PSEE Reading Comprehension 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Policy: 'Sick leave may be used for personal illness or to care for an ill immediate family member. Immediate family is defined as spouse, child, or parent. Extended sick leave beyond 10 days requires a medical certificate.' An employee takes 12 sick days to care for an ill sibling. What applies?
- The leave is fully approved because siblings are family.
- The leave may be denied because siblings are not defined as immediate family. (Correct answer)
- The leave requires a medical certificate because it exceeds 10 days.
- The leave is approved only for the first 10 days.
Correct answer: The leave may be denied because siblings are not defined as immediate family.
The policy defines immediate family as spouse, child, or parent — siblings are not included.
The policy allows sick leave for immediate family (spouse, child, parent). Siblings are not in this defined list. Even though 12 days exceeds the 10-day threshold, the primary issue is that the purpose does not qualify under the policy's definition. PSEE comprehension tests careful attention to defined terms.
Question 2: Directive: 'All external communications representing the department must be approved by the Communications Branch before release. Routine internal emails between employees are exempt.' A manager sends an email to a partner organization summarizing a policy change. Does it require approval?
- No, because email is an informal medium.
- Yes, because it is an external communication representing the department. (Correct answer)
- No, because it is a routine communication.
- Yes, only if it contains classified information.
Correct answer: Yes, because it is an external communication representing the department.
The email is an external communication representing the department — it falls under the approval requirement. The exemption only applies to internal emails.
The directive: external communications representing the department require approval. Exemption: routine internal emails. The partner organization email is external and represents the department, so approval is required regardless of its informality or routine nature.
Question 3: Notice: 'The new code of conduct applies to all public servants effective April 1. Public servants who joined before this date will have a 60-day transition period to complete mandatory training.' An employee hired March 15 has not completed training by May 1. Are they in compliance?
- Yes, because they joined before April 1 and their 60-day window extends to approximately May 31. (Correct answer)
- No, because all training must be completed by April 1.
- Yes, because training is optional for pre-April 1 hires.
- No, because the transition period only applies to senior employees.
Correct answer: Yes, because they joined before April 1 and their 60-day window extends to approximately May 31.
Pre-April 1 employees have 60 days from April 1 to complete training, i.e., until approximately May 31. May 1 is within that window.
The transition period starts April 1 (effective date) and lasts 60 days: April 1 + 60 days = approximately May 31. May 1 is well within this window, so the employee (hired March 15, before April 1) is still in compliance as of May 1.
Question 4: Passage: 'The Treasury Board of Canada sets government-wide policies on human resources, financial management, and information management. Individual departments implement these policies but may not contradict them.' A department issues a leave policy that allows fewer vacation days than the Treasury Board minimum. Is this permitted?
- Yes, departments may customize policies within their mandate.
- No, departmental policies cannot contradict Treasury Board policies. (Correct answer)
- Yes, if approved by the department head.
- No, but only if employees formally object.
Correct answer: No, departmental policies cannot contradict Treasury Board policies.
The passage explicitly states departments 'may not contradict' Treasury Board policies. Providing fewer vacation days than the TB minimum directly contradicts that policy.
The passage states departments implement policies but 'may not contradict them.' Providing fewer vacation days than the Treasury Board minimum is a direct contradiction. This is not permitted regardless of departmental authority or head approval.
Question 5: Report excerpt: 'In 2023, the federal public service processed 2.4 million applications, a 15% increase over 2022. Processing times improved by an average of 3 days. However, the backlog of unprocessed applications grew by 8%.' Which conclusion is supported?
- Processing became more efficient but the workload increased faster than capacity. (Correct answer)
- Processing times worsened in 2023.
- The backlog decreased because of improved processing times.
- The 15% increase in applications caused processing times to rise by 3 days.
Correct answer: Processing became more efficient but the workload increased faster than capacity.
Processing times improved (−3 days), but the backlog still grew (+8%), suggesting demand outpaced capacity improvements.
Efficiency improved (faster processing) but the backlog grew anyway — meaning the volume of new applications exceeded the capacity gained. Option B is wrong (times improved). Option C is wrong (backlog grew). Option D misreads the data. Only A correctly synthesizes both trends.
Question 6: Excerpt: 'Values and Ethics in the public service include respect for democracy, respect for people, integrity, stewardship, and excellence. Stewardship involves using public resources responsibly and in the long-term public interest.' A manager approves premium office furniture at three times the standard cost for personal preference. Which value is most clearly violated?
- Respect for democracy
- Integrity
- Stewardship (Correct answer)
- Excellence
Correct answer: Stewardship
Stewardship involves using public resources responsibly. Overspending on premium furniture for personal preference violates this value directly.
The passage defines stewardship as using public resources responsibly and in the long-term public interest. Spending three times the standard cost on furniture for personal preference is neither responsible nor in the public interest — it directly violates stewardship. This PSEE reading question tests applying defined values to specific scenarios.
PSEE Reading Comprehension 2
Policy: 'Sick leave may be used for personal illness or to care for an ill immediate family member.
Immediate family is defined as spouse, child, or parent.
Extended sick leave beyond 10 days requires a medical certificate.' An employee takes 12 sick days to care for an ill sibling.
What applies?