Principal Officer 2025

tea and coffee

Couple of posts on page 1 re experience

Doodah7

People applying for senior posts that haven't a clue about the job or role they are actually applying for!!

Coginthewheel

anyone heard anything on this yet?

redmgar

is there a presentation involved in the interview?

PhoenixParker

There's a comprehensive information booklet provided by publicjobs.ie and TaurenDruid earlier in this thread.

It answers this question.

tea and coffee

Psychometric tests from 4 to 9 July

learninglad

So it begins!

PhoenixParker

Seems like they're not doing verbal & numeric. Going straight for the more job like ones.

learninglad

Is the proctoring (a new term to me) a recent development?

While there are always people trying to beat the system, this seems a positive development to ensure a fair(er) competition.

Thoughts welcome?

Ficheall

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123584778#Comment_123584778

Shame - I was hoping for an easy few marks there :P Not expecting to do as well on the scenario ones..

Adnfjke

does anyone have a recommendation for a paid site to practice the two 2025 PO comp assessments? Thanks

TaurenDruid

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123584812#Comment_123584812

At PO level, you have people to tot up the numbers in the spreadsheet for you :-)

rvcedd

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123585225#Comment_123585225

I went with the PO 2025 - JobTestPrep pack and seems pretty useful.

The Verbal Reasoning Test included is pretty close to what's being asked for in the Critical Analysis Test. The timings per question do differ but I found useful nevertheless.

There are 3 job simulation exercises which again are pretty useful. The scoring is different (it's asking for order ranking rather than independent scoring) but good to a get a feel for what to expect.

Happy to give more details if you PM. If you decide to go with another one let me know how you find it.

Hearnsie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123591972#Comment_123591972

I also did the free tests on JobTestPrep - it seems like the best site for the closest match. Opinions on whether it's worth paying for please!

Ficheall

Just reading through the instructions - they seem to take this room scan etc rather seriously. How much do I have to empty my office, or is it enough to ensure the desk is clear and there's no phones/recording devices in the room?

Onwards and Upwards25

I’m not able to see the answers for the Job Simulation Exercise but can for the critical analysis . I’m not sure what’s the point of the examples if you don’t see if you’re right or wrong

Ficheall

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123594055#Comment_123594055

It explains that will be the case in the documentation. It's to familiarise you with the format, as opposed to being a practice question. (That said, I agree with you that it wouldn't have killed them to give an answer.)

MrMusician18

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123593960#Comment_123593960

Theatre. There's any amount of cheating that goes on in these tests

TaurenDruid

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123594508#Comment_123594508

Whatever about numerical or verbal reasoning tests, how do you "cheat" in a job simulation exercise?

MrMusician18

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123598344#Comment_123598344

You definitely have an advantage if you know the questions in advance

Onwards and Upwards25

how would you know this

lucky1974

Did anybody undertake the tests ? If yes how did they find them - were they as expected? Thank you.

Firsttimer2025

I took them yesterday. They were as expected. Very similar to samples just more of them and a clock!

lucky1974

Thank you First timer 2025…

Awkwardstroke

Did them this morning, Found the situational judgement part tough...as the precise attribution of answers is difficult and subjective.

M-Type Star

Advise please from those who have completed-

I am away and don't have a calculator with me. Not allowed use the phone. Do I go searching for a calculator shop (!) or can I manage well without??

Thank you <3

Awkwardstroke

A calculator costs 10 approx (nothing fancy needed), or they say you can use a calculator on the pc/laptop.

The choice is up to you (I bought a big basic cheap one).

Best of luck

TaurenDruid

A PC's or laptop's calculator will be fine.

Just did the preparation exercises, earlier today. Apparently, if I get this, I'll be facing exactly the same scenarios I do as an AP! (One of the scenarios, I definitely remember from an AP competition!)

San Frandisco

I noticed a few people recommending the JobTestPrep.co.uk site for preparing for these tests.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but these tests do not specifically deal with the new capabilities framework - do they?

APapplicant2021

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123611334#Comment_123611334

I personally think their sit rep tests have always been off and never fine tuned enough to the civil service. They're very focused on a company/corporate set up. I use them for the maths practice, and the test format.