Can the Civil Service raise the online test pass mark after people have completed it?
When a Civil Service Test Pass Mark Can Be Raised
Hello,
I completed an online test and received a message saying I had met the minimum standard. After the deadline, the application status changed and I was told that I had not met the pass mark for the vacancy.
I assumed that passing the test meant I would move to the next stage. Several people online have said departments can raise the mark after everyone finishes.
Is that allowed, and is there anything I should challenge?
Quick Answer
Yes. Official guidance says the recruiter can review all applicant scores after the deadline and raise the job’s pass mark. Meeting the minimum standard does not guarantee progression. A challenge is more useful where the communication, recorded score or published process appears wrong, not simply because the vacancy used a higher threshold.
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How I Would Check a Raised Civil Service Test Pass Mark
Continue reading to distinguish the minimum standard from the vacancy threshold, check the record and decide when a recruitment query is justified.
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