PSNI Recruitment - Stage 1 - The Initial Selection Test

Shield · 14-06-2008 2:00pm #1

This is Stage 1 of the application process to join the Police Service of Northern Ireland. Post your questions, answers, comments, information, advice or experiences here.

judgedredd · 26-06-2008 10:43pm

Here's a quick link to the sample questions on the consensia website for the IST.

http://www.selectnipolice.org/indexREGapp.asp?id=reg_makingappl.asp

Best of luck.

Canuck4PSNI · 23-07-2008 7:18am

I current reside in Canada but hold dual citizenship for the UK. I have received my dates. due to being overseas it seems my initial test date is setup for the 18th of August and on the condition I pass that my assessment center date is for the 19th of August. I cant wait i got my mother (whom lives in NI) to purchase the "How to pass the National Police Selection" book as recommended here. I've been studying the book for days now and cant wait to get this over and done with.

I found this forum to be exceptional useful. I would just like to introduce myself and thank everyone in this community for all the valuable information that has been discussed. Fingers crossed if all goes well I'll be at Garnerville.

Just a piece of information I came across in the Chief constable report. The PSNI current takes part in Trainer and Student exchanges with the Ontario Police College in Aylmer Ontario Canada. Approximately 20 mins from where I live.

Again I'd like to thank everyone and to wish everyone here the best of Luck.[SIZE=-1][SIZE=-1][/SIZE][/SIZE]

JVB · 23-07-2008 11:09am

Canuck4PSNI. Welcome, you're in good company here and this board is invaluable for information. Especially when your in Canada :eek: Keep us posted

goodcopbadcop · 23-07-2008 11:13am

I have a question....

What are you leaving Canada for? Join the police there. There really isn't much to see or do in this country. Wet summers, wet winters and insane fuel prices.

carlty888 · 23-07-2008 11:43am

goodcopbadcop wrote: »

I have a question....

What are you leaving Canada for? Join the police there. There really isn't much to see or do in this country. Wet summers, wet winters and insane fuel prices.

My uncle did it the other way round. He joined the RUC, then moved out to Ontario, Canada. The Canadian police force snapped him up in a flash as the police training here is suposedly far superior to their own.

given1 · 23-07-2008 12:09pm

wish ya all the best for the ist and hopefully if you make it the A/c keep us informed!:)

goodcopbadcop · 23-07-2008 12:13pm

Transferring to Canada would be awesome. livin the dream baby

Canuck4PSNI · 23-07-2008 5:02pm

goodcopbadcop wrote: »

I have a question....

What are you leaving Canada for? Join the police there. There really isn't much to see or do in this country. Wet summers, wet winters and insane fuel prices.

To answer you question I'm really leaving for personal reasons. The majority of my immediate family resides in NI. Canada isn't all that its cracked up to be 100km of flat land. Blistering hot summers. Blizzard like conditions during the winter. Concerning your fuel prices we too are being hit.

PapaYankeeGirl · 17-08-2008 1:15pm

Just a wee good luck message for your Initial Test tomorrow and I hope that you get through to the Assessment Centre on Tuesday.

All the best

PYG:)

TangoVictor · 17-08-2008 7:02pm

Canuck4PSNI wrote: »

To answer you question I'm really leaving for personal reasons. The majority of my immediate family resides in NI. Canada isn't all that its cracked up to be 100km of flat land. Blistering hot summers. Blizzard like conditions during the winter. Concerning your fuel prices we too are being hit.

Concur.

Canuck4PSNI · 17-08-2008 8:36pm

Thanks a lot PYGirl

Canuck4PSNI · 17-08-2008 8:38pm

Thanks a lot PYGirl, I feel confident going into it. Though 9am is no fun!

PapaYankeeGirl · 17-08-2008 9:16pm

Mine was 9am too, and i had to travel like 50miles!!!! :eek:

As i say all the best, keep us posted

rob irl · 30-08-2008 10:45pm

what requirements do you need to have to join PSNI? eg Leaving cert? cause i don't have maths

MrsGeneHunt · 30-08-2008 10:55pm

rob irl wrote: »

what requirements do you need to have to join PSNI? eg Leaving cert? cause i don't have maths

The IST is pretty tough - dont underestimate it, a fairly decent standard of education is needed - in my opinion, maths and english at GCSE or higher, sorry i dont know what the ROI/Scottish equivalent is, I know your exam structure is different.

And, again, I have it from a good reliable source, puncuation, grammar and spelling will be re-introduced for C15 - as well as the true/false/cant tell and the Data questions

And I'll be bloody doing it and all most likey!!!!!!!!!:p

JVB · 30-08-2008 10:58pm

rob irl wrote: »

what requirements do you need to have to join PSNI? eg Leaving cert? cause i don't have maths

There are no formal qualifications required. You are assessed an an Initial Selection Test (IST) which is an aptitude test. If you pass this, you are then assessed further at an Assessment Centre (AC) which tests the core competencies required in policing. You will be in one big melting pot with all folks with no formal qualifications up to degree level education. Get your app in. Good luck

JVB · 30-08-2008 11:03pm

Leaving certs at C+ are considered to be at GCSE standard. Junior certs are below GCSE standard.

MrsGeneHunt · 30-08-2008 11:05pm

JVB wrote: »

Leaving certs at C+ are considered to be at GCSE standard. Junior certs are below GCSE standard.

Oh you are the fountain of all knowledge. I worship at your alter.....LOL

JVB · 30-08-2008 11:11pm

Yes, I have a multitude of information in my cranium; not a lot of it will ever be useful

Though I am a believer in the phrase 'those of you who think you know everything are annoying to those of us who do'

Transit1 · 03-11-2008 11:16pm

DOES ANY BODY HAVE INFORMATION ON JOINING THE PSNI RESERVES....

JVB · 04-11-2008 12:00am

Transit1 wrote: »

DOES ANY BODY HAVE INFORMATION ON JOINING THE PSNI RESERVES....

By reserves I am guessing you mean PSNI part time? If so, go here www.selectnipolice.org/defaultPT.asp?id=pt_homepage.asp

PandaPants · 04-11-2008 11:36am

I thought we got the re sults of the IST along with the a/c results... Do we not find out how badly/well we did in it then?

NewBoy19 · 04-11-2008 4:57pm

No unfortunately not...I wanted that myself, just out of interest! But it's only the AC breakdowns we get!

newapplicant · 14-01-2009 11:29pm

I was hoping someone would have a little background information on the initial selection test. I had a brief look at the practice one online.

1. How long does the test last?
2. How many questions are asked?
3. Presumably the IST needs to be passed before going forward to the A/C?
4. How many people / what % fail to pass the test?
5. What sort of marks are required to pass? (Can you still pass having got some answers wrong?)

Kind regards.

MORRI · 15-01-2009 1:49am

i cant remember the answer to your first 2 questions:D
but the answer to 3 is yes, 4 I dont know and 5 I am not sure but I think they take (for example) something like the top 1000 so there may not be a definite pass mark just a certain number of people with the highest scores selected and I think this goes towards your merit number

MrFug · 15-01-2009 3:18am

I had heard it said, although I'm not sure, that the pass mark is the average score, so that approximatley 50% of applicants are removed at IST stage.

It does tend to change by one or two marks each year, and there have been cases (even last year) where they changed the pass mark after people had been told they'd failed, only to be contacted and told they'd passed!

The IST is quite hard in my opinion and the pass mark is fairly high. I failed at my first attempt simply because I underestimated it. Although the "practice tests" on the Consensia websites are woefully misleading. The real IST is much, much tougher.

PandaPants · 15-01-2009 10:10am

MrFug wrote: »

I had heard it said, although I'm not sure, that the pass mark is the average score, so that approximatley 50% of applicants are removed at IST stage.

It does tend to change by one or two marks each year, and there have been cases (even last year) where they changed the pass mark after people had been told they'd failed, only to be contacted and told they'd passed!

The IST is quite hard in my opinion and the pass mark is fairly high. I failed at my first attempt simply because I underestimated it. Although the "practice tests" on the Consensia websites are woefully misleading. The real IST is much, much tougher.

I thought it was wee buns. I thought I'd fecked up because it wasn't as tough as I'd expected. Same with the A/C.

Although, I had kind of expected them to be nigh on impossible, so maybe I was just pleasently surprised.

Penis Eye · 15-01-2009 4:40pm

i had heard that about 8000 apllied last year and about 2500 went through to the ac stage. dont quote me on that tho.

also dont go by that as i suspect for c15 there will be a lot more people applying than in previous campaigns due to this credit crunch therefore itll be harder to score in the passing percentage if that makes sense!

newapplicant · 15-01-2009 10:50pm

Interesting - didn't realise the practice tests ended up being so much easier than the "real thing". What was so different? Can you suggest any way of preparing for the test? What is the main difficulty - is it the time constraints?

A lot of people must have struggled if they had to lower the pass mark... Sounds potentially quite awkward.

suziesaysso · 15-01-2009 11:04pm

the first part of the assessment is fine- just a straight forward comprehension kind of thing. the second part - analyitcal reasoning- really screwed me over, i got just under half the questions done in the time allowed, and im sure half of those were wrong!! is not explicity maths based but does require a good head with numbers, working things out quickly and reading between the lines. if i can give anyone any advice, it would be to refresh your mental arithmetic - times tables etc, so you have them in your head and don't waste time working simple things out.

PSNI Recruitment - Stage 1 - The Initial Selection Test

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