UN Global General Service Test — Questions and Answers

Question 1: When chairing a meeting, what technique best ensures all participants contribute?

Directing specific questions to quieter participants by name (Correct answer)
Allowing the most senior person to dominate discussion
Permitting open-floor discussion with no structure
Ending the meeting early if dominant speakers cover the agenda

Correct answer: Directing specific questions to quieter participants by name

Directly inviting quieter participants to speak ensures diverse input and prevents dominant voices from monopolizing the discussion.

Question 2: What is the primary purpose of a project status update report?

To keep stakeholders informed on progress, risks, and next steps (Correct answer)
To request additional budget for the project
To assign blame for delays
To replace all verbal team meetings

Correct answer: To keep stakeholders informed on progress, risks, and next steps

Status reports exist to ensure stakeholders have timely, accurate information to support decision-making.

Question 3: Define a Nota Fang.

a sports car (Correct answer)
a variant of the Lotus
a car for Formula Junior
an Australian chassis manufacturer

Correct answer: a sports car

Explanation: <br> Sports car development is the company's main focus. Their most popular vehicle to date, the Nota Fang, was created in 1968. There were manufactured over 100 of these vehicles.

Question 4: The UN competency 'Technological Awareness' requires staff to:

Rely solely on IT specialists for all technology-related tasks
Avoid adopting new systems until they are mandated organization-wide
Have advanced programming skills regardless of their role
Stay informed about relevant technologies and use them effectively in their work (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Stay informed about relevant technologies and use them effectively in their work

Technological Awareness means keeping up to date with relevant technological developments and applying them to improve work efficiency.

Question 5: Passage: 'The Secretary-General's bulletin clarifies that staff members are prohibited from accepting gifts valued above $25 from any entity that has or seeks a business relationship with the organization.' A vendor sends a $30 gift basket to a procurement officer. What should the officer do?

Decline or return the gift, as it exceeds the permitted threshold. (Correct answer)
Donate the gift to a charity to avoid any conflict.
Accept it, since the amount is only slightly over the limit.
Report the gift to HR but retain it pending a decision.

Correct answer: Decline or return the gift, as it exceeds the permitted threshold.

The bulletin prohibits acceptance of gifts exceeding $25 from entities with a business relationship; the gift must be declined or returned.

Question 6: In a UN or international organization context, which communication standard is especially important when drafting official documents?

Including personal opinions to add perspective
Following official style guides and using inclusive, neutral language (Correct answer)
Using informal language to appear approachable
Writing in the author's native language for clarity

Correct answer: Following official style guides and using inclusive, neutral language

International organizations require adherence to official style guides and inclusive, neutral language to ensure documents are professional and unbiased.

Question 7: Statement: Whenever funding is cut, staffing is reduced. Staffing has not been reduced. What is the logical conclusion?

Funding cuts are unrelated to staffing
Staffing may still be reduced
Funding was cut
Funding was not cut (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Funding was not cut

Using contrapositive logic: if staffing was not reduced, funding was not cut.

Question 8: A table shows project completion rates by region: North 88%, South 74%, East 92%, West 81%. The East region completed 138 projects. How many projects were assigned to the East region in total?

155
160
145
150 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 150

138 ÷ 0.92 = 150 total projects assigned to East.

Question 9: A project report states: 'The initial phase of the project was completed on schedule; however, the subsequent phase experienced significant delays due to unforeseen procurement issues. Consequently, the overall project timeline has been extended by three months.' What can be concluded from this statement?

The entire project was delayed from the very beginning.
Procurement issues were anticipated in the original project plan.
The project is now expected to finish three months later than originally planned. (Correct answer)
The project has been cancelled due to the delays.

Correct answer: The project is now expected to finish three months later than originally planned.

The statement explicitly says the 'overall project timeline has been extended by three months' as a consequence of the delays in the subsequent phase. This directly supports the conclusion that the final completion date is now three months later than the initial plan.

Question 10: You are assigned to facilitate a meeting between two teams that have an ongoing conflict. During the meeting, one team becomes hostile. What should you do?

End the meeting immediately and report the incident to HR.
Allow the teams to work through the conflict without intervention.
Calmly call for a short break and then re-establish ground rules for respectful discussion when you resume. (Correct answer)
Take sides with the team you believe is correct to resolve the dispute faster.

Correct answer: Calmly call for a short break and then re-establish ground rules for respectful discussion when you resume.

Pausing to reset expectations maintains a productive environment without escalating the conflict unnecessarily.

Question 11: You receive an email intended for another staff member that contains sensitive personnel information. What is the most appropriate response?

Keep the email in case the information becomes relevant to your work.
Delete the email without taking any action.
Read the email fully, then forward it to the intended recipient.
Notify the sender of the mistake and delete the misdirected email without reading further. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Notify the sender of the mistake and delete the misdirected email without reading further.

Notifying the sender and deleting the email without reading it protects confidentiality and is the ethical response.

Question 12: You are chairing a meeting where two senior colleagues are in heated disagreement and the discussion is going off track. What should you do?

Allow the argument to continue until one party concedes
Acknowledge both perspectives, refocus on the agenda, and suggest a follow-up discussion if needed (Correct answer)
Take one colleague's side to end the dispute quickly
Adjourn the meeting immediately without resolution

Correct answer: Acknowledge both perspectives, refocus on the agenda, and suggest a follow-up discussion if needed

A good chair acknowledges conflict, maintains focus, and creates space for resolution without taking sides.

Question 13: A bar chart shows procurement spending by category ($000s): Equipment=850, Software=320, Services=640, Supplies=190. By how much does Equipment spending exceed the average of the other three categories?

$438K (Correct answer)
$490K
$466K
$462K

Correct answer: $438K

Average of others = (320+640+190)/3 = 383.3K; 850 − 383.3 ≈ $467K — closest is $466K.

Question 14: You overhear two colleagues discussing a project plan using outdated data that you know has been updated. What should you do?

Interrupt immediately and correct them in front of others.
Do nothing, as you were not part of the conversation.
Approach them after and share the updated data with a brief explanation. (Correct answer)
Update the project plan yourself without informing them.

Correct answer: Approach them after and share the updated data with a brief explanation.

Sharing updated information after the conversation is respectful and ensures decisions are based on accurate data.

Question 15: After presenting a proposal in a meeting, several colleagues raise objections. The best immediate response is to:

Request that objections be submitted in writing before you respond
Listen carefully to objections, acknowledge valid points, and respond constructively (Correct answer)
Table the proposal and withdraw it from consideration
Defend every element of your proposal without concession

Correct answer: Listen carefully to objections, acknowledge valid points, and respond constructively

Acknowledging valid objections and responding constructively demonstrates professionalism and openness to collaboration.

Question 16: You are given three tasks of equal urgency but only have time for two. What is the best approach?

Choose the two tasks you personally find most interesting
Complete whichever two tasks can be finished fastest regardless of impact
Work on all three simultaneously at reduced quality
Evaluate which task has the least impact and communicate the trade-off to your supervisor (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Evaluate which task has the least impact and communicate the trade-off to your supervisor

Identifying the lowest-impact task and communicating the trade-off ensures the most critical work is completed with stakeholder awareness.

Question 17: Which of the following is NOT a principal organ of the United Nations?

The General Assembly
The World Health Organization (Correct answer)
The International Court of Justice
The Secretariat

Correct answer: The World Health Organization

The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the UN, not one of the six principal organs established by the UN Charter.

Question 18: A bar chart shows complaints by department: Dept A=45, Dept B=30, Dept C=60, Dept D=15. What fraction of all complaints came from departments A and C combined?

1/2
3/5
7/10 (Correct answer)
2/3

Correct answer: 7/10

A+C = 105; total = 150; 105/150 = 7/10.

Question 19: Read the following passage and answer the question below. 'The United Nations has established a set of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity. These 17 goals build on the successes of the Millennium Development Goals, while including new areas such as climate change, economic inequality, innovation, sustainable consumption, and peace and justice, among other priorities. The goals are interconnected – often the key to success on one will involve tackling issues more commonly associated with another.' Based on the passage, which of the following statements is the most accurate description of the SDGs?

The SDGs are a direct continuation of the Millennium Development Goals with no new additions.
The primary focus of the SDGs is solely on environmental protection and climate change.
The SDGs address a broader range of challenges than their predecessors and are interrelated. (Correct answer)
The 17 goals are independent of each other, allowing countries to focus on one at a time.

Correct answer: The SDGs address a broader range of challenges than their predecessors and are interrelated.

The passage explicitly states that the SDGs 'build on the successes of the Millennium Development Goals, while including new areas' and that 'the goals are interconnected'. This directly supports the idea that they cover a wider scope and are interrelated.

Question 20: A colleague shares their login credentials with you so you can help finish a task while they are away. What is the right action?

Use the credentials but log all actions you take under them
Decline to use another person's credentials and arrange a legitimate access solution instead (Correct answer)
Use the credentials since your colleague gave explicit permission
Use them only for the specific task and delete them afterward

Correct answer: Decline to use another person's credentials and arrange a legitimate access solution instead

Using another person's credentials violates access control policies and obscures accountability; proper access must be requested through authorized channels.

Question 21: A client contacts you directly to complain about a service delay and requests an immediate solution that requires authorization you do not have. What is the best response?

Transfer the call immediately without providing any acknowledgment.
Acknowledge the issue, explain that you will escalate it to the appropriate authority, and give the client a realistic timeframe. (Correct answer)
Tell the client you cannot help them and end the conversation.
Provide the solution anyway to prevent further client dissatisfaction.

Correct answer: Acknowledge the issue, explain that you will escalate it to the appropriate authority, and give the client a realistic timeframe.

Acknowledging the issue and escalating with a clear timeframe maintains client trust while respecting authorization boundaries.

Question 22: What is the difference between a 'symptom' and a 'root cause' in workplace problem-solving?

Symptoms are permanent; root causes are temporary
Root causes are always easier to identify than symptoms
A symptom is the observable effect; a root cause is the underlying reason (Correct answer)
There is no meaningful difference between the two terms

Correct answer: A symptom is the observable effect; a root cause is the underlying reason

Symptoms are visible manifestations of a problem while root causes are the fundamental conditions that produce those symptoms.

Question 23: A UN staff member disagrees with a decision made by their supervisor. The most professional course of action is to:

Ignore the decision and proceed with their preferred approach
Express disagreement through appropriate channels while still implementing the decision (Correct answer)
Openly criticize the decision in a team meeting to rally support
Escalate the matter directly to the Secretary-General

Correct answer: Express disagreement through appropriate channels while still implementing the decision

Professionalism involves expressing disagreement through proper channels while still respecting and implementing organizational decisions.

Question 24: What is the correct procedure when you discover a discrepancy in an official database record?

Report the discrepancy to your supervisor and follow the established correction procedure (Correct answer)
Correct it immediately without notifying anyone
Delete the incorrect record and create a new one
Ignore it if the error seems minor

Correct answer: Report the discrepancy to your supervisor and follow the established correction procedure

Reporting discrepancies and following an authorized correction procedure ensures that changes are documented and approved by appropriate staff.

Question 25: When evaluating solutions to a problem, what does 'feasibility' refer to?

Whether the solution can realistically be implemented given available resources (Correct answer)
The number of people who support the solution
How popular the solution is among staff
How quickly the solution can be presented to leadership

Correct answer: Whether the solution can realistically be implemented given available resources

Feasibility assesses whether a solution is practical given constraints like time, budget, and capability.

Question 26: Which of the following best describes a communication barrier in the workplace?

A clearly written report submitted on time
A direct question asked during a presentation
Jargon that prevents a recipient from understanding a message (Correct answer)
A meeting agenda distributed in advance

Correct answer: Jargon that prevents a recipient from understanding a message

Jargon or technical language unfamiliar to the audience is a common barrier that prevents effective communication.

Question 27: What is the purpose of an 'audit trail' in an electronic records system?

To compress files to save storage space
To provide a chronological log of who accessed or modified a record and when (Correct answer)
To automatically delete old records after a set period
To display the most recently edited files on screen

Correct answer: To provide a chronological log of who accessed or modified a record and when

An audit trail records all access and modification events for a document, enabling accountability and investigation of unauthorized changes.

Question 28: You are processing urgent procurement documents when a colleague from another unit interrupts and asks you to immediately help them locate a file they lost. Your deadline is in two hours. What is the best course of action?

Briefly pause, help your colleague find the file, and return to your task. (Correct answer)
Redirect your colleague to your supervisor and continue your work.
Tell your colleague you cannot help at all and return to your work.
Abandon your deadline and fully assist your colleague until they are satisfied.

Correct answer: Briefly pause, help your colleague find the file, and return to your task.

Briefly helping a colleague while managing your own deadline demonstrates teamwork and professional balance.

Question 29: In general, when tackling challenging tasks at work, you should:

Use the experience of your co-workers while encountering difficulties
Apply methodologies that helped you solve former problems
Make sure your supervisor is updated on every step of your work process
Try to identify potential issues with the task and find efficient ways to solve it (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Try to identify potential issues with the task and find efficient ways to solve it

When faced with challenging tasks, the most effective approach is to proactively identify potential obstacles and strategize efficient solutions. This allows for thorough planning and minimizes unforeseen delays, ensuring the task is completed effectively. While seeking input from colleagues or updating supervisors are valuable, understanding and strategizing the task's resolution is the fundamental first step.

Question 30: A UN mission tracks its quarterly vehicle fuel consumption. Based on the data in the table below, what was the approximate percentage decrease in fuel consumption between the quarter with the highest consumption and the quarter with the lowest consumption? | Quarter | Fuel Consumed (liters) | |---|---| | Q1 | 45,000 | | Q2 | 52,000 | | Q3 | 48,500 | | Q4 | 39,000 |

25.0% (Correct answer)
33.3%
28.2%
20.5%

Correct answer: 25.0%

First, identify the highest consumption (Q2: 52,000 liters) and the lowest consumption (Q4: 39,000 liters). The formula for percentage decrease is ((Highest - Lowest) / Highest) * 100. So, ((52,000 - 39,000) / 52,000) * 100 = (13,000 / 52,000) * 100 = 0.25 * 100 = 25.0%.

Question 31: A manager makes the following statement: 'We must either cut travel expenses or reduce hiring. Since reducing hiring would harm our long-term growth, we have no choice but to cut travel expenses.' This reasoning is an example of:

A False Dilemma
A Straw Man Argument
A Disjunctive Syllogism (Correct answer)
An Appeal to Authority

Correct answer: A Disjunctive Syllogism

A disjunctive syllogism is a valid argument form which is a syllogism having a disjunctive statement for one of its premises. The structure is: P or Q. Not P. Therefore, Q. In this case, 'P' is cutting travel expenses and 'Q' is reducing hiring. The argument is presented as (P or Q). The manager then argues against Q (reducing hiring is bad), concluding P (we must cut travel). This is a classic disjunctive syllogism.

Question 32: No peacekeeping mission exceeds its mandate. Operation Clarity exceeded its mandate. Therefore:

Operation Clarity is a peacekeeping mission
Some peacekeeping missions exceed their mandates
Operation Clarity is not a peacekeeping mission (Correct answer)
Operation Clarity may be a peacekeeping mission

Correct answer: Operation Clarity is not a peacekeeping mission

Since no peacekeeping mission exceeds its mandate and Operation Clarity did, it cannot be a peacekeeping mission.

Question 33: A UN field office spent $48,600 on supplies over 9 months. What was the average monthly expenditure?

$5,200
$5,400 (Correct answer)
$4,600
$4,800

Correct answer: $5,400

$48,600 divided by 9 months equals $5,400 per month.

Question 34: How many of the research group's Americans were able to predict their chances of winning the lottery correctly?

about 250
about 40 (Correct answer)
about 400
about 4

Correct answer: about 40

Explanation: <br> Only 4% of Americans in a survey of more than a thousand were able to determine that the likelihood of winning the jackpot was between one in four and five million. 40 is four percent of a thousand.

Question 35: A procurement order: 20 units of Item A at $15, 15 units of Item B at $28, and 40 units of Item C at $9. What is the total order cost?

$1,080 (Correct answer)
$1,020
$1,200
$1,140

Correct answer: $1,080

(20×$15) + (15×$28) + (40×$9) = $300 + $420 + $360 = $1,080.

Question 36: You receive an urgent email marked as coming from a senior official requesting you to transfer funds immediately. The request bypasses normal approval processes. What should you do?

Transfer the funds immediately to avoid delays
Forward the email to all colleagues for advice
Ignore the email entirely
Contact the official directly through a known, verified channel to confirm the request (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Contact the official directly through a known, verified channel to confirm the request

Urgent requests that bypass normal processes are a common feature of fraud; always verify through independent, trusted channels.

Question 37: You learn that your organization is about to publish data you believe contains a significant error that could mislead decision-makers. What is the right course of action?

Correct the data yourself without notifying anyone to save time
Raise your concern immediately with the responsible team or supervisor before publication (Correct answer)
Stay silent to avoid disrupting the publication timeline
Wait until after publication and then report the error anonymously

Correct answer: Raise your concern immediately with the responsible team or supervisor before publication

Integrity requires raising data accuracy concerns before publication so errors can be corrected through proper channels.

Question 38: No candidate scoring below 70% is promoted. Carlos was promoted. Which is certain?

The cutoff may change for Carlos
Carlos scored exactly 70%
Carlos scored below 70%
Carlos scored 70% or above (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Carlos scored 70% or above

Since only candidates at 70% or above can be promoted, Carlos must have scored at least 70%.

Question 39: During a virtual team meeting, you observe that one participant is consistently being talked over and their contributions are being ignored. What is the most appropriate response?

After the meeting, tell the ignored participant their ideas were poor.
Ignore the dynamic since it is not your role to manage the meeting.
Send a private message during the meeting complaining about the dominant speakers.
Actively create space during the meeting by inviting the overlooked participant to share their thoughts. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Actively create space during the meeting by inviting the overlooked participant to share their thoughts.

Actively creating space for overlooked participants promotes inclusive participation and better team outcomes.

Question 40: In UN Human Resources, what does 'G-5' refer to?

A group of five donor countries
A meeting of five department heads
A General Service staff grade level (Correct answer)
A five-year contract type

Correct answer: A General Service staff grade level

G-5 refers to a grade level within the General Service (GS) category, indicating the staff member's pay scale and responsibilities.

Question 41: A policy states: 'Language proficiency test results are valid for three years from the date of examination. Staff members wishing to use test results for appointment or promotion purposes must ensure results are current at the time of application.' An employee took a language test 28 months ago. Can they use the results now?

Yes, the results are still valid as they are within the three-year window. (Correct answer)
Only if the staff member can demonstrate continued use of the language.
The policy requires retesting regardless of when the original test was taken.
No, the results expire after two years.

Correct answer: Yes, the results are still valid as they are within the three-year window.

28 months falls within the three-year (36-month) validity period, so the results remain usable.

Question 42: A project timeline shows 3 tasks completed in 9 weeks. At the same rate, how many weeks will it take to complete the remaining 11 tasks?

33 weeks (Correct answer)
30 weeks
36 weeks
27 weeks

Correct answer: 33 weeks

Rate = 9 ÷ 3 = 3 weeks per task; 11 tasks × 3 = 33 weeks.

Question 43: Choose the correctly punctuated sentence.

The report which was submitted late caused delays.
The report, which was submitted late caused delays.
The report which was submitted late, caused delays.
The report, which was submitted late, caused delays. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The report, which was submitted late, caused delays.

A non-restrictive relative clause ('which was submitted late') must be set off with commas on both sides.

Question 44: You are coordinating the logistics for an international conference. Two weeks before the event, the primary shipping company for your event materials goes on strike, halting all deliveries. Your contingency plan is not sufficient for this scale of disruption. What is the most effective immediate action to take?

Wait for a few days to see if the strike ends on its own.
Immediately contact alternative shipping carriers to get quotes and assess their capacity. (Correct answer)
Cancel the conference as the logistical challenges are now too high.
Send an email to all attendees informing them that event materials may not be available.

Correct answer: Immediately contact alternative shipping carriers to get quotes and assess their capacity.

This situation requires immediate, adaptive problem-solving. The most critical first step is to actively seek alternative solutions to mitigate the problem. Contacting other carriers allows you to quickly gather the necessary information to form a new plan. Waiting (A) is too passive, canceling (C) is a last resort, and informing attendees (D) is premature before you have explored all possible solutions.

Question 45: Which department also receives a commission on top of their bonus?

Finance Supervisors
Sales Supervisors
Cannot Say (Correct answer)
Manufacturing Supervisors

Correct answer: Cannot Say

Explanation: <br> There is no mention of whether any employee in any function received an additional commission. Consequently, "Cannot Say"

Question 46: Two staff members together process 480 files in 8 hours at equal rates. How many files does one person process in 5 hours?

150 files (Correct answer)
160 files
200 files
240 files

Correct answer: 150 files

Combined rate = 480 ÷ 8 = 60 files/hour; one person = 30/hour; 30 × 5 = 150 files.

Question 47: A passage states: 'The committee recommended that all field missions adopt standardized reporting protocols, but noted that regional offices retain discretion over implementation timelines.' Which conclusion is best supported?

Field missions must implement protocols immediately.
Standardized protocols are optional for field missions.
The committee has authority to enforce timelines directly.
Regional offices have some flexibility in when they apply the protocols. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Regional offices have some flexibility in when they apply the protocols.

The passage explicitly grants regional offices discretion over timelines, meaning they are not bound to an immediate schedule.

Question 48: A notice states: 'Staff travelling on official duty must obtain a Travel Authorization before departure. Failure to obtain prior authorization may result in non-reimbursement of travel expenses.' A staff member departs without authorization due to an urgent mission need. What is the likely outcome?

The staff member will face disciplinary action but will still be reimbursed.
Expenses will be reimbursed because the travel was mission-critical.
Authorization can be obtained retroactively without financial consequence.
Expenses may not be reimbursed, as prior authorization was not obtained. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Expenses may not be reimbursed, as prior authorization was not obtained.

The notice links non-reimbursement directly to the absence of prior authorization, regardless of the reason for travel.

Question 49: A UN staff member is asked to work extra hours to meet a critical deadline but receives no additional compensation. The most appropriate response reflecting UN values is to:

Complete only the work covered by normal hours and leave the rest
Refuse because the contract does not mandate overtime
Demand written assurance of future compensation before proceeding
Fulfill the commitment professionally and raise workload concerns through proper channels afterward (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Fulfill the commitment professionally and raise workload concerns through proper channels afterward

Professionalism and Accountability require fulfilling obligations during critical periods while addressing workload concerns through legitimate channels.

Question 50: Quarterly recruitment figures: Q1=45, Q2=60, Q3=55, Q4=80. What is the percentage increase from Q1 to Q4?

77.8% (Correct answer)
75.0%
78.0%
80.0%

Correct answer: 77.8%

(80 minus 45) ÷ 45 × 100 = 35 ÷ 45 × 100 ≈ 77.8%.

Question 51: A colleague from another department repeatedly takes credit for your joint work in meetings attended by senior management. How should you handle this?

Loudly correct the colleague during the next meeting
Speak privately with the colleague to clarify expectations for future joint presentations (Correct answer)
Refuse to collaborate with them again
Say nothing to avoid conflict

Correct answer: Speak privately with the colleague to clarify expectations for future joint presentations

Addressing the issue privately and proactively sets clear expectations without damaging working relationships or professionalism.

Question 52: You are responsible for managing office supplies. A colleague, who is also a good friend, asks if they can take a few high-quality notebooks and pens from the supply cabinet for their child's school project. The value of the items is minimal. What is the most appropriate response?

Tell them you cannot give them the supplies, but look the other way if they decide to take them anyway.
Suggest your friend submit a formal request to the office manager, even though you know it will likely be denied.
Allow your friend to take the supplies, since their value is low and it is for a good cause.
Politely explain that office supplies are for official use only and that you cannot grant their request. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Politely explain that office supplies are for official use only and that you cannot grant their request.

The correct action is to adhere to the rules professionally and ethically, regardless of personal relationships or the low value of the items. This response is direct, honest, and maintains integrity, which is a core UN value. Option A is a breach of rules. Option D is a passive way of condoning the breach. Option B is unhelpful and passes responsibility unnecessarily.

Question 53: Complete the analogy: PROLOGUE : EPILOGUE :: INTRODUCTION : ___

Index
Summary
Conclusion (Correct answer)
Chapter

Correct answer: Conclusion

A prologue comes before the main work, as an introduction does; an epilogue comes after, as a conclusion does.

Question 54: You are a UN field officer and discover a local partner organization is inflating beneficiary numbers to receive more aid. What is your first step?

Immediately suspend all aid to the region
Confront the partner publicly at the next community meeting
Ignore it to maintain the partnership
Document the discrepancy and report it through internal compliance channels (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Document the discrepancy and report it through internal compliance channels

Documenting and reporting through proper compliance channels ensures accountability while following due process.

Question 55: A bar chart shows annual budget allocations (in millions): Operations $45M, HR $18M, IT $27M, Facilities $12M, Other $8M. What percentage of the total budget is allocated to IT?

24.5% (Correct answer)
19.8%
22.0%
27.0%

Correct answer: 24.5%

Total = $110M; IT share = 27/110 × 100 = 24.5%.

Question 56: The UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development contains how many Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?

17 (Correct answer)
8
12
21

Correct answer: 17

The 2030 Agenda includes 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by all UN member states in 2015 to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity.

Question 57: Read: 'Requests for special leave without pay must be submitted at least four weeks in advance, except in cases of sudden family emergencies.' An employee needs leave starting in two weeks due to a sudden family crisis. Is their request valid?

No, because special leave without pay is never granted on short notice.
Yes, because sudden family emergencies are explicitly exempted from the advance notice rule. (Correct answer)
Yes, but only if the supervisor has previously approved similar requests.
No, because two weeks' notice does not meet the four-week requirement.

Correct answer: Yes, because sudden family emergencies are explicitly exempted from the advance notice rule.

The text explicitly carves out sudden family emergencies from the four-week advance notice requirement.

Question 58: Which body within the UN system is empowered to create binding international law through its resolutions?

The International Court of Justice
The Security Council (Correct answer)
The General Assembly
The Economic and Social Council

Correct answer: The Security Council

Under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, Security Council resolutions on threats to peace are binding on all member states, making them legally enforceable international law.

Question 59: If a delegate speaks French, they are assigned to the Francophone committee. Ahmed is not assigned to the Francophone committee. What follows?

Ahmed speaks French
Ahmed does not speak French (Correct answer)
Ahmed may or may not speak French
Ahmed is assigned to another committee

Correct answer: Ahmed does not speak French

By contrapositive, not being assigned to the Francophone committee means Ahmed does not speak French.

Question 60: You overhear two colleagues sharing confidential personnel information about a third employee in a public area. What should you do?

Remind the colleagues that personnel information is confidential and should not be discussed in public (Correct answer)
Do nothing, as you were not part of the conversation
Report the conversation verbatim to the employee who was discussed
Share what you heard only with your direct supervisor

Correct answer: Remind the colleagues that personnel information is confidential and should not be discussed in public

You have a responsibility to uphold confidentiality norms by reminding colleagues of proper information-handling practices.

Question 61: Your supervisor instructs you to backdate a document to make a missed deadline appear met. What should you do?

Ask a colleague to do it so you are not directly responsible
Comply since following supervisor instructions is your duty
Refuse and explain that falsifying records violates organizational integrity standards (Correct answer)
Complete the task but note your concerns in a private journal

Correct answer: Refuse and explain that falsifying records violates organizational integrity standards

Falsifying official records is unethical and potentially illegal; you must refuse even when directed by a supervisor.

Question 62: Read: 'All requests submitted after the deadline will be considered only at the committee's discretion.' An applicant submits after the deadline. Which statement is most accurate?

The applicant's request will be reviewed next cycle.
The committee may or may not consider the request. (Correct answer)
The applicant's request will be rejected.
The applicant must resubmit with a penalty fee.

Correct answer: The committee may or may not consider the request.

'At the committee's discretion' means the committee has the choice — it may or may not act on the late request.

Question 63: You are aware of an internal audit scheduled next week and notice a colleague rushing to fix records beforehand. What is the ethical course of action?

Ask your colleague directly if the changes are legitimate before deciding what to do
Wait for the audit to surface any issues on its own
Help your colleague correct errors before the audit to avoid organizational embarrassment
Report your concern that records may be improperly altered to the audit team or compliance office (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Report your concern that records may be improperly altered to the audit team or compliance office

Pre-audit record manipulation is a serious integrity issue that must be reported to those conducting the audit.

Question 64: Which of the following is an example of 'noise' in the communication process?

A clearly defined audience
A timely feedback loop
A well-structured message
Distractions such as background chatter that interfere with message reception (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Distractions such as background chatter that interfere with message reception

In communication theory, 'noise' refers to any interference—physical or psychological—that disrupts the accurate reception of a message.

Question 65: A team of 12 staff can complete a task in 15 days. How many days would 9 staff take to complete the same task?

18 days
22 days
20 days (Correct answer)
16 days

Correct answer: 20 days

Total work = 12 × 15 = 180 staff-days; 180 divided by 9 equals 20 days.

Question 66: A guideline reads: 'Confidential documents must be stored in locked cabinets when not in use and may only be accessed by personnel with the appropriate security clearance.' An authorized staff member leaves a confidential file on an unattended desk. What has occurred?

Acceptable practice if the staff member returns within a short time.
No violation, as the staff member is authorized to access the file.
A security clearance breach requiring immediate reporting.
A procedural violation, since the document was not stored in a locked cabinet. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: A procedural violation, since the document was not stored in a locked cabinet.

The guideline requires locked storage 'when not in use,' regardless of who accessed it last.

Question 67: The line graph below shows the number of participants who completed a mandatory online training course each month. What was the average number of participants per month during the second half of the year (July to December)? Graph Data Points: Jan:150, Feb:175, Mar:200, Apr:225, May:210, Jun:190, Jul:250, Aug:280, Sep:310, Oct:290, Nov:320, Dec:350.

250
300 (Correct answer)
300
265

Correct answer: 300

To find the average for the second half of the year, sum the values from July to December and divide by 6 (the number of months). Sum = 250 + 280 + 310 + 290 + 320 + 350 = 1,800. Average = 1,800 / 6 = 300.

Question 68: Premise 1: All mission-critical tasks are reviewed by a supervisor. Premise 2: Task 7 was not reviewed by a supervisor. Conclusion:

Task 7 is mission-critical
Task 7 is not mission-critical (Correct answer)
All tasks are mission-critical
Supervisors review all tasks

Correct answer: Task 7 is not mission-critical

Contrapositive of Premise 1: if not reviewed by a supervisor, then not mission-critical—so Task 7 is not mission-critical.

Question 69: You've seen Jimmy reading a newspaper while the boss has been out of the office for the previous week. Jimmy appears to be reading at work when he ought to be finishing up his chores, and the boss was missing a lot last week. <br> What would you start with?

Send out an email with information on productivity and work ethics to help your team become more productive in the future.
Don't intervene. This is between Jimmy and the supervisor
Speak with Jimmy. Explain that it is crucial for your team to achieve deadlines and that by reading the newspaper, he is delaying your team from achieving its objectives. (Correct answer)
Talk to your supervisor. He should be aware of Jimmy not giving enough attention to his tasks

Correct answer: Speak with Jimmy. Explain that it is crucial for your team to achieve deadlines and that by reading the newspaper, he is delaying your team from achieving its objectives.

The most appropriate initial step is to address the issue directly and professionally with Jimmy. Explaining how his actions impact team deadlines and objectives provides constructive feedback and an opportunity for him to correct his behavior. This direct approach is often more effective and less disruptive than immediately escalating to a supervisor or sending a general team email.

Question 70: What does 'opportunity cost' mean in the context of prioritization?

The financial cost of solving a problem
The value of the next-best alternative foregone when choosing a course of action (Correct answer)
The expense associated with hiring outside consultants
The cost of postponing all tasks indefinitely

Correct answer: The value of the next-best alternative foregone when choosing a course of action

Opportunity cost is the value lost by not choosing the next-best option, making it a key consideration when prioritizing among alternatives.

Question 71: A project budget of $200,000 was allocated with 35% for personnel, 25% for equipment, and the rest for operations. How much is allocated to operations?

$80,000 (Correct answer)
$60,000
$50,000
$70,000

Correct answer: $80,000

100% minus 35% minus 25% leaves 40%; 40% of $200,000 is $80,000.

Question 72: You have strong evidence that a programmatic approach your organization is using is ineffective. Your supervisor is committed to the current approach. What should you do?

Document your evidence and present it professionally to your supervisor, proposing an evidence-based alternative (Correct answer)
Go directly to senior leadership over your supervisor's head
Implement your preferred approach covertly
Say nothing to avoid conflict with your supervisor

Correct answer: Document your evidence and present it professionally to your supervisor, proposing an evidence-based alternative

Presenting evidence professionally through your direct supervisor respects the chain of command while fulfilling your duty to promote effectiveness.

Question 73: A table shows leave days taken per employee across a team of 6: 12, 8, 15, 10, 8, 13. What is the mode of leave days taken?

12
8 (Correct answer)
10
13

Correct answer: 8

8 appears twice in the dataset; all other values appear only once.

Question 74: What does the phrase 'in lieu of' mean?

Instead of (Correct answer)
In agreement with
As a result of
In addition to

Correct answer: Instead of

'In lieu of' is a formal expression meaning 'in place of' or 'instead of.'

Question 75: The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is located in which city?

Vienna
Geneva
New York
The Hague (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The Hague

The International Court of Justice is headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands, at the Peace Palace.

Question 76: A project runs 18 months with a $540,000 budget. The team spent 55% in the first 9 months. What is the monthly budget available for the remaining 9 months?

$33,000
$27,000 (Correct answer)
$30,000
$24,000

Correct answer: $27,000

Spent = $540,000 × 0.55 = $297,000; remaining = $243,000; monthly = $243,000 ÷ 9 = $27,000.

Question 77: A colleague shares with you in confidence that they are struggling with stress to the point of affecting their work. You notice their performance has declined. What do you do?

Report them immediately to HR without their knowledge.
Take over all their tasks without telling your supervisor.
Tell other colleagues so that the team can better accommodate the person.
Encourage them to seek support through the organization's employee assistance resources and offer to help where possible. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Encourage them to seek support through the organization's employee assistance resources and offer to help where possible.

Encouraging use of support resources respects confidentiality while guiding the colleague toward professional help.

Question 78: A department's quarterly budget is $84,000. It has spent $56,700 so far. What percentage of the budget remains?

30%
35%
28.5%
32.5% (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 32.5%

($84,000 minus $56,700) = $27,300; $27,300 / $84,000 × 100 = 32.5%.

Question 79: An office budget was $180,000. After a 10% cut followed by a further 5% cut on the reduced amount, what is the new budget?

$154,400
$153,900 (Correct answer)
$157,500
$151,200

Correct answer: $153,900

After first cut: $180,000 × 0.90 = $162,000; after second: $162,000 × 0.95 = $153,900.

Question 80: What value completes the series: 100, 90, 81, 72.9, ___?

64.80
65.00
65.61 (Correct answer)
63.90

Correct answer: 65.61

Each term is multiplied by 0.9; 72.9 × 0.9 = 65.61.

Question 81: Which word is closest in meaning to PRAGMATIC?

Optimistic
Practical (Correct answer)
Theoretical
Idealistic

Correct answer: Practical

Pragmatic means dealing with things sensibly and realistically based on practical considerations.

Question 82: A line graph shows monthly energy consumption (MWh): Jan=120, Feb=115, Mar=108, Apr=102. If the trend of a 6 MWh monthly decrease continues, what will consumption be in June?

84 MWh
78 MWh
90 MWh (Correct answer)
96 MWh

Correct answer: 90 MWh

May = 96, June = 90 MWh following the −6 MWh/month pattern.

Question 83: A table shows the ratio of managers to staff in four departments: A=1:8, B=1:12, C=1:10, D=1:6. Department B has 3 managers. How many total staff (including managers) are in Department B?

42
39 (Correct answer)
36
48

Correct answer: 39

3 managers × 12 staff each = 36 staff + 3 managers = 39 total.

Question 84: A pie chart shows a $500,000 budget: Program A 40%, Program B 30%, Program C 20%, Admin 10%. How much more does Program A receive than Program C?

$80,000
$90,000
$110,000
$100,000 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: $100,000

Program A = $200,000; Program C = $100,000; difference = $100,000.

Question 85: No delegate without credentials may vote. All voting delegates cast ballots. Yusuf did not cast a ballot. What follows?

Yusuf lacks credentials
Yusuf has credentials but chose not to vote
Yusuf voted by proxy
Yusuf is not a voting delegate (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Yusuf is not a voting delegate

If all voting delegates cast ballots and Yusuf did not, Yusuf is not a voting delegate.

Question 86: Which of the following best describes 'satisficing' in decision-making?

Delaying a decision until perfect information is available
Choosing the option that maximizes every possible outcome
Selecting a solution that is good enough to meet minimum requirements (Correct answer)
Ignoring all constraints when evaluating options

Correct answer: Selecting a solution that is good enough to meet minimum requirements

Satisficing means selecting an option that adequately meets criteria rather than seeking a theoretically perfect solution.

Question 87: Premise: If a resolution is binding, member states must implement it. Premise: Member states are not implementing Resolution 44. Conclusion:

Member states are violating a binding resolution
Resolution 44 has been withdrawn
Resolution 44 is not binding (Correct answer)
Resolution 44 is binding

Correct answer: Resolution 44 is not binding

By contrapositive, if member states are not implementing it, Resolution 44 is not binding.

Question 88: Which of the following is an example of a proactive approach to problem-solving?

Only addressing problems that have been formally reported
Waiting for a process failure before improving it
Identifying potential risks in advance and implementing preventive measures (Correct answer)
Delegating all problem-solving responsibilities to senior staff

Correct answer: Identifying potential risks in advance and implementing preventive measures

Proactive problem-solving involves anticipating and preventing issues before they escalate, reducing reactive workload.

Question 89: The UN Secretariat is headed by which official?

The President of the General Assembly
The Secretary-General (Correct answer)
The High Commissioner
The Under-Secretary-General

Correct answer: The Secretary-General

The Secretary-General is the chief administrative officer of the United Nations and heads the Secretariat, one of the six principal organs.

Question 90: How many member states does the United Nations currently have?

163
185
151
193 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 193

The United Nations has 193 member states, making it the largest international organization with near-universal membership.

Question 91: A beneficiary approaches you personally to request assistance outside your program's eligibility criteria. They are clearly in need. What do you do?

Turn them away without any guidance
Refer the person to relevant organizations or services that may be able to help them (Correct answer)
Provide assistance anyway since the need is genuine
Promise to make an exception and process their request

Correct answer: Refer the person to relevant organizations or services that may be able to help them

Referring individuals to appropriate resources respects program boundaries while still providing meaningful support.

Question 92: Some security briefings are classified. All classified materials require a clearance code. What must be true?

Some security briefings require a clearance code (Correct answer)
All security briefings require a clearance code
Clearance codes are only for security briefings
No security briefing requires a clearance code

Correct answer: Some security briefings require a clearance code

The classified subset of security briefings must require a clearance code, making some security briefings require one.

Question 93: A project's budget allocation is shown in the table. If the total budget is $500,000, what is the combined budget for 'Equipment' and 'Logistics'? | Category | Budget Percentage | |---|---| | Salaries | 45% | | Equipment | 22% | | Training | 13% | | Logistics | 15% | | Miscellaneous | 5% |

$185,000 (Correct answer)
$75,000
$110,000
$225,000

Correct answer: $185,000

First, add the percentages for Equipment (22%) and Logistics (15%) to get a combined percentage: 22% + 15% = 37%. Then, calculate this percentage of the total budget: 0.37 * $500,000 = $185,000.

Question 94: A line graph shows staff headcount over 4 years: 2020=240, 2021=252, 2022=264, 2023=276. If the same annual increase continues, what will the headcount be in 2025?

312
300 (Correct answer)
324
288

Correct answer: 300

The annual increase is 12; 276 + 12 + 12 = 300 in 2025.

UN Global General Service Test

The GGST is the United Nations assessment for General Service and related staff categories. It measures verbal reasoning, numerical reasoning, and situational judgment aligned with UN core values and competencies.

Questions

105 min

Time Limit

65%

To Pass

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These practice questions were written with AI tools. They are not real exam questions. Exam facts are checked against the official sources listed below. Not reviewed by a subject-matter expert. Editorial policy

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