Q1. I understand that there will be no prep time for critical incident. Will we be allowed to take notes for critical incident during the prep time for Community meeting and personnel meeting?
A1. Yes, you may take notes for the critical incident during the prep time for the community meeting and personnel meeting.
Q2. How much time do we have to complete the written in-basket?
A2. The written in-basket exercise is approximately one hour.
Q3. Will the document we are using for the written in-basket be preformatted?
A3. Yes, the document for the written in-basket will be pre-formatted.
Q4. Will candidates receive the exact timing and response periods for each exercise before each exercise begins on test day?
A4. Yes, candidates will receive the exact timing and response periods for each exercise before each exercise begins on test day.
Q5. Will on-screen timers and verbal prompts indicate when each response period begins and ends?
A5. Yes, on-screen timers and verbal prompts will indicate when each response period begins and ends.
Q6. Will the In-Basket response template allow candidates to scroll freely between items and revise previous responses before time expires?
A6. Yes, the in-basket response template will allow candidates to scroll freely between items and revise previous responses before time expires.
Q7. Consensus scoring may “reduce individual bias” but does not eliminate it. In order to tip the scales in fairness, will each exercise be scored by a different set of raters?
A7. Yes. Each exercise will be scored by a panel of assessors, with different assessors used for each exercise.
Q8. Will we be given pen and paper during the critical incident in order to write notes?
A8. Yes, notepaper and writing tools will be provided.
Q9. Will the critical incident have four or five segments? The Assessment Center guide instructions lists five segments and the practice example lists four segments.
A9. The Critical Incident will have five (5) segments and will be broken up into the following sections: Initial Scenario, First Update/Contingency, Second Update/Contingency, Third Update/Contingency, and Incident Conclusion.
Q10. Can the written in-basket be hand written instead of typed?
A10. No, the written in-basket cannot be handwritten instead of typed. You may hand write notes, but only typed responses will be graded.
Q11. How much preparation time is allotted for the personnel, community meeting and critical incident test exercises?
A11. Approximately 30 minutes is allotted for the preparation period for the personnel scenario and community meeting. There is no preparation time allotted for the critical incident exercise.
Q12. Would you please tell me about the time on each test question for all the scenarios.
A12. The times listed below are approximate. Candidates will receive the exact timing and response periods for each exercise at the Assessment Center.
Critical Incident
- Initial Scenario: 3 minutes
- First Update/Contingency: 4 minutes
- Second Update/Contingency: 3 minutes
- Third Update/Contingency: 3 minutes
- Incident Conclusion: 4 minutes
Personnel Scenario
- Initial Scenario: 7 minutes
- Follow-Up #1: 3 minutes
- Follow-Up #2: 3 minutes
Community Meeting
- Opening Presentation: 5 minutes
- First Follow-Up: 2 minutes
- Second Follow-Up: 2 minutes
- Closing Statement: 2 minutes