THE ULTIMATE EU TEST BOOK Assistant (AST) Edition 2012
Also from John Harper Publishing The Ultimate EU Test Book now exists in separate ADMINISTRATOR and ASSISTANT editions. The companion edition to this book is The Ultimate EU Test Book Administrator (AD) Edition 2012, ISBN 978-0-9564508-9-0 To keep up to date with developments on EPSO exams and any updates on The Ultimate EU Test Book, visit www.eu-testbook.com, from which you can also link to the Ultimate EU Test Book Facebook page to gather information from and make contact with others taking the exams. Information on useful further resources can be found from page 387. For the latest details of our guides to the institutions of the European Union, visit www.europesparliament.com
THE ULTIMATE EU TEST BOOK ASSISTANT (AST) EDITION 2012 András Baneth
Published by John Harper Publishing 27 Palace Gates Road London N22 7BW, United Kingdom. www.johnharperpublishing.co.uk The Ultimate EU Test Book First edition, November 2005 Second edition, May 2007 Third edition, March 2008 Fourth edition, April 2009 Fifth edition, March 2010 1st Assistant edition, November 2010 1st Administrator edition, February 2011 2nd Assistant edition, October 2011 2nd Administrator edition, October 2011 ISBN 978-0-9564508-8-3 John Harper Publishing 2011 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored on a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without either the prior written permission of the Publishers or a licence permitting restricted copying issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency Ltd. Typeset in 9 & 10/11pt Palatino Printed and Bound in Malta at the Gutenberg Press.
TABLE OF CONTENTS About the Authors.................................................................vi Foreword.........................................................................vii Introduction. The EU Personnel Selection and Recruitment Process for Assistants..........1 PART I: PRE-SELECTION PSYCHOMETRIC TESTS 1. Verbal, Numerical and Abstract Reasoning Tests in EPSO Assistant Exams.............27 2. Succeeding in Verbal Reasoning Tests.............................................33 3. Verbal Reasoning Test Questions..................................................................47 Answers...................................................................90 4. Succeeding in Numerical Reasoning Tests.........................................109 5. Numerical Reasoning Test Questions..................................................................125 Answers..................................................................155 6. Succeeding in Abstract Reasoning Tests...........................................169 7. Abstract Reasoning Test Questions.................................................................179 Answers..................................................................212 8. Succeeding in Situational Judgement Tests........................................223 PART II: PRE-SELECTION PROFESSIONAL SKILLS TESTS 1. Organising and Prioritising Test Questions.................................................................239 Answers..................................................................251 2. Computer Literacy Tests Questions.................................................................256 Answers..................................................................266 3. Accuracy Test Questions.................................................................271 Answers..................................................................311 PART III: THE ASSESSMENT CENTRE FOR ASSISTANTS 1. About Assessment Centres and Exercises...........................................319 2. The Structured Interview........................................................329 3. The In-Tray Exercise............................................................346 4. Sample Assessment Centre Reports for Assistants..................................381
vi ABOUT THE AUTHORS András Baneth wishes to express his appreciation to all those who made this book happen by contributing ideas and checking its content. Special thanks are due to Christine J. Ruzicka and Zoltán Arany-Szabó for their invaluable proof-reading and comments and to Delphine Galon for her advice on the exam process. András BANETH is a trainer, consultant and senior partner at Arboreus Online EU Training dealing with strategy and online marketing. His bestselling Ultimate EU Test Book has helped thousands of candidates prepare for EPSO competitions. András has a wide knowledge of EU policies, institutions and communication, his career having included seven years experience at the European Commission and the European Court of Justice, where his roles included coordinating briefings for Commission President Barroso and serving as member of the cabinet of Commissioner Kovács. Fluent in English, French and Spanish, he holds an M.A. in law and political sciences and the degree of Master of European Public Administration from the College of Europe, Bruges, Belgium. He is always open to invitations to speak about EPSO exams, EU communication or online entrepreneurship. His personal website is available at www.baneth.eu and his direct e-mail is andras@baneth.eu Gábor MIKES is the managing director of Arboreus Online EU Training, Europe s leading training company for EPSO exam preparation, and an expert on successful methodologies, including both the theory and practice of passing pre-selection tests. With an M.A. in English Language and Literature and former Kellner Scholar at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut (USA), Gábor has worked at an NGO specialising in EU affairs communication and at Ericsson, the Swedish telecom giant. With a keen passion for psychometric tests, Gábor has held dozens of training courses for hundreds of people around Europe on verbal, abstract and numerical reasoning, many of whom are now working for various EU institutions. Benjamin WILLIAMS is an HPC Registered Occupational Psychologist and a Chartered Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society (BPS). Ben has led the design and implementation of Assessment Centres for over 300 public and private sector clients across Europe and the Middle East. Ben began his career reading Experimental Psychology at Oxford University followed by a Masters in Organisational and Occupational Psychology. After his studies, Ben joined SHL, the UK s largest Occupational Psychology firm, then began working for PSL as a Senior Consultant before launching his freelance career in 2006. Ben is an active member of the Division of Occupational Psychology within the BPS and has lectured at the Universities of Greenwich and Surrey on a range of assessment-related topics. Thomas A. WILLIAMS, with over 20 years experience teaching Writing, Translation and Business English, is currently involved in teacher education at the University of Szeged, Hungary. He has an MA from the University of Reading (UK) and is now working towards a PhD in English Applied Linguistics. He has published articles on a range of topics as well as a test prep book. Disclaimer: Unless otherwise provided, all views expressed in this book are strictly those of the authors acting in their private capacity. Under no circumstance can these be partly or in full interpreted as representing or binding the European institutions, especially the European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO). None of the authors, the publisher or any other contributor has any connection to EPSO or its affiliates whatsoever. Despite the best efforts to provide up-to-date, practical and reliable information at the time of going to press (September 2011), neither the authors nor the publisher can take any responsibility for events or outcomes that may be linked to potentially obsolete or incorrect data contained in the book. Any use of other copyright material is gratefully acknowledged.
vii Purpose of the Book FOREWORD The Ultimate EU Test Book is published to help you, as a candidate, prepare and practise for the European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO) recruitment competitions for jobs in the EU institutions. This 2012 edition is specifically designed for those who intend to compete in the competitions for Assistant (AST) posts and it fully reflects the major reform and overhaul of the competitions launched by EPSO in 2010. The book s main purpose is to help you prepare for the competition, combined with information on the qualities and behaviours the examiners are seeking to identify in candidates so that it will stand you in good stead to be operational from Day One when starting to work in an EU institution or body. The Three Parts The Ultimate EU Test Book Assistant Edition begins with an introductory step-by-step guide with timeline describing each stage of the current EU recruitment process. Including dozens of useful tips and hints, it signposts you to all the areas covered in greater detail later in the book. PART I deals with the psychometric tests (reasoning tests) encountered in the so-called preselection phase of the competitions, which is the stage where candidates face the most competition. These tests involve computer-based testing of verbal, numerical and abstract reasoning skills and situational judgement tests. Many candidates find verbal, numerical and abstract reasoning tests difficult and intimidating and the aim is to help you gain the technical skills and confidence to achieve the best you are capable of. With this in mind, individual chapters are devoted to detailed methodologies for succeeding in each of these test types, followed by comprehensive test exercises which include explanatory answers so you can learn lessons from your performance. PART II covers the professional skills tests that will also be encountered at pre-selection. Individual chapters allow you to practise your skills in organisation and prioritisation, accuracy tests with icons and computer literacy all vital areas in AST job profiles. As with the psychometric tests, explanatory answers are provided to enable you to learn from your mistakes. In addition, wherever possible, the realism of the exercises is increased by simulating real-world tasks and situations that might be encountered while working in EU institutions. Candidates who do not reach the required level in the pre-selection psychometric and professional skills tests will not be offered the chance to proceed further in the competition. It is therefore vital to study carefully the methodology to learn the principles and shortcuts involved and then make sure to practise to increase your speed, accuracy and ratio of correct answers. PART III deals with the second stage of the testing system, the Assessment Centre. It explains how Assessment Centres work and the exercises Assistants are likely to face. Included are individual chapters dedicated to the structured interview and the in-tray exercise, the latter including a full-scale simulation based around an imaginary EU body. It should be noted that professional skills, the subject of Part II, will also be further tested at the Assessment Centre, while the interview will explore your personal strengths and weaknesses. To round the book off, Part III ends with sample Assessment Centre reports, based on current best practice, which will help you get an idea of how assessors will approach their task and what they will be looking for. Keep up-to-date! Despite my and the contributing authors best efforts to be thorough and up-to-date to the fullest possible extent, the reformed EPSO recruitment system put into effect in 2010 is still at a relatively early stage. Make sure therefore that you keep up-to-date with the EPSO website and other EU news sources including the Ultimate EU Test Book and Online EU Training facebook pages.
viii FOREWORD The task that lies ahead of anyone seeking to pass an EPSO recruitment competition is undoubtedly very challenging. Each competition brings many good candidates contesting for a finite number of places. I hope that this edition of The Ultimate EU Test Book will be an ever-useful guide to help you on the road ahead. András Baneth Brussels, September 2011 For the latest news and critical updates about The Ultimate EU Test Book and EPSO competitions, visit us at www.eu-testbook.com and follow The Ultimate EU Test Book on Facebook