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Post by firehouse9 on Jan 14, 2015 15:46:59 GMT -5
These are probably stupid questions for the people on this board:
1. What is the ALJ "Exam"? Is it really just the structured interview people talk about? Is it written?
2. If there is a written exam, what subject matter is covered by it?
3. Are there old copies of the exam out there?
Thanks to all!
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Post by funkyodar on Jan 14, 2015 15:48:55 GMT -5
The sticky notes at the top of the page can bring you up to speed FH9.
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Post by luckylady2 on Jan 14, 2015 16:06:29 GMT -5
And just in case that seems cryptic - Go to the General Board page, scroll down past the first bar & read the FAQ threads.
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Post by hamster on Jan 14, 2015 19:37:39 GMT -5
I suppose so. But as my dear, old dad used to say, "You can't catch a fish if your line's not in the water."
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Post by zepplin on Jan 14, 2015 20:15:29 GMT -5
In sum, it is a government-sponsored psychological experiment.
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Post by gary on Jan 14, 2015 20:52:45 GMT -5
Were the sub-zero temperatures in the examination room at OPM part of the experiment, e.g., how fast can the average examinee type with teeth chattering, or was the HVAC system at OPM simply broken? Had to be part of the experiment--the reports of subarctic cold in the room were too consistent over time for the cold to be unplanned.
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Post by gary on Jan 14, 2015 21:44:09 GMT -5
It will be interesting to find out whether OPM raises the temperature to, say, 95°F the next time they administer the exam. That would give the psychologists data on how well examinees type in subtropical temperatures. The subtropical temperature will be especially effective on the first group of refresh testees, since they will come dressed for a stay in Little America.
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Post by cheesy on Jan 14, 2015 21:52:02 GMT -5
It wasn't that bad. If OPM was run like the Navy, you'd be ordered to report for the exam in a short sleeve white summer uniform, while it's snowing a nice Great Lakes lake effect snow. And you would've left all your jackets at home because it was balmy and warm the day before and the forecasters were asleep at the switch.
(Coldest. Court Martial. Ever.)
Then you wouldn't be able to type anything because your security settings were out of date, and the only IT guy was just sent to a week of training.
Good times, good times. I'd take the black snakes of Guam over the black ice patches of GL any day.
Vr/C
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Post by funkyodar on Jan 14, 2015 22:18:57 GMT -5
refresh testees Sorry. My inner 12 year old just laughed hysterically.
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Post by gary on Jan 14, 2015 23:09:02 GMT -5
refresh testees Sorry. My inner 12 year old just laughed hysterically. Makes me proud of our American administrative judiciary.
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Post by FlaTreeFarm on Jan 15, 2015 0:49:17 GMT -5
In sum, it is a government-sponsored psychological experiment. I sense the involvement of the DHARMA Initiative in this process!
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Post by anotherfed on Jan 15, 2015 9:02:38 GMT -5
These are probably stupid questions for the people on this board:
1. What is the ALJ "Exam"? Is it really just the structured interview people talk about? Is it written?
2. If there is a written exam, what subject matter is covered by it?
3. Are there old copies of the exam out there?
Thanks to all! Firehouse, what is your interest? These do not seem like legitimate questions, especially with the wealth of information on this Board. Sorry, there is no BarBri course to become an ALJ (although I'm sure some fly-by-night will attempt to create one). This is a competitive selection process for one of the highest positions of public trust in the federal government. The people on this Board are among the best of the best in an already competitive field.
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Post by firehouse9 on Jan 15, 2015 12:17:33 GMT -5
My interest is in applying to be an ALJ next time the opportunity becomes available. There is a wealth of information on this board, and I have learned a lot from it.
Unfortunately, nothing I have found, including on the otherwise excellent and informative sticky FAQ thread, which I had already read several times, answers any of the questions that I posted in this thread.
The sticky threads refer to a "test," but I did not see much more explanation than that. Regarding the "online component," there is a good general overview of the three sections, but it is very vague. Specifically, they mention a nonwritten portion of the online component is composed of "work-related problems or critical situations" whatever that means. Does it assume that you are an ALJ and then ask what an ALJ would do or is it different than that?
Again, my 3 questions were as follows:
1. What is the ALJ "Exam"? Is it really just the structured interview people talk about? Is it written?
2. If there is a written exam, what subject matter is covered by it?
3. Are there old copies of the exam out there?
My guess was that there is some kind of written exam, but other than that, I am fairly clueless. I don't know if OPM keeps it a secret or what is covered by the confidentiality agreement (I thought that only applied to the interview). I prefaced my questions, by saying that they would seem stupid to most people on here. That's because I assumed, most here know the answers to them. I have looked fairly widely at the board, but didn't see much to answer these questions, and I am still confused. Perhaps someone can help me out to the extent possible.
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Post by JudgeRatty on Jan 15, 2015 12:24:31 GMT -5
My interest is in applying to be an ALJ next time the opportunity becomes available. There is a wealth of information on this board, and I have learned a lot from it.
Unfortunately, nothing I have found, including on the otherwise excellent and informative sticky FAQ thread, which I had already read several times, answers any of the questions that I posted in this thread.
The sticky threads refer to a "test," but I did not see much more explanation than that. Regarding the "online component," there is a good general overview of the three sections, but it is very vague. Specifically, they mention a nonwritten portion of the online component is composed of "work-related problems or critical situations" whatever that means. Does it assume that you are an ALJ and then ask what an ALJ would do or is it different than that?
Again, my 3 questions were as follows:
1. What is the ALJ "Exam"? Is it really just the structured interview people talk about? Is it written?
2. If there is a written exam, what subject matter is covered by it?
3. Are there old copies of the exam out there?
My guess was that there is some kind of written exam, but other than that, I am fairly clueless. I don't know if OPM keeps it a secret or what is covered by the confidentiality agreement (I thought that only applied to the interview). I prefaced my questions, by saying that they would seem stupid to most people on here. That's because I assumed, most here know the answers to them. I have looked fairly widely at the board, but didn't see much to answer these questions, and I am still confused. Perhaps someone can help me out to the extent possible.
No one is going to be able to answer any questions regarding specifics of any examination material. It is a secret. We signed a confidentiality agreement precluding discussion of any written or interview portions of the process.
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Post by firehouse9 on Jan 15, 2015 12:28:18 GMT -5
I wasn't sure about that. Does OPM ever tell you the subject matter of the test or give out any sample questions? Do they do some of that after you sign the confidentiality agreement, or do they just tell you to come to DC to take a secret test of some sort without letting you know even the subject matter?
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Post by 71stretch on Jan 15, 2015 12:30:44 GMT -5
The testing/application process goes through several stages, and Is multifaceted. One must "pass" each stage before moving on to the next, and to get a score at the end of the process that gets you on the register. There is no single "ALJ exam" written or otherwise, and never has been.
And, what sratty said. We can't tell you much. Aside from reading this Board, you might be able to find the expired job announcement somewhere that gives an overview of the testing process. You are not going to get samples from OPM or elsewhere, or any preview of what the Written Demonstration portion of the test is about. Sorry.
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Post by lizdarcy on Jan 15, 2015 12:33:05 GMT -5
Hi FH9 --
If you haven't already, you might get more of an idea from reading the job posting on USAJOBS. You can search for "ALJ" and the posting will come up, even though the exam is closed. The "exam" is a series of tasks that consists of online, documentary and in-person components. Beyond that, no one on this board can tell you anything because everyone signed a confidentiality agreement. Good luck in finding the information.
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Post by funkyodar on Jan 15, 2015 12:35:53 GMT -5
You wait patiently for the brief period when the alj position is open for receipt of applications. When you see it on usajobs.gov, you apply.
You watch as 25% to 33% of those that applied, with excellent credentials, are told they don't meet the minimum qualifications without any real explanation and hope and pray it isn't you.
If you survived the first cut, you take the online tests and watch again as a huge number fall without any explanation other than "your score was not in the higher scored subgroup" and a "see details tab" in your app manager.
If you survived that cut, you go to DC for two written tests (and no, no one will ever tell you anything more than one is a written demonstration and the other is a Logic Based test. You also do a structured interview with OPM while there. once again, you watch highly qualified people be told they didnt make the cut and you pray.
Get thru all that you make THE REGISTER. Don't even get a t-shirt.
Then you wait and wait to appear on a cert for some agency. If you land on one, you interview with that agency and hope some more.
Then you watch offers go out and see people that should clearly get one not get one.
Then, if extremely lucky. your phone rings, you get an offer, you pack your bags for crapland and head off.
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Post by JudgeRatty on Jan 15, 2015 12:40:42 GMT -5
At each step of the process (if you get to proceed to the next step) there is limited information given to the candidate via email. The current process of hiring began with our application in March 2013 (almost 2 years ago).
After that initial application some were invited to take the next step which included online testing (no I cannot provide details) and an experience assessment. That happened in May 2013 for me. In July 2013 I was invited to the structured interview in DC (on your own dime) and a Written Demonstration and a logic based testing exam. That was August 2013 for me.
Then if you pass that gauntlet you receive a Notice of Results (NOR) with a score of sorts. That was March 2014 for me. That signified being placed on the Register. Discussion of this can be found elsewhere.
Then things vary greatly for each person as selections are made for Certificates of hire. That happened for me in Nov 2014 and is still ongoing.
EACH step has been discussed elsewhere but there are NO copies of exams or study materials for most of this process.
Good luck!
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Post by ALJD on Jan 15, 2015 12:42:13 GMT -5
The posters above all provided good advice. No one here is able to provide any substantive advice on the test itself due to the confidentiality agreement they signed. Anyone who even got close to the line in the past were promptly moderated. So please refrain from further questions re substance of the exam.
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