All applicants that have submitted an application must complete the SJT during the test window time period. This window will not open until after the STP application deadline. Failure to complete the test before the deadline date will result in your application being rejected. Click this link to view the key deadline dates for applications to the STP.
You only have 1 opportunity to take the SJT. It is your responsibility to read any guidance and frequently asked questions available on our website and to read the instructions at the start of the test.
How to access the SJT
The situational judgement test (SJT) for applicants to the Scientist Training Programme is via the Pearson VUE website.
For applicants who have not taken the SJT before
In the time between the application closing date and the SJT window opening, if you have not previously undertaken the SJT you will receive emails from Pearson VUE, the SJT provider, containing:
- a link to the Pearson VUE website
- individual login credentials
- test instructions
Usernames and passwords may be provided in 2 separate emails and will be sent to the email address provided on the STP application. Make sure you can access this email account and check junk folders.
If login information still hasn’t been received by 1 working day before the SJT opens:
- check the inbox of the email address provided on the STP application form
- check junk/spam folders
- request details by going to the Pearson VUE webpage for STP and selecting ‘forgot my username’. Complete the fields, then select ‘forgot my password’. Select the option ‘first name, last name and email address’ and complete the requested information.
For applicants who have previously undertaken the SJT
Your previous login details will remain the same. If you are unable to access these visit the Pearson VUE webpage for STP and select ‘forgot my username’. Complete the fields and then select ‘forgot my password’. Select the option ‘first name, last name and email address’ and complete the requested information.
Useful tips for the SJT
- The vertical line dividing the scenario from the response options can be adjusted. Click on the vertical line and drag to your preferred position.
- The ‘Flag for Review’ option will flag items you may wish to return to later on in the test.
- Some terms are marked with an asterisk (*). Definitions are available for these terms by clicking on ‘Glossary’ in the bottom left corner of the page when you are taking the test.
- An error message will appear if you click ‘Next’ and have not viewed the full page. To ensure you have seen all the content, you will need to scroll to the bottom of each page to be able to proceed.
- The size of the text on screen can be increased at any time by pressing the CTRL and + buttons. You can decrease it again by pressing the CTRL and – buttons. You can reset the text size to default by pressing CTRL and 0.
- The ‘Color Scheme’ drop down box in the top right corner will allow you to change the colour display settings of the test. You can change this on the opening pages ahead of commencing the test. Changing the colour scheme will result in a blanket change of the screen colours and will remove the shading that appears for the alternate options in the default colour scheme. You can change the colour scheme throughout the test.
Responding to the SJT scenarios
You should consider your answers from the viewpoint of being the Trainee Scientist and what they should do in the given scenario, rather than what they may be likely to do, given the circumstances.
Each response should be considered independently from the other responses presented within the scenario. For example, a response does not need to resolve all aspects of the scenario to be ‘1 – Very Appropriate’.
Within a single scenario each rating can be used more than once or not at all. For example, all responses within a scenario can be given the same rating of ‘1 – Very Appropriate’ if you feel that this is the correct rating for each response. You may sometimes feel that you would like more information before answering, but please give your best answer based on the information provided in the scenario.
The response options provided within a scenario are not intended to represent all possible options. The response you think would be the most appropriate in that particular situation may not be present. You are required to make a judgement about the options that are provided.
For example, if the wrong lab result is provided to a patient there are a number of steps that should be taken, including checking the patient is okay and re-assessing the patient’s treatment plan. The response ‘ask the patient if they are OK’ should still be judged as appropriate. It should not be judged as if this is the only action that was taken.
It may be that some options are appropriate in the short term (i.e. immediately addressing wrongdoing) and some options are appropriate in the long term (i.e. discussing the implications of the wrongdoing after the event). Please consider the appropriateness of a response option irrelevant of the timeframe.
Marks are given based on how close an answer is to the correct answer. There is no negative marking and you should attempt all questions.
The questions used have been through a thorough review process and the correct answer keys have been determined using a panel of Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) from the National School of Healthcare Science, who are able to provide insight into how a Trainee Scientist should be responding in these situations.
Once you have finished the SJT, make sure that the test says ‘You have now completed the examination’ before you log out of the system.
What happens after completing the SJT?
Once you have completed the SJT, please log out of your Pearson VUE account. When you next log into your Pearson VUE account select ‘Exam History’ from the menu. Within this section, against the exam, it should state ‘Delivery Successful’. This confirms the test has been submitted; a score or exam result will not be shown. You will not know if you have scored enough for the next stage until longlisting outcomes are released.
Scoring of the SJT takes place once the test window closes and will take some time to process. All outcomes will be released on Oriel by the deadline for longlist release. For applications successfully longlisted, the application status displayed in Oriel will show as ‘longlisted’. For applications that have not scored sufficiently on the SJT, the application status will show as ‘longlist unsuccessful’. This means the application will not progress any further.
Please be aware that the SJT will show on your Pearson VUE account as completed, however it will not show as completed in your Oriel account.