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TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2024-5

BillSikes

Legendary Member
Premium Member
Feb 16, 2024
315
363
My Stephenson Harwood test result is:

Verbal medium
Numerical medium

Grit 6/9
Applied intellect 7/9
Creative force 4/9
Digital mindset 9/9

I used to score high for both verbal & numerical and had 6 or above for the 4 areas 😭 please don't throw me out because of the 4/9
getting 4/4 high scores is very rare. the VI is gonna hold the most weight lets be real
 

trainee4u

Legendary Member
Sep 7, 2023
366
723
Those are good results, did you ask if
the problem was the 4/9 and/or your video interview aspect?
I was specifically told that it was a PFO for the scores - the email suggests it was not for the VI aspect:

Thank you for completing the Amberjack assessment for your Stephenson Harwood application.

Unforunately, your overall score has not met our criteria and we are unable to progress you to the next stage of the process on this occasion.

You should have received a personalised feedback report from Amberjack. Please take some time to read through this and think about how you can best prepare for future assessments.


If one reads the feedback:

Creative (6/9) "This is an area where you demonstrated a good level of potential, although you occasionally missed a number of opportunities to take a forwardthinking approach in the situations presented to you, and could have done more to consider the bigger picture, identify opportunities for success and drive change for the better in the way that you responded."

Grit (7/9) "demonstrated clear strengths, showing that you were mostly able to overcome challenges in a positive and calm manner, and making a strong attempt to remain dedicated to successfully achieving your various tasks and responsibilities."

Digital Mindset (9/9) "exceptional potential."

Applied Intellect (4/9) "Based on your results on the assessment, you did show some good judgement, although this is an area you would really benefit from developing further. In the situations presented to you, you would have needed to respond quite differently to show empathy, understanding others, and self-awareness when interacting with a range of individuals."



The "quite differently" does appear to be a "you are not good enough" response.

As such, it looks like you'd need to score 5+ on this.

While they clearly treat 4/9 on applied intellect as "you are unemployable, FOAD", I'm not sure that scoring 4/9 on other categories would necessarily result in the same response - not all of their pillars are necessarily of equal value.

They do say "your overall score" in the rejection,which implies they sum things, but I would guess that they don't necessarily do, so, as my overall 26/36 plus 5/6 on the verbal/numerical seems very good overall.
 

abc124

Standard Member
Aug 9, 2025
8
4
My Stephenson Harwood test result is:

Verbal medium
Numerical medium

Grit 6/9
Applied intellect 7/9
Creative force 4/9
Digital mindset 9/9

I used to score high for both verbal & numerical and had 6 or above for the 4 areas 😭 please don't throw me out because of the 4/9
Wow 9/9 is so impressive! I doubt creative force is a massive red flag with your other results! I think I got all mid ones (6/9 for grit and applied intellect and 7/9 for creative force and digital mindset, verbal high, numerical medium) but I tanked the VI so I think it’s game over for me 😭 I got so stressed, it was my first VI 😭
 
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abc124

Standard Member
Aug 9, 2025
8
4
I was specifically told that it was a PFO for the scores - the email suggests it was not for the VI aspect:

Thank you for completing the Amberjack assessment for your Stephenson Harwood application.

Unforunately, your overall score has not met our criteria and we are unable to progress you to the next stage of the process on this occasion.

You should have received a personalised feedback report from Amberjack. Please take some time to read through this and think about how you can best prepare for future assessments.


If one reads the feedback:

Creative (6/9) "This is an area where you demonstrated a good level of potential, although you occasionally missed a number of opportunities to take a forwardthinking approach in the situations presented to you, and could have done more to consider the bigger picture, identify opportunities for success and drive change for the better in the way that you responded."

Grit (7/9) "demonstrated clear strengths, showing that you were mostly able to overcome challenges in a positive and calm manner, and making a strong attempt to remain dedicated to successfully achieving your various tasks and responsibilities."

Digital Mindset (9/9) "exceptional potential."

Applied Intellect (4/9) "Based on your results on the assessment, you did show some good judgement, although this is an area you would really benefit from developing further. In the situations presented to you, you would have needed to respond quite differently to show empathy, understanding others, and self-awareness when interacting with a range of individuals."



The "quite differently" does appear to be a "you are not good enough" response.

As such, it looks like you'd need to score 5+ on this.

While they clearly treat 4/9 on applied intellect as "you are unemployable, FOAD", I'm not sure that scoring 4/9 on other categories would necessarily result in the same response - not all of their pillars are necessarily of equal value.

They do say "your overall score" in the rejection,which implies they sum things, but I would guess that they don't necessarily do, so, as my overall 26/36 plus 5/6 on the verbal/numerical seems very good overall.
How did you find out your exact verbal/numerical scores? I only got vague descriptions
 

shays

Star Member
Jun 2, 2024
43
59
I was specifically told that it was a PFO for the scores - the email suggests it was not for the VI aspect:

Thank you for completing the Amberjack assessment for your Stephenson Harwood application.

Unforunately, your overall score has not met our criteria and we are unable to progress you to the next stage of the process on this occasion.

You should have received a personalised feedback report from Amberjack. Please take some time to read through this and think about how you can best prepare for future assessments.


If one reads the feedback:

Creative (6/9) "This is an area where you demonstrated a good level of potential, although you occasionally missed a number of opportunities to take a forwardthinking approach in the situations presented to you, and could have done more to consider the bigger picture, identify opportunities for success and drive change for the better in the way that you responded."

Grit (7/9) "demonstrated clear strengths, showing that you were mostly able to overcome challenges in a positive and calm manner, and making a strong attempt to remain dedicated to successfully achieving your various tasks and responsibilities."

Digital Mindset (9/9) "exceptional potential."

Applied Intellect (4/9) "Based on your results on the assessment, you did show some good judgement, although this is an area you would really benefit from developing further. In the situations presented to you, you would have needed to respond quite differently to show empathy, understanding others, and self-awareness when interacting with a range of individuals."



The "quite differently" does appear to be a "you are not good enough" response.

As such, it looks like you'd need to score 5+ on this.

While they clearly treat 4/9 on applied intellect as "you are unemployable, FOAD", I'm not sure that scoring 4/9 on other categories would necessarily result in the same response - not all of their pillars are necessarily of equal value.

They do say "your overall score" in the rejection,which implies they sum things, but I would guess that they don't necessarily do, so, as my overall 26/36 plus 5/6 on the verbal/numerical seems very good overall.
okay I fully expect rejection because my scores are lower and my last two VI questions were messy, but just because your overall score was low does not mean they count only this. IMO they score the VI questions by points as well and then they decide because they score like this the AC and it makes sense. Especially since I've seen people progress with lower scores than yours.
 
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abbietc03

Distinguished Member
Dec 13, 2022
56
159
My Stephenson Harwood test result is:

Verbal medium
Numerical medium

Grit 6/9
Applied intellect 7/9
Creative force 4/9
Digital mindset 9/9

I used to score high for both verbal & numerical and had 6 or above for the 4 areas 😭 please don't throw me out because of the 4/9
I got 3/9 for creative force in their sjt for their spring vs and still got an offer, so I wouldn't worry too much!
 
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InterestInPublicLaw

Valued Member
  • Feb 7, 2024
    115
    85
    Wow 9/9 is so impressive! I doubt creative force is a massive red flag with your other results! I think I got all mid ones (6/9 for grit and applied intellect and 7/9 for creative force and digital mindset, verbal high, numerical medium) but I tanked the VI so I think it’s game over for me 😭 I got so stressed, it was my first VI 😭
    Your scores are great! Hopefully scores are considered holistically and you could get an AC.
     

    InterestInPublicLaw

    Valued Member
  • Feb 7, 2024
    115
    85
    okay I fully expect rejection because my scores are lower and my last two VI questions were messy, but just because your overall score was low does not mean they count only this. IMO they score the VI questions by points as well and then they decide because they score like this the AC and it makes sense. Especially since I've seen people progress with lower scores than yours.
    That’s again reassuring 🥹 and who knows their benchmark perhaps you’re good enough!
     

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