CSIST - Civil Service

Civil Service Initial Sift Test (CSIST)
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I have to complete the CSIST?
The CSIST is an online Situational Judgement Test (SJT). There are four separate
CSISTs for grades AA/AO, EO, HEO and SEO. These tests are used to help
recruiters assess whether candidates meet the minimum requirement for the grade
that they have applied for – they are not testing the skills that might be needed for a
specific job at that grade.
What does the CSIST measure?
The CSIST broadly measures a candidate’s capability to demonstrate the behaviours
underpinning the Civil Service Competency Framework (CSCF).
How is the CSIST structured?
Candidates will be presented with a number of different workplace scenarios during
the test. For some scenarios there will be questions for which there is only one
correct answer from the options given, however for other questions applicants will
have to use a rating scale to indicate how appropriate or inappropriate an action is.
There are nine scenarios in the CSIST and between 3 to 5 questions per scenario.
Do I need any specialist knowledge to complete the CSIST?
All the information candidates need to answer the questions will be provided in the
scenario. Candidates do not need any specialist knowledge to complete the CSIST.
How is the CSIST administered?
The test is administered online and accessed via the Civil Service Jobs website.
Before candidates start the test, they need to check that they have a good Internet
connection. Clearing out cookies before starting will help to ensure that candidates
can complete the test without having access problems. Once candidates start the
test they will be given full instructions about how to complete the test and the types of
questions they will be required to answer. It is important that candidates complete
the test in a suitable environment – one that is quiet and free from distractions.
Candidates must complete the test on their own and Departments reserve the right to
retest them under supervised conditions in order to validate their test results.
If candidates have any concerns about online testing, they should contact the
vacancy holder.
Can I take the CSIST on any computer?
Candidates can complete the test on any computer at work or home but need to
make sure that the computer they are using has a good Internet connection.
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Is there an opportunity to practise?
There are examples in the instructions that will help to familiarise candidates with the
structure of the test before they take it. It is our intention to produce some separate
practice tests, but these are not yet available.
How can I prepare for the CSIST?
Candidates can find practice tests using an Internet search engine such as Google.
Candidates should look for and use free sites that let them practice Situational
Judgement Tests (SJTs) as well as those which involve understanding or interpreting
information. However, it is important to keep in mind that all tests vary slightly from
one another and so candidates should not expect any practice tests made freely
available on the Internet to look identical to the CSIST.
How long does the CSIST take?
The online tests are timed, giving candidates a maximum time period in which to read
and answer the questions before the test is stopped automatically. The timing differs
according to the grade of the test.
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AA/AO test takes 25 minutes
EO, HEO and SEO tests take 30 minutes.
It is important that candidates make sure they have enough time to complete the test
before they start, as once the test begins responses cannot be saved and the test
cannot be re-started. Full instructions are provided in the invitation candidates
receive to complete the test.
The time allowed for candidates to complete the test is intended to be generous, so
most people are able to complete the test within the time allowed. This means that
the main focus of the test is on the accuracy of a candidate’s responses rather than
how quickly they can respond.
What materials do I need to answer the CSIST?
Before candidates start the test they should make sure that they have some rough
paper, a pen or pencil and a calculator. Candidates may also wish to have a clock or
watch next to them so that they can keep an eye on the time.
How are my CSIST results calculated?
Candidate scores on the CSIST are calculated from the responses they give to the
questions. A candidate’s score is then compared with the results obtained by a
representative group of people who have taken the same test previously – this is
called a comparison group or norm group.
What is a percentile score?
A percentile score shows how a candidate has performed on the test compared to a
representative group of people who have taken the test previously (i.e. norm group).
For example, if a candidate achieved the 44th percentile on a test this would mean
they scored better than 44% of people in the representative group. The percentile
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score does not tell candidates the percentage of correct scores they obtained on the
test.
How will decisions be made on my CSIST results?
If a candidate achieves the minimum required standard on the test, their score will be
banked for six months and they will not need to complete the test for any applications
they make for vacancies at the same grade within this time.
Please also note that, if a candidate meets the minimum required standard, this does
not guarantee that they will be invited to the next stage of the selection process. This
is at the discretion of the vacancy holder and may be determined by a number of
additional factors, e.g. the number of successful candidates, and any restrictions on
the number of invitations available for the next stage of the process.
If a candidate does not achieve the minimum required standard on the test they will
have the opportunity to complete the test again for any future applications that they
make.
Will I get any feedback?
Candidates will receive a computer generated feedback report that will help them to
understand how well they have performed on the test and will also provide some
general suggestions as to how they can improve further. Candidates should be able
to access this feedback immediately via the Civil Service jobs portal.
Can I get more specific feedback on my performance?
It is not possible to provide specific feedback on the CSIST as it is designed as a
broad measure of the CSCF rather than an in-depth assessment of specific
competencies. Job-specific selection methods such as application forms, interviews
and assessment centres can provide more detailed feedback as they tend to be
focused on a smaller number of key job requirements.
Will I find out what questions I answered correctly/incorrectly on the CSIST?
Candidates will not be provided with answers to the questions from the CSIST. This
is standard practice in psychometric testing to avoid compromising the security and
integrity of the test.
What should I pay attention to when taking the CSIST?
If candidates are required to take the CSIST as part of a job application they should
consider the following:
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Find a quiet place to take the test without being disturbed
Make sure there is enough time to complete the test in one sitting
Follow the test instructions carefully
Answer all of the questions
Work through all the questions before clicking the ‘Submit’ button at the end
of the test. Be aware that clicking the ‘Submit’ button before answering all of
the questions, will submit the test and there will be no further opportunity to
back and complete questions that have been missed.
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What should I do if I require reasonable adjustments?
If a candidate requires a reasonable adjustment to be made in order to take the test,
they should contact the vacancy holder and/or Civil Service Resourcing Service
Delivery Team to discuss their needs as early as possible before taking the test.
What should I do if I encounter any problems during the test (e.g. technical
issues)?
If candidates encounter any technical problems during the test they should contact
Civil Service Resourcing Service Delivery Team and/or Civil Service Resourcing
System Support Team.
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