ApprenticeEdge›Civil Service›Online Tests
Civil Servicedegree apprenticeship
Civil Service Apprenticeship Online Tests — What to Expect and How to Prepare
Salary: £27,000–£31,000Length: 4 yearsAcceptance: 3–6%
The Civil Service online tests are: Verbal reasoning, numerical reasoning, and a situational judgement test based on the Civil Service Success Profiles framework. This stage filters out a significant proportion of applicants — preparation makes a real difference.
What the Tests Involve
Verbal reasoning, numerical reasoning, and a situational judgement test based on the Civil Service Success Profiles framework
How to Prepare
- 1.Practice with real test providers. SHL, Korn Ferry, Cubiks, and Talent Q all publish free sample tests. The interface and question format varies by provider — know what to expect.
- 2.Do a full timed practice run. Sitting the test for the first time under actual time pressure is the wrong time to discover you're slower than you thought.
- 3.Optimise your setup. Fast internet, quiet room, laptop (not phone), and attempt it when you're alert. Technical issues mid-test are unlikely to result in a resit.
- 4.For SJTs: think like a professional. Situational judgement tests have no trick answers — but they reward considered, measured responses over impulsive ones. Read each scenario fully before selecting.
Common Mistakes
✕Attempting without any preparation — practice tests exist for a reason
✕Taking the test on a mobile or slow connection
✕Rushing through to finish quickly — accuracy matters more than speed in most sections
✕For SJTs: choosing the answer you personally prefer rather than the most professionally appropriate one
Want the full prep pack?
Civil Service Apprenticeship Prep Pack
Application stages, competencies, real interview questions, commercial awareness, and a pre-submission checklist — in one complete pack.
More Civil Service guides
Civil Service Apprenticeship Interview Questions 2026Civil Service Apprenticeship Application Tips 2026Civil Service Apprenticeship Competencies — What They Test and How to PrepareCivil Service Apprenticeship Assessment Centre — What to Expect in 2026Civil Service Apprenticeship Video Interview — Format, Questions and TipsSTAR Method Examples for Civil Service Apprenticeship Interviews
Online Tests guides for other companies
PwC Apprenticeship Online Tests — What to Expect and How to PrepareGoldman Sachs Apprenticeship Online Tests — What to Expect and How to PrepareDeloitte Apprenticeship Online Tests — What to Expect and How to PrepareKPMG Apprenticeship Online Tests — What to Expect and How to PrepareEY Apprenticeship Online Tests — What to Expect and How to Prepare