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

stevetalk · 04-02-2021 7:20pm

Just did the tests. I thought the verbal was okay and numerical was really difficult. There was definitely one graph where the questions they asked seemed impossible to answer with the information on the graph. The question was probably worded wrong.

Having to pan the camera around the room in a 360 was a bit ridiculous as well but these are Covid times!

keepkeyyellow · 04-02-2021 9:25pm

Actually are the two tests timed?

eroc79 · 04-02-2021 9:54pm

keepkeyyellow wrote: »

Actually are the two tests timed?

Yes and no. The time taken will affect your overall score

yabadabado · 04-02-2021 9:57pm

stevetalk wrote: »

Having to pan the camera around the room in a 360 was a bit ridiculous as well but these are Covid times!

What's that for ?

Is the whole exam recorded ?

05-02-2021 11:55am

yabadabado wrote: »

What's that for ?

Is the whole exam recorded ?

It is to show that you aren't getting help while doing them. If you read the candidate book it tells you about it. Be sure to have your ID beside you as well because you aren't allowed leave the laptop once it starts.

Forthebuzz · 05-02-2021 12:47pm

I presume we are allowed calculators on table for numerical part?

Kenevil · 05-02-2021 1:10pm

Forthebuzz wrote: »

I presume we are allowed calculators on table for numerical part?

Calculators and rough work paper are allowed on the table

Forthebuzz · 05-02-2021 2:24pm

Kenevil wrote: »

Calculators and rough work paper are allowed on the table

Perfect thanks! I couldn't remember reading either way in documentation

eimaj18 · 05-02-2021 4:13pm

Kenevil wrote: »

Calculators and rough work paper are allowed on the table

I usually use my phone as a calculator for practice. Supposing you didn't have an actual calculator to hand, can you use your phone? I would guess now, but just in case!

I'm going through Numerical now. I'm not great at Maths myself but have been doing these type of tests for years now for promotions and have usually always been in the first batch after these aptitude test as I have scored highly. What I find is, you need to know about 5 main types of sums:

- Find the % of something
- Show X as a % of Y
- % Increase
- % Decrease
- Ratios

Once you can do them, you should be fine. If I come across any other types of sums, I'll edit this.

Tips:
- Work out only the sums they ask you - don't waste your time working anything else out. E.g. in the practice test Q3, don't bother working out the info for the Marketing Dept.
- If you look at the question, and it seems like it's going to take way too long to work out, make an educated guess and move to the next.
- Try to finish all the test as you'll maximise your opportunity to get high marks.
- Practice, practice and practice. I haven't done these tests in about 2 years, and it's taking a while to get back into them, but the more I practice, the quicker I'm getting.
- Google numerical and verbal assessments to practice with.

In relation to the Verbal Assessment, just make sure that you understand the answers - TRUE, FALSE, CANNOT SAY
TRUE - the information is definitely mentioned in the text, albeit in slightly different language
FALSE - the statement is defo incorrect - E.g. Q3 in the practice tests says: The majority of older persons... whereas the text says Almost 50%... So, defo FALSE
CANNOT SAY - you can't say whether the statement is correct from the information given in the text - you need more info.

This is what has worked for me in the past, in saying that, I've never done Adaptive Assessment before, but I can't see the above changing. Any questions, PM me. Planning to practice now, tomorrow for an hour or so and take the test on Sunday - small baby, hard to fit it in.

Good luck!

Sophia Petrillo · 05-02-2021 4:29pm

stevetalk wrote: »

Just did the tests. I thought the verbal was okay and numerical was really difficult. There was definitely one graph where the questions they asked seemed impossible to answer with the information on the graph. The question was probably worded wrong.

Having to pan the camera around the room in a 360 was a bit ridiculous as well but these are Covid times!

Just a quick question, how does one pan a camera around a room?

yabadabado · 05-02-2021 4:43pm

Littlefinger wrote: »

It is to show that you aren't getting help while doing them. If you read the candidate book it tells you about it. Be sure to have your ID beside you as well because you aren't allowed leave the laptop once it starts.

Read the booklet,it appears to be you record yourself and ID and then pan the room .

Is that it ,or will I need to do it a few times during the exam?
The reason I ask is I'm using a PC and it will be awkward to do,be easier if they just recorded me while I did the whole exam .

nightsky123 · 05-02-2021 7:55pm

Information booklet states

These assessments will take you approximately 40 minutes in total to complete and should be completed in one sitting, if possible.

Can I do the verbal reasoning tomorrow and then numerical on Sunday?

Kittykat6 · 05-02-2021 9:56pm

I did the tests on Thursday and have to say compared to other competitions I have done, the layout was more straightforward.The verbal was easy enough, the Maths(usually my strong point) was difficult on a few questions, the graphs were not very clear and one or two questions had way to much info to work through.Fingers crossed.

MUFC2019 · 06-02-2021 1:56pm

For those who already did the tests did you get a green tick to indicate an answer was right?

redmgar · 06-02-2021 3:49pm

Found it easier than the eo one, which is not good considering if you get one wrong it gets easier.

Dublintigger · 06-02-2021 4:14pm

MUFC2019 wrote: »

For those who already did the tests did you get a green tick to indicate an answer was right?

Eh??
I only got that when I was doing the practice runs.....

RC01 · 06-02-2021 8:19pm

MUFC2019 wrote: »

For those who already did the tests did you get a green tick to indicate an answer was right?

No I didn't anyway, presume we have to wait for results for that kind of information.

RC01 · 06-02-2021 8:20pm

redmgar wrote: »

Found it easier than the eo one, which is not good considering if you get one wrong it gets easier.

Gosh I found it so much harder, as previously mentioned I found numerical veru difficult and that is usually my strong point.

Dublintigger · 06-02-2021 8:31pm

RC01 wrote: »

Gosh I found it so much harder, as previously mentioned I found numerical veru difficult and that is usually my strong point.

What about the verbal., any hints.

RC01 · 06-02-2021 8:37pm

Dublintigger wrote: »

What about the verbal., any hints.

It is hard to know as you obviously think your answer is right in the verbal as it is only true, false or cannot say. I seemed to get cannot say for an awful lot. My passages were all quite short and not too complex but maybe that means I didn't do too well, I'm not sure?
Also I had the verbal done in 15mins,whereas I was at least a half hour with numerical amd ended up guessing some of them. Best of luck

RC01 · 07-02-2021 11:28am

redmgar wrote: »

Found it easier than the eo one, which is not good considering if you get one wrong it gets easier.

Do you mind me asking how long did it take to get the results from this stage at the EO competititon?

Etray reviewer · 07-02-2021 1:37pm

Anyone else have the shipping container questions in the numerical? It seemed obvious but couldn’t my answers to match the options.

Claireyy · 07-02-2021 2:32pm

Just did the tests and found the numerical to be absolutely dreadful. Half of the graphs were very unclear and I found myself guessing loads of the answers. Maths is not my strong point but the questions didn’t seem to get any easier either. I’d been practicing all week but it doesn’t seem to have been much help at all.

teaontap · 07-02-2021 2:35pm

Etray reviewer wrote: »

Anyone else have the shipping container questions in the numerical? It seemed obvious but couldn’t my answers to match the options.

Yep those totally threw me, I couldn't make my calculations fit the answer options and even after the test can't find any way to work it out other than how I did it!

Kenevil · 07-02-2021 3:09pm

Just finished the numerical was awful. Felt like i was guessing a few and took me near 30 mins to complete

verbal I thought was ok good luck everyone

Darren1881 · 07-02-2021 3:26pm

Just finished there, my god the maths. That was unpleasant

Dublintigger · 07-02-2021 3:44pm

I'm frigging bricking it now.....
Practice is okay but now the real thing.

Forthebuzz · 07-02-2021 4:13pm

Just finished there and have to say I struggled with both, usually get through in top 10 or 20 in my county but doubt it this time.

Niamhf · 07-02-2021 4:42pm

Do the test work ok on iPad or would I be better off with a laptop?

Kenevil · 07-02-2021 4:57pm

Niamhf wrote: »

Do the test work ok on iPad or would I be better off with a laptop?

Personally I think a laptop would be better, the whole question will fit on the screen without too much fiddling about

Darren1881 · 07-02-2021 4:57pm

Niamhf wrote: »

Do the test work ok on iPad or would I be better off with a laptop?

It says it can be done on mobile devices. Personally I used a laptop, If they are recording during the entire exam the webcam directed at you on the laptop may be better than if you had an ipad flat on a table looking at the ceiling. That could be considered a major breach if you aren't visible the entire time.

rostalof · 07-02-2021 5:50pm

Kenevil wrote: »

Just finished the numerical was awful. Felt like i was guessing a few and took me near 30 mins to complete verbal I thought was ok good luck everyone

Yes, found the maths very rough. I don't hold out much hope after that.

hellr · 07-02-2021 6:35pm

Claireyy wrote: »

Just did the tests and found the numerical to be absolutely dreadful. Half of the graphs were very unclear and I found myself guessing loads of the answers. Maths is not my strong point but the questions didn’t seem to get any easier either. I’d been practicing all week but it doesn’t seem to have been much help at all.

I was the same and I didn’t get the shipping container question so must have gone very bad. Oh well, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Claireyy · 07-02-2021 6:38pm

hellr wrote: »

I was the same and I didn’t get the shipping container question so must have gone very bad. Oh well, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

I also didn’t get that question. Very disappointed as I’d spent a lot of time practicing but ah well, there’s always next time!

Kenevil · 07-02-2021 6:48pm

I think the general consensus is that the numerical was very tough. I bought a package to practice.... money back guarantee looks like i'll be getting my money back...

Buckfast W · 07-02-2021 8:53pm

Claireyy wrote:

Just did the tests and found the numerical to be absolutely dreadful. Half of the graphs were very unclear and I found myself guessing loads of the answers. Maths is not my strong point but the questions didnâ€™t seem to get any easier either. Iâ€™d been practicing all week but it doesnâ€™t seem to have been much help at all.

Same, I did it this afternoon. The verbal was straight forward enough but numerical was very difficult. The first few questions weren't too bad but after that I really struggled to get finished. I guessed the last couple because I'd gone over 20mins, I really hope they don't cut anyone that went over the allotted time otherwise I'm goosed.

Good luck to everyone.

hellr · 07-02-2021 9:04pm

Buckfast W wrote: »

Same, I did it this afternoon. The verbal was straight forward enough but numerical was very difficult. The first few questions weren't too bad but after that I really struggled to get finished. I guessed the last couple because I'd gone over 20mins, I really hope they don't cut anyone that went over the allotted time otherwise I'm goosed.

Good luck to everyone.

You could go over the time, the optimum time as 40 mins for the whole test. Time will be taken into consideration with accuracy when you get your results.

Buckfast W · 07-02-2021 9:16pm

hellr wrote:

You could go over the time, the optimum time as 40 mins for the whole test. Time will be taken into consideration with accuracy when you get your results.

Hopefully that's what they do because I finished the verbal in about 12mins.

Vologda69 · 07-02-2021 9:36pm

I did same type of test with EO. Took about 45mins, still guessed a few and got 56% in numerical.

Dublintigger · 08-02-2021 9:49am

I have just finished – after a faulty start. I had a screen freeze and a near heart failure!

I have to say it was tough on both counts and I am not hopeful. The numerical was hard and I found the wording on some of the numerical questions unclear – and some of them I took a guess to my nearest calculated answer….
The verbal –again ambiguous and I just did the best I could.

My advice is to read the questions slowly.

So fingers crossed for me – and good luck to anyone who still has to do the assessment.

keepkeyyellow · 08-02-2021 12:56pm

Anyone know when the results will be out?

eimaj18 · 08-02-2021 3:26pm

Just finished. Tough, but a tiny bit easier than the practice ones I was doing on AssessmentDay.co.uk Was working a few numerical out, have the answer and then that wasn't a choice! Doh! Just picked the nearest one to it. Some phrased very badly. The verbal were tough as always - the difference between TRUE/FALSE and CANNOT SAY is always debatable for me! Oh well, done now.

Usually results are out anything from a couple of days to a week or two after the closing date. So, earliest Friday, but doubtful.

Kenevil · 08-02-2021 3:41pm

keepkeyyellow wrote: »

Anyone know when the results will be out?

We probably won't get results until we've completed stage 1 b

westhamlady · 08-02-2021 3:47pm

Did the assessment, when I was showing my ID, though it was prefect on the screen but once I accepted it , it was very blurry, should I contact Public Jobs about this or wait and see. Found the numerical very difficult so don't think I will get very far in this comp.

08-02-2021 3:58pm

Kenevil wrote: »

We probably won't get results until we've completed stage 1 b

What is stage 1b? I don't see any mention of it in the info book

Kenevil · 08-02-2021 4:06pm

Littlefinger wrote: »

What is stage 1b? I don't see any mention of it in the info book

They don't say what it is but more than likely it will be a situational judgement test. Unless its not a test and its short listing

08-02-2021 4:23pm

Kenevil wrote: »

They don't say what it is but more than likely it will be a situational judgement test. Unless its not a test and its short listing

strange if there is a separate stage for the situational judgement test. If memory serves the last time i went for HEO they had that with the rest of the testes inpart a.

Dublintigger · 08-02-2021 4:24pm

Kenevil wrote: »

We probably won't get results until we've completed stage 1 b

It seems to be a long process.....

RC01 · 08-02-2021 4:29pm

I know it is different now as the test style has changed, however when I did the EO competititon in 2019 it was situational first, then shortlisted to complete numerical and verbal. Perhaps someone who has done the recent EO Competition may know?

keepkeyyellow · 08-02-2021 4:36pm

Kenevil wrote: »

We probably won't get results until we've completed stage 1 b

I assumed we’d find out results after 1a so they only take successful people into 1b

RC01 wrote: »

I know it is different now as the test style has changed, however when I did the EO competititon in 2019 it was situational first, then shortlisted to complete numerical and verbal. Perhaps someone who has done the recent EO Competition may know?

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

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