Sub-test I - Spelling

For each of the following sentences, find the underlined word that
contains an error in spelling. If none of the underlined words contains a
spelling error, then choice (5) is the correct answer.
Question 1
Because letter writing is an important aspect of offise
(1) (2)
work, a good grasp of grammar and spelling principles
(3)
is a very useful asset. _______
(4) (5)
Question 2
An answer to a request for information, a letter to
(1)
promote a product, or a letter extending credit should
(2)
produce a good impresion for the company. _______
(3) (4) (5)
Sub-test II - Grammar
For each of the following groups of sentences, find the underlined word or
group of words that represents an error in grammar. If none of the
underlined words contains an error in grammar, then choice (5) is the
correct answer.
Question 3
We had went to the office yesterday to do some extra
(1)
work. We told him that we did not know when our work
(2) (3) (4)
would be completed. _______
(5)
Question 4
This is the most valuable proposal that I have yet seen.
(1) (2) (3)
Our staff members have been working on it these past few
(4)
months. _______
(5)
Sub-test III - Punctuation
For each of the following groups of sentences, find the underlined
punctuation mark that represents an error in punctuation. If none of the
underlined punctuation marks is incorrect, then choice (5) is the correct
answer.
Question 5
Did you receive the order of stamps, envelopes, writing
(1) (2)
paper and postcards. We need them as soon as possible.
(3) (4)
_______
(5)
Question 6
Which type of money order do you need? We can purchase
(1)
a bank, postal, express or telegraph money order. _______
(2) (3) (4) (5)
Answers
1. (2)
2. (4)
3. (1)
4. (5)
5. (3)
6. (5)
Question 1
You have been asked by your supervisor to calculate the rental cost of
three floors in a new office building. In order to determine the total rental
cost of the three floors, what information is necessary?
1. The square footage available on the three floors.
2. The rental cost per square foot.
1. I only
2. II only
3. Both I and II
4. Neither I nor II
Question 2
Investments by major financial institutions in Canada include bonds,
stocks, and mortgages. Banks, insurance companies, trust companies,
and loan companies are subject to statutory limitations in respect of such
investments to ensure that the interests of depositors and policy holders
are not exposed to unreasonable financial risks. According to this
information, which of the following conclusions can be made?
1. Investments in real estate are not subject to statutory limitations.
2. Statutory limitations guard against exposure to certain financial
risks.
1. I only
2. II only
3. Both I and II
4. Neither I nor II
Question 3
A company's total sales are expected to increase by one-half in the
coming year while the cost/profit ratio is expected to remain constant.
Which of the following additional information is necessary to estimate the
company's actual profit for the coming year?
1. The company's total sales for the current year were $100,000.
2. Costs for the current year were equal to one-half the sales amount.
1. I only
2. II only
3. Both I and II
4. Neither I nor II
Question 4
The financial analysts in your organization are preparing two independent
studies using the same set of data. You have been asked by your
supervisor to determine if greater efficiency might be realized by
coordinating the two studies. Of the sequences presented, which would
be the most appropriate to carry out the following steps to accomplish
this task?
1. Review the goals and requirements of the two studies.
2. Identify the data relevant to common objectives of the studies.
3. Discuss with the analysts the most efficient manner of dealing with
the data relevant to both studies.
4. Identify the objectives common to both studies.
1. I, II, III, IV
2. I, IV, II, III
3. II, I, III, IV
4. IV, III, II, I
Question 5
You have been asked to respond in writing to a letter of complaint about
rudeness on the part of a customs officer. Which of the following
responses is the most appropriate?
1. We regret any difficulties you may have encountered when you
recently passed through customs. We will investigate the matter
promptly and contact you shortly with our findings.
2. We appreciate that you are concerned enough about our services
to report this matter to the proper authorities. Those authorized
will investigate your allegations and will attempt to ascertain what
actually happened.
3. We are investigating your allegations against our services. They
are not only to protect our country, but also to serve the public.
You will hear from us shortly.
4. We are initiating an immediate investigation of the incident you
reported to us and wish to apologize in advance for any
inconvenience, if such occurred, which you may have encountered.
Answers
1. (3)
2. (2)
3. (3)
4. (2)
5. (1)
The General Competency Test: Level 1 (GCT1) contains 3 types of
questions: understanding written material, solving numerical problems,
and drawing logical conclusions.
A sample question of each type is provided below.
Type I - Understanding Written Material
This type of question involves reading a short passage, which is usually in
memorandum format, and answering a question about the information in
the text.
Question 1
Government Gouvernement
of Canada du Canada
MEMORANDUM NOTE DE SERVICE
_____________________________________________________
TO: All employees
FROM: Manager
Please note that the answer sheets currently being
used will be replaced with new ones next year. The
existing supply of answer sheets should be used
from now until the end of the year. It is important
that the new sheets are used next year because they
will enable the collection of additional information
that will be required at this time.
The main purpose of this memorandum is to:
1. Indicate the need for new answer sheets.
2. Notify employees that new answer sheets will replace the existing ones.
3. Notify employees that the current answer sheets are inadequate.
4. Indicate the need for additional information.
Type II - Solving Numerical Problems
This type of question involves choosing the correct answer to a practical
numerical problem.
Question 2
You are in charge of financial services and must calculate overtime pay
for employees in your division. Due to a heavy workload, an employee
had to work 35 hours of overtime in two weeks. For 28 of these hours,
the employee was paid at one and one half times the hourly rate. For the
remaining hours, the employee was paid at twice the usual hourly pay.
The employee's hourly pay is $10. How much overtime money should the
employee be paid for the two week period?
1. $340
2. $420
3. $560
4. $760
Type III - Drawing Logical Conclusions
In this type of question, the task is to choose the correct answer to a
practical problem.
Question 3
One of your duties is the selection and disposal of boxes of obsolete files.
According to regulations, ordinary files become obsolete after 24 months,
protected files after 36 months, and classified files after 48 months.
Which of the following boxes of files can be discarded?
A box containing ordinary files dated 26 months ago and classified files
dated 34 months ago.
A box containing ordinary files dated 38 months ago and protected files
dated 28 months ago.



1. A only
2. B only
3. Both A and B
4. Neither A nor B
Answers
1. (2)
2. (3)
3. (4)
Last-Minute Checklist
1. Know the exact date, time and location of the test administration session.
2. Bring to the test session:
a. your Personal Record Identifier (PRI, if you are a public
servant)
b. one piece of signature and photo identification
c. a calculator (if you wish)
d. a watch (if you wish)
If you have a disability and you require special testing
accommodations, you are responsible to notify the test administrators
well in advance of the testing date so that they can take the necessary
steps to determine the appropriate accommodations for your specific
needs.
Taking the GCT2: General Test-Taking Tips &
Information
1. Read this entire publication and be sure to complete the practice test
following all of the instructions. Doing so will help you to become familiar
with the GCT2 and to work at the appropriate pace.
2. If you want additional practice, you may wish to consult the reference
sections in a local public library, or in bookstores, for preparation books
on standardized tests.
3. Try employment tests and school tests (whether or not they count for
something) as well as tests, quizzes and puzzles in magazines,
newspapers and quiz books. If there are no time limits, set them
yourself.
4. Read the whole question and look at all of the answer choices before
choosing an answer. It is often a mistake to think that because the first
or second answer choice looks good to you, you do not need to read the
remaining choices.
5. Pace yourself: Since each question is worth the same amount (1 point),
you should try to do as many of the questions as you can. While
estimating the average amount of time to be spent on each question is
useful, you should note that the questions on the test are increasingly
more difficult toward the end and, therefore, may require more time to
solve.
6. Make sure the numbered space on the answer sheet matches the number
of the question you are answering. Remember that if you skip a question
you must also skip the corresponding answer space on the answer sheet.
7. Guess at the answer if you are not sure: there is no penalty for guessing
on the GCT2.
8. Use all the time available: If you have time to spare, go back and review
your answers. Re-read those questions you weren't sure about in the first
place and double check your answers. This is also a good time to check
your answer sheet to make sure you have recorded your answers
correctly.
9. The retest period is 180 days (this means that you have to wait 180 days
before taking the test again). If you re-take the test, only your most
recent score will be used. If you are happy with your results and decide
not to rewrite, your score on the GCT2 is valid indefinitely.
Instructions and Sample Questions
Question type 1: Vocabulary
From among the five answer choices given, select the word or phrase
which best defines the word in UPPERCASE letters.
Example 1
IGNITE
1. overlook
2. set on fire
3. explain
4. illustrate
5. fall asleep
The correct answer is the second option.
Example 2
SUCCINCT
1. concise, briefly expressed
2. filled with juice
3. serving to draw in by suction
4. mentally acute, ingenious
5. resulting or terminating favorably
The correct answer is the first option.
Question type 2: Figural relations
There are two versions of the figural relations questions: figure
completion and figure analogy
Figure Completion
For figure completion, your task is to identify the answer figure that
logically completes the problem figures series.
Example 3

In example 3, one horizontal line is added in each successive problem
figure, so the next figure in the series should contain five horizontal lines.
The correct answer is the third option.
Example 4

In example 4, the square is moving in a counter clockwise movement and
the circle is moving in a clockwise movement, so the next figure in the
series should have a square in the upper left corner and a circle in the
upper right corner. The correct answer is the third option.
Figure Analogy
For figure analogy questions, identify the relationship that exists between
the first pair of figures and then use this information to choose the figure
among the five answer choices that has the same relationship to the third
figure in the question.
Example 5

In the above example, the second figure is a replica of the first, except
that it has been rotated to the left. Therefore, your task would be to
select the answer choice that resembles the third figure in the question,
but rotated to the left as well. The correct answer is the fourth option.
Example 6

In example 6, the first pair of figures show a rectangle placed over a
circle and the second figure shows a rectangle placed over a circle but the
colors have been inverted (the circle has become white and the rectangle
is now dark) and the circle has moved upward. Select the answer choice
that resembles the third figure and complete the pair applying the same
changes as in the first pair. The correct answer is the second option.
Question type 3: Number and letter series
Each question of this type presents a series (list) of numbers and/or
letters. Find the rule that has been used to produce this series; then use
this rule to select the item (either a number or letter) which would follow
at the end.
Example 7
3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18
(Identify the number that comes next in the series)
(1) 19 (2) 20 (3) 21 (4) 22 (5) 23
In example 7, the numbers are increasing by threes (i.e., 3 + 3 = 6; 6 +
3 = 9, etc.). Therefore, the next number in the series is 21 (i.e., 18 +
3)), to complete the series correctly. The correct answer is the third
option.
Example 8
80A, 70C, 60E, 50G, 40I, 30K, 20M, 10
(Identify the letter that comes next in the series)
(1) L (2) N (3) O (4) P (5) Q
Example 8 involves both letters and numbers. The numbers in the series
are decreasing by ten (i.e., 80, 70, 60, etc.). The letters are in ascending
order, with every second letter "missing" : A, [B missing], C, [D missing],
E, etc.
Therefore, the letter O should be paired with the number 10 to
complete the series. The correct answer is the third option.
Example 9
2, 3, 6, 11, 18, 27,
(Identify the number that comes next in the series)
(1) 36 (2) 29 (3) 31 (4) 38 (5) 34
In example 9, the numbers are increasing by and odd number (i.e., 2 + 1
= 3; 3 + 3= 6; 6 + 5 = 11, etc.) Therefore, the next number in the
series is 38 (27+ 11). The correct answer is the fourth option.
Example 10
50A, 60C, 55E, 65G, 60I, 70K, 65M, 75
(Identify the letter that comes next in the series)
(1) L (2) N (3) O (4) P (5) Q
In example 10, both letters and numbers are involved. The numbers in
the series are increasing by 10, then decreasing by 5, increasing by 10
again and so on. The letters are in an ascending order with every second
letter missing. A (B missing), C (D missing), etc. Therefore, the letter
O should be paired with 75 to complete the series. The correct
answer is the third option.
Question type 4: Numerical
These questions require you to use basic arithmetic skills to solve a
problem. You are permitted to use a calculator and rough paper to arrive
at your answer. Two examples of a numerical question are provided
below.
Example 11
If a clerk can file 100 letters in half an hour, how many letters can the
person file in 2 hours?
1. 100
2. 200
3. 500
4. 300
5. 400
Two hours is 4 times longer than half an hour, so the clerk should be able
to file 4 times as many letters in that length of time (i.e., 4 x 100 = 400
letters). The correct answer is the fifth option.
Example 12
Using a 100-litre can of gasoline, a person fills three cans equally and has
1/4 of the original amount left over. How many litres does each of the
smaller cans hold?
(1) 25 (2) 20 (3) 16 (4) 30 (5) 331/3
A quarter of 100 litres is 25 (100 4) and 25 litres is what is left over
from original 100 litres (100 litres 25 = 75), 75 litres is the amount of
gasoline divided in three containers. Therefore, each of the three other
containers holds 25 litres (75 litres 3). The correct answer is the first
option.
Question type 5: Analytical reasoning
In the analytical reasoning section, you are presented with short
passages of text. Your task is to answer a set of questions about each
passage. For a given passage, the individual questions are independent of
each other. Also, information contained in one question (or its answer
choices) should not be used to answer other questions.
In answering some of the analytical reasoning questions, you may find it
useful to draw a diagram.
Example 13
There are four houses on one side of a city street. Each house belongs to
a different person who lives in the house. The owners of the houses are
Amy, Barnes, Clidewell and Dombrowski. Each owns one car and the
colours of these cars are white, red, blue and green. Furthermore:
1. Dombrowski owns the white car
2. Barnes' house is not at either end of the street
3. Amy owns the second house from the left
4. Clidewell owns the blue car
Which people own the red and the green cars?
1. Barnes and Amy
2. Barnes and Dombrowski
3. Clidewell and Barnes
4. Dombrowski and Amy
5. Clidewell and Amy
The sample passage indicates that Dombrowski owns a white car and
Clidewell owns a blue car. The only other people mentioned in the
passage are Barnes and Amy, so they must be the owners of the red and
the green cars. The correct answer is the first option.
Example 14
Read the following short passage.
"A new book on Intergroup Relations will contain seven chapters
(Theories, Reducing Prejudice, Values, Movements, Cross-Cultural
Research, The Legal System and Education) which can be assembled in a
variety of orders. However, the first and second chapters must be
Theories and The Legal System respectively. Furthermore, the Values and
Movements chapters must not be separated by another topic."
If the Cross-Cultural Research chapter is placed third, in how many ways
can the book be organized?
(1) 4 (2) 8 (3) 12 (4) 16 (5) 32
According to the text above, it can be deduced that the first three
chapters respect the following order: Theories, the Legal System and
Cross-Cultural Research. The chapters on Values and Movements must
not be separated but can be inverted. They may be placed as follows:
Chapter 4-5, 5-4, 5-6, 6-5, 6-7, and 7-6, which totals six possibilities.
The other two chapters (Reducing Prejudice and Education) take the
remaining spots and may be inverted. For each of the six possibilities for
the Values and Movements, there are two possibilities for the chapters
Reducing Prejudice and Education. Therefore, the total number of way
the book can be organized is 12 (6 X 2). The correct answer is the third
option.
Answers
1. (2)
2. (1)
3. (3)
4. (3)
5. (4)
6. (2)
7. (3)
8. (3)
9. (4)
10.(3)
11.(5)
12.(1)
13.(1)
14.(3)
Type I - Vocabulary
Select the word or phrase that best defines the word in UPPERCASE
letters.
Question 1
SUCCINCT
1. concise, briefly expressed
2. filled with juice
3. serving to draw in by suction
4. mentally acute, ingenious
5. resulting or terminating favorably
Type II - Figural Relations
There are two kinds of figural relations questions.
Figure Completion.
Identify the figure that logically completes the series.
Question 2

Figure Analogies.
Identify the relationship between the first two figures, then select the
answer figure that bears the same relationship to the third figure.
Question 3

Type III - Number and Letter Series
Find the rule used to produce each series, then select the answer
(number or letter) which would logically complete the series.
Question 4
2, 3, 6, 11, 18, 27,
(1) 36 (2) 29 (3) 31 (4) 38 (5) 34
Question 5
50A, 60C, 55E, 65G, 60I, 70K, 65M, 75__
(1) L (2) N (3) O (4) P (5) Q
Type IV - Numerical Problems
The numerical questions require you to use basic arithmetic skills. You
are permitted to use a calculator and rough paper to arrive at your
answers.
Question 6
Using a 100-litre can of gasoline, a person fills three smaller cans equally
and has
1
/
4
of the original amount left over. How may litres does each of
the smaller cans hold?
(1) 25 (2) 20 (3) 16 (4) 30 (5) 33
1
/
3

Type V - Analytical Reasoning
In this section, you read a short passage and then answer a set of
questions pertaining to it. "A new book on Intergroup Relations will
contain seven chapters (Theories, Reducing Prejudice, Values,
Movements, Cross-Cultural Research, The Legal System and
Education)which can be assembled in a variety of orders. However, the
first and second chapters must be Theories and The Legal System
respectively. Furthermore, the Values and Movements chapters must not
be separated by another topic."
Question 7
If the Cross-Cultural Research chapter is placed third, in how many ways
can the book be organized?
(1) 4 (2) 8 (3) 12 (4) 16 (5) 32
Answers
1. (1)
2. (3)
3. (2)
4. (4)
5. (3)
6. (1)
7. (3)
The following questions are similar to those on the General Intelligence
Test (GIT-310). The correct answers are at the bottom of this page.
Note: you will not be permitted to use a calculator during this test.
Sub-test I - General Information
Select the correct answer from among the five alternatives.
Question 1
The capital of Portugal is:
1. Barcelona
2. Andorra
3. Lisbon
4. Madrid
5. San Paulo
Sub-test II - Similarities
In each question, five pairs of words are given. Select the pair that refers
most directly to a single concept.
Question 2
1. apple-automobile
2. orange-apple
3. automobile-cloud
4. charity-automobile
5. cloud-charity
Sub-test III - Arithmetic
Solve the problem below and indicate the correct answer.
Question 3
A lemon drink is made up of 2 parts lemon juice and 3 parts water. How
many litres of lemon juice will it take to make 15 litres of the lemon
drink?
1. 2
2. 3
3. 6
4. 9
5. 10
Sub-test IV - Memory, Part I (650 word text)
The memory sub-test is divided into two parts. For Part One, you have 10
minutes to study a text and retain as much of the information as
possible. After the time limit is over, you will complete Sub-test V. Then,
for Part Two of the memory sub-test, you will be presented with the text
you studied in Part One, but with some of the information deleted. You
are to choose, from five alternatives, the correct information to
correspond with the original text.
Part 1
"A monthly sample survey of households produced an estimate that
salaries and wages were paid by the petroleum industry to an average
number of 19,497 persons in 1979 out of a total of 9,728,600 for all
industries."
Sub-test V - Block Design
The large square below is made up of nine blocks from among the
following six types.

In each question, decide how many times the type of block shown at the
beginning of the question appears in the nine-block design to the right of
the question.
Question 4
appears in the design on the right exactly
1. 1 times
2. 2 times
3. 3 times
4. 4 times
5. 5 times
Question 5
appears in the design on the right exactly
1. 1 times
2. 2 times
3. 3 times
4. 4 times
5. 5 times
Sub-test IV - Memory, Part 2
For each numbered space in the passage, choose the information that
corresponds to the original text.
"A monthly sample of survey households produced an end estimate that
salaries and wages were paid by the (6) industry to an average number
of (7) persons in (8) out of a total of (9) for all industries."
Question 6
1. transportation
2. construction
3. manufacturing
4. petroleum
5. forestry
Question 7
1. 19,974
2. 19,779
3. 19,497
4. 19,947
5. 19,797
Question 8
1. 1976
2. 1979
3. 1977
4. 1978
5. 1975
Question 9
1. 9,772,900
2. 9,529,700
3. 9,287,900
4. 9,552,800
5. 9,728,600
Answers
1. (3)
2. (2)
3. (3)
4. (1)
5. (3)
6. (4)
7. (3)
8. (2)
9. (5)
The following questions are similar to those on the General Intelligence
Test (GIT) 320. The correct answers are at the bottom of this page. Note
that you will not be permitted to use a calculator or rough paper during
this test.
Sub-test I - General Information
Select the correct answer from among the five alternatives.
Question 1
Prior to the European Union, the unit of currency (money)
of the Netherlands was the:
1. mark
2. dollar
3. guilder
4. pound
5. crown
Sub-test II - Similarities
Question 2
In each question, five pairs of words are given. Select the pair that refers
most directly to a single concept.
1. apple-automobile
2. orange-apple
3. automobile-cloud
4. charity-automobile
5. cloud-charity
Sub-test III - Arithmetic
Solve the problem below and indicate the correct answer.
Question 3
An employee sold 200 50-cent stamps, one-half as many 60-cent stamps
and one-quarter as many 80-cent stamps as 50-cent stamps. What was
the total value of these sales?
(1) $150 (2) $225 (3) $180 (4) $200 (5) $195
Sub-test IV - Vocabulary
Select the word or phrase that best defines the word in UPPERCASE
letters.
Question 4
IGNITE
1. set afire
2. overlook
3. explain
4. illustrate
5. fall asleep
Sub-test V - Memory, Part I (300 word text)
The memory sub-test is divided into two parts. For Part One, you have 10
minutes to study a text and retain as much of the information as
possible. After the time limit is over, you will complete Sub-test VI. Then,
for Part Two of the memory sub-test, you will be presented with the text
you studied in Part One, but with some of the information deleted. You
are to choose, from five alternatives, the correct information to
correspond with the original text.
Part I:
"Ontario and Quebec each account for about one-third of the milk cows in Canada
and a corresponding share of the total milk production. In 1979 there were
2,956,000 milk cows on farms compared to 3,006,000 in 1969, excluding
Newfoundland."
Sub-test VI - Block Design
The large square below is made up of nine blocks from among the
following six types.

In each question, decide how many times the type of block shown at the
beginning of the question appears in the nine-block design to the right of
the question.
Question 5
appears in the design on the right exactly
once
2 times
3 times
4 times
5 times
Question 6
appears in the design on the right exactly
once
2 times
3 times
4 times
5 times
Sub-test V - Memory, Part 2
For each numbered space in the passage, choose the information that
corresponds to the original text.
"Ontario and (7) each account for about (8) of the milk cows in Canada and a
corresponding share of the total milk production. In (9) there were 2,956,000 milk
cows on farms compared to (10) in 1969, excluding Newfoundland."
Question 7
1. Manitoba
2. Quebec
3. British Columbia
4. New Brunswick
5. Prince Edward Island
Question 8
1. one-quarter
2. three-fifths
3. one-third
4. two-thirds
5. one-half
Question 9
1. 1979
2. 1956
3. 1974
4. 1980
5. 1960
Question 10
1. 6,000,000
2. 4,000.000
3. 3,530,000
4. 3,006,000
5. 4,000,600
Answers
1. (3)
2. (2)
3. (4)
4. (1)
5. (1)
6. (3)
7. (2)
8. (3)
9. (1)
10.(4)