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Unsupervised Internet Testing

What is an Unsupervised Internet Test?

What is an Unsupervised Internet Test?

An Unsupervised Internet Test (UIT) is a test that is administered in an unsupervised environment, accessible at any location where the test taker has access to a computer and an Internet connection.

Why is Unsupervised Internet Testing being used?

Each year, the federal public service receives over one million job applications. Some job advertisements receive thousands of applications. The UIT is a new, additional screening tool being used to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the staffing process.

Although receiving many applications for a job can be helpful, processing too many applications is costly and time-consuming. When used in combination with other screening criteria (e.g. education and experience), a UIT can help reduce the volume of applications to a reasonable amount and yield a sufficient number of promising applicants.

To ensure that applicants have completed the UIT based on their own abilities, the UIT results of screened-in candidates will be verified by using another assessment instrument in a supervised setting. For example, when the UIT of Cognitive Ability – Level 1 is used in the screening process, the General Competency Test: Level 1 will be administered later to those who passed the UIT and met the other screening criteria.

Given that an Unsupervised Internet Test is taken without supervision, doesn't that encourage cheating and make the test result questionable?

Research on unsupervised tests has shown that test takers are unlikely to cheat when they are told that, should they get screened in, their UIT will be followed up with a mandatory supervised test that measures the same qualification as the UIT. Poor performance on the mandatory supervised test will end the applicant's participation in the selection process.


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Information for job applicants on Unsupervised Internet Testing

Time limits

The UIT currently in use has a time limit of 60 minutes, but most people are able to finish it in approximately 30 minutes.

Necessary computer skills

Minimal computer skills are needed to complete a UIT. You simply need to navigate through the text, select buttons on your computer screen (e.g. "Next," "Yes" or "No") and select your answers to the UIT questions.

Requirements

Job seekers can complete a UIT only once when applying for a given job opportunity. Job seekers must complete the UIT questions based on their own abilities, without help from others.

Unique test versions

Each applicant is presented with a different set of questions for the same UIT. All versions of the same UIT are of equal difficulty.


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Unsupervised Internet Test of Cognitive Ability – Level 1

Description

What does the Unsupervised Internet Test of Cognitive Ability – Level 1 measure?

The Unsupervised Internet Test (UIT) of Cognitive Ability – Level 1 measures a person’s general problem-solving and reasoning ability.

What can I expect when I take this test?

  • Number and type of questions: The test is comprised of 20 multiple choice questions.
  • Time limit: You have 60 minutes to complete the UIT, although most people finish it in approximately 30 minutes. If you take extended breaks during the test and keep your browser open, you may not have sufficient time to complete the test. At the end of the 60 minutes, all the questions that you answered up to that point will be scored; this will be the UIT result used in your job application.
  • If technical difficulties arise during the test (e.g. your computer crashes or you accidentally close your browser window), you will be able to continue the test by logging back into the system and continuing where you left off. In the event of extreme technical difficulties (e.g. extended power outage), you can use the e-mail address provided to submit a request to take the test again. You will only be permitted to re-take the test once, and you will be given an entirely new set of questions to complete. A request for a re-test can only be addressed from Monday to Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. There can be a delay in the time required to provide a re-test during periods of high call volumes.
  • Pass mark: Each hiring manager sets the pass mark for their process. As a result, pass marks on the UIT of Cognitive Ability – Level 1 can vary across selection processes.

Test result

How will the results of my Unsupervised Internet Test of Cognitive Ability – Level 1 be used?

The results of your UIT will be used along with the other screening criteria established by the manager who is filling the position(s).

If you fail the UIT of Cognitive Ability – Level 1 or any of the other screening criteria used by the manager (e.g. education), you will be screened out and not considered further for the position.

If you pass the UIT of Cognitive Ability – Level 1 and the other screening criteria used by the manager (e.g. education), you will be further considered for the position and required to write the General Competency Test: Level 1 (GCT1) in a supervised location. For a description of the GCT1, please visit www.psc-cfp.gc.ca/ppc-cpp/psc-tests-cfp/gct1-ecg1-eng.htm.

How can I obtain the results of my Unsupervised Internet Test?

Once the advertisement is closed, log into your "My Jobs file" and you will be advised whether your application met the unsupervised internet test requirement.

Can the results of my Unsupervised Internet Test of Cognitive Ability – Level 1 be re-used when I apply for other jobs?

No. The results of your UIT of Cognitive Ability – Level 1 can only be used within the selection process for which you took that UIT. If you apply for another job that includes the UIT in its screening process, you are required to take another version of the UIT of Cognitive Ability – Level 1.

I have a disability or require assessment accommodations. Can I ask for them?

As part of the on-line process, applicants will be asked whether they require accommodations for the UIT. Applicants do not have to officially self-identify as a member of one of the Employment Equity groups to request assessment accommodations. If an applicant indicates that they require accommodations, the applicant will be exempt from taking the UIT. If the applicant is subsequently screened in based on the other criteria and without having completed the UIT, the applicant will be required to provide information on their condition or disability or their circumstance (e.g. cultural or religious reasons) to enable appropriate assessment with the supervised test.

Who do I contact for more information about the Unsupervised Internet Test of Cognitive Ability – Level 1?

Send your questions via e-mail to ppc-cpp@psc-cfp.gc.ca, or telephone
613-992-9741.

Doing your best on the Unsupervised Internet Test of Cognitive Ability – Level 1

  • Set aside sufficient time to complete the UIT.
  • Arrange to do the UIT in a location that you believe will be conducive to doing your best.
  • Answer all questions . Read the whole question. Eliminate answers that you know are wrong. By reducing the number of choices, you increase your chance of selecting correct answers. Guess if you are not sure of the correct answer. There is no penalty for wrong answers.
  • Before you take the UIT, try the following practice questions. Answers are provided for each question, along with the rationale for the correct answer.


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Examples of the three types of questions on the test

Similarities questions

In each similarities question, five pairs of words are presented. Your task is to select the pair that refers most clearly to the same general concept.

Try to find the pair in the following example:

Question 1

  1. DRIVER - AUTOMOBILE
  2. CARROT - ONION
  3. AUTOMOBILE - CARROT
  4. ONION - CLOUD
  5. CLOUD - DRIVER

Among these five pairs, the second, CARROT - ONION, refers most directly to the same concept: that of vegetables (or garden products). Therefore, you would select the second button, as illustrated below.





In similarities questions, each of the other four pairs of words may also refer to a common concept:

  • DRIVER and AUTOMOBILE both refer to driving.
    • Please note that, while DRIVER and AUTOMOBILE "go together" in the sense that automobiles have drivers, the two words do not represent a general concept or belong in the same category. Therefore, it is not a good answer choice.
  • AUTOMOBILE and CARROT are consumer goods.
  • ONION and CLOUD both contain water.
  • CLOUD and DRIVER are things that move.

In each case, however, the association is less clear and the similarity weaker than for CARROT -ONION.

Question 2

  1. SPEED - LENGTH
  2. SPEED - STRENGTH
  3. LENGTH - WIDTH
  4. STRENGTH - COLOUR
  5. STRENGTH - WIDTH

Although all the pairs are made up of words expressing various concepts of quality, only the third pair, LENGTH - WIDTH, is made up of words expressing exactly the same concept: dimension. Therefore, you would select the third button, as illustrated below.





Numerical questions

In this type of question, you must choose the correct answer to a practical numerical problem. Use of rough paper is permitted.

Question 3

You are a pay clerk and must calculate overtime pay for employees in your division. Due to a heavy workload, an employee had to do 35 hours of overtime in two weeks. Seven of these hours are at "double time" (i.e. twice the usual pay). the rest are at "time-and-a-half" (i.e. one and a half times the usual pay). The employee's usual pay is $375 per week, at $10 per hour. How much overtime money should the employee be paid for the two-week period?

  1. $340
  2. $420
  3. $560
  4. $760

To calculate the overtime paid, you would add the 7 hours of work at a rate of $20 per hour (double time) to the 28 hours of work at a rate of $15 per hour (time-and-a-half). Therefore, the overtime to be paid for the week would be $140 plus $420, which equals $560. You would select option 3, which corresponds to $560.




Question 4

If a clerk can file 100 letters in half an hour, how many letters can the person file in 2 hours?

  1. 100
  2. 200
  3. 500
  4. 300
  5. 400

Since two hours is 4 times longer than half an hour, the clerk should be able to file 4 times as many letters in that length of time. The correct answer is therefore 400 (i.e. 4 × 100), so you would select the fifth option, as illustrated below.





Number series questions

In a number series task, you are to determine the number that would come next in the series. You first have to establish the rule that has been used to make up the series, and then apply this rule to complete the series correctly.

Question 5

3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18,

  1. 19
  2. 20
  3. 21
  4. 22
  5. 23

In this example, each number of the series is the preceding number plus three. The number that completes the series correctly is obtained by adding 3 to 18. Since 21 is the correct answer, you would select option 3.





Note: If you accessed this Web site from an advertisement for a job in the federal public service, you will need to return to the advertisement to apply for the job and take the UIT.


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Unsupervised Internet Test of Second Language Writing Skills

The Second Language Writing Skills test is a self-assessment tool that evaluates the test takers’ ability to express themselves, in writing, in their second official language. It is self-assessment because the results will only be seen by the test taker. The results are designed to help job applicants decide whether or not it makes sense for them to apply for bilingual imperative positions.

This test is being offered to applicants who submit their application to certain bilingual job opportunities that are advertised using the Public Service Resourcing System (PSRS).

Which job opportunities will use this Unsupervised Internet Test?

  • Applicants are given the opportunity, on a voluntary basis, to take this test if they are working on an application to a bilingual position within PSRS.
  • No distinction between the various levels of bilingual job opportunities (i.e. A, B or C) are taken into consideration. The UIT is available to applicants whenever the word “bilingual” is used to describe one or more of the available positions.

How does taking this test affect the applicants?

  • Test results do not affect the applicant’s status in any job selection process for which they apply.
  • Results are solely for applicant use and for anonymous research purposes.
  • Results do not affect previous or future achieved levels on the statutory Second Language Evaluation (SLE) Test of Written Expression in the applicant's second official language.
  • Applicants will still be required to take the statutory SLE test in their second official language if they apply to and are screened into bilingual imperative job opportunities.

Taking the test

  • This test is designed to be completed within 15 to 30 minutes. For the test takers’ convenience, a time limit of 60 minutes has been allotted to complete the test.
  • A test taker can remain idle for 60 minutes before the system will log them out of the test. Once logged out, the test taker will not be able to complete the test, nor will they be given the opportunity to take the test again. Rather, they will need to send an e-mail to the Help Desk in order to re-set their test.
  • If the test is interrupted prematurely due to a disruption of service for any reason, the test taker will be given an opportunity to re-take the test. This can be accomplished if they send a request to the Help Desk during their hours of operation.

Results

  • The results are provided to the test taker automatically following the completion of the test.
  • Test takers will receive feedback about whether they scored low, medium or high on the test. Those who receive a low score will be told that, if they maintain their current level of performance, then it is unlikely that they will pass the SLE Test of Written Expression in the Second Official Language at the intermediate (B) or advanced (C) level.
  • Your results will not be shared with the HR Advisor and/or Hiring Manager.
  • There is no indication to the test taker as to what rating level they received, such as A, B, C or E.

What if the applicant fails the test?

  • There is no consequence. The results do not impact an application process. It is up to the candidate, based on the results of the test, to decide whether or not they wish to continue with their application for the position or withdraw from the process.
  • Applicants who have applied to and been screened in for bilingual job opportunities will still be required to write the statutory SLE test for each process if they do not have valid SLE test results that meet the language requirements of the job opportunity.


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Examples of the types of questions you will see on the Second Language Evaluation test

Question Type I

In this question type, you are given a sentence in English followed by four answer choices in French. You are to select the sentence that is closest in meaning to the sentence written in English and is grammatically correct.

Example 1

Question 1

Could you file the records that are on my desk?

  1. Pourriez-vous mettre dans le cabinet les dossiers qui sont sur mon bureau?
  2. Est-ce que vous pourriez mettre dans le fichier les dossiers sur mon bureau?
  3. Pourriez-vous classer les dossiers qui sont sur mon bureau?
  4. Est-ce que vous pourriez arranger les dossiers qui sont sur mon bureau?

In Example 1, the third sentence, Pourriez-vous classer les dossiers qui sont sur mon bureau?, is the one that is closest in meaning to the sentence written in English and is grammatically correct. Therefore, you would select the third sentence.

Pourriez-vous mettre dans le cabinet les dossiers qui sont sur mon bureau?
Est-ce que vous pourriez mettre dans le fichier les dossiers sur mon bureau?
Pourriez-vous classer les dossiers qui sont sur mon bureau?
Est-ce que vous pourriez arranger les dossiers qui sont sur mon bureau?

Question Type II

In this question type, you are given a sentence in which words or groups of words have been underlined and printed in bold text.

You are to identify, from among the four underlined words or groups of words, the one that constitutes an error. If none of the words or groups of words constitutes an error, select the circle beside "no error / pas d'erreur" on your screen.

Example 2

Question 2

Afin de (1) revoir le rapport de (2) vérification interne, une réunion spéciale (3) est prévue au (4) 19 avril. ______(5)

In Example 2, the word au constitutes an error. Therefore, you would select the circle beside the word "au" on your screen.

1) Afin de
2) de
3) spéciale
4) au
5) No error / pas d'erreur

Send your questions via e-mail to ppc-cpp@psc-cfp.gc.ca, or telephone
613-992-9741.

Date Modified: 2010-03-29

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