Verbal Reasoning
Not publishedof exam
Numerical Reasoning
Not publishedof exam
Assessment Questionnaire
Not publishedof exam
Written Exercise
Not publishedof exam
Interview & Competency Framework
Not publishedof exam
Process, Logistics & Later Stages
Not publishedof exam
Quick Facts
- Exam
- Garda Trainee Aptitude Assessment
- Employer
- An Garda Siochana
- Administered By
- publicjobs (PAS)
- Stage 1
- Verbal, numerical, questionnaire, writing
- Stage 1 Format
- Online, remote, unsupervised
- Stage 2
- Interview + role play (Zoom)
- Pass Mark
- Not published by publicjobs
- Test Language
- English only (current FAQ)
- Stage 3
- PCT, medical, vetting checks
Verbal Reasoning Filter
Stated = must; assumed = could
Must: text says itCould: sounds likelyOnly must counts
Verbal vs Numerical Reasoning
Verbal
- Evidence only
- True/False/Cannot Say
- Passage-based
Numerical
- Data and tables
- Calculate relationships
- Multiple choice
Reading vs calculating
Verbal Reasoning Tactics
- True
- Directly stated in passage
- False
- Passage states the opposite
- Cannot Say
- Not stated either way
- Must Be True
- Fully supported by text
- Could Be True
- Possible but not proven
- Qualifiers
- All, only, some, never
- No Outside Knowledge
- Use passage facts only
Must Be True vs Could Be True
Must Be True
- Directly stated
- Fully supported by text
- Only valid conclusion
Could Be True
- Possible but unproven
- Adds an assumption
- Not a safe answer
Proven vs possible
Numerical Setup Steps
Ask -> Values -> Relationship -> Estimate
Ask: restate targetValues: labels+unitsRelationship: pick operationEstimate: sanity check
Numerical Method Picker
- Asked for share of total→Percentage: part/whole(x100)
- Comparing two quantities→Ratio: compare parts(Simplify)
- Asked per unit/time→Rate: divide by unit(Match units)
- Multiple periods given→Difference: subtract values(Check direction)
- Given a spread of values→Average: sum/count(Watch outliers)
Numerical Core Skills
- Percentage
- Part divided by whole
- Ratio
- Compare two related parts
- Rate
- Amount per unit or time
- Difference
- Subtract smaller from larger
- Average
- Sum divided by count
- Proportion
- Part relative to total
- Estimate
- Sanity-check before calculating
Data Interpretation
- Table
- Read row and column labels
- Chart
- Compare bar or line height
- Units
- Match units before comparing
- Trend
- Note direction over time
- Raw vs Rate
- Do not confuse the two
- Outlier
- Unusual value skews averages
- Rounding
- Round only the final answer
Strong vs Weak SJT Answer
Strong
- Safety and procedure first
- Calm, direct action
- Matches Garda values
Weak
- Ignores the problem
- Blames others
- Breaks procedure
Most vs least effective
SJT Response Priority
- Scenario shows safety risk→Address safety first(Most effective)
- Unclear facts given→Ask clarifying question(Before acting)
- Team conflict shown→Communicate calmly, direct(Most effective)
- Tempting shortcut offered→Follow proper procedure(Most effective)
- Ignore the problem→Never select(Least effective)
- Blame another person→Never select(Least effective)
Assessment Questionnaire Principles
- Honesty
- Answer as you really are
- Consistency
- Keep answers aligned throughout
- No Ideal Persona
- Do not fake perfection
- Read Fully
- Read every instruction closely
- Job Simulation
- Realistic Garda-specific scenarios
- Reflect, Don't Guess
- Use real past behavior
- Avoid Extremes
- Skip always/never answers
Questionnaire vs Written Exercise
Questionnaire
- Honest self-report
- No single correct answer
- Untimed reflection
Written
- Timed response
- References Code of Ethics
- Structured writing
Judgement vs communication
Written Exercise Method
- Task
- Identify what is being asked
- Audience
- Consider who will read it
- Outline First
- List points before writing
- Code of Ethics
- Reference it where relevant
- Plain Language
- Avoid ornate vocabulary
- Structure
- Logical order, clear paragraphs
- Final Check
- Scan for errors and gaps
STAR Interview Method
Situation -> Task -> Action -> Result
Situation: contextTask: your goalAction: what you didResult: proven outcome
Interview vs Role Play
Interview
- STAR evidence
- Your past experience
- Structured questions
Role Play
- Live scenario
- Real-time communication
- Task-focused response
Recall vs performance
Interview Competency Terms
- Situation
- Brief context and goal
- Task
- What you needed to do
- Action
- Steps you personally took
- Result
- Outcome you can prove
- Evidence Bank
- Real examples, not scripts
- Your Contribution
- Not the whole team's
- Truthful Detail
- Withstands follow-up questions
Role Play Method
- Listen First
- Understand before responding
- Clarify
- Ask about missing information
- Confirm
- Restate before you act
- Stay Calm
- Plain, task-focused language
- Use Given Facts
- Do not invent authority
- Summarize
- State decision and next steps
Recruitment Stage Flow
Apply -> Aptitude -> Interview -> Vetting
Apply: application formStage 1: aptitude+writingStage 2: interview+role playStage 3: PCT+medical+vetting
Eligibility Checks vs Vetting
Eligibility Checks
- Start early
- Run by publicjobs
- Application accuracy
Vetting
- Later Garda process
- Records and history
- After interview success
Early screen vs later check
Source Hierarchy
- 1. Candidate Portal
- Controls your logistics
- 2. Live Booklet
- Current campaign details
- 3. Garda.ie Pages
- Official stage map
- 4. Third-Party Pages
- General skill practice only
- Newest Wins
- Check the publish date
- Unclear? Ask
- Contact named support early
Recruitment Stage Map
- Application
- publicjobs Application Centre form
- Stage 1
- Aptitude tests and writing
- Stage 2
- Interview and role play
- Eligibility Checks
- Start early, ongoing process
- Stage 3
- PCT, medical, vetting
- Appointment
- Garda College entry follows
Test Day Setup
- Device Check
- Test browser, camera, mic
- Quiet Room
- Private, uninterrupted space
- ID Ready
- Have identification within reach
- Close Tabs
- Silence notifications and apps
- Permitted Materials
- Confirm before the test
- Support Contact
- Save the technical helpline
- Check Inbox
- Look in spam too
Physical, Medical & Vetting
- PCT
- Official fitness page format
- Fitness Prep
- Start gradually, build capacity
- Medical
- Declare pre-existing conditions
- Clinical Reports
- Bring from treating professionals
- Vetting
- Clean, consistent personal records
- Substance Check
- Part of Stage 3
Common Traps
Old booklet ≠ current rules
Booklets change yearly ≠ Use current FAQ
Likely ≠ proven
Assumption isn't evidence ≠ Only stated facts count
Ideal persona ≠ honest answer
Consistency beats performance ≠ Answer as yourself
Practice bank ≠ live content
Skill drills only ≠ Not real Garda items
Passing Stage 1 ≠ passing overall
Multi-stage competition ≠ Later checks still apply
Forum claims ≠ official rules
Unverified pass marks ≠ Follow publicjobs only
Last Minute
- 1.Verbal: evidence only, no assumptions
- 2.Numerical: identify values before calculating
- 3.Questionnaire: answer honestly and consistently
- 4.Written: plan before you write
- 5.STAR: Situation, Task, Action, Result
- 6.Role play: listen, clarify, then act
- 7.Stage 1: verbal, numerical, questionnaire, writing
- 8.Stage 2: interview and role play
- 9.Stage 3: PCT, medical, vetting
- 10.Portal message overrides old booklets
- 11.No published pass mark; check portal
- 12.Test day: quiet room, ID ready