TCLA Direct Training Contract Applications Discussion Thread 2023-4

Jessica Booker

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it‘s varied,but I assume is 85-90 percentile
Very unlikely to be that high - typically not much higher than 65th percentile across firms. But can be as low as the 13th (have seen it that low).

It really depends what/who you are being assessed against though. Not all groups you are being assessed against are the same, which is why you can have a very low percentile at one firm (you maybe assessed against qualified lawyers or even partners) and do exactly the same test and get a very high percentile at another firm (you could be assessed against the general population or people only educated to GCSE level education).
 

Cynthia14

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  • Aug 2, 2023
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    Very unlikely to be that high - typically not much higher than 65th percentile across firms. But can be as low as the 13th (have seen it that low).

    It really depends what/who you are being assessed against though. Not all groups you are being assessed against are the same, which is why you can have a very low percentile at one firm (you maybe assessed against qualified lawyers or even partners) and do exactly the same test and get a very high percentile at another firm (you could be assessed against the general population or people only educated to GCSE level education).
    Thanks for clarify! Someone who has been invited to AC stage told me they achieve that score
     

    Solicitorinthemaking

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    Dec 9, 2023
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    Very unlikely to be that high - typically not much higher than 65th percentile across firms. But can be as low as the 13th (have seen it that low).

    It really depends what/who you are being assessed against though. Not all groups you are being assessed against are the same, which is why you can have a very low percentile at one firm (you maybe assessed against qualified lawyers or even partners) and do exactly the same test and get a very high percentile at another firm (you could be assessed against the general population or people only educated to GCSE level education).
    This is reassuring. Thank you. When you say assesses again a qualified lawyer. Where would they get the scores of a qualified lawyer or the general population or people only educated at GCSE level from?
     

    Jessica Booker

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    This is reassuring. Thank you. When you say assesses again a qualified lawyer. Where would they get the scores of a qualified lawyer or the general population or people only educated at GCSE level from?
    The test providers have what are called “norm groups” - these are groups of individuals who have taken the test and whose results have been scored.

    You are then ranked within this group and your score is put on a percentile ranking. If you got a lower score than anyone in the norm group you would get the 1st percentile, you you scored higher than anyone in the norm group you would get the 99th percentile. If your score was the median score, you would have a percentile ranking of 50th.

    The norm group maybe a pre-existing group the test provider has. This can sometimes be based on test results within the firm (as part of implementing the test, the firm will get certain demographics needed within the norm group to complete the assessment). It can sometimes be based on last year’s recruitment cycle data. Sometimes they are just general groups of people the test provider has.

    On some occasions, your norm group are your fellow candidates. However, this only works for firms who get everyone to complete the assessment at the same time, and then assess everyone’s test scores together.
     

    Solicitorinthemaking

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    Dec 9, 2023
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    Thanks for clarify! Someone who has been invited to AC stage told me they achieve that score
    I’ve also heard about the 85th - 90th percentile.
    The test providers have what are called “norm groups” - these are groups of individuals who have taken the test and whose results have been scored.

    You are then ranked within this group and your score is put on a percentile ranking. If you got a lower score than anyone in the norm group you would get the 1st percentile, you you scored higher than anyone in the norm group you would get the 99th percentile. If your score was the median score, you would have a percentile ranking of 50th.

    The norm group maybe a pre-existing group the test provider has. This can sometimes be based on test results within the firm (as part of implementing the test, the firm will get certain demographics needed within the norm group to complete the assessment). It can sometimes be based on last year’s recruitment cycle data. Sometimes they are just general groups of people the test provider has.

    On some occasions, your norm group are your fellow candidates. However, this only works for firms who get everyone to complete the assessment at the same time, and then assess everyone’s test scores together.
    Understood. Thank you for explaining. :)
     

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