Policy and program analysis

About this practice suite

This suite prepares candidates for policy and program analysis selection in the government and civil service sector with 5 skill areas: data interpretation, critical thinking, reading comprehension, case analysis and situational judgment. Every question was written by Novus editors for this suite — none are taken from live or leaked exams — and the full bank holds 52 scored questions across three modes, plus 8 reserve questions used to vary repeat attempts. Answer keys never ship to the browser: your answers are scored server-side, and results stay on your device.

Skills this suite practises

• Data interpretation — Tables, charts, graphs, dashboards, trends, comparisons, and evidence-based conclusions.
• Critical thinking — Evaluating evidence, assumptions, arguments, credibility, and alternative explanations.
• Reading comprehension — Understanding passages, instructions, policies, technical material, and workplace documents.
• Case analysis — Synthesizing multiple documents and making a reasoned recommendation.
• Situational judgment — Evaluating workplace responses against role-relevant principles.

Sample questions from the guided bank

Two of the 10 guided-practice questions, shown exactly as they appear in a session. Answers and explanations are not printed here — keys stay on the server — so open guided practice to answer them and see how you did.

1. A pilot served 80 people; 52 completed it. What was the completion rate?

   • A. 35%
   • B. 52%
   • C. 65%
   • D. 80%

2. A brief says, 'Funding will be considered after the evaluation.' What can be concluded?

   • A. Evaluation happens before a funding decision
   • B. Funding is guaranteed
   • C. The program has ended
   • D. Funding has been refused

Practice modes and timing

Guided practice is untimed-feeling and instructional; the mini-test is a short timed check; the full simulation mirrors a complete sitting. All three draw on separate question sets, so moving up a mode never repeats what you practised.

Study outline

Read the study outline for this suite’s skills, timings, and recommended lessons on one printable page, or download its standalone HTML file. The printable page can also be saved as a PDF from your browser.