What you’ll need
To take part in an online test you will need:
- a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet
- an up-to-date Google Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge or Safari browser (not Internet Explorer)
- a stable internet connection with a speed of 8mb/s or more – test your internet download speed on the Which? website
- a quiet environment without disturbances
- access to the email address that you used to sign up to the JAC vacancy portal – if your application email differs contact the selection exercise team as soon as possible
Tips for accessing the test
You may find these tips helpful:
- do not use a government device, as it may not support all the features needed for the test
- Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) laptops are not compatible with JAC online tests
- if you plan to use a work device, check with your IT department first – some work systems may block features needed for the test
- do not use a mobile phone – the screen may be too small to view the test properly
- avoid taking the test abroad – we cannot guarantee the test will work outside the UK
- ensure you give yourself plenty of time to set up and complete the test
Step 1
The selection exercise team will send you an email with links to the test and any pre-reading (if required) before the test date.
Step 2
On the day of the test use the links provided. Use the email address you have registered with on the JAC application platform. The situational judgement test and the critical analysis test will appear separately in your account in the days leading up to the online test date.
Step 3
Read the ‘Important information‘ on the screen and then click the checkbox to confirm you have read the instructions and understand that the test material is confidential.
Step 4
When you are ready, press the purple ‘Start now‘ button. The timer will go green and begin counting down.
Step 5
The questions appear one at a time. You will select your answer/s by clicking the appropriate button. When you have given your answer/s press the purple ‘Save and continue‘ button.
You can choose to skip questions and you’ll be able to return to these at the end if you have time remaining.
Your time remaining can be seen in the green bar at the top of the screen – this will also include any extra time awarded.
On the situational judgement test you must choose two answers:
- a most appropriate, and
- a least appropriate
On the critical analysis test you must choose one answer.
Step 6
At the end of the test, you will come to a ‘Review your answers’ page where you can go back to questions that you had not previously completed, or you can check your answers before pressing ‘Submit answers’.
You will be asked if you are sure you want to submit. To finish the test and submit your answers select ‘Submit answers‘ otherwise select ‘Cancel‘ to return to the test.
Step 7
If you run out of time, the platform will submit whatever answers you have completed up until that point. These answers will be marked. You will see the status of this test(s) as ‘Completed (auto submitted)’.
Please be assured your submission will still be marked. This means that the auto submit function has been used.
Step 8
You will see a survey link at the end of the test. The link says ‘Click here to complete our feedback survey’.
You can also access this later from your account by selecting ‘Qualifying tests’ in the ‘Past’ tab by clicking on ‘Click here’ under feedback survey.
We would be grateful for your feedback and consider this when reviewing our selection tools.
Step 1
The selection exercise team will send you an email with links to the test and any pre-reading (if required) prior to the test date.
Step 2
On the day of the test use the links provided. Use the email address you have registered with on the JAC application platform.
Step 3
Read the ‘Important information‘ on the screen and then click the checkbox to confirm you have read the instructions and understand that the test material is confidential.
Step 4
When you are ready, press the purple ‘Start now‘ button. The timer will go green and begin counting down.
Step 5
To the right-hand side of the screen, you will find a copy of the scenario that you are required to read before answering the questions. The questions appear one at a time on the left-hand side of the screen and a free text box will be below the question for you to write your answer.
The free text box will show at the bottom right-hand corner how many words are available for the answer. When you have written your answer/s press the purple ‘Save and continue‘ button.
You can choose to skip questions and you’ll be able to return to these at the end if you have time remaining.
Step 6
At the end of the test, you will come to a ‘Review your answers‘ page where you can go back to questions that you had not previously completed, or you can check your answers before pressing ‘Submit answers‘.
You will be asked if you are sure you want to submit. To finish the test and submit your answers select ‘Submit answers‘ otherwise select ‘Cancel‘ to return to the test.
Step 7
If you run out of time, the platform will submit whatever answers you have completed up until that point. These answers will be marked. You will see the status of this test(s) as ‘Completed (auto submitted)‘.
Please be assured your submission will still be marked. This means that the auto submit function has been used.
Step 8
You will see a survey link at the end of the test. The link to click says ‘click here to complete our feedback survey‘.
You can also access this later from your account by selecting ‘Qualifying tests‘ in the ‘Past‘ tab by clicking on ‘Click here‘ under feedback survey.
We would be grateful for your feedback and consider this when reviewing our selection tools.
Reasonable adjustments
If you requested a reasonable adjustment, you will be contacted separately by the selection exercise team before the test. Your reasonable adjustment confirmation email will contain details of your individual arrangements. If this includes extra time, this will be reflected in the test timer shown on screen.
If you are unsure about your reasonable adjustment arrangement, contact the selection exercise team.
Important: If you’ve applied for more than one live selection exercise, you must contact the selection exercise team for each exercise to request any reasonable adjustments. This information is not shared between JAC teams.
Please contact the relevant selection exercise team as soon as possible if you need to change your reasonable adjustments.
This might be because:
- the agreed adjustments are no longer suitable for your needs
- you experience a problem related to your disability or long-term health condition on the day of your shortlisting tests
Read more about reasonable adjustments.
After the tests
You can find out when to expect your test results on the exercise information page. We will email you to confirm whether you have been successful in moving to the next stage.
If you are successful, you will not receive your test mark. Your mark will not be used at any later stage of the exercise.
After the results are released, we publish a feedback and evaluation report.