

Original post by DeeDeeC

Hi, I am interested in splitting it - would this be OK?
Would we all be able to access the tests at the same time?

I will also attempt to PM you, as not really familiar with this site.

I've bought the deductive reasoning tests I can access them on my tablet and computer at the same time, if you try and do the same test it does say in progress but you can start a new one and have the same test running on both devices at once.

Reply 187

Shakedown

Original post by cheese.

how many questions did the deductive test have

Reply 188

La Haine

An untitled e-mail and crucial instructions relayed via some bull**** social network (I too was very close to 'activating' the link). What a shambles.

Reply 189

moq1991

hi, new to this forum, through to stage 2, i would be willing to split the costs of the online test??

Reply 190

cheese.

Original post by QE5

I thought the deductive was quite fun actually, I quite like logical puzzles. Yeah I emailed the relevant people to reset the link but they said that my test scores have been saved already so I won't have to redo them. The analytical was a 60 minute limit, but there are only 25 questions. The deductive isn't timed but it took me about 40 minutes. Good luck for yours!

(edited 8 years ago)

Reply 191

cheese.

Original post by McDude

Yeah some are like that, too. A few are quite simple, looking at combinations and permutations. Some of the questions were tough but overall I enjoyed it :smile:

Reply 192

cheese.

Original post by Shakedown

how many questions did the deductive test have

I can't even remember!! It took me around 40 minutes to complete the test.

The important thing about the tests is that your first answer is final. Once you've clicked the 'next' button (in both tests) you cannot go back and change any previous answers. So take the time to make sure you're happy with your answer before you move on

Reply 193

theduffman82

Did you feel under pressure for time in either test? Or were you able to take the time to double check each answer before hitting next? I'm afraid that if I do that I'll end up running out of time!

Reply 194

cheese.

Original post by theduffman82

Did you feel under pressure for time in either test? Or were you able to take the time to double check each answer before hitting next? I'm afraid that if I do that I'll end up running out of time!

I felt like I was under a bit of pressure for the analytical as some of the questions didn't really make sense so I did the calculations twice, three times, to try and figure out a relatively acceptable answer. But overall you shouldn't worry, there is plenty of time for the questions.

Reply 195

Jhughes88

Does anybody know when we get he results for these tests? I didn't enjoy the deductive reasoning one but I thought the analytical one was ok, I put one answer in wrong though even though I'd worked out the right answer, a nightmare when you can't go back and change it!

Reply 196

McDude

Original post by OneJuanMata

How long did you get to complete the tests? I read an hour each but also saw people from previous years saying the deductive reasoning was untimed. Doubt that is correct though

From the HMRC post on facebook

'Deductive Reasoning Test -This test contains 20 questions and is in a multiple choice format. You will be presented with several possible answers for each question. Although the test is not timed a timer is set when you begin your assessment and you must complete the test in one sitting. Past experience tells us that candidates usually take in the region of 60 minutes to complete this type of test. This test must be taken in one sitting and in good faith. For assurance purposes, the online test system will highlight any candidates who has not taken this test in one sitting, and has taken the test excceeding the expected time. For example, if a candidate logs in / out of the online test system, to research answers, or takes an uexpected long break(s) between answering questions.'

So it is timed, but you have unlimited time. God knows how they score you for length of time spent on test but my interpretation of that was if you hit the 1 hour mark it's time to wrap things up.

Reply 197

theduffman82

Thanks - that's good to know. How long did it take you to complete both then?

Reply 198

DeeDeeC

Original post by McDude

Are all the deductive reasoning questions where someone is in relation to someone else or do you have a few if all A's are B's and all B's are C's thrown in there? Did you find the test difficult? I'm struggling with the practice questions.I've bought the deductive reasoning tests I can access them on my tablet and computer at the same time, if you try and do the same test it does say in progress but you can start a new one and have the same test running on both devices at once.

Thank you McDude :smile:

Am really thinking about investing in the analytical one as cannot find any free ones of these online. Have found quite a few deductive tests so will work on them in the meantime.