Independent source-linked explanation. Original examples illustrate how to read formats; they are not PSC questions, booking advice for an individual or official results.
English: 25-question / 45-minute comprehension practice →Identify the assessment before choosing a timer
Look for the assessment title, platform and supervision arrangement in the invitation. Do not infer the format from the fact that a link opens in a browser. The PSC currently lists supervised reading through both the Online Testing Facility and the Candidate Assessment Tool, as well as a separate unsupervised reading test.
If the invitation is unclear, ask the contact who arranged it. Use that assessment’s own preparation and accommodation instructions. A practice provider’s default timer is not evidence of which version you have been scheduled to take.
Source: Public Service Commission of Canada / Commission de la fonction publique du Canada ↗Compare the supervised, unsupervised and self-assessment lengths
The supervised CAT format includes both blank-completion and text-comprehension questions. The unsupervised page describes reading a workplace text and answering a question about it. The public paper self-assessment is another resource, with its own instructions; do not call its length the length of an official examination.
| Resource | Questions | Time | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supervised CAT reading | 60 total; 50 scored, 10 pilot | 90 minutes | Official assessment arranged by an organization |
| Unsupervised reading | 25 | 45 minutes | Official assessment; no exemption |
| Public paper reading self-assessment | 40 | 60 minutes in booklet instructions | Unofficial preparation, not a selection result |
Original planning example
An invitation names the unsupervised reading test. Plan from its official 25-question, 45-minute instructions, rather than a provider’s 60-question practice timer. The example identifies a format; it does not determine anyone’s required level.
Use only the score scale belonging to the official test
The required level depends on the position. The following numbers describe official PSC scores in their own formats. Our original practice bank has no pilot items and no calibration to either official score scale.
| Result | Supervised: scored out of 50 | Unsupervised: out of 25 |
|---|---|---|
| X | 0–17 | 0–8 |
| A | 18–27 | 9–13 |
| B | 28–37 | 14–18 |
| C | 38–44 | 19–25 |
| Exemption E | 45–50 | Not available |
Why a practice percentage is not a level
Getting 18 of our 60 original questions correct gives a practice percentage of 75%. It does not establish level B or C, and multiplying it by an official denominator does not create an official score. The items and assessment conditions differ.
Keep official sample questions and answer keys separate
The PSC self-assessment page provides English and French reading versions online and as PDFs, with separate keys. Use the matching key for the booklet you completed. Its result remains unofficial and cannot be used as a selection-process result.
Our two printable sheets instead contain original fictional workplace texts and their explained answers. They are additional learning material. Official samples stay on Canada.ca, and protected or recalled examination questions are not reproduced in our bank.
Source: Public Service Commission of Canada / Commission de la fonction publique du Canada ↗Choose the target language, then the reading skill
Use the French practice bank for French passages, questions and choices, or the English bank for different English texts. You can change the interface and explanation language while keeping the target text unchanged. That prevents a language switch from silently changing the skill you meant to practise.
Begin with notices and email details, then compare supported inferences and word meanings. Each wrong answer should send you back to the phrase that rules it out. Work through an official preparation resource separately to become familiar with the booked test’s environment.
Source: Public Service Commission of Canada / Commission de la fonction publique du Canada ↗