Success Profiles: Ability
Updated 9 October 2024
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The Civil Service recruits using Success Profiles. They help give us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job. For each role we advertise, we consider what you will need to demonstrate to be successful.
Our Success Profiles are made of five elements:
- Ability - the aptitude or potential to perform to the required standard
- Technical - the actions and activities that people do which result in effective performance in a job
- Behaviours - the actions and activities that people do which result in effective performance in a job
- Strengths - the things we do regularly, do well and that motivate us
- Experience - the knowledge or mastery of an activity or subject gained through involvement in or exposure to it
Not all elements are relevant to every role. The makeup of the Success Profile should be different for different types of job. This helps us to improve the chances of getting the best person for the job.
Civil Service ability
Ability is the aptitude or potential to perform to the required standard. The Civil Service uses a set of psychometric tests to help predict future performance. These include a verbal reasoning test and a numerical reasoning test.
Why we assess ability
When testing your ability we want to understand your aptitude for a particular type of work.
We assess ability to help predict future performance. This can help recruiting managers to get a real understanding of if you have the skills for the role. It can also help them assess your suitability for the type of work the Civil Service does.
How we assess ability
Ability can be assessed using psychometric tests, often in an online internet-based format.
Ability can be assessed at various stages of the recruitment process. However, it is often done at the beginning.
The most common tests which we use in the Civil Service are:
- verbal reasoning test - to assess your verbal capabilities
- numerical reasoning test - to assess your numerical capabilities
The Civil Service online tests guidance contains a range of practice tests, detailed test guidance and videos to help you prepare.
The tests are scored automatically. You will be told if you have achieved the pass benchmark. These tests will not be the only form of selection. If you pass, you will receive information about the next step in the recruitment process.
Your ability may be assessed alongside other elements of the Success Profile. This helps us to get a more rounded picture of your suitability for the role.
The job advert will tell you which elements you need for the role and the selection method(s) we will use.
Reasonable adjustments
The Civil Service is a diverse and inclusive workplace. We want to help you show your full potential whatever type of assessment we use.
Examples of adjustments can include:
- providing documents in large print or braille
- allowing more time for a test or interview or
- providing assistance at an assessment centre
If you need any reasonable adjustments, tell us when you submit your application that you need an adjustment and how it will help.
There is guidance for people with disabilities who are asked to complete a online test and may be unsure if they need help to access it.