Written Communication Proficiency Test
WCPT-351
Use
The purpose of the Written Communication Proficiency Test ( WCPT) is to provide an efficient assessment of an individual's ability to communicate in writing. This test can be used in making selection decisions, and in identifying training and development needs. It can be used to assess employees at the officer level, managers, or leaders whose position requires them to write clear and concise letters, memos, reports, or other documents. This test can also be administered through the PSC’s Online Test Facility (OLTF) platform.
Description
The WCPT contains a number of short passages, each of which consists of approximately 10 sentences or sentence fragments. Errors have been introduced into some of the passages, and the order of the sentences or paragraphs may have been modified. Each passage is followed by several multiple-choice questions related to the passage. The questions involve, for example, identifying grammar errors, determining the best word to insert into a blank, choosing the best title for a passage, ordering sentences, and choosing the best summary of a text. In total, there are 50 questions.
Candidates will be evaluated on of the following features of writing: grammar, punctuation, vocabulary richness and precision, appropriate level of language use, avoidance of wordiness and redundancies, knowledge of main points versus subordinate details, and paragraph and text development - including order of sentences and paragraphs.
The time limit for the WCPT is 1 hour and 40 minutes, although testing sessions typically take an additional 20 minutes due to administration. Managers will set the cutoff score that will be used in a particular competition, taking into account the level of writing ability required.
Scoring
The Personnel Psychology Centre generally scores tests within 48 hours of receiving them. The results are then sent to Human Resource Offices, which in turn inform the candidates of their scores.
Retest Period
There is a 180-day waiting period before the test can be re-written. A person wishing to take this test again must wait until the retest period indicated for this test has elapsed. Should a person re-write the test before the retest period has elapsed, the new result will not be valid, and a new retest period will begin as of the most recent test date.
Human Resources Advisors
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