PSEE Reading Comprehension 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A government memo states: 'All travel claims must be submitted within 30 days of travel completion. Claims submitted after this deadline will not be reimbursed unless approved by the Director.' An employee submitted a claim 45 days after travel. What applies?
- The claim will automatically be reimbursed.
- The claim will not be reimbursed under any circumstances.
- The claim may be reimbursed with Director approval. (Correct answer)
- The claim deadline can be extended by any manager.
Correct answer: The claim may be reimbursed with Director approval.
The memo states late claims are not reimbursed 'unless approved by the Director,' meaning Director approval is a valid exception.
The policy has a general rule (30 days) and one stated exception (Director approval). The employee submitted after 30 days, so the general rule denies reimbursement. However, the exception allows reimbursement if the Director approves. PSEE reading comprehension tests the ability to identify rules and exceptions precisely.
Question 2: Policy: 'Employees who have completed five or more years of continuous service are eligible for the senior parking benefit. Employees on unpaid leave do not accrue service time.' Maria has worked for six years but took eight months of unpaid leave. Is she eligible?
- Yes, because she has worked six years in total.
- No, because unpaid leave disqualifies employees permanently.
- It depends on whether her continuous service excluding leave reaches five years. (Correct answer)
- Yes, because the leave was approved by management.
Correct answer: It depends on whether her continuous service excluding leave reaches five years.
Unpaid leave does not count toward service time. Maria's countable service = 6 years minus 8 months = 5 years 4 months, which exceeds 5 years, so she is eligible.
Six years minus eight months of unpaid leave = 5 years and 4 months of countable service. Since 5 years and 4 months exceeds the 5-year threshold, Maria meets the eligibility requirement. PSEE reading comprehension often requires careful application of policy rules to specific cases.
Question 3: Passage: 'The Public Service Employment Act requires that appointments be based on merit. Merit means that the person appointed must meet the essential qualifications for the position and may be assessed on asset qualifications and organizational needs.' Which factor is MANDATORY for appointment?
- Asset qualifications
- Organizational needs
- Essential qualifications (Correct answer)
- Years of experience
Correct answer: Essential qualifications
The passage states the appointed person 'must meet the essential qualifications' — making it mandatory. Asset qualifications and organizational needs are optional ('may be assessed').
The passage uses 'must' for essential qualifications (mandatory) and 'may' for asset qualifications and organizational needs (discretionary). This distinction between mandatory and optional criteria is a core reading comprehension skill tested on the PSEE.
Question 4: Notice: 'The building will be closed for maintenance on March 15. Employees with critical deadlines on that date should notify their supervisor by March 10 to arrange remote work or alternative accommodation.' An employee with a March 15 deadline reads this on March 11. What should she do?
- Submit the deadline work early since the building will be closed.
- Notify her supervisor immediately, though the preferred deadline has passed. (Correct answer)
- Wait to see if the closure is cancelled.
- Do nothing, as remote work is automatically arranged.
Correct answer: Notify her supervisor immediately, though the preferred deadline has passed.
The preferred notification deadline (March 10) has passed, but notifying the supervisor is still the correct action to arrange accommodation.
The notice recommends notifying by March 10 for convenience, but this is not an absolute cutoff. Since the employee has a critical deadline, notifying the supervisor on March 11 is still the appropriate response to arrange accommodation. PSEE reading comprehension tests practical inference from workplace documents.
Question 5: Excerpt: 'Canada's Official Languages Act ensures that federal institutions provide services in both English and French where there is significant demand. Employees have the right to work in either official language in designated bilingual regions.' Which statement is best supported?
- All federal services must be in both languages everywhere in Canada.
- In designated bilingual regions, employees may choose their working language. (Correct answer)
- Only French-speaking employees benefit from the Official Languages Act.
- English is the primary language of all federal institutions.
Correct answer: In designated bilingual regions, employees may choose their working language.
The passage states employees have the right to work in either language 'in designated bilingual regions.'
The passage specifies that the language of work right applies to 'designated bilingual regions,' not all of Canada. Option A overgeneralizes. Option C is incorrect — the Act covers both languages. Option D is unsupported. Option B accurately reflects the stated employee right.
Question 6: Memo: 'Overtime must be pre-authorized by a manager. Unauthorized overtime will not be compensated. Exceptions may be made in cases of emergency operations declared by the department head.' An employee worked overtime during a declared emergency without prior manager authorization. Will they be compensated?
- No, because all overtime requires manager pre-authorization.
- Yes, because declared emergencies are an exception to the rule. (Correct answer)
- Maybe, if they request compensation within 30 days.
- No, because the department head must also authorize the overtime personally.
Correct answer: Yes, because declared emergencies are an exception to the rule.
The memo contains an exception for emergency operations declared by the department head. This exception applies here.
General rule: overtime must be pre-authorized. Exception: emergency operations declared by the department head. Since a declared emergency existed, the exception applies and the employee should be compensated. PSEE reading comprehension frequently tests the ability to identify and apply exception clauses.
PSEE Reading Comprehension 1
A government memo states: 'All travel claims must be submitted within 30 days of travel completion.
Claims submitted after this deadline will not be reimbursed unless approved by the Director.' An employee submitted a claim 45 days after travel.
What applies?