PSNI Recruitment - Stage 1 - The Initial Selection Test

Slave_To_Sound

The second part isnt really about being good at maths although that helps of course, Its more about being able to use tables of information and putting together the information to answer a question. For example you could be asked how much something is for a week and on quickly looking at the data you might think its simply x by 7 but you also have to figure out extremely quickly if there are discounts for the dates given etc.. so its really more to do with processing lots of data than maths.
Hope this makes sense and helps people prepare because i practiced loads of maths questions out of the police selection book and my time would have been better spent practicing tables and spreadsheet type questions.

Hope i havent said anything i shouldnt have mods feel free to edit.
Oh the answer to 37 is E lol

bigandy1983

Slave_To_Sound wrote: »

The second part isnt really about being good at maths although that helps of course, Its more about being able to use tables of information and putting together the information to answer a question. For example you could be asked how much something is for a week and on quickly looking at the data you might think its simply x by 7 but you also have to figure out extremely quickly if there are discounts for the dates given etc.. so its really more to do with processing lots of data than maths.
Hope this makes sense and helps people prepare because i practiced loads of maths questions out of the police selection book and my time would have been better spent practicing tables and spreadsheet type questions.

Hope i havent said anything i shouldnt have mods feel free to edit.
Oh the answer to 37 is E lol

Thats really helpful - thanks v much. I think the practising math probably is good in respect of making your brain work faster but as you say, this isn't the same as processing information from tables and charts etc.

overseas

Just did the IST yesterday, theres no way you could complete the maths parts in the time given unless you are a genius at data interpretation. Ive done similar tests in eneglish forces and they were nothing like that. But ah well we are all in the same boat i suppose which makes it fair!!!!

Troy Bayliss

Did the IST at weekend, certainly not easy by any stretch. They should change it every time which I think is now only yearly? Does anyone know if it has a floating pass mark because it has varied from 50/52 before. If you think thats tough you should try the graduate entry for the nics,floating pass mark and only top 5% go on,3 hour tests 11000 apply for 20 jobs max

Che75

Be a small bit mindful about your id and the when and where of your psni appointments. Sounds a bit cagey but they say it's for the best. You can slag me off though, that's a given...

Chelsea555

Che75 wrote: »

Be a small bit mindful about your id and the when and where of your psni appointments. Sounds a bit cagey but they say it's for the best. You can slag me off though, that's a given...

All i would say is keep reading the boards there is alot of advice and help on here for you ps good luck with your IST;)

bigandy1983

Troy Bayliss wrote: »

Did the IST at weekend, certainly not easy by any stretch. They should change it every time which I think is now only yearly? Does anyone know if it has a floating pass mark because it has varied from 50/52 before. If you think thats tough you should try the graduate entry for the nics,floating pass mark and only top 5% go on,3 hour tests 11000 apply for 20 jobs max

Strictly speaking, I don't think there's a floating pass mark as such mate - however last year it was reduced by 2 because so few people got through. In light of the fact there are almost 10,000 applicants this year, I would be surprised if more than 25% are taken through to the next stage so the pass mark is probably set with that in mind (and can be changed if too many / too little get through).

Those are just my thoughts anyhow, which may be a load of rubbish!!!

valetudo

How do you know the pass mark was reduced? Did people get a rejection letter, then get an acceptance letter last year?

PapaYankeeGirl

valetudo wrote: »

How do you know the pass mark was reduced? Did people get a rejection letter, then get an acceptance letter last year?

A few on the forum originally were sent a letter saying they had failed the IST. Then a short time later were sent a second letter saying that the pass mark had been lowered and that they could now progress to the AC.

This didnt happen to me so forgive me if im wrong but thats my take on what happened.

Troy Bayliss

Thanks for the info,the pass mark moved a while back and a few years back you got your mark and pass requirement instead of a pass/fail as is now. Anyway goodluck to everyone.

potatopeeler

I sat the IST last week and I think personally it's nigh on impossible to read and answer every single question considering the time constraints its prudent to bring a stop watch , skip the hard questions do the easier ones attempt the tough ones at the end or if you don't have time make you best guess , with 45 secs left on the clock in each section I just blitzed the the unattempted questions with my best guess , so that way at least you have a chance of picking up some marks.No negative marking means no penalty for last second guess work .

Good luck

bigandy1983

potatopeeler wrote: »

I sat the IST last week and I think personally it's nigh on impossible to read and answer every single question considering the time constraints its prudent to bring a stop watch , skip the hard questions do the easier ones attempt the tough ones at the end or if you don't have time make you best guess , with 45 secs left on the clock in each section I just blitzed the the unattempted questions with my best guess , so that way at least you have a chance of picking up some marks.No negative marking means no penalty for last second guess work .

Good luck

On that note potatopeeler - I've heard a few people mention about this technique i.e. leaving the hard ones to the end. Is it obvious immediately you look at a question whether or not to leave it? How many questions did you find yourself leaving until the end?

I'm sitting the test for the first time quite soon. Its hard to picture this type of examination when I've never done anything like it before - guess others are in the same boat!! Thanks for your advice

irishmikee

Hey Guys, just found this page, been good reading through it and realising that i'm not the only one bricking it, I have my IST test in a couple of weeks in Dublin, I think i'm all good except for those True, not true, can't say round of questions, mental block for me, anyone have any good websites where I can practise?
PS. Good luck everyone doing it too or has done it and has the dreaded wait.

Slave_To_Sound

irishmikee wrote: »

I think i'm all good except for those True, not true, can't say round of questions, mental block for me, anyone have any good websites where I can practise?
PS. Good luck everyone doing it too or has done it and has the dreaded wait.

Hey Mikee THIS

site isnt bad for the verbal reasoning.

Im reallly not going to be good at this whoe waiting thing im already dying to find out my results and i only did it a week ago and this is the quick part lol

edzzy

Part A – Verbal Logical Reasoning

48 Answers to complete in 20 mins – Not possible use a strategy!!
48 / 20 = Approx two min max per statement NO MORE

Ask examiner: “Is there negative marking?” Use stopwatch – Bring it with you

Should be at question 24 after 10 mins half way

Write start time and end time down at start of session.


MAKE SURE ALL QUESTIONS ARE COMPLETE
DON’T LEAVE ANY BLANK



Guess last four questions at start of exam immediately!!
Go back and check only if you have time



True statement = if it is says it in text

False statement= if it isn’t in text

Can’t tell = if it isn’t in text

Ignore real life information. For example if the text in passage states that "Titanic sank in a pond in in Ahoghill in 2008" then IT DID

(Clearly we all really know that it sank on the River Bann after hitting a drunk swan......in 1985 after most of the passengers were at Buggles concert on board. The band played a great rendition of Video killed the radio star as it sank...)



Look for qualified text in statement to give you pointers


Absolute words - Must Have Will
Qualified words - Could Can Some



Scan read paragraph

Pick out key words form true/false /can’t tell statements form the paragraph use them to answer.

Aim for 32 marks min, aim to get best marks in which ever section you are good at, use the other to carry you through

Part B - numerical

30 Answers to complete in 25 mins – Not possible use a strategy!!
30 / 25 = Approx 1.2 min max per statement NO MORE

MAKE SURE ALL QUESTIONS ARE COMPLETE
DON’T LEAVE ANY BLANK

Guess last four questions at start of exam immediately!!
Go back and check only if you have time

O h yes and did i mention DON’T LEAVE ANY BLANK

One more thing practice under time pressure, useless if you dont,will get you used to handling the panic.

I have a degree and masters and went in before arrogantly assuming and thinking that the IST would be easy, its is if you had and hour to complete it , but you don't....but you can prepare and beat it.

Good luck all..............

welshNI

Cheers for PM m8, great advice, best ive seen so far, advise everyone who hasnt done the IST yet to take a look

Louisiana 1927

I got both parts completed within the time, i was happy with it.;) Certainly the verbal reasoning section was easy. I personally think it really wasn't that taxing.:rolleyes:

valetudo

Louisiana 1927 wrote: »

I got both parts completed within the time, i was happy with it.;) Certainly the verbal reasoning section was easy. I personally think it really wasn't that taxing.:rolleyes:

Was this your first time?

Jill77

I dreamt about getting my results last night and I've only been waiting 11 days!

edzzy

I posted advice for those who might find it useful but i agree there are plenty like Louisiana 1927 out there who will find IST easier than others.

I think by Louisiana 1927 comments that this is your first test.....?

I had your attitude and got a rude awakening:eek:.....anyway each to his/her own good luck to all.

Louisiana1927 for chief constable by Christmas then lol.....

Bifbert

edzzy wrote: »

I posted advice for those who might find it useful but i agree there are plenty like Louisiana 1927 out there who will find IST easier than others.

I think by Louisiana 1927 comments that this is your first test.....?

I had your attitude and got a rude awakening:eek:.....anyway each to his/her own good luck to all.

Louisiana1927 for chief constable by Christmas then lol.....

Anyone who found that easy must be chief constable material!!! I would consider myself to be quite bright, but i did struggle a bit on the IST. Maybe Im not as smart as i thought good luck to everyone. Just over two weeks till my results hopefully I have done enough.

Shield

Well done. You're in a very, very small percentage of people who can.

Louisiana 1927 wrote: »

I got both parts completed within the time, i was happy with it.;) Certainly the verbal reasoning section was easy. I personally think it really wasn't that taxing.:rolleyes:

gigity gigity

Hello all, ive just done my ist today. my thoughts are: first bit is ok this where i will have picked up my marks. second bit was terrible completly panicked and am certain that i wont even get a letter to say bad luck. I looked up lots on appitude tests on internet but nothing was able to help for the second test. Next year at least I will have had some first hand experience of it. advice from edzzy is 100% i done the ole guess work at the start meant that i didnt leave any space blank though still doesnt matter cause i done £$%£$&^%*(&_($%$*(&(&*^$ beeeeeeeeep

Papa Charlie

gigity gigity wrote: »

Hello all, ive just done my ist today. my thoughts are: first bit is ok this where i will have picked up my marks. second bit was terrible completly panicked and am certain that i wont even get a letter to say bad luck. I looked up lots on appitude tests on internet but nothing was able to help for the second test. Next year at least I will have had some first hand experience of it. advice from edzzy is 100% i done the ole guess work at the start meant that i didnt leave any space blank though still doesnt matter cause i done £$%£$&^%*(&_($%$*(&(&*^$ beeeeeeeeep

Im glad someone is in the same boat as me!!

MrsGeneHunt

edzzy wrote: »

I posted advice for those who might find it useful but i agree there are plenty like Louisiana 1927 out there who will find IST easier than others.

I think by Louisiana 1927 comments that this is your first test.....?

I had your attitude and got a rude awakening:eek:.....anyway each to his/her own good luck to all.

Louisiana1927 for chief constable by Christmas then lol.....

Edzzy!
Nice to see you back on the board mate!

Did you go to Strathclyde? Have you thrown your hat into the ring for C15?

There are a few who will think the IST easy, I didnt and this was my second go, all I'll say is that I personally was better prepared - I knew what to expect and had a game plan so to speak and I felt slightly more confident leaving the test than I did last year but whether I've got enough marks to pass remains to be seen. I certainly hope so! ( Though as time wears on I'm feeling less and less confident LOL )

Good luck one and all.

mhairt

Hi
I have a copy of "How to Pass The New Police Selection System" I will send on to the first person who pm's me their address. I have done the practice tests from it so no further use to me. My IST is in about two weeks so need all the good karma I can get.

manaka

hey everyone, i found a site that lists other sites for aptitude tests and various others. its http://www.uow.edu.au/careers/get/pdf/2007PracticeTestsAndCaseStudies.pdf dont ask which is best as i have not tried many of them! I was searching the deloitte one also but couldnt find anything. Good luck...:cool:

gigity gigity

Try out this as well. the verbal reasoning is good the maths isnt really as relevant, you have to do both before you get any result. http://www.shldirect.com/ .

Slave_To_Sound

mhairt wrote: »

Hi
I have a copy of "How to Pass The New Police Selection System" I will send on to the first person who pm's me their address. I have done the practice tests from it so no further use to me. My IST is in about two weeks so need all the good karma I can get.

I would hang onto that until you have done you AC I know that its more aimed at English Forces but there is still quite alot of helpful stuff in it.

Chelsea555

Slave_To_Sound wrote: »

I would hang onto that until you have done you AC I know that its more aimed at English Forces but there is still quite alot of helpful stuff in it.

Yeah i would definitely hang onto it i have it myself and there is alot of helpful hints in it as Slave to Sound rightly says keep it till you have done your AC mate;)