PSNI Recruitment - Stage 1 - The Initial Selection Test

neoruss

What was the final pass mark for the ist?
i thought it was 61!!

Slave_To_Sound

neoruss wrote: »

What was the final pass mark for the ist?
i thought it was 61!!

Definitely 55 I have letter in front of me confirming this Im not sure if 55 is pass or fail though you might have had to hit 56 to pass.
If you have queries just email Deloitte using email add at bottom of your letters they will clear anything up your not sure on.

KB-1991

Back for this fun again ! ha
dreading the IST this year as i totally underestimated how hard the numerical part would be last year
failed by 2 marks last year so fingers crossed i can just get them 2 marks gained somewhere this year.

has anyone found anywhere tests the same as the numerical one for the PSNI as all numerical tests i have found so far are nothing like last years PSNI one !

Bifbert

Got IST date today. Earlier than what I was expecting. Bring it on you mind melting &*$%£@!!!!!

odin_ie

Anybody have any other sample tests?

jclegs

There a number on Google:

Verbal reasoning:

http://www.google.co.uk/search?rlz=1C1GGLS_en-GBGB342GB342&aq=0&oq=verbal+reas&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=verbal+reasoning+practice+tests

Numerical reasoning:

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&rlz=1C1GGLS_en-GBGB342GB342&q=numerical+reasoning+practice+tests&btnG=Search&meta=&aq=f&oq=

con-eire

nervous and excited about upcoming psni IST test.all tips/hints accepted.. hope i can get through it:D

wannabe2010

I'm excited about my upcoming IST also... pretty nervous though.. I've done a few practices and it really is harder than I was expecting! Just google numerical reasoning or verbal reasoning and it should come up with a few freebies.. if you want some stuff to buy though, I'm considering getting an online test on 'How2Become' http://www.how2become.co.uk/viewProduct/Online_Police_Test.html or might just buy a DVD or two from How2Become.. quite dear though!

0607

Dont waste your money. The mainland test are different to the ones we use here.

Ruggy

I only applied for PSNI this week but by the sounds of it the turn around seems to be quite quick so i better get studying again.

KB-1991. On the point of the IST, i passed the Strathclyde police entrance tests last year but due to family changes am moving to NI so applying to PSNI this time. Are the tests anything like Stathclydes? http://www.strathclyde.police.uk/recruitment/Resources/

Be nice to have a heads up. Not looking forward to the role plays though. Anyone any advice on them?

Good luck to all that are going for it. Fingers crossed i pass the initial selection

I bought stuff last year that was aimed at the english forces just for some practice but if anything I think it did me more damage than good. The practice tests were waaaaaay easier than the IST, I breazed through the practices and thought I'd be fine for it...totally underestimated it. It's one of those things tho that it's hard to explain how its hard untill you done it yourself.

con-eire

im starting to worry about this numerical part of this exam as i am going into it blind and i hear a lot of negativity about it here does anyone know if the an garda siochana apptitude test similiar to the psni ist test? iv 2 siblings in a.g.s and could ask them to jog their memories about it!!

Delancey

From what I have heard the P.S.N.I. test is completely different from AGS. In fact I understand that some AGS members have not passed the IST.

con-eire

delancey42 wrote: »

From what I have heard the P.S.N.I. test is completely different from AGS. In fact I understand that some AGS members have not passed the IST.

ok thanks delancey ill keep that in mind!

wannabe2010

Hey everybody, sorry if I'm being totally dozy but I read about some of the good stuff on here being in 'archives' or something? Anyone shed any light on that? I'm really gettin worried about this IST comin up as everyone is sayin it's really hard!! Anyone have any good recommendations (except the official practice test on the website)?

Thanks very much

Got my IST date in the post today, seems to have came very quick this year I only did my application late some time last week...I actually feel a bit excited about it this year, time put the caculator away and start doing some mental maths again!

con-eire

so pluginbaby you done this last year,find any sites with sample tests that may help with the ist this year???

wannabe2010

So, Conor.h, have you found much good stuff for revision yet? Looks like we're both in the same boat atm! The best I've found so far for free is http://www.assessmentday.co.uk/aptitudetests_numerical.htm and http://www.assessmentday.co.uk/aptitudetests_verbal.htm there's a couple of free samples on it.. the numerical one is really hard I think.. At the IST, is it just the numerical and verbal reasoning tests or is that assault course and push/pull thing in it too?

Shield

wannabe2010 wrote: »

So, Conor.h, have you found much good stuff for revision yet? Looks like we're both in the same boat atm! The best I've found so far for free is http://www.assessmentday.co.uk/aptitudetests_numerical.htm and http://www.assessmentday.co.uk/aptitudetests_verbal.htm there's a couple of free samples on it.. the numerical one is really hard I think.. At the IST, is it just the numerical and verbal reasoning tests or is that assault course and push/pull thing in it too?

You don't do anything physical until you get in.

gigity gigity

Wannabe i done and failed the ist last year, the verbal bit ok its the numerical thats difficult. check amazon im ordering some "how to pass" books they seem ok.

con-eire

cheers for them wannabe hopefully there like the real thing... gonna try find myself a few books with the numerical/verbal tests in them!

Agito

Well from what I see in the mock test I did on joinpsni website, the numerical sequences were fairly simple. I'm just a "number" person. Though I'd definitely like to get some revision done anyway. I'm hoping that I'll do good though, I'm sort of on the edge now and if I'm not getting in, a lot of things will be difficult till next years recruitment. lol

To be honest I never thought I'll apply to join PSNI, my primary objective was RAF, but hell, after realising that somebody needs to keep the streets safe, not only iraq, I changed my mind! lol Besides, PSNI uniforms are the best in Europe, if not in the world... I just love uniforms. lol

Delancey

Agito wrote: »

Well from what I see in the mock test I did on joinpsni website, the numerical sequences were fairly simple.

Be aware the sample questions ( both verbal and especially numerical ) do not reflect the actual difficulty of the IST. Most people who have done it will tell you it is harder than the sample questions suggest.

Agito

I have no doubt that its not going to be easy. I never underestimate things, I've had my lesson while I was doing my A levels with underestimation, not going to repeat it again. :rolleyes:

B182

Agito wrote: »

Well from what I see in the mock test I did on joinpsni website, the numerical sequences were fairly simple. I'm just a "number" person. /QUOTE]

`I done test last year and i think everyone agrees here its not 'hard' maths but its the time if you had time scores would rocket they give you an A4 page with tables , dates , discounts etc and ask for example how much but if you havent read all the tables or miss the data they will either have an answer that they wanted you to pick to get wrong or youll know its wrong and have just wasted minutes which in this test is massive lol

con-eire

i think you really need to have your wits about you while doing it as they are trying to trick you to an extent.as a psni officer a lot of people will be trying the same and the people who pay good attention to detail will do well,the time limit worries me also!! didnt see myself applying for this 2 years ago but time and situations change so here i am now never wanting to do anything as much as i want to do this now!!

Agito

How much time do you get to do both parts of the IST? And can you use a sheet of paper to write your calculations on? Of course calculator isn't allowed, I wont even ask that!

Blaze90

Well after catching up on all the posts within the topic I've decided to make my first post getting more help to get the revision on the way, and helping with practice (perfect practice makes perfect ^^

Agito wrote: »

How much time do you get to do both parts of the IST? And can you use a sheet of paper to write your calculations on? Of course calculator isn't allowed, I wont even ask that!

Here you go mate this is helping me out for my revision for the IST.

Also I have read through all the posts on this topic and found that doing aptitude tests, brain training and 11+ papers for the mind set is good for practice, always doing these to a set time limit to mimic the test, is there any other tips that would help?

edzzy wrote: »

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..............

Bubba1981

Blaze90 wrote: »

Well after catching up on all the posts within the topic I've decided to make my first post getting more help to get the revision on the way, and helping with practice (perfect practice makes perfect ^^



Here you go mate this is helping me out for my revision for the IST.

Also I have read through all the posts on this topic and found that doing aptitude tests, brain training and 11+ papers for the mind set is good for practice, always doing these to a set time limit to mimic the test, is there any other tips that would help?

The above guide is very good, however, for the verbal reasoning section I found it a lot more time efficient to read the questions first then scan the paragraph then answer questions. Everyones strategy is different though so do what works for you

wannabe2010

Thanks Blaze, that's really helpful stuff.. However, just to draw attention to one of the things that you quoted from that person - it says 48 questions in 20 mins = 2 mins per question... should it not be 1 question in 24 seconds then? Or have I just proved that I'm going to fail my IST lol!

P.S. I got a cheap 'How2Become' CD off ebay and if anyone out there is thinking of buying it, don't.