2024 Assistant Principal in Civil Service

res1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122783417#Comment_122783417

I did the online assessments for CO,EO and AP and tbh found them all similar. The HEO comp i did had no online assessments so I can't measure against that. I think these comps are not just about getting all the answers correct (which would be ideal) but also measuring your ability to react under stress and under the pressure of time. If you panelled in top 20 in HEO after assessments it'll be a walk in the park for you :) you'll be grand.

belgowho

If anyone did tests recently, were they just verbal, numerical and situational? Or personality rather than situational?

durthacht

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122791024#Comment_122791024

verbal, numerical and situational in the last APO competition.

dory

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122791024#Comment_122791024

3rd Secretary was verbal, numerical and the 3rd was a mix of personality and situational.

Sonnygal

Hi all, best of luck in this competition. I've currently going through clearance for a Comms AP role they are looking for a driver's licence. I pretty sure this wasn't a requirement listed in the candidate booklet but unfortunately can longer find it. Does anyone know if this is a new stipulation or is it just for ID? Any help would be appreciated

Avdel

It may not have been in the AP form but could be a requirement for the role your being appointed too. Might be best to check with the department or PAS.

Curranjo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122781298#Comment_122781298

Have to disagree with this take. Most of the questions on the numerical tests have 4 possible answers so by taking a guess at them, you are only giving yourself a 25% chance of getting it right, not 50%. if you were to guess half the questions and get them all wrong, i could see you scoring lower than someone who only answered three quarters of the test but got them all right. Although you're right in saying you only have to pass the test, by guessing a lot of questions, you run the risk of failing the test.

I'm of the opinion that the numerical test is more about how you handle pressure - do you rush through and hope for the best or do you take your time and make sure everything is correct. I could be wrong but i suppose that's what makes these tests so difficult, we'll never know what PAS are looking out for.

bren2001

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122801642#Comment_122801642

I don't think the person is saying "guess every answer". More along the lines of, don't spend too much time on any one question. If you're stuck or close to the time for the question, guess and move on. Pretty solid advice tbh.

sbtr2023

Morning all, I was just wondering if anyone knows how much notice will be given before the aptitude tests, like will you get an email saying it's next week, next month or what's the norm? Also, anyone know where to find example etray tests?

skidmarkoner

About 5 days before opening 3 days to sit it and then 4 weeks or so for results. I'd expect it to happen in the next two weeks.

sbtr2023

Ok, great, thanks, better start practicing so!

Louise Dav

I contacted PAS this week and they confirmed the tests should be sent out end of Nov / early Dec !

3002

Anyone have link to previous AP tests for practice please?

skidmarkoner

I can often be quite bad at the numerical tests anybody got tips on topics to revise?

dory

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122814923#Comment_122814923

I got a package on jobtestprep.co.uk a while back. It came with notes and videos on all the mathematical stuff I should know. At that stage we knew the test provider so could buy the pack, and that came with the instructions. I would recomend one of their courses when you know test provider.

Percentage change is a big one. And knowing to how to find what % of one figure another one is. Can't remember others.

fourstar10

I just ranked 3rd (second batch of interviews) in a recent AP competition - wondering my chances of being offered a job?

delricyo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122835397#Comment_122835397

It would depend on the county/region. If you picked Dublin/Cork/Limerick - Im guessing you will be offered a job very soon.

But if picked Leitrim/Carlow etc. you might waiting or may never be called!

CiboC

Not from this competition but may be of use about timelines, I was in a internal competition for AP and had an interview at the beginning of September, that was batch two and I placed between 5th and 10th in that batch.

I've now been placed and am due to start at the beginning of December, that is Dublin based.

Peyella

Can i ask - those who may have done before - how complicated are the questions in actual competition? the time on sample tests is very short to get them all answered (hasn't happened here!) , much less doing slightly more complex equations etc. Am wondering - is it more about answering many questions without x calculations in a short time or fewer questions but a bit more calculation in less time? thanks for any insights.

dory

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122853830#Comment_122853830

It all depends on which company they use for the tests. Some are easier than others. And some, when you buy the test prep pack on job test prep, you get notes for the maths that that company uses. Either way it's pass / fail on the maths, you don't get ranked on it, so not worth spending a huge amount of time on.

furrybones

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122854134#Comment_122854134

The numerical was taken into account for the 2024 HEO campaign, so I wouldn't rule it out for this one just yet.

holidaysong

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122854134#Comment_122854134

Will it be known in advance which company they're using? Do they say on their communication?

dory

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122856491#Comment_122856491

I've gone twice, once we were told, once we weren't (unless I missed it second time round?!).

eroc79

Online assessment link due next week. message on Public Jobs today

NatashaB16

Just had a try of the situational judgment practice assessment and it doesn’t tell you what you got right or wrong - what’s the point lol

Taes

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122862096#Comment_122862096

Yes, I need to start studying. Any ideas where to start please send them my way. This is my first time to do any of these assessments. Good luck everyone

Phil92

Noticed that the familiarisation material says the Situational Judgement piece explicitly won’t be in the same format as the practice material, could this mean it won’t be some kind of multiple choice?

parisee88

bit mad that they don’t tell you if you have got the answer right or not - what is point of practice in that case or am I missing something?!

Pat93MQF

If we cant keep the rough paper, pen, calculator on the desk for the room and desk scan, where can we keep it?

furrybones

Oh god, it's SOVA 🤯