Examination Bulletin Glossary of Terms

Examination Types

• Open – Open to anyone who meets the minimum qualifications.
• Promotional – These exams are limited to State employees with permanent status. Some examinations are administered for a single department. In those cases, the examination may be limited to employees who have permanent civil service appointments with the specific agency as noted in the bulletin.
• Open Non-Promotional– Open to anyone who meets the minimum qualifications.
• Continuous Testing – Competition is open to all interested applicants. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

Final File Date

The date by which applications (STD 678) must be received, postmarked, or submitted online.  Applications postmarked, personally delivered,  received via interoffice mail, or submitted online after the final file date will not be accepted.

Minimum Qualifications

The Minimum Qualifications outline the minimum amount of specific education/experience a candidate must possess in order to be admitted to the exam.

The Position

This describes typical duties performed by the class for which the examination is being given.

Scope

The classification specification also includes the Knowledges, Skills, and Abilities required for success in the class. The Scope identifies which of the Knowledges, Skills, and Abilities will be examined in the test. This is important, as it will give you areas of questioning for which you can develop your own study plan to help you prepare for the test. 

Examination Information

The Examination Information section of the bulletin describes the type of test to be used. In some cases, two or more type of tests will be combined to determine the final score. For example, a written test maybe combined with an interview panel, in which case, the bulletin will show the weighting of each part of the exam. The most common types of exam components are:

• Written Test - This usually consists of multiple choice questions, but may also include essay questions.
• Interview Panel - This is a scored interview conducted by a panel including a chairperson representing the State Personnel Board and subject matter experts who evaluate the answers provided by the candidate.
• Performance Test - This test requires the candidate to replicate certain duties actually performed on the job.
• Education and Experience Evaluation - This compares the candidates’ education and experience (as reflected on the exam application) against a pre-set rating standard. No other test is required.

Eligible List Information

This section specifies the actual eligibility list life. Eligibility lists are generally established for 12 months; however, the needs of the service and conditions of the list may warrant a change in this period.

Location

The examination bulletin will specify whether the location will be Statewide, Regional, or Spot (meaning a specific city).

General Information

This includes information that applies to all exams, for example: where to call if you have questions or if you don’t receive a response on your submitted application, where to find applications and general qualifications.