HMRC Tax Specialist Programme 2023

Original post by Peetafeeta

2023 applications have opened with the starting salary at £34K rising to £52K+

https://www.civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk/csr/jobs.cgi?jcode=1814736

Previous intake information:

FOI of last years min scores at all stages up to video interview:https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/825506/response/1974890/attach/3/FOI2022%2001365.pdf?cookie_passthrough=1FOI of last year assessment center, highest and lowest scores by location:https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/893384/response/2139167/attach/3/FOI2022%2054524%20Jess%20Smyth.pdf?cookie_passthrough=1

Great information thanks

Reply 2

OP

Gives a good indication of scores needed for this year as I doubt there’ll be loads of difference.

Reply 3

I've taken my time with the tests and kept messing up the trial verbal reasoning tests I tried. I scored 76% on the real one which I am OK with. The numeracy one I literally scored in the high 90s in all the trials yet scored only 42% in the real thing and I'm actually baffled as I'm pretty certain I got the majority correct. I do understand centiles and how they work and understand it doesn't actually reflect how many I actually got correct necessarily, but still....

Looking at the foi request, 42% is enough to pass.

Reply 4

OP

Original post by Mhezz

I've taken my time with the tests and kept messing up the trial verbal reasoning tests I tried. I scored 76% on the real one which I am OK with. The numeracy one I literally scored in the high 90s in all the trials yet scored only 42% in the real thing and I'm actually baffled as I'm pretty certain I got the majority correct. I do understand centiles and how they work and understand it doesn't actually reflect how many I actually got correct necessarily, but still....

Looking at the foi request, 42% is enough to pass.

I was like that last time and I got 45 on the numerical, still doing a few practice ones at the minute. Trying to psyche myself up for the real thing. 3rd times a charm ha

The FOIs are such a help to gauge realistic outcomes, I’m glad I came across them and hopefully they can guide others worrying about the same stuff. Best of luck to you!

Reply 5

Can’tBeSerious

7

From what I read in the thread from last year, they actually adjust the pass mark after the deadline depending on what all the other applicants score. So although those FOIs tell you what the minimum criteria were, it doesn’t say what the actual marks were that the candidates in that intake had to get in order to move to the next stage. Or have I missed something?

Reply 6

OP

Original post by Can’tBeSerious

From what I read in the thread from last year, they actually adjust the pass mark after the deadline depending on what all the other applicants score. So although those FOIs tell you what the minimum criteria were, it doesn’t say what the actual marks were that the candidates in that intake had to get in order to move to the next stage. Or have I missed something?

The tests are scored as percentiles so the marks you get are the ones they use.

The FOI does say the minimum standard you had to get:
•Verbal Reasoning Test 22nd percentile
•Numerical Reasoning Test 29th percentile
•Civil Service Judgement Test 34th percentile (later raised to 54 to cut the numbers down)

So if you scored on or over 22, 29 and 54 in last year’s test then you went through to the video interviews.

Reply 7

badger888

8

What if you get offered a position but then begin to find it's too difficult or not for you? Would you just have to leave?

Reply 8

Original post by badger888

What if you get offered a position but then begin to find it's too difficult or not for you? Would you just have to leave?

I guess so, but isn't that the case with any new job?

Reply 9

The pass centiles for numerical and verbal reasoning last year were pretty low, its making me wonder why

Reply 10

OP

I think they have an attainable baseline for the online tests and then increase the Situational Judgement Test (SJT) pass mark to get a manageable amount of numbers for Video Interviews (VI).

Maybe 3500 is the capacity for the software they use (?) and 3442 was the closest score cut off. So I’d be prioritising the SJT tbh.

Again just thinking out loud but I think it’s all proportional, so those progressing last year from VI (1932) is approx 2.6 times what is needed for the Assessment Centre (750) which is approx 2.7 times amount of jobs (280).

So your odds are dictated really by the amount jobs available in your chosen locations rather than a national merit list.

Reply 11

Can’tBeSerious

7

Ah ok. Phew! I was worrying because in last year’s thread quite a few people were saying they’d got 90% (percentile) plus in all 3 tests! I managed 62 verbal, 48 numerical and 82 judgement (don’t ask me how, I’m terrible at office politics in real life). I was concerned that the numerical would hold me back.

(edited 1 year ago)

Reply 12

badger888

8

Original post by Can’tBeSerious

Ah ok. Phew! I was worrying because in last year’s thread quite a few people were saying they’d got 90% (percentile) plus in all 3 tests! I managed 62 verbal, 48 numerical and 82 judgement (don’t ask me how, I’m terrible at office politics in real life). I was concerned that the numerical would hold me back.

I think that would be enough to get you through to the Video Interview.

Reply 13

OP

Original post by Can’tBeSerious

Ah ok. Phew! I was worrying because in last year’s thread quite a few people were saying they’d got 90% (percentile) plus in all 3 tests! I managed 62 verbal, 48 numerical and 82 judgement (don’t ask me how, I’m terrible at office politics in real life). I was concerned that the numerical would hold me back.

People are more likely to share higher scores but the FOI has been reassuring.

Those are really great scores and you’d 100% have got through last year & will likely get through this year too, there may be a little change but probably nothing drastic.

I’d get prepping for the VI anyway as I’d rather be prepared! I’m trying to come up with bite size answers that relate to the 5 behaviours listed on the application form.

Reply 14

OP

Original post by badger888

What if you get offered a position but then begin to find it's too difficult or not for you? Would you just have to leave?

This process is pretty pricey so they put plenty of support in place for successful folk so you don’t leave.

But what I’ve heard is you can defer to a later year group if something major happens (eg very lengthy hospital stay, pregnancy) or if you fail the exams and have to leave the course, they’ll find you a higher officer grade role within HMRC.

Reply 15

badger888

8

Original post by Peetafeeta

This process is pretty pricey so they put plenty of support in place for successful folk so you don’t leave.

But what I’ve heard is you can defer to a later year group if something major happens (eg very lengthy hospital stay, pregnancy) or if you fail the exams and have to leave the course, they’ll find you a higher officer grade role within HMRC.

Thank you. That is extremely helpful!

Reply 16

Drumkin

4

Hi I’ve just started the application and in the middle of my tests but I don’t understand the timing. Is this a long wait or instant feedback on the tests to see if I move on?
I mean with all the stages not just the 3 online tests, sorry if this is a silly question I’ve never done a civil service application before.

(edited 1 year ago)

Reply 17

SaraGir

5

I just finished the online tests. Not sure what happened the first one but it said I passed the minimum required and now ‘on hold’.
Reading over this thread it should be alright for the judgment test to move on but who knows this year.

Am I right in thinking that video interviews, if we get there, run 10-17 November? Or is that the window for releasing results of who is through to the video stage? @Drumkin it’s a bit of wait I’m afraid as thousands apply for this job but good luck to you!

(edited 1 year ago)

Reply 18

InNeedofSomeLuck