Our current, comprehensive, reputable Study Kit—available in English only—is designed to help you build skills and prepare quickly for Foreign Service and related federal government job competitions.

Foreign Service (FS) positions are with either the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) in the Political/Economic and Commercial/Economic officer streams, or with Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) for the Immigration officer stream; Management/Consular (MCO), Commerce (CO), Policy (ES) or Administrative (FSAA) officer jobs are with DFAIT; Program Manager (PM) positions are with the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).

For over 20 years our Kit has enabled thousands of clients to obtain high test scores, develop application material that satisfies complex screening requirements, learn about tricky evaluation methods, and succeed in getting to the interview stage of their competition.

We take the tests ourselves every year and debrief with clients regularly so we can update our materials when changes occur. We hired people to work with us in test development who did so for the federal government, and our Director’s background as a Foreign Service Officer and his expertise in behaviourally-based training makes our company the only proven source to help individuals in government competitions.

The Study Kit contains:

Sample Exercises + Performance Improvement Techniques

Situational Judgment Test (SJT) To help you understand and perform well on the SJT—which has been used since 2003, and which replaced the old types of Foreign Service exams—the Study Kit provides precise test-taking tips and practice materials. How the SJT was developed, the corporate culture and values system underlying the “ideal world” of the test, tools to help frame and answer questions successfully, and definitions for the three “competencies” examined in it are explained in detail. Two full-length, 100-question sample tests replicating the real SJT are provided for thorough practice. Click here to see Samples of our SJT Questions. Written Communication Proficiency Test (WCPT) To get you accustomed to handling this intensive language usage exercise in place since 2000, three full-length, 50-question sample tests replicating the WCPT are provided for repeated practice. An answer key is included for each sample question. It identifies the grammar, punctuation, vocabulary, tone, title, logical ordering and summary issue being tested, and directs you to a single source where you can quickly learn to correct problems affecting your performance. Useful tips to expedite handling questions quicker and more effectively are included in our test-taking instructions. Click here to see Samples of our WCPT Questions.

Graduate Recruitment Test (GRT)
To help you manage and improve your ability on this cognitive exercise in use in this form since 1989, the Study Kit contains over 120 sample questions, equivalent to more than two full GRT tests and organized in sequential sections to facilitate skills development. Details on the composition of the test, techniques to boost your score on all four types of questions—similarities, number series, arithmetic and figure analogies—and an explanation for the answers are included in the Kit.

Click here to see Samples of our GRT Questions.

How to Write a “Statement of Interest” for Government Jobs
You may be required to write mini-essays, or “statements of interest”, on why you want each government job to which you apply. Proven tips to do so are provided in the Study Kit—a feature exclusive to our service. You will learn how to do an effective self-analysis vís à vís the job(s) you want, how to select appropriate examples from your experience to boost your candidacy, and how to write a personal statement that will stand scrutiny. How and when the statement of interest can be used in the evaluation process is also explained.

Extra Help Included for Possible Use

Since 2003 the government has used almost exclusively some combination of the three tests and Statement of Interest process outlined above in DFAIT, CIC and CIDA entry competitions. However, one year a different written communication test—the WCT—was inserted in place of the WCPT, and twice a different experiential component—the LET—was required instead of the more standard Statement of Interest. So you know how to handle any mix of possible exercises in current or future competitions, the Study Kit also provides:

Written Communication Test (WCT)
To enable you to understand the basis of the WCT—used selectively in various competitions since the mid-70s, know how it is marked and how to practise under test conditions, the Study Kit contains expert instructions to plan and write a summary in the “government style”. Three sample documents to be summarized, and examples of summaries for them which you can compare to your WCT practice drafts, are provided in the Kit.

Leadership Experience Test (LET)
To help you development a successful 500-word leadership experience text, the Study Kit includes a matrix method to carry out a quick, incisive self-analysis of your leadership background and skill-set. Also provided to guide you in drafting your submission are definitions for the leadership elements sought in new officer-level candidates, and against which your credentials would be compared in test marking.

How this Kit Helps You

Investing in this time-tested Study Kit will enable you to:

• Take advantage of the sole source for proven information on DFAIT, CIC
  and CIDA application processes and officer-level entry exams
• Practice effectively on our bona fide sample tests using the many tips included to boost your speed and performance on test day
• Understand complex, unpublicized government evaluation methods to help you advance and protect your candidacy
• Improve significantly your opportunity to move to the interview stage in the job competition(s) you entered

Click here to download the Table of Contents of the Study Kit.

Our Clientele

We have produced Study Kits sold across Canada and to Canadians living throughout the world since 1989. Clients include first-time exam takers who want to prepare effectively, and individuals who participated unsuccessfully in past competitions and need to perform better. Kit users come from various university disciplines and levels, and many already hold a job in government, the legal or other professions, the academic world, an NGO, or the private sector.

Our Reputation and Supporters

Referrals of candidates come to us from retired and serving government executives up to Deputy Minister-level (including many former clients), lawyers and international business executives, and university faculty and administrators familiar over the years with our quality study materials and other services.

Why Use Our Services?

We are the only career coaching firm that specializes in helping candidates understand and advance in government, multilateral organization and international NGO hiring and promotion competitions—from entry level to executive level.

No service offered by government, universities or the private sector—past or present, in North America or abroad—matches our expertise or placement record over the past 25 years. The success rate of our clients in institutional hiring and promotion processes attests to the high quality training we provide. Please take the time to read the testimonials sent to us by clients and supporters displayed under Client Comments [click here].

For additional information on what we do and why we know how to help you, see our List of Standard Programs and Services [click here] and the Profile of our Company [click here] and of our Director [click here].

How to Order Your Kit

The Study Kit can now be ordered in its entirety or in selected sections. The Complete Version of the Kit is available in either electronic, hard copy or combination formats; the Partial Versions of the Kit—comprising a choice of one or two tests from among the SJT, WCPT, WCT or GRT—are available in electronic format only. Please see the instructions below and on our secure web page to order your selection online using VISA or Mastercard. Click here to order your Kit. Electronic Study Kit: Complete Version Email to Canadian address $195.00 Cdn + applicable taxes Email to International address $195.00 (no taxes)

Hard Copy Study Kit: Complete Version

• Xpresspost to Canadian address $220.00 Cdn + $5.00 handling + applicable taxes
• Courier to Canadian address $220.00 Cdn + $7.50 handling + applicable taxes + Courier charge (see * below)
• Courier to International address $220.00 Cdn (no taxes) + $7.50 handling +Courier charge (see * below)

Combination Hard Copy + Electronic Study Kit: Complete Version

• Email + Xpresspost to Canadian address
  $230.00 Cdn + $5.00 handling + applicable taxes
• Email + Courier to Canadian address $230.00 Cdn+ $7.50 handling + applicable taxes + Courier charge (see * below)
• Email + Courier to International address $230.00 Cdn (no taxes) + $7.50 handling + Courier charge (see * below)

Electronic Study Kit: Partial Versions*

• One test only (either PSEE, SJT, WCPT, WCT or GRT) emailed to Canadian address
  $80.00 Cdn + applicable taxes
• Two tests (from among PSEE, SJT, WCPT, WCT or GRT) emailed to Canadian address
  $150.00 Cdn + applicable taxes
  *Please send us a separate email telling us which specific test(s) you have ordered.

*Courier Delivery
Contact us by email or telephone to obtain the courier charge to add to your payment for shipment to your required destination.

Website Security and Order Delivery

Payments by Visa or MasterCard only are cleared by Moneris Solutions, a Royal Bank/Bank of Montreal secure online service. Electronic and hard copy kit orders (note that both versions contain exactly the same material) are processed once credit card approval is obtained.

Kits are sent out within 24 hours to clients who enter their information correctly online. If greater urgency is required, clients can call our office at the number below to order over the telephone and receive faster service.

Further Information

If you have questions about the Study Kit or services described elsewhere on the website, Contact Us [click here] to explain your needs and find out how we can assist you. No other source of information on government recruitment or promotion exercises can match our longstanding expertise in this field.

Note
Because of the complexity of specialized government examination, hiring and promotion exercises—and because of the prevalent misinformation and myths related to test preparation and materials—a telephone call is best to ensure that you can get thorough answers to your personal questions.