The Public Appointments Service (PAS) is the independent centralised provider of recruitment, assessment and selection services for the Civil Service and recruitment competitions are conducted in accordance with the Commission for Public Service (CPSA) Codes of Practice. Recruitment is conducted by way of competitive, fair, merit based selection processes.
In such processes, candidates are required to achieve the minimum standard in each of the selection tests and assessment questionnaires. Taking account of the results of those who reached the qualifying standards, an order of merit is created and candidates who are placed highest are invited to the next stage of the selection process.
In compliance with the CPSA Codes of Practice, and in fairness to other candidates, the PAS has no discretion and would not consider permitting an individual candidate who had not met the overall qualifying standard proceed further through the selection process.