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PSNI Recruitment - Stage 1 - The Initial Selection Test

13567…52

Comments

  • #102
    smyff
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,013 ✭✭✭smyff


    bet0409 wrote: »
    I passed it so its not rocket science, if you are already good at maths you should be grand. Good luck!

    like young betz here said its not rocket science, but its not your average maths either. im great at maths, i got 100% in all of my maths gsce papers (higher tier yes :) ) but i got a B cause the teacher didnt know how to do the coursework, or explain what we had to do. happenbed our whole class

    i love the way i always have a useless story to tell


  • #103
    bet0409
    Closed Accounts Posts: 56 ✭✭bet0409


    smyff wrote: »
    like young betz here said its not rocket science, but its not your average maths either. im great at maths, i got 100% in all of my maths gsce papers (higher tier yes :) ) but i got a B cause the teacher didnt know how to do the coursework, or explain what we had to do. happenbed our whole class

    i love the way i always have a useless story to tell

    sure useless stories are what make life interesting! 100%, you wee geek, haha, well done smartypants!

    pluginbaby, honestly don't let that put you off or get you down, try to look on the positive that at least you are prepared and know to put the practice in - I went in last year for the first time, I had only done a few practice tests like the ones you've got in your book and still managed to pass, so I bet you will be fine!


  • #104
    Che75
    Closed Accounts Posts: 15 ✭Che75


    Was told somewhere on here that the pass mark for the IST is 70%. Can someone confirm that please?!


  • #105
    potatopeeler
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9 ✭potatopeeler


    Che75 wrote: »
    Was told somewhere on here that the pass mark for the IST is 70%. Can someone confirm that please?!


    I'm brilliant at maths I am. What does that squiggley thing after the 70 mean Che ? You know what I mean the % yoak ? :p


    I wonder what score that equates to ?


  • #106
    Bifbert
    Closed Accounts Posts: 129 ✭✭Bifbert


    got my IST date exactly ten days after applying. approximately a month from receiving letter. This is my very first time applying so am not really that hopeful :( . However my theory is if your not in you can't win. I have ordered some verbal reasoning test books from amazon and have done some online. I have completed some aptitude tests for other jobs before and have done pretty well, but i have heard this is quite tough so am a wee bit worried, but have to stay confident anyway!!!! This is my first post so hello and good luck to everybody involved in this campaign.


  • #107
    jd83
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,445 ✭✭✭jd83


    Hi, Good luck with your application. Ive a read on here about people getting the first time around so dont let that get you down.


  • #108
    bet0409
    Closed Accounts Posts: 56 ✭✭bet0409


    Bifbert wrote: »
    got my IST date exactly ten days after applying. approximately a month from receiving letter. This is my very first time applying so am not really that hopeful :( . However my theory is if your not in you can't win. I have ordered some verbal reasoning test books from amazon and have done some online. I have completed some aptitude tests for other jobs before and have done pretty well, but i have heard this is quite tough so am a wee bit worried, but have to stay confident anyway!!!! This is my first post so hello and good luck to everybody involved in this campaign.

    hey bifbert, good move getting on to the boards, lots of useful info on here if you can be assed trawling through all the posts (worth it though!). If you've done ok in other aptitude tests you should be fine, and as long as you are prepared for it being tough and do lots of practice... Don't be un-hopeful, there is so much waiting involved in this recruitment process you have gotta stay hopeful, good luck and welcome to the boards (just be warned, its addictive!!)


  • #109
    jd83
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,445 ✭✭✭jd83


    Yh it amazing the amount of information here. It been a few days and i still havent read through it all!


  • #110
    Bifbert
    Closed Accounts Posts: 129 ✭✭Bifbert


    yeah have to keep the head up. I am quite looking forward to doing the IST and am looking at as much information as i can. cheers again and good luck. i'll try not to get 2 addicted but know i probably will!!!


  • #111
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    Whoop got my date in yesterday! The excitement begins :D


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  • #112
    DC Dibble
    Closed Accounts Posts: 33 ✭DC Dibble


    Hi folks new to this forum so please forgive any posting errors that im bound to make, I've just applied for the first time on the current process. A few wee questions i need to ask. Is there much in the way of working out percentages in the maths tests and is a good command of the art of long division a requirement. If so then I need to rewire some parts of my brain that haven't been used since school (many many moons ago) and what about working with fractions OMG im starting to panic and I 've only applied 4 days ago. HELP


  • #113
    groovetothebeat
    Closed Accounts Posts: 19 ✭groovetothebeat


    Got my date 29th April for IST :D

    Revision time :D


  • #114
    potatopeeler
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9 ✭potatopeeler


    Break out the brain training folks I've heard that's a good way to practice. :)

    My wee bro. is bringing 11 + papers home, I'm copying a few and going over them at the minute apparently they're good for getting into the right mind set for the IST.

    I must admit that I've been training my body for this competition but neglecting the old grey matter !

    Got my test next month (21st) I will update those interested on the board after that.


  • #115
    cc12
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1 ✭cc12


    i have a question, not sure how to use this, but anyhow....how many questions do you have to get correct in the initial selection test to pass??


  • #116
    MrsGeneHunt
    Registered Users Posts: 2,012 ✭✭✭MrsGeneHunt


    potatopeeler wrote: »

    My wee bro. is bringing 11 + papers home.

    I've managed to get a load of these and they are good practice!:D


  • #117
    bet0409
    Closed Accounts Posts: 56 ✭✭bet0409


    cc12 wrote: »
    i have a question, not sure how to use this, but anyhow....how many questions do you have to get correct in the initial selection test to pass??

    hey, you're using it just fine! i've read somewhere on here that it is 70% pass mark, I'd guess (and its only a guess) that it would be at least that high as they have to narrow down the 8000 or 10000 applicants or whatever somehow for the assessment centre. Just aim for as high as possible, can't get a definitive answer as to whether it impacts on your merit score but there is the possibility so do your very very best and good luck!


  • #118
    MrsGeneHunt
    Registered Users Posts: 2,012 ✭✭✭MrsGeneHunt


    bet0409 wrote: »
    hey, you're using it just fine! i've read somewhere on here that it is 70% pass mark, I'd guess (and its only a guess) that it would be at least that high as they have to narrow down the 8000 or 10000 applicants or whatever somehow for the assessment centre. Just aim for as high as possible, can't get a definitive answer as to whether it impacts on your merit score but there is the possibility so do your very very best and good luck!

    Someone very wise I took some advice from last year told me not to look at it as a Selection test, more of a DEselection test! They try to wipe as many out a this stage as they can. Thought that a very relevant statement!

    Yes, the IST does have an impact on your merit score. Its one of the filters they apply in the event of tied scores. I'd love to know what the others are though!!! I've been told theres more than one but I dont know if thats true or not! So far my fishing trips haven't proved fruitful but I'm still trying!!!:D


  • #119
    bet0409
    Closed Accounts Posts: 56 ✭✭bet0409


    MrsGeneHunt wrote: »
    Someone very wise I took some advice from last year told me not to look at it as a Selection test, more of a DEselection test! They try to wipe as many out a this stage as they can. Thought that a very relevant statement!

    Yes, the IST does have an impact on your merit score. Its one of the filters they apply in the event of tied scores. I'd love to know what the others are though!!! I've been told theres more than one but I dont know if thats true or not! So far my fishing trips haven't proved fruitful but I'm still trying!!!:D

    Nice statement, it should be the tagline for IST!

    Maybe the Consensia dudes write a wee commentary about the performance at the assessment centre, like, "Can imagine her in a police uniform", or, "Don't think the hat will suit his head shape". Maybe you should do a FoI request haha!!

    Seriously though, even though I'm getting in, I am still dying with curiosity about the selection process, I doubt I will ever ever find out but keep on trying MGH!


  • #120
    MrsGeneHunt
    Registered Users Posts: 2,012 ✭✭✭MrsGeneHunt


    bet0409 wrote: »
    Nice statement, it should be the tagline for IST!

    Maybe the Consensia dudes write a wee commentary about the performance at the assessment centre, like, "Can imagine her in a police uniform", or, "Don't think the hat will suit his head shape". Maybe you should do a FoI request haha!!

    Seriously though, even though I'm getting in, I am still dying with curiosity about the selection process, I doubt I will ever ever find out but keep on trying MGH!

    I have a few theories about what they might be, trying to get clarity is the hard part!!!
    I'll keep you posted with developments ( if ever get any! )


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  • #121
    here's hoping
    Registered Users Posts: 22 ✭here's hoping


    hi, this is my first time applying and i've read on here that it's good to get some 11+ practise papers. where do you get these now that the 11+ is no more?:confused:


  • #122
    MrsGeneHunt
    Registered Users Posts: 2,012 ✭✭✭MrsGeneHunt


    here's hoping wrote: »
    hi, this is my first time applying and i've read on here that it's good to get some 11+ practise papers. where do you get these now that the 11+ is no more?:confused:

    P7 teachers should have old copies, thats were I got mine from but that said,they were a friend of a friend so I dont know how accomodating some might be - but its worth asking. You did use to be able to get Verbal Reasoning practice books for the transfer test which might be an avenue to explore, if they are still in print.


  • #123
    here's hoping
    Registered Users Posts: 22 ✭here's hoping


    thanks very much, i'll start begging asap!


  • #124
    MrsGeneHunt
    Registered Users Posts: 2,012 ✭✭✭MrsGeneHunt


    here's hoping wrote: »
    thanks very much, i'll start begging asap!

    Best of luck:D
    OOh the clock is counting down....yoikes!!!:eek:


  • #125
    bet0409
    Closed Accounts Posts: 56 ✭✭bet0409


    here's hoping wrote: »
    hi, this is my first time applying and i've read on here that it's good to get some 11+ practise papers. where do you get these now that the 11+ is no more?:confused:

    If you google search 11 plus sample papers a few come up. Belfast telegraph used to publish sample papers, I remember tryinga few, but not sure how you would get them, might be worthwhile contacting them to see if they can give you a link or post some out? Might be a long shot, dunno. If you google search aptitude tests or psychometric tests you will get a good few links for sample papers and tests, and there are a few books on amazon (search under books section for 'police test') if you can afford a few quid. Good luck!


  • #126
    jd83
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,445 ✭✭✭jd83


    Got my date for thr exam. Thought it would never get here, then i got 2 letters with the same info on it :)


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  • #127
    here's hoping
    Registered Users Posts: 22 ✭here's hoping


    bet0409 wrote: »
    If you google search 11 plus sample papers a few come up. Belfast telegraph used to publish sample papers, I remember tryinga few, but not sure how you would get them, might be worthwhile contacting them to see if they can give you a link or post some out? Might be a long shot, dunno. If you google search aptitude tests or psychometric tests you will get a good few links for sample papers and tests, and there are a few books on amazon (search under books section for 'police test') if you can afford a few quid. Good luck!
    thanks for the advice, i'll give it a try. between loosing weight, getting fit, doing 11+ exams and everything else in between it's a days work applying for this!


  • #128
    triple-M
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,171 ✭✭✭triple-M


    I finally got my ist date today,11th of may bright and early,im pretty sure I asked for an evening test but they've given me plenty of notice so all should be good :D


  • #129
    DC Dibble
    Closed Accounts Posts: 33 ✭DC Dibble


    Got my test date today, 5th May. Some serious practise papers to be done now


  • #130
    emz2009
    Registered Users Posts: 50 ✭✭emz2009


    Hey Everyone! How are you all doing?
    This is also my first time applying *fingers crossed* Only completed the application a few days ago so still so word back! Just popping on to wish you all luck on the process! Have been searching online for some aplitude tests as ive completed those on the recruitment site and looking for some more anyone have any useful links?? :D


  • #131
    Jill77
    Closed Accounts Posts: 74 ✭✭Jill77


    Only applied on Saturday and got my IST date today for 3rd week in April! Can't understand why mine is so quick! Less time to get nervous I suppose...


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  • #132
    here's hoping
    Registered Users Posts: 22 ✭here's hoping


    i keep reading about merit scores and haven't a clue what it means, i would really appreciate it if one of you much more knowledgeable people could enlighten me.
    is your ist score part of it?


  • #133
    dark side
    Closed Accounts Posts: 62 ✭✭dark side


    I've been looking at numerical reasoning questions on the internet - and I'm getting seriously freaked out - but in all the practice tests it says you can use a calculator - I know that we can't in the IST - which makes me think that the IST questions can't be as difficult as these practice ones - cause I've tried them and I'd say some are very hard without a calculator

    Could someone who has sat the IST before take a quick look at these examples and let me know if these are along the same line with regards to difficulty? - I'm hoping they aren't else my math is 20 times worse than I originaly thought :confused:

    http://www.assessmentday.co.uk/aptitudetests_numerical.htm

    Thanks alot


  • #134
    Jill77
    Closed Accounts Posts: 74 ✭✭Jill77


    dark side wrote: »
    I've been looking at numerical reasoning questions on the internet - and I'm getting seriously freaked out - but in all the practice tests it says you can use a calculator - I know that we can't in the IST - which makes me think that the IST questions can't be as difficult as these practice ones - cause I've tried them and I'd say some are very hard without a calculator

    Could someone who has sat the IST before take a quick look at these examples and let me know if these are along the same line with regards to difficulty? - I'm hoping they aren't else my math is 20 times worse than I originaly thought :confused:

    http://www.assessmentday.co.uk/aptitudetests_numerical.htm

    Thanks alot

    Its been a couple of years since i've done it but they look a similar level to me from what I can remember....not too much i can see on there that you couldn't do with a pen and paper...


  • #135
    dark side
    Closed Accounts Posts: 62 ✭✭dark side


    Jill77 wrote: »
    Its been a couple of years since i've done it but they look a similar level to me from what I can remember....not too much i can see on there that you couldn't do with a pen and paper...


    Cheers for that Jill77 - you've put my mind at rest - I'll just have to get my head down and practice


  • #136
    Jill77
    Closed Accounts Posts: 74 ✭✭Jill77


    dark side wrote: »
    Cheers for that Jill77 - you've put my mind at rest - I'll just have to get my head down and practice

    Yeah me too! I'm ok with those kind of graphs etc but number sequences or those ones that go Jill is taller than Jack who is fatter than Amy who is thicker than Bob, who's Jill's da? They totally get me :D


  • #137
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    Stupid question no doubt here...what do you wear to the IST?? :D I know I should be worrying about brushing up on the old maths skills and all but I have a wile bad habit for over dressing! I think I can remember reading it said no dress code on the letter but I do like to look good and make a good impression, wether it matters or not! Smart casual? I'm going to be coming from work so wont really have time to change... I really do have so much more important things to be thinking about right now :p


  • #138
    everhopefull
    Closed Accounts Posts: 28 ✭everhopefull


    Oh nooooo!
    I just did one of those tests and only got half of them right! and most of them werent actually accurate...but more like eduacted guesses.
    Should i just give up now?:(


  • #139
    everhopefull
    Closed Accounts Posts: 28 ✭everhopefull


    educated,... i meant educated. :o

    How educated am I?:p


  • #140
    PapaYankeeGirl
    Registered Users Posts: 2,006 ✭✭✭PapaYankeeGirl


    You're safe enough going to your IST in jeans and a t-shirt. I have been twice before and people who wear suits look out of place. Last time there was a post man there, obviously he had sneaked away from work!!


  • #141
    nickni
    Closed Accounts Posts: 151 ✭✭nickni


    PapaYankeeGirl wrote: »
    You're safe enough going to your IST in jeans and a t-shirt. I have been twice before and people who wear suits look out of place. Last time there was a post man there, obviously he had sneaked away from work!!

    Anytime i went to an IST (all seven of them :eek::p) I always wore jeans and tshirt/shirt, I would say thats what about 90% of people at mine were wearing, as PYG said there were some people at mine in work uniforms etc and only a couple in suits...


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  • #142
    Che75
    Closed Accounts Posts: 15 ✭Che75


    It says the IST will take roughly an hour and a half overall. Does that mean there will be more types of test included other than the critical verbal reasoning and data-based numeracy test that appears on the official practise sheet?


  • #143
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    Che75 wrote: »
    It says the IST will take roughly an hour and a half overall. Does that mean there will be more types of test included other than the critical verbal reasoning and data-based numeracy test that appears on the official practise sheet?

    I was wondering that myself, the 2 tests alone can't take an hour and a half surely unless you get tea breaks in the middle :D:D Does anyone know how long the IST lasted in previous years? Sounds a long time but I'm sure that hour and a half will fly by!


  • #144
    Bifbert
    Closed Accounts Posts: 129 ✭✭Bifbert


    yeah i was also wondering whether or not there is more parts to the IST other than critical reasoning and numeracy. can anyone answer this? One more question as well, can you leave if you have finished before the time is up? Not that i really want to as i will be checking over and over. cheers


  • #145
    emz2009
    Registered Users Posts: 50 ✭✭emz2009


    :)
    I was wondering thia myself... I read somewhere on here they were thinking of maybe adding grammar to the test this time but theres no indication of it on the practise papers... id just prepare for anything that they might be able to throw at you... there is loads of suggestions to get the old grey matter working... I have been searching sites for aplitude tests and just doing all versions of them... I dont know what it is about this aplitude test coming up but im extremley nervous i have passed tests like this before but because i wasnt too bothered whether id pass or not i didnt really care ... now that this is something id really love to do ... im so nervous lol!


  • #146
    PapaYankeeGirl
    Registered Users Posts: 2,006 ✭✭✭PapaYankeeGirl


    Folks I looked back at my IST invitation letter from C14 and it said the IST would last approx. 1.5 hours. Looks like nothing has changed!

    The tests themselves dont take that long but reading out instructions, handing out tests and collecting them back in takes up quite a bit of time!


  • #147
    Bifbert
    Closed Accounts Posts: 129 ✭✭Bifbert


    Can i just ask another simple question. On the letter it says " please bring this letter and valid id e.g: driving licence passport." It doesn't say bring a pen/pencil. Im assuming you will be issued these at the start of the IST? Or do you have to bring your own even though it doesn't say? I know stupid, trivial question but i don't want to turn up and be the only prat with nothing to write with. thank you


  • #148
    PapaYankeeGirl
    Registered Users Posts: 2,006 ✭✭✭PapaYankeeGirl


    Bifbert wrote: »
    Can i just ask another simple question. On the letter it says " please bring this letter and valid id e.g: driving licence passport." It doesn't say bring a pen/pencil. Im assuming you will be issued these at the start of the IST? Or do you have to bring your own even though it doesn't say? I know stupid, trivial question but i don't want to turn up and be the only prat with nothing to write with. thank you


    Dont worry I was the same first time around. They supply the pencils, rubbers and rough working out paper


  • #149
    Bifbert
    Closed Accounts Posts: 129 ✭✭Bifbert


    PapaYankeeGirl wrote: »
    Dont worry I was the same first time around. They supply the pencils, rubbers and rough working out paper

    cheers thanks for clearing that up :):):)


  • #150
    cliffy33
    Closed Accounts Posts: 17 ✭cliffy33


    Hey just wondering if someone worked in psni for a few years would it be a good thing to get into the guards?


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  • #151
    Bettypico
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3 ✭Bettypico


    hi!! i am new here, sorry if i make any mistake...
    i have my IST on the 21st!!! I am really nervous......any tip or advice??


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