61 replies to this topic

[hl08]

Hey!

Did anyone else get a call for the BTP PCSO assessment for this Saturday?

Can anyone give me a few clues on what to expect in the test? Not asking for a word for word account of the questions as I don't want to cheat but just a jist of what kind of things they will ask?

Also is the fitness test really hard? I'm worried about the push and pull test!

Thanks!

[Keiron]

Congratulations on getting this far!
Just out of curiousity what area have you applied for?

The assessment day consists of quite a bit of waiting around. I found it quite fun especially when getting uniform fittings. The fitness test is 5.4 on the shuttle run (bleep test) done in a sports hall. For me I found the bleep test pretty easy to achieve and I'm a big built bloke with poor fitness when running is concerned. The push pull seamed really easy consisting of 3 practise pushes/pulls followed by 5 'real' ones. There were a few small built people on my fitness and they passed without a problem.

The staff are really friendly and welcoming and it's a really good experience. All I can say about the interview is just go over the core competencies before hand so you know what may be asked/be expected of you.

Any more questions feel free to ask.
Good luck!

Keiron

[L-M.A.B_90]

Hey!

Did anyone else get a call for the BTP PCSO assessment for this Saturday?

Can anyone give me a few clues on what to expect in the test? Not asking for a word for word account of the questions as I don't want to cheat but just a jist of what kind of things they will ask?

Also is the fitness test really hard? I'm worried about the push and pull test!

Thanks!

I am in the same position as Keiron, we had our assessments and passed last month (but we applied a few months before Christmas) -The recruitment team are very helpful and friendly and you will enjoy the day. It is my guess that they will be putting us all in training together.. The fitness test is not something to greatly be concerned about, it's just a standard officer's medical (the job-related fitness test). Are you applying for Wales and Western (Wales)?
The very best of luck and hoping to work with you soon. Do keep us posted and updated here, all the best..

Edited by L-M.A.B_90, 21 February 2012 - 02:45 PM.

[jayjay21]

Hi, I got the call earlier but I choose the sunday at 0930.

I have been to a BTP assessment centre before, how ever this was for a special. I passed interview and all test except the written, so I'm worried about that.

Has anyone got any tips on the pcso written test?

Also what other tests do you do for pcso assessment centre as all it says on my email is tests...

Thanks.

[Sappmer]

Hi, I got the call earlier but I choose the sunday at 0930.

I have been to a BTP assessment centre before, how ever this was for a special. I passed interview and all test except the written, so I'm worried about that.

Has anyone got any tips on the pcso written test?

Also what other tests do you do for pcso assessment centre as all it says on my email is tests...

Thanks.

When I did the PCSO assessment centre, we had to do the fitness test, written tests and an interview. I can't imagine this being much different.

[jayjay21]

When I did the PCSO assessment centre, we had to do the fitness test, written tests and an interview. I can't imagine this being much different.

Thanks for the reply, was their not a maths test? Or a logical reasoning test?

[L-M.A.B_90]

When I did the PCSO assessment centre, we had to do the fitness test, written tests and an interview. I can't imagine this being much different.

You're right -
Fitness, uniform fitting and photograph taking, an English written exam and competency based interview in front of a recruitment panel...

[Sappmer]

Thanks for the reply, was their not a maths test? Or a logical reasoning test?

Yeah, there was a maths and logical reasoning test at mine.


And I don't recall photographs and uniform fitting happening at my assessment centre. Believe they happen afterwards.

[Keiron]

In the correct order, this is what happened at my assessment day which took place between 12 and 16:30..

Fitness test
Shower
English written test
Photograph taking
Uniform fitting
Competency based interview
Home

There was quite a bit of waiting around in between aswel. Also other candidates done it in a different order, they split us into groups to speed things up.
As for the English written test, I thought I done really bad and wrote different to other people I was talking to on the day and my handwriting is terrible, however, I got through.
Don't think there's much preparation you can do in regards to the written test unless you knew what it would be about.

Keiron

[Rig555]

I think it was slightly different at mine, but did it last summer so probably changed

Maths tests
English tests
Fitness
Interview

Photos and uniform at a later date.

[L-M.A.B_90]

I think it was slightly different at mine, but did it last summer so probably changed

Maths tests
English tests
Fitness
Interview

Photos and uniform at a later date.

They did our fitting an photograph taking (wearing the white shirt and tie) at our assessment centre - that's something we found a bit strange but we went with it, we're just waiting to have news now...
Hopefully it'll come soon, I'm looking forward to starting...

[L-M.A.B_90]

Hey!

Did anyone else get a call for the BTP PCSO assessment for this Saturday?

Can anyone give me a few clues on what to expect in the test? Not asking for a word for word account of the questions as I don't want to cheat but just a jist of what kind of things they will ask?

Also is the fitness test really hard? I'm worried about the push and pull test!

Thanks!

Just out of curiousity (and for the added benefit of Keiron amd myself) did BTP advise you as to a starting date?
A date for training or anything else?
All is at a complete standstill at the moment from our perspective, I wonder how many PCSOs they're recruiting?
Any idea, anyone?

(**Keep us all posted, communication is the key - )

[jayjay21]

Just out of curiousity (and for the added benefit of Keiron amd myself) did BTP advise you as to a starting date?
A date for training or anything else?
All is at a complete standstill at the moment from our perspective, I wonder how many PCSOs they're recruiting?
Any idea, anyone?

(**Keep us all posted, communication is the key - )

All they said to me was that if I pass that I will have my medical week commencing 19th march. No other info was given.

[L-M.A.B_90]

All they said to me was that if I pass that I will have my medical week commencing 19th march. No other info was given.

We were meant to have our medicals this month but did not receive any instructions - so we will probably get the green light to have our medicals altogether, probably and hopefully.

[CouldYou?]

Hey Kieron congratulations on passing the assessment. I have my a/c on sunday and it says testing as one of the main parts is this just one written exam or more?. Can you suggest any preparation for this? Hope to hear for you soon.

[L-M.A.B_90]

Hey Kieron congratulations on passing the assessment. I have my a/c on sunday and it says testing as one of the main parts is this just one written exam or more?. Can you suggest any preparation for this? Hope to hear for you soon.

Hi,

There's one written exam, fitness test and interview - those were the stages (and I attended the same A/C as Keiron).

Good luck and all the best for Sunday, .

[Keiron]

Hey Kieron congratulations on passing the assessment. I have my a/c on sunday and it says testing as one of the main parts is this just one written exam or more?. Can you suggest any preparation for this? Hope to hear for you soon.

To be honest, I don't believe I could have done any preparation for the written exam. I was scratching my head until half way through and just had to write something down and luckily I done ok.
With the interview, it is worth reading the key competencies through and thinking how you can relate personal experiences to each one. Also look over the answers you provided on the paper application.

Good luck!
Keiron

[hl08]

To be honest, I don't believe I could have done any preparation for the written exam. I was scratching my head until half way through and just had to write something down and luckily I done ok.
With the interview, it is worth reading the key competencies through and thinking how you can relate personal experiences to each one. Also look over the answers you provided on the paper application.

Good luck!
Keiron

Hi Keiron,

How hard it the push and pull test really hard? Is it similar to doing chest press at the gym? The machines i've been on in the gym I can only lift 23kg so i've got it into my head I am going to fail this part. If you fail the fitness do you get a change to retake it or do you just have to re-apply again?

How long does the interview last and how many people interview you? Is the maths test pretty simple maths? Not like algebra or anything?

Sorry for all the questions!

xx

[L-M.A.B_90]

Hi Keiron,

How hard it the push and pull test really hard? Is it similar to doing chest press at the gym? The machines i've been on in the gym I can only lift 23kg so i've got it into my head I am going to fail this part. If you fail the fitness do you get a change to retake it or do you just have to re-apply again?

How long does the interview last and how many people interview you? Is the maths test pretty simple maths? Not like algebra or anything?

Sorry for all the questions!

xx

We did not have a math test and there were two people that interviewed us. Be mindful of time constraints particularly within the written exam (the time will pass by before you even realise it and can catch you out).
All the best..

[hl08]

What about the fitness?

We did not have a math test and there were two people that interviewed us. Be mindful of time constraints particularly within the written exam (the time will pass by before you even realise it and can catch you out).
All the best..

[Police Constable 1]

What about the fitness?

You should do the fitness test on the day, I would take your kit with you but the letter should have told you what you will be doing on the day

Oh and best of luck everyone

[hl08]

Is the push and pull the same as lifiting weights at the gym?

You should do the fitness test on the day, I would take your kit with you but the letter should have told you what you will be doing on the day

Oh and best of luck everyone

[Police Constable 1]

Is the push and pull the same as lifiting weights at the gym?

No, but you will be ok,

You get 3 practice goes and then you go in for the 4 (some do 5) full ones and then you do the same on the pull

They will talk you through how to do it and will demonstrate, if you can do then stand back so your not in the first 2 to do it so you can watch how its done, if you can lift 2 bags containing 2x 2lt bottles of coke without any problems then you can do the push pull

[hl08]

Thank you for the help, much appreciated

No, but you will be ok,

You get 3 practice goes and then you go in for the 4 (some do 5) full ones and then you do the same on the pull

They will talk you through how to do it and will demonstrate, if you can do then stand back so your not in the first 2 to do it so you can watch how its done, if you can lift 2 bags containing 2x 2lt bottles of coke without any problems then you can do the push pull

[Police Constable 1]

Thank you for the help, much appreciated

The worst thing you can do is panick!

You will be fine