Civil Service online tests
Guidance for job candidates asked to complete an online test, as part of the recruitment process.
This page is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).
Online tests - an introduction
When you apply for a job in the Civil Service, we may want to assess you using a psychometric test. Tests are an effective way of assessing people fairly, consistently and transparently.
Civil Service online tests
There are 7 commonly used tests:
- Civil Service Verbal Test (Verbal Test)
- Civil Service Numerical Test (Numerical Test)
- Civil Service Judgement Test (Judgement Test)
- Civil Service Management Judgement Test (Management Judgement Test)
- Civil Service Work Strengths Test (Work Strengths Test)
- Customer Service Skills Test (Customer Service Test)
- Casework Skills Test (Casework Test)
You may be asked to complete one or more of these - we’ll say whether this is the case on the job advert. No specialist knowledge or experience is needed for our tests.
Preparing for our tests
When you take our tests, you should be prepared.
There are a variety of ways to do this. To help you, we have produced a range of practice tests, detailed test guidance and informational videos.
Practice tests provide an authentic test-taking experience, so you can understand how our tests work:
- Civil Service Judgement practice test
- Civil Service Numerical practice test
- Civil Service Verbal practice test
- Civil Service Management Judgement practice test
- Civil Service Work Strengths practice test
- Customer Service Skills practice test
- Casework Skills practice test
Detailed test guidance covers the specific processes to follow when taking our tests:
- Preparing for the Civil Service Judgement Test
- Preparing for the Civil Service Verbal and Numerical tests
- Preparing for the Civil Service Management Judgement Test
- Preparing for the Civil Service Work Strengths Test
- Preparing for the Customer Service Skills Test
- Preparing for the Casework Skills Test
Informational videos address each of the commonly-used tests and how they work, as well as general questions around reasonable adjustments and accessibility, test-taking mindset and test fairness.
Information videos for some of our online tests:
- Civil Service Verbal Test video
- Civil Service Numerical Test video
- Civil Service Judgement Test video
- Civil Service Work Strengths Test video
- Civil Service Management Judgement Test video
- Customer Service Skills Test video
- Casework Skills Test video
Information videos about the online tests in general:
- Fairness of the online tests
- Requesting a reasonable adjustment for the Civil Service online tests
- Mindset and preparation - Civil Service online tests
Taking a test
Tests are taken online. If you apply for a job and need to complete a test, you will be sent an email invitation, with full instructions on how to proceed. Test answers should be your own; you must not ask for help from anyone.
Reasonable adjustments & test accessibility
The Civil Service is committed to being the most inclusive employer in the UK.
If you have a disability and need adjustments during the recruitment process, we have a legal duty to provide one. When you apply, you should tell us about the help you need.
See our reasonable adjustments guide for candidates (online tests).
It’s not always easy to ask for an adjustment, so we have developed some example case studies, to act as a guide. You can use these to help you decide whether to ask for help, or take the test without help.
You should also take the appropriate practice test before taking an actual test. If you experience difficulties accessing either type of test, you can contact the recruiter in the job advert for further help.
Test results & feedback
Once you have completed the test, you can access test feedback by going to your account on Civil Service Jobs.
Your test score is calculated from your responses, which we compare with the results of a peer group who took the same test - this creates a percentile. For example, if you score at the 44th percentile, it means you scored better than 44% of the comparison group. Meeting the minimum required percentile is no guarantee of an invitation to continue the selection process.
For the Judgment Test you will receive a feedback report to help you understand your test performance. This also provides general suggestions about how to improve further.
You won’t be given answers to specific test questions, to avoid compromising the security of the test. If we shared test answers, this would give an unfair advantage to anyone who has them.
Questions or concerns
When you apply for your role, you will be provided with information about how to raise queries or concerns and resolve issues.
Last updated 23 March 2021 + show all updates
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Updated to mention the two new online tests, added toggle to Welsh.
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Amended links to practice tests
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First published.