[IPAC-List] promotional exam strategy

[Morris, Ramona (JUS)]

The variation amongst how clients use the test is a challenge. Each
service can use the provincial test as they see fit in their own
promotional process.  A good number seem to just use a minimum score
(70-75%) as a gateway into the process. Others use the score as a
percentage of the process (say its worth 20% of their overall score in
the process).  Many services do a separate P and P exam (some on the
same day). 

The exam materials consist of a wide variety of materials, including
texts on community policing, management/supervision, and provincial and
federal law. 

My concern is that we provide a defensible "third-party" component for
their promotional processes. This strategy appears to have merit. ...but
I have more work to do .

Ramona

x4417

________________________________

From: Glen Morry [mailto:Glen.Morry at rcmp-grc.gc.ca] 
Sent: June 29, 2011 8:58 AM
To: ipac-list at ipacweb.org; Jr. Winfred Arthur; Morris, Ramona (JUS)
Subject: Re: [IPAC-List] promotional exam strategy

 

Hi Ramona - 

 


>From a candidate's point of view it is reassuring to see all the

potential questions that could be asked. Less test anxiety (and more
focused preparation) might result in elevated exam scores, but I wonder
if this "spoon-feeding" could disproportionately favour weaker
candidates? Does one's actual exam score matter - i.e. are the results
applied "top down", or is it just pass-fail? What's the overall pass
rate and what proportion of candidates eventually get promoted...?  I
guess it is as much a matter of managing candidate pools (and candidate
expectations) as it is a psychometric issue!   

 

If candidates had all the test items in hand, then most will just study
to those, and disregard anything else (although 500 items is a lot to
digest). At the RCMP we publish previous exams, and we find the same
sort of thing - candidates overly rely on preparing to these questions,
rather than to the actual content we want to test for. If the ultimate
goal is to ensure that candidates know all the P&P well, then a simpler
strategy would be to just list the specific policies and procedures that
will be covered by the exam.  This involves a whole lot less work on
your part, and arguably would produce similar benefits! 

 

Since this is essentially a generic province-wide promotional exam, do
the participating police forces also supplement this with testing
involving questions directly related to their own force's policies and
procedures, municipal by-laws etc?  If so, do they use the same testing
strategy, with candidates using a question bank to prepare?  

 

Glen

 

 

Glen Morry
Senior Advisor, Executive Development

Executive/Officer Development & Resourcing

Royal Canadian Mounted Police
73 Leikin Drive,

Building M4, room 606-13 

mailstop # 41
Ottawa  ON  K1A 0R2
(613) 843-6145 - tel.

(613) 825-0529 - fax