When you'll encounter testing
Some APS recruitment processes — most graduate programs, all SES selections, and an increasing number of EL2 roles — include psychometric testing. The tests are generally provided by external vendors (SHL, Revelian, Cubiks, or Talegent) and fall into two categories: cognitive ability tests (numerical, verbal, abstract reasoning) and personality questionnaires.
Candidates obsess over cognitive testing and ignore personality testing — which is exactly backwards. Cognitive scores are a threshold filter; personality results are read in detail and can quietly knock you out of contention.
What to know about cognitive tests
- They're usually adaptive: the difficulty changes based on your answers, and time pressure is part of the assessment design.
- Practice tests genuinely help — not because the questions repeat, but because the format anxiety drops.
- Free practice from the test vendor's site is usually as good as paid courses for APS-level testing.
What to know about personality questionnaires
- They usually use forced-choice formats specifically to defeat impression management — trying to "game" them often produces inconsistent profiles flagged for follow-up.
- Answer honestly and consistently. Faking is detectable and counted against you.
- Personality results are interpreted alongside the role profile — there's no universal "good" answer.
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Start your free trialReasonable adjustments
Reasonable adjustments (extra time, untimed assessments, accessible formats) are available on request and are explicitly anticipated by APS test providers. Ask early — adjustments can take days to set up.
Test result portability
APS-aligned tests typically follow the British Psychological Society or similar professional standards. Results have a defined validity period (usually 12-24 months) and can sometimes be reused across agencies. If you're applying for multiple roles, ask whether previous results can be carried over.
How GovPrep helps
GovPrep doesn't replace psychometric prep, but our practice mode reduces interview anxiety — which directly improves performance in the speeded sections of cognitive tests.