The Candidate Assessment Tool

1. Go to CAT - Home (psc-cfp.gc.ca) and select the language of your choice (English or French).
2. Select the Create an account tab.
3. Fill out all the fields in the form.
• Note: use a personal email address as this address can’t be changed in the future and it is more permanent than your work email address.
4. Select the Create an account button at the bottom of the screen.

To login: Go to CAT - Home (psc-cfp.gc.ca) and login with your email address and password.

To logout: Select MENU in the top left corner of your screen and select Logout from the list.

1. Select MENU in the top left corner of your screen.
2. Select My Profile. This will take you to the My Personal Information tab, where you can input personal details for your profile.
• Be sure to fill out the Employment Equity section; it’s required in order to take a test.

Take note of your password and have it readily available on the day you take the test. If you enter the incorrect password more than 4 times, you’ll be automatically locked out of the account for 4 hours; the organization that sent you the test cannot unlock accounts.

To change your password:

1. In your account, select MENU in the top left corner of your screen.
2. Select My Profile.
3. Select Password from the column on the left side and follow the steps to change your password.

To reset your password (if you forgot your password or your account is locked):

1. Go to CAT – Home (psc-cfp.gc.ca), and select “Forgot Password?” in the bottom left corner. Enter the email address of your account and hit the “Send password reset link” button.
2. Follow the instructions on resetting your password that will be sent to your email address.

You can customize your view to have your preferred font size and style, and text spacing saved in your profile. You can also use your browser settings to change the zoom resolution and colour for both text and page background. There are 3 ways to change your display preferences.

From the MENU tab:

1. Select MENU in the top left corner of your screen.
2. Select My Profile.
3. Select Preferences from the column on the left side.
4. Choose your preferred display settings.

From the Display button:

1. Select the Display button in the top right corner of your screen.
2. Choose your preferred display settings.

From browser options (variable between browsers):

1. Use your browser’s built-in zoom in and zoom out functionalities.
2. Use your browser’s built-in options to modify background and font colours, where available.

Inform the contact who invited you to take the test as soon as possible if you think that accommodation measures could make the test more accessible to you. This information will be kept confidential.

Accommodation measures during testing will be tailored to your situation, and can include reader services, alternative formats, technical support and attendant services.

A Public Service Commission assessment specialist will determine the accommodation measures to be provided. If you’ve requested accommodation, you’ll be invited to take the test after being informed about the accommodation measures provided to you.

Depending on the accommodation measures, you may be invited to complete an unsupervised test using the Candidate Assessment Tool. In addition to the options described in the navigating the test environment and accessibility options sections, you may have access to the options below. Please note that these options will only be available if you have requested accommodations, and these have been identified as appropriate measures to make the test more accessible to you.

Extra time

When you click the Start Test button, a pop-up window will appear showing the total duration of the test, including the extra time you’ve been allotted. This time will automatically be added to your test timer when you start your test.

When you’re ready to begin, select "Yes, I want to continue," and click the Start Test button. The timer is in the bottom left corner of the screen and displays your remaining time to complete the test.

Breaks

If you’ve been given time for breaks, a pop-up window will appear indicating that you have a bank of timer pauses when you click the Start Test button. This bank allows you to:

1. pause the test at any time during the test
2. choose the length and number of pauses you want until your pause time is up

When you’re ready to begin, select "Yes, I want to continue" and click the Start Test button.

Pause the test

You’ll see the Pause Test button in the middle of the screen, towards the bottom. When you press this button, you’ll be redirected to a window that shows how much time you have left for breaks. You’ll be able to see the time running in your pause bank by viewing the timer box in the middle of the screen.

You can choose to save some of the time to take additional breaks before the end of the test, or let the time run out completely before resuming your test.

Resume the test

You’ll see the Resume Test button in the lower-middle part of the screen while the test is paused. When you press this button, a pop-up window will appear. You’ll need to confirm that you want to resume the test by pressing the Resume Test button in the lower right corner of the pop-up window to stop your pause bank timer.

You’ll be redirected to your test and the timer for your test will start running again.

You can repeat the process of pausing and resuming the test until your pause bank runs out. Once your bank timer is at 0:00:00, you have no break time left. You will automatically be redirected to your test and the test timer will start to run again.

Familiarize yourself with the test environment and test format by taking a sample test.

To take a sample test:

1. Select Sample Tests from the top left corner of your screen.
2. Scroll down to view the available tests; select a test by hitting the Start button next to it.
3. If you use accessibility software, make sure to test its functionality in a Sample Test; if the software doesn’t work or if you need more support tailored to your situation, request accommodation measures.

Once you’ve practised with sample tests and you’re ready to take a test:

1. Select the Home button in the top left corner of the screen.
2. Select the Check-in button and enter your test access code (included in your email invitation). You must check-in and enter your test access code to see an assigned test.
   • Note: If your profile is not complete or needs to be updated, you’ll receive a notification that your personal information needs to be updated before you can take the test.
3. Read the next section (Navigate the test environment) to learn how to proceed.

First, you’ll see a “Welcome” message where you’ll be asked to disable auto-translation in your browser. You’ll need to disable auto-translation to abide by the test’s terms of use.

Disable auto-translation (variable between browsers)

1. Click on the 3 dots (…) in the top right of the window and click on Settings.
2. Select Languages in the left pane.
3. Turn off "Offer to translate pages that aren't in a language you/I read.”

Get started

1. Read the Welcome message, terms of use, instructions and sample questions; then hit Next at each prompt.
2. Pop-up boxes will appear, prompting you to accept the terms of use and to confirm that you wish to start the test. Select “Yes, I wish to proceed” and select the Next or Start Test button.

Use the test features

Once you’ve started the test, the timer will start counting down the time you have left.

• Important note: Be careful not to use the back and forward features (arrows) on your browser’s navigation once you’ve started, as it could cause technical issues.

During the test, your test environment will include these buttons and features:

Timer

Located in the bottom left corner, the Timer counts down your remaining time to take the test. Clicking the minus symbol (-) will hide the timer. Once the timer has started for your official test, it will continue to count down time, even if you close your browser window or computer.

Français / English buttons

Located in the top right corner, the Français / English buttons allow you to switch the test environment between English and French. This button does not change the language of the test questions.

Test Instructions

Located in the top left corner, the Test Instructions tab displays navigation instructions and information about your test. If you select test instructions during the test, the test timer will still continue to count down.

Test Questions

Located in the top left corner, the Test Questions tab allows you to see and answer the questions.

Tools

Located in the top right of the screen, the Tools button displays or hides the Notepad, described below.

Notepad

Located on the right side of the screen, the Notepad section is where you can make notes for yourself as you go through the test. These notes will not be saved or submitted as part of the test.

Display

Located in the top right of the screen, the Display button allows you to change your display preferences, as described in the accessibility options section.

Quit Test

The Quit Test button is located in the top right corner. Clicking this button at any time will allow you to quit the test without submitting your answers.
If you click this button:

• your answers will be deleted, and you will not be able to recover them
• your test will not be scored
• you will lose access to the test and there may be a delay before you can be retested

Submit Test

The Submit Test button is located in the bottom right corner.

Navigating the test questions

A column on the left side of your screen with the numbered list of all the questions in the test summarizes the status of the questions:

• not viewed: questions will show an icon of an eye crossed out
• viewed: questions will show an unobstructed eye icon
• unanswered: questions will show an icon of an empty circle
• answered: questions will show an icon of a circle that has been filled in
• questions marked for review will have an exclamation mark next to them

Viewing and answering questions

• Clicking on a numbered question will display the question in the centre of the screen, with the choice of answers below
• You can select an answer or choose to skip a question by selecting the Next or Previous buttons
• You can change your answers at any time before the test time expires
• Don’t forget to come back and answer questions you choose to skip, as the system will not remind you to complete these questions before submitting your test
• You can Mark for Review a question to remind yourself to go back to it later on; an exclamation point will appear next to the question in the list of questions on the left; you can also Unmark for Review by clicking the same button again
• You do not need to unmark questions for review before submitting the test; questions will be scored regardless