Checked 1 November 2026. Test details come from the Public Service Commission of Canada's TOJ 376 and TOJ 377 pages (dated 22 July 2025). The PSC can change its tests; your invitation from the hiring department or agency says which test you take and by when. Read on 1 November 2026.
The PSEE judgement tests have been replaced by the Test of Judgement: since 22 July 2025 the Public Service Commission of Canada (PSC) uses the Unsupervised Test of Judgement 376 (52 questions, 90 minutes, online) and the Supervised Test of Judgement 377 (40 questions, 60 minutes, in person) for officer-level jobs. Each question gives you a work situation and a possible response, and you rate how effective that response is on a six-point scale from "Very ineffective" to "Very effective".
A useful way to practise is to rate many realistic work scenarios and then read why each response is better or worse. This guide explains the format and the J-01 to J-10 results, walks through the PSC's own sample question, and gives one free scenario of our own with every response rated and explained against the federal public service values. Four more play in our test player below. Aiming for the Foreign Service at Global Affairs Canada? Its Foreign Service Officer (FS-01) campaign sets its own steps, including a written exam, a simulation exercise and an interview: see how to become a Foreign Service Officer in Canada.
ProSyllabus is an independent study site. It is not part of the Public Service Commission of Canada or the Government of Canada, and our practice scenarios are independent practice, written by us; they are not PSC test questions and are not made or endorsed by the PSC.
Public Service Commission of Canada: TOJ 376 and TOJ 377 pages.
Key facts: the Test of Judgement
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| What it assesses | The judgement required for solving problems in work-related situations, for officer-level positions in the federal public service |
| Unsupervised test | TOJ 376: 52 multiple-choice questions, 90 minutes, online from anywhere with a computer and an internet connection |
| Supervised test | TOJ 377: 40 multiple-choice questions, 60 minutes, in person at a federal government building (paper only in exceptional circumstances) |
| Platform | The Candidate Assessment Tool, for both tests |
| Language | Bilingual: take it in the official language of your choice and switch at any time |
| Knowledge needed | No specialized training, knowledge or experience is required |
| Result | A level from J-01 to J-10, each a percentile band compared with a large sample of previous test takers |
| Pass mark | Set by each hiring department or agency for the position: J-02 at the lowest, J-07 at the highest |
| Retest | Each test has a 180-day waiting period before you can retake that test, whatever the format; a retake inside it is not valid and restarts the waiting period. In a two-step process, taking TOJ 377 after TOJ 376 is a follow-up assessment, not a retake (step 2 can instead be a departmental assessment, and TOJ 377 can also be used alone) |
| Old numbers | The PSC's page for the PSEE Test of Judgement UIT 374 says it was replaced by TOJ 376 effective 22 July 2025; since that date, candidates who need a supervised result take TOJ 377 (the old supervised PSEE judgement test was 375) |
FreeTests: Analytical thinking
Canada Test of Judgement Practice: free sample
Answer 4 questions against the clock, like the real exam. You then see the right answer, the reason and your time on each. About 7 minutes · free · no sign-in.
4 questions to answer▶ Start nowThis one is free · no sign-in neededYour result shows how long each question took you.How the questions work: the six-point effectiveness scale
The PSC's sample question shows the format. You read a situation, then a response option, and answer one question about it: How effective is this response? You pick one of six ratings. The same situation can come with more than one response option, and you rate each one separately. The six labels below are the PSC's; the descriptions beside them are our informal practice guidance, not official scoring definitions, and effectiveness always depends on the situation.
| Rating | What it means in practice (our reading) |
|---|---|
| (1) Very ineffective | Seriously worsens the situation or creates substantial avoidable harm or risk |
| (2) Ineffective | Does not solve the problem and has a clear downside |
| (3) Somewhat ineffective | Has some merit but misses the main issue or creates a new one |
| (4) Somewhat effective | Helps, but is slow, partial or leaves a risk |
| (5) Effective | Deals with the issue properly, with a small gap |
| (6) Very effective | Solves the problem promptly, through the right people, and respects everyone involved |
The PSC says some answers will earn you partial marks and there is no penalty for guessing, so answer every question. Its test pages do not explain how the marks are calculated or give ratings for the sample responses, and tests on the Candidate Assessment Tool are scored automatically with no rescoring and no detailed feedback. The explanations below are our own reasoning, not PSC answers.
The PSC sample question, reasoned through
The PSC sample describes a situation in which you have just finished a course at your supervisor's request and learned that some of your office's procedures do not follow wider public service policies on protecting confidential information. Everyone in your unit, including your supervisor and her superior, took the same course, and nobody has raised it. You would be the first. Two responses are offered: leave copies of the relevant course pages on your supervisor's desk, or speak with your supervisor immediately so the issue can be addressed quickly and the correct procedures put in place.
The PSC pages give no ratings for these responses, so here is our interpretation. Leaving the pages may draw attention to the policy problem, but it does not explain your concern or confirm that your supervisor will deal with it; we favour a low rating because it gives little follow-through, though a neighbouring rating is also arguable. Speaking to your supervisor promptly raises the concern directly and gives them the chance to look into it and arrange a fix; that reflects the Values and Ethics Code's call to give decision makers the information they need (behaviour 1.3) and to work in openness and honesty (2.4). Our own suggested ratings: leaving the pages, (2) Ineffective; speaking to your supervisor promptly, (6) Very effective. These are our judgements, not PSC answers. Try the PSC's own sample test on the Candidate Assessment Tool too, which shows the real screens.
A free scenario with explained answers
This is our own scenario, written for this guide in the Test of Judgement format: one situation, several responses, and you rate each response from 1 to 6. Neighbouring ratings can be reasonable; for each we give the rating we would choose and why, linked to the Values and Ethics Code for the Public Sector (respect for democracy, respect for people, integrity, stewardship and excellence). Cover the answers, rate each response yourself, then compare.
Scenario: client details sent to the wrong address
- Situation. An hour ago you emailed a spreadsheet with clients' names, addresses and file numbers to a partner organization. You now see that the autocomplete picked a similar address at a different, outside organization.
- Response A: tell your manager now, follow the privacy breach procedure, and ask the recipient to delete it. How effective is this response? Our rating: (6) Very effective. It is prompt and honest, and it brings in the people responsible for protecting the information (3.1, 3.4, 4.3).
- Response B: email the unintended recipient to explain the mistake and ask them to delete the message and attachment, but take no further action. How effective is this response? Our rating: (3) Somewhat ineffective. Asking for deletion may help contain the exposure, but the department cannot assess or manage a breach that nobody responsible knows about.
- Response C: say nothing, since the recipient may never open the attachment. How effective is this response? Our rating: (1) Very ineffective. It hides a breach of clients' personal information and leaves them unprotected; if it comes out later, trust in you and the department suffers (3.1, 3.4).
Our scenario and suggested ratings. These are our own judgements, not PSC answers.
Our reasoning in both situations favours raising the concern promptly with the right person and giving an accurate account of what happened. In the privacy scenario, any notice to the affected clients is handled by the people responsible under the breach procedure. These are our interpretations, not a PSC scoring rule.
Try four more scenarios free
These four play in our test player. They are our own Test of Judgement-style scenarios, written for practice, not PSC questions. Press Start, answer them, and the result page explains every response.
FreeTests: Analytical thinking
Canada Test of Judgement Practice: free sample
Answer 4 questions against the clock, like the real exam. You then see the right answer, the reason and your time on each. About 7 minutes · free · no sign-in.
4 questions to answer▶ Start nowThis one is free · no sign-in neededYour result shows how long each question took you.What your J-level means
Your result is a level from J-01 to J-10. Each level is a percentile band showing how you did compared with a large sample of previous test takers. The PSC gives the same table on the TOJ 376 and TOJ 377 pages.
| Level | Percentile band | Test takers at the same level or higher |
|---|---|---|
| J-01 | 9 or lower | 100% |
| J-02 | 10 to 14 | 90% |
| J-03 | 15 to 19 | 85% |
| J-04 | 20 to 24 | 80% |
| J-05 | 25 to 29 | 75% |
| J-06 | 30 to 34 | 70% |
| J-07 | 35 to 39 | 65% |
| J-08 | 40 to 44 | 60% |
| J-09 | 45 to 49 | 55% |
| J-10 | 50 or higher | 50% |
Each hiring department or agency sets its own pass mark, from J-02 at the lowest to J-07 at the highest. At J-07, only candidates at the 35th percentile or higher pass. Your result is valid indefinitely unless a process asks for a new one, and you can reuse it across the federal public service; the valid score is always your most recent one taken under proper test conditions. A TOJ 376 result cannot replace a TOJ 377 result, and the reverse is also true.
Three walkthroughs: process, pass marks and pacing
Example 1: the two-step process from invitation to appointment
- You apply to an officer-level job. The hiring department invites you by email to the Unsupervised Test of Judgement 376, with a Test Access Code and a deadline date.
- You take it at home on a laptop. Results appear in My Tests on the Candidate Assessment Tool 48 hours after the deadline date. If you reach the process's pass mark, you can be invited to step 2: the Supervised Test of Judgement 377 or a departmental assessment of judgement.
- In a two-step process you must pass both steps to be found qualified on the qualification assessed (the job's other requirements still apply), and step 2 must happen before appointment. A valid TOJ 377 score you already hold does not let you skip step 1. A hiring process can also use TOJ 377 alone, in a single step.
PSC: Understanding the Test of Judgement, TOJ 376.
Example 2: reading your level against a pass mark
- Suppose you score J-06 and the job's pass mark is J-05. You pass: J-06 is the 30th to 34th percentile band, above the cut-off.
- On another process with a pass mark of J-07, the same J-06 would not pass. The pass mark depends on the position and the process, not on a single national cut-off.
- If you retake the same test within 180 days, that new result is not valid and a new waiting period starts from the latest test date.
PSC: TOJ 376 and TOJ 377, pass mark and retest sections.
Example 3: pacing the 90-minute unsupervised test
- TOJ 376 gives 90 minutes for 52 questions: a little under 1 minute 45 seconds a question on average.
- Read the situation once carefully. When several responses follow the same situation, the later ones go faster because you already know the facts.
- Do not get stuck: the PSC advises not spending too long on a hard question and guessing when unsure, since there is no penalty. For TOJ 377 it is 60 minutes for 40 questions, about 1 minute 30 seconds each.
Timings from the PSC pages; the arithmetic is ours.
How to practise: a checklist
Common mistakes
- Preparing with old PSEE reasoning material. The judgement test is a separate test and needs no specialized knowledge; it is about choosing sensible actions at work.
- Using a fixed rating pattern, such as always choosing the extremes or always the middle. Judge each response on its merits and use whichever point on the scale fits; the PSC says some answers earn partial marks but does not explain how they are calculated.
- Confusing decisiveness with effectiveness. Consider your responsibilities, your authority and how urgent the situation is: involving your manager is often right, but some situations also need immediate action within your role. This is our practice advice, not a PSC scoring rule.
- Treating saying nothing as safe. Hiding a problem or a mistake (behaviours 3.1 and 3.4), or failing to declare a conflict of interest (behaviour 3.3), is usually among the least effective responses.
- Taking TOJ 376 on a phone or over a VPN. The PSC warns that the platform may not work on handheld devices and that VPN security settings can block it.
- Retaking the same test too soon. A result inside the 180-day waiting period is not valid.
Where this test fits
For the history of the PSEE and the move from its judgement tests to TOJ 376 and TOJ 377, see our PSEE exam guide. The PSC's current test list also includes the General Competency Test: Level 2 Abridged (GCT-2A-324); your invitation says which tests your process uses. See our GCT2 sample questions guide and our GCT2 practice test. If you are aiming at diplomacy, read how to become a Foreign Service Officer in Canada and our Canadian foreign service exam sample questions.
Practise the Test of Judgement before your invitation arrives
The free questions above are the start of our Canada Public Service Test of Judgement Practice: scenario sets in the Test of Judgement format, where you rate each response from 1 to 6, every response explained against the values of the federal public service, and one timed mock of 40 questions in 60 minutes, the length of the supervised TOJ 377, so the real test is not the first time you rate work situations against the clock.
See the Canada Test of Judgement Practice. Independent practice, written by us; not made or endorsed by the Public Service Commission.
Frequently asked questions
What is the PSEE Test of Judgement?
It was the judgement part of the Public Service Entrance Exam (unsupervised 374, supervised 375). The PSC says the 374 was replaced by the Unsupervised Test of Judgement 376 effective 22 July 2025, and since that date the PSC uses the Unsupervised Test of Judgement 376 and the Supervised Test of Judgement 377 instead, both for officer-level jobs in the federal public service.
How many questions are on the Test of Judgement?
TOJ 376 has 52 multiple-choice questions in 90 minutes, online and unsupervised. TOJ 377 has 40 multiple-choice questions in 60 minutes, supervised in person.
How is the Test of Judgement answered?
Each question gives a work situation and a response, and you rate how effective the response is on a six-point scale from (1) Very ineffective to (6) Very effective.
What is the pass mark for the Test of Judgement?
Each hiring department or agency sets its own pass mark for the position. It can be no lower than J-02 and no higher than J-07.
Can I retake the Test of Judgement?
Yes, after a 180-day waiting period for that test, whatever the format. A retest taken inside the waiting period is not valid, and a new waiting period starts from that test date.
Is there a PSEE practice test?
The PSC offers sample tests for TOJ 376 and TOJ 377 on the Candidate Assessment Tool and one sample question on each test page. This page reasons through the PSC sample, adds one free scenario of ours with explained answers, and has four more in our test player.
Is the PSEE Test of Reasoning still used?
The PSEE tests, including the Test of Reasoning (372 and 373), are not on the PSC's list of currently available tests (page dated 23 September 2026), and the PSEE overview page says it has not been updated since 22 July 2025. The current list includes the General Competency Test: Level 2 Abridged (GCT-2A-324).
Do I need to study for the Test of Judgement?
The PSC says no specialized training, knowledge or experience is required. Practising with realistic scenarios and learning the public service values helps you get used to the format and the kind of reasoning behind effective responses.
Can I use my TOJ 377 result instead of taking TOJ 376?
No. In a two-step process, a valid supervised score does not let you bypass step 1, and a TOJ 376 result cannot replace a TOJ 377 result.
When do I get my Test of Judgement result?
In My Tests on the Candidate Assessment Tool: 48 hours after the test deadline date for TOJ 376, and 48 hours after you complete TOJ 377. Tests taken on the Candidate Assessment Tool cannot be rescored, and no detailed feedback is given.
Sources
- official — Public Service Commission of Canada: Unsupervised Test of Judgement 376 (TOJ 376): format, levels, pass mark, retest, sample question (page dated 2025-07-22)
- official — Public Service Commission of Canada: Supervised Test of Judgement 377 (TOJ 377): format, test day, levels, pass mark (page dated 2025-07-22)
- official — Public Service Commission of Canada: Understanding the Test of Judgement (2-step and single-step use, page dated 2025-07-22)
- official — Public Service Commission of Canada: PSEE Test of Judgement Unsupervised Internet Test 374 (marked as replaced by TOJ 376, effective 22 July 2025)
- official — Public Service Commission of Canada: Public Service Commission of Canada Tests, list of currently available tests (page dated 2026-09-23)
- official — Public Service Commission of Canada: Understanding the Public Service Entrance Exam suite of products (no longer updated since 22 July 2025)
- official — Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat: Values and Ethics Code for the Public Sector (values and expected behaviours)
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.
FreeTests: Analytical thinking
Canada Test of Judgement Practice: free sample
Answer 4 questions against the clock, like the real exam. You then see the right answer, the reason and your time on each. About 7 minutes · free · no sign-in.
4 questions to answer▶ Start nowThis one is free · no sign-in neededYour result shows how long each question took you.
