Checked 25 October 2026. Test format as in the publicjobs Executive Officer 2022 Stage 1 Pre-Test Information Booklet, the latest detailed description of the tests in the publicjobs documents we found; the Executive Officer in the Civil Service 2026 booklet says only "online testing and assessments". Read 25 October 2026. The familiarisation material for your competition is the authority.
The Executive Officer (EO) grade is the entry level to junior management in the Irish Civil Service, and publicjobs (the Public Appointments Service) fills it through open competitions. In its 2022 and 2026 competitions, the first stage after you applied was online testing, and in 2026 candidates were to be invited to interview in order of merit from the results. This guide sets out what the tests are, using the most detailed description in the publicjobs documents we found, for its Executive Officer 2022 competition, and what the 2026 competition said. It ends with three practice items. ProSyllabus is an independent study site, not part of publicjobs or the Public Appointments Service.
publicjobs, Executive Officer 2022 Stage 1 Pre-Test Information Booklet (June 2022).
Which competition this describes
The Executive Officer in the Civil Service 2026 competition (Vacancy ID 951) closed on 23 February 2026, and its Role Information Booklet gave Stage 1 as "Online testing and Assessments: March 2026", followed by interview, with candidates invited to interview based on the order of merit from the test and assessment results. It does not list the tests. Its Candidate Information Part II says candidates invited to the online assessments are sent a familiarisation booklet with more information and preparation guidelines.
The most detailed description of the Executive Officer tests in the publicjobs documents we found is the Executive Officer 2022 Stage 1 Pre-Test Information Booklet, and the rest of this guide follows it. A later competition can use different tests, so read your own familiarisation material when it arrives.
The three tests in 2022
| Test | What you do | Count and time |
|---|---|---|
| Verbal Reasoning | Read passages, then judge each statement True (must be true from the passage), False (definitely false given the passage) or Cannot Say (not enough information) | 59 statements in 35 minutes |
| Numerical Reasoning | Use the facts and figures in tables or graphs to answer each question; five options, one correct | 36 questions in 35 minutes |
| Situational Judgement | Read scenarios similar to those an Executive Officer may meet and rate each possible action | 30 minutes |
Minutes x 60 / items, rounded. The booklet gives no item count for the Situational Judgement Test, so it has no bar.
The booklet says to base verbal answers only on the information in the passage, and that there is one, and only one, correct answer to each statement. For the numerical test it gives instructions for finding the calculator on a Windows or Mac computer and tells candidates to practise with it before the live test.
The Situational Judgement rating scale
In the 2022 Situational Judgement Test you rated each action on a five-point scale. The booklet defines it like this:
| Rating | What it means |
|---|---|
| Excellent | A response that meets all of the needs of the situation very well |
| Good | A response that meets the needs of the situation well |
| Adequate | A response that is acceptable but may have some shortcomings or omissions |
| Weak | A response that falls below the acceptable level |
| Bad | A response that is incompetent and falls far below the acceptable level in some aspect of the response |
The publicjobs documents we read do not give the ratings expected. The standard it uses for the grade is the Executive Officer capability framework, whose behaviours include "Escalates issues appropriately, communicating all relevant information and suggesting possible solutions" and "Manages all information and data carefully, particularly with sensitive or confidential matters". It is worth reading in full before the test and again before interview.
Rules and scoring in 2022
The 2022 tests were taken online with remote proctoring: intermittent photographs were taken during the tests and reviewed afterwards, and candidates verified their identity with a webcam and photo ID first. Candidates needed a laptop or PC with a webcam, using Chrome or Edge on a PC and Chrome on a Mac; the booklet said not to use a tablet, mobile phone or Chromebook to take the tests. Rough paper, a pen, water, a calculator and reading glasses were allowed on the desk.
The booklet also said: there is no negative marking on any of the tests; candidates must reach the qualifying standard in all tests to be considered further; each test must be completed in a single sitting, though not all three at once; and a candidate who does not take all three tests is deemed to have withdrawn. Only those who qualify and are placed highest at Stage 1 are invited to Stage 2.
The 2026 Candidate Information Part II adds a rule worth knowing: assessments must be completed honestly and independently, the use of online systems, software or any form of artificial intelligence is strictly forbidden, and submissions are checked for duplication, originality and response patterns.
After Stage 1: interview, the panel and pay
The 2026 role booklet provided for candidates to be invited to interview in order of merit from the online test and assessment results. publicjobs says it moves candidates through the stages in batches as vacancies arise, places those who succeed at the final stage on a panel in order of merit, and that panels are typically active for approximately 18 to 24 months, with no guarantee that being placed on a panel will lead to a job offer.
The 2026 Candidate Information Part III set the pay at the Executive Officer standard scale, from €38,419 to €58,044 with long service increments of €59,928 and €62,601 (Personal Pension Contribution rates from 1 February 2026), with entry at the minimum of the scale. On citizenship it accepted citizens of the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom and Switzerland, and non-EEA citizens with a Stamp 4 or Stamp 5 permission, and said candidates must be eligible by the date of any job offer.
How to prepare
publicjobs' Test Advice page offers a free Executive Officer self-assessment test under timed conditions, and tells candidates to read the Competition Information Booklet and any familiarisation material, check their connection and use a quiet room. For the tests themselves, the 2022 counts give you a pace to practise at: about 36 seconds a verbal statement and just under a minute a numerical question. For the situational test, rate each action on its own against the scale, and read the capability framework.
Try the three practice items below before you open the answers. One is a verbal statement, one a numerical question and one a situational action.
Practice item 1 · Verbal Reasoning
Passage. Last year a county library service ran a six-month pilot in which three of its twelve branches opened on Sunday afternoons. Visits on Sundays averaged 140 per branch, compared with an average of 210 on Saturdays at the same branches. Most Sunday visitors were families with children under twelve, and the number of new members joining at the three branches rose during the pilot. Staff costs for the Sunday openings were met from a once-off grant. The library service has said it will decide whether to continue Sunday opening when it has reviewed the pilot, and that any continuation would depend on finding funding from within its own budget.
Statement: During the pilot, the three branches had fewer visits on an average Sunday than on an average Saturday.
- True
- False
- Cannot say
Show the answer and why
Answer: True.
Sundays averaged 140 visits per branch against 210 on Saturdays at the same branches.
An original ProSyllabus practice item in the format publicjobs described for 2022. It is not a publicjobs test item; the passage and figures are invented.
Practice item 2 · Numerical Reasoning
Applications received and processed by a grants section, 2025
| Quarter | Received | Processed |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 1,240 | 1,180 |
| Q2 | 1,460 | 1,340 |
| Q3 | 1,050 | 1,120 |
| Q4 | 1,650 | 1,500 |
How many applications were received in 2025 in total?
- A. 3,750
- B. 5,340
- C. 5,500
- D. 5,400
- E. 5,140
Show the answer and why
Answer: D. 5,400.
Add the four quarters: 1,240 + 1,460 + 1,050 + 1,650 = 5,400.
An original ProSyllabus practice item in the format publicjobs described for 2022. It is not a publicjobs test item; the passage and figures are invented.
Practice item 3 · Situational Judgement
Scenario. An official in another department emails you directly asking for a list of the names and addresses of everyone who received a grant from your section in the last year. They say they need it by tomorrow for a joint project. You are not aware of any data-sharing arrangement with that department.
Possible action: Tell the official that you cannot send personal data without approval, and ask your manager how to proceed.
- Excellent
- Good
- Adequate
- Weak
- Bad
Show the answer and why
Answer: Good.
The data is protected and the decision is referred to the right person, which meets the needs of the situation well. It is not excellent because it does not try to meet the project's need in another way.
An original ProSyllabus practice item in the format publicjobs described for 2022. It is not a publicjobs test item; the passage and figures are invented.
Frequently asked questions
What tests are in the Executive Officer competition?
For Executive Officer 2022, publicjobs listed three online tests: Verbal Reasoning, Numerical Reasoning and a Situational Judgement Test. The 2026 booklet says "online testing and assessments" without listing them, and details go to invited candidates in a familiarisation booklet.
How long are the Executive Officer tests?
In 2022: Verbal Reasoning 35 minutes for 59 statements, Numerical Reasoning 35 minutes for 36 questions, Situational Judgement 30 minutes.
Is there negative marking?
The 2022 booklet says there is no negative marking on any of the tests.
Can I use a calculator in the numerical test?
Yes, in 2022. The booklet told candidates how to find the calculator on their computer and to practise with it first, and allowed a phone only for its calculator in the numerical test.
What is the pass mark?
The 2022 booklet gives no numerical qualifying standard. It says candidates must reach the qualifying standard in all tests, and those placed highest go forward to the next stage.
Who can apply for Executive Officer?
For the 2026 competition, candidates needed a Leaving Certificate at Level 4 or above, or a minimum Level 4 qualification on the National Framework of Qualifications, among the other requirements in its booklet.
More in this series
Sources
- official — publicjobs: Executive Officer 2022 in the Civil Service, Stage 1 Online Tests, Pre-Test Information Booklet, June 2022 (Wayback copy)
- official — publicjobs: Executive Officer in the Civil Service 2026 (Vacancy ID 951): Role Information Booklet and Candidate Information Part II
- official — publicjobs: Executive Officer in the Civil Service 2026 (Vacancy ID 951), Candidate Information Part III, Terms and Conditions (salary, citizenship)
- official — publicjobs: Our Recruitment Process (test types used across competitions, batches and panels)
- official — publicjobs: Test Advice (familiarisation material and the Executive Officer self-assessment test)
- official — publicjobs: Capability Framework, Executive Officer
official = a document published by the conducting body. reported = a news or coaching site we could not check against an original. Where sources disagree this page says so rather than picking one.
