Interdepartmental Higher Executive Officer 2020 - (Serving Civil Servants ONLY)

Forthebuzz · 29-01-2021 11:14pm

insert name here 123 wrote: »

I appreciate that Ken, i was more curious as to why the instance on having a level 7 for EO rtaher than HEO, I would have thought a HEO would need certain qualifications to match the experience.

Just curious

You don't need a level 7, I got EO on open with just a LC

EricShaw · 31-01-2021 7:11pm

I can't find the email you refer to. Does it state it's only verbal and numerical tests? Does anyone have any official pre-test material he or she can share with us?

Kenevil · 31-01-2021 8:02pm

EricShaw wrote: »

I can't find the email you refer to. Does it state it's only verbal and numerical tests? Does anyone have any official pre-test material he or she can share with us?

Email is in your publicjobs messages you should have gotten a text and email telling you to check your messages.

Stage 1a is verbal and numerical

Dublintigger · 31-01-2021 9:35pm

Does anyone have a copy of the comp booklet?
Apologies but I changed laptops and don't have/can't find the info booklet.
Thank you.

neevobeevo · 31-01-2021 9:38pm

Original ad is on gov.ie
https://www.gov.ie/en/circular/b1a1d-192020-interdepartmental-competition-for-promotion-to-higher-executive-officer-heo-in-the-civil-service/

Dublintigger · 31-01-2021 9:43pm

neevobeevo wrote: »

Original ad is on gov.ie
https://www.gov.ie/en/circular/b1a1d-192020-interdepartmental-competition-for-promotion-to-higher-executive-officer-heo-in-the-civil-service/

Thanks a million:-)

caarp · 31-01-2021 9:59pm

For those of you who have gone into the Pre-Test link on Public Jobs, were you able to go back in and look at the material gain, or does it disappear after the first time you click on the link? Thanks.

eroc79 · 01-02-2021 10:31am

caarp wrote: »

For those of you who have gone into the Pre-Test link on Public Jobs, were you able to go back in and look at the material gain, or does it disappear after the first time you click on the link? Thanks.

The pre test link brings you to a lot more information and has another link within it that takes you to a webpage with a few sample questions. The sample questions can be tried again and again.

caarp · 01-02-2021 11:19am

eroc79 wrote: »

The pre test link brings you to a lot more information and has another link within it that takes you to a webpage with a few sample questions. The sample questions can be tried again and again.

Thanks so much Eroc. I just went into the doc now. I wonder how this will all go? No situational assessments and no time limit to answer, though obvs the length of time is factored in, in the overall score.

Never done an adapted test either. Tbh, I probably won't even notice if the test questions are getting easier or harder on the day!

redmgar · 01-02-2021 11:50am

This was the exam used in the EO exam last year.
Very much a step up from previous campaigns.

The_Brood · 01-02-2021 6:56pm

Have no idea how these adaptive tests work, but really not liking the sound of it. So if you are getting answers right, the questions get harder and harder...is that taken into account in the final scoring? If not and it is still just a question of how many you get right and how many you get wrong, essentially you are getting punished for getting the first questions correct?

And if it is taken into account...then if you make just one mistake or miss-click something, even if you get the next few answers right, they will be worth less - meaning that one initial mistake will mean not just one failed answer but a bunch of lesser points to come.

Sounds like a lose-lose situation?

Also you can't go back and review your answers? Which is like the standard metric for double-checking and being prudent.

Kenevil · 01-02-2021 10:51pm

The_Brood wrote: »

Have no idea how these adaptive tests work, but really not liking the sound of it. So if you are getting answers right, the questions get harder and harder...is that taken into account in the final scoring? If not and it is still just a question of how many you get right and how many you get wrong, essentially you are getting punished for getting the first questions correct?

And if it is taken into account...then if you make just one mistake or miss-click something, even if you get the next few answers right, they will be worth less - meaning that one initial mistake will mean not just one failed answer but a bunch of lesser points to come.

Sounds like a lose-lose situation?

Also you can't go back and review your answers? Which is like the standard metric for double-checking and being prudent.

Had a quick google. From what I can make out, it starts with a middle of the road question and if you get it right questions will get harder, if you get one wrong they will get easier and so on.

In terms of scoring lets say we both answer 18/20 questions, but you answer more harder ones than i do. You'll get a higher mark for your harder questions than i do for my easier questions.

I hope that makes sense, it's just my take on it.

The_Brood · 01-02-2021 11:41pm

Kenevil wrote: »

Had a quick google. From what I can make out, it starts with a middle of the road question and if you get it right questions will get harder, if you get one wrong they will get easier and so on.

In terms of scoring lets say we both answer 18/20 questions, but you answer more harder ones than i do. You'll get a higher mark for your harder questions than i do for my easier questions.

I hope that makes sense, it's just my take on it.

Yes, which means that say if there are 5 questions and you get the first 4 right and last 1 wrong, you are better off than getting the first wrong and the other 4 right, as the other questions (even if you 'catch up' at one point) will be worth less than the first person's questions.

The timing also is a mystery how it will play into it - the faster the better, but easier questions you will be able to do faster than harder ones. So is taking 3 minutes and correctly answering a tougher question still better than taking 2 minutes to answer an easier question?

All in all it seems a system with much less transparency.

cw67irl · 03-02-2021 2:32am

hellr wrote: »

Not sure if it’s allowed but would anybody be interested in sharing a jobs prep sub for a month

Did this work out for you? It was raised with a colleague at work and we are thinking of the same

Addle · 03-02-2021 8:12am

The_Brood wrote: »

Sounds like a lose-lose situation?
.

And it’s the same situation for everyone.

The competitions get more competitive every time.
I think the 2016 (?) competition didn’t have shortlisting based on the form, resulting in lots of poor quality interviewees who did well in online tests. Then the 2018 comp did have shortlisting, so the applicants had an extra step to deal with, but there was a higher percentage of success after the interview.

Buckfast W · 03-02-2021 9:30am

cw67irl wrote:

Did this work out for you? It was raised with a colleague at work and we are thinking of the same

Yeah it worked out, I find that the numerical tests are a good refresher. At the end of the test it'll tell u how may were right and wrong and when you review your answers it'll tell you what the correct answer is and why.

caarp · 03-02-2021 5:01pm

Has anybody ever used these SOVA tests before. I'm wondering if the actual tests are very similar to the practice ones provided or are they much harder?

connectq · 03-02-2021 5:03pm

Is the link to the tests in your message working? I cannot access the link provided

caarp · 03-02-2021 5:04pm

connectq wrote: »

Is the link to the tests in your message working? I cannot access the link provided

Do you mean to the practice tests?

connectq · 03-02-2021 5:05pm

I have never used Sova before. It was Cut-e tests for previous competitions

connectq · 03-02-2021 5:06pm

Message with link to the actual test is not working. I have emailed them to check it out

keepkeyyellow · 03-02-2021 5:06pm

caarp wrote: »

Has anybody ever used these SOVA tests before. I'm wondering if the actual tests are very similar to the practice ones provided or are they much harder?

I did the EO which was Sova for practice and I’m finding the practice tests very similar.

The math was quite off the wall and a lot of jargon to get through before you realise that the question is really simple.

Verbal is pretty similar too.

caarp · 03-02-2021 5:07pm

connectq wrote: »

Message with link to the actual test is not working. I have emailed them to check it out

Yes, I see that. I just went Public Jobs to read the message and the link provided isn't hyperlinked. Maybe you can copy and paste it into your browser?

connectq · 03-02-2021 5:08pm

Tried to copy it but cant access the link in the browser

caarp · 03-02-2021 5:09pm

keepkeyyellow wrote: »

I did the EO which was Sova for practice and I’m finding the practice tests very similar.

The math was quite off the wall and a lot of jargon to get through before you realise that the question is really simple.

Verbal is pretty similar too.

Thanks so much Keepkeyyellow. Can you remember in the math part, were there lots of different tabs you had to open to find the information, or was it all provided on the one table/graph?

caarp · 03-02-2021 5:11pm

connectq wrote: »

Tried to copy it but cant access the link in the browser

Most excellent start! Just give us all a high score and be done with this nonsense!

Dublintigger · 03-02-2021 5:15pm

I've just tried the pretest link and it is not working - and there is no link to copy and past.
All I got was the Pre Test information - I wonder if the practice test link is closed now????

connectq · 03-02-2021 5:16pm

Previous tests had a link to the test and a personal log in details in the message which would have been used to access the tests.

connectq · 03-02-2021 5:17pm

this link will bring you to the practice tests
https://www.sovaassessment.com/candidate-preparation-hub/our-assessments/

03-02-2021 5:22pm

Is this the part where we have to do a sweep of the room with our camera and show our ID does anyone know?

caarp · 03-02-2021 5:24pm

Can this link for you?

www.sovaassessment.com/candidate-preparation-hub/our-assessments

caarp · 03-02-2021 5:26pm

Littlefinger wrote: »

Is this the part where we have to do a sweep of the room with our camera and show our ID does anyone know?

I thought that part was when you decided to log onto the actual test itself?

caarp · 03-02-2021 5:28pm

Page 8 of the pre-test booklet:

Record and Review:
Overview:
These assessment tests are supervised via a Record and Review function. As you progress through the assessments you will need to record a video displaying your face alongside a photo ID of yourself i.e. your Passport, Drivers Licence or Public Service Card. You will also be asked to scan the room in which you are taking the tests, with the camera on the device that you are taking the assessments on.

03-02-2021 5:29pm

caarp wrote: »

I thought that part was when you decided to log onto the actual test itself?

yeah sorry that is what I meant. If I do the test tonight, will I have to have my camera on to do it?

Kenevil · 03-02-2021 5:30pm

caarp wrote: »

I thought that part was when you decided to log onto the actual test itself?

The link (when it works) is the actual test. And yes as far as i am aware you have to sweep the room with the camera at this part.

pew · 03-02-2021 9:09pm

I cant seem to access the link at all.

It's not hyperlinked in the message and it cuts off halfway through. I've tried my phone and 2 laptops and all the same.

connectq · 03-02-2021 9:11pm

pew wrote: »

I cant seem to access the link at all.

It's not hyperlinked in the message and it cuts off halfway through. I've tried my phone and 2 laptops and all the same.

Email the technical support and they will send you a link

Kenevil · 03-02-2021 9:22pm

pew wrote: »

I cant seem to access the link at all.

It's not hyperlinked in the message and it cuts off halfway through. I've tried my phone and 2 laptops and all the same.

On my laptop I highlighted the link, right clicked and selected go to link and it brought me to the assessment

Kenevil · 03-02-2021 9:23pm

pew wrote: »

I cant seem to access the link at all.

It's not hyperlinked in the message and it cuts off halfway through. I've tried my phone and 2 laptops and all the same.

On my laptop I highlighted the link, right clicked and selected go to link and it brought me to the assessment

pew · 03-02-2021 9:23pm

Kenevil wrote: »

I just tried it from my laptop. I highlighted the link right clicked and selected go to link and it brought me to the page

I tried it, doesnt work for me.

The message from public jobs itself is cut off. As in half of sentences are missing. And a bit of the link is missing.

pew · 03-02-2021 9:24pm

connectq wrote: »

Email the technical support and they will send you a link

Perfect will email them.

Thank you.

keepkeyyellow · 04-02-2021 2:42am

caarp wrote: »

Thanks so much Keepkeyyellow. Can you remember in the math part, were there lots of different tabs you had to open to find the information, or was it all provided on the one table/graph?

The latter

Dublintigger · 04-02-2021 12:03pm

caarp wrote: »

Can this link for you?

www.sovaassessment.com/candidate-preparation-hub/our-assessments

Yes - thank you so much.

04-02-2021 3:15pm

Just got a message from them with a new link. Glad to see they have remedied it in plenty of time.

TrishaK · 04-02-2021 5:42pm

OK so I just bit the bullet and did the test, it wasn't too bad, saying that I am terrible at these type tests so ill just have to wait and see.

Best of luck everyone

eroc79 · 04-02-2021 5:56pm

Well done. Did you do much practice beforehand?
I'm planning on doing a few practice tests, if I can find some. Been awhile and feel a bit rusty. lol

Kenevil · 04-02-2021 6:01pm

TrishaK wrote: »

OK so I just bit the bullet and did the test, it wasn't too bad, saying that I am terrible at these type tests so ill just have to wait and see.

Best of luck everyone

Well done, do you mind me asking, was the verbal reasoning really long wordy paragraphs or nice short ones?

What was the numerical one like?

Dublintigger · 04-02-2021 6:22pm

Folks
I am hoping to do the test at the weekend.... will this be a problem do you think?
I just want to get more practice in.
Also, I heard that the numerical - you just have to pass it, is this true?
But the verbal - does anyone have any idea what is to be expected?

Kenevil · 04-02-2021 6:26pm

Dublintigger wrote: »

Folks
I am hoping to do the test at the weekend.... will this be a problem do you think?
I just want to get more practice in.
Also, I heard that the numerical - you just have to pass it, is this true?
But the verbal - does anyone have any idea what is to be expected?

I'm doing it at the weekend too. Up too early midweek to have the brainpower to do it then.

For any previous test i have done it have been just pass it. Which sucks as i'm stronger at numerical than verbal. Have been doing practice tests and failing miserably ðŸ˜ª

Dublintigger · 04-02-2021 7:01pm

Kenevil wrote: »

I'm doing it at the weekend too. Up too early midweek to have the brainpower to do it then.

For any previous test i have done it have been just pass it. Which sucks as i'm stronger at numerical than verbal. Have been doing practice tests and failing miserably &#55357;&#56874;

I would love to know the format of the questions....... both verbal and numerical

Interdepartmental Higher Executive Officer 2020 - (Serving Civil Servants ONLY)

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