Verbal Reasoning Online Test - Methods to Avoid!!
Following on from the method outlined previously i.e. what candidates should not do if they want to pass the tests legitimately.
They will:
1. Set up four alias emails such as Yahoo, Gmail, Aol etc.
2. Register to take the online test.
3. Gather information. The 'actual test won't start yet. The idea at this stage is to prepare a database of answers, ideally over a two-day period. Long enough to spot a change or rotation in the questions and answers, but short enough to ensure that when they take the real test the database that has been built up is still relevant. Remember, by tackling the tests this way, the chances of passing will be around 80% every time, so they would normally take time and keep the records accurately.
4. There does not appear to be a need to do anything complicated such as TOR, Tails or air gaps to conceal location/identity. So just a VPN is normally sufficient for their purposes. They are now ready start the data build.
5. They will then load up question one out of the 22. Screenshot first page, second page etc. until all done. Each question will have three questions so they will end up with 66 screenshots. Remember, for these individuals it's all about saving time and making the process more efficient, so they won't bother printing them all out. Creating a table and then the following is done once all the screenshots are taken.
Page one might look like this:
Question 12
Subject: Spamming
"Spamming is an often used method of targeting .........." (The subject is normally five or six lines long and in this case, will cover the topic of 'spamming'_.
Answers:
A. Costs
B. Mobile
C. Sporgery
D. Spam
The answers are one sentence long. All that needs to be done is to write down one keyword from each sentence that helps pin-point it later. The reason for doing this will become obvious later on, but in essence it allows one to quickly spot if the four possible answers in the real test are exactly the same as the ones where the details were taken from in the 'pre-test'. The 'curved ball'. Sometimes when it comes to do the real test, question 12 in the subject under 'spamming' will have four different answers so this is a quick way of identifying whether or not that has happened. Remember, when taking the actual test then speed is of the essence and any real thought is to be saved for a situation (should it occur) where the pre-answered questions are not the same as the actual test i.e. being prepared for the unexpected and allowing thinking time to tackle that situation should it arise. It sounds complicated, but it's not.
So, in this example, once all the answers are printed, one then proceeds to answer the question in advance and taking time to ensure the answer is 100% correct. Let’s say here the answer to question 12 is "C. Sporgery".
6. Answer all 22 questions. So, in the end, under the topic "Spamming" there will be three answers C, B and D for example. When the real test is taken for real, if question 12, has Costs. Mobile, Sporgery and Spam as the answers then it is an exact match and one can quickly answer "C". If the answers were completely different and do not match a particular sequence in the database of answers, then that means it will have to be answered legitimately and/or guess. In practise, this will happen very infrequently and on no more than 15%-20% of cases.
7. When all the answers have been compiled, after a day or two, they will register and repeat the process. If all the questions and answers are exactly the same then they wait another day until a batch of different data is online.
8. If this is done four times over a period of two or three days then there will be numerous answers matching different questions. Oleeo or Cubiks may have three different questions each time for the subject of spamming, but it doesn't matter, because they will already have the answers.
9. The final step therefore, is to take the real test. Keep the pad or database, spreadsheet (whatever method chosen) or questions easily to hand. Going through each question in turn and, if the prep has been done correctly, least 80% of the questions should be answered in less than 5 minutes. The rest are done at leisure, safe in the knowledge that at least 80% of the test is 'in the bag.'
Situational Judgement Online Test
As mentioned previously, this test is not timed and in fact that means that in some ways more time can work against the candidate. A similar method of preparation as above can be used. Each time they register for the test, screenshots are taken and the same is done for all the situational judgement questions. Again, taking time to work through the answers is important. A summary of the 'scenario' for each question is written separately and then weightings for each answer are calculated
Other methods of trying to circumvent the process may have been used. To reiterate, we do not approve such methods as they are not necessarily the methods MI6 will have wanted to test and doing them legitimately is of course the most honest and recommended method. We have simply pointed out methods that some candidates may use to ensure that passing the tests is, frankly, not at all difficult. No doubt the companies who are setting these tests will be aware of such potential flaws and will have put processes in place to remedy the situation.
MI6 goes out of its way to highlight the fact it is focussed on candidates who can demonstrate a high degree of integrity and honesty, as trust amongst colleagues is extremely important.
In further sections on this site we will provide tools and recommendations you can use to increase your chances of success, using tried and tested exercises. To register for free copies of our never seen before test papers, click here.
