Civil Service Exam Information

After you have completed your application, return the signed application along with your transcript(s), Military Discharge papers (DD214 Member 4), and copies of any licenses or certifications, if applicable. You will then need to set-up an appointment for an application evaluation. During the application evaluation process, a member of the Human Resources staff will go over your application with you to determine what exams you meet minimum qualifications for. Another date for testing will be set up for you during your application evaluation. Western Illinois University utilizes open and continuous testing for many civil service classifications. Because testing is open and continuous, WIU does not typically advertise or post civil service vacancies. We encourage applicants and employees who are interested in civil service positions to take advantage of the open and continuous testing process for classifications for which he/she qualifies.

Some of the exams have a multiple-choice format in which you fill in your answers on a computer sheet and others are electronic exams available through the web. Some exams are entirely multiple-choice and some have a training and experience section. Exams may also be solely training and experience.

The examinations have different time limits. Exams are either: 1 1/2, 2, 3 or 4 hours in length.

Don’t forget to read the directions for each section of the examination. Following the directions is part of the examination.

The number of examinations that you can take in the course of one day depends on the time limits of each exam and you! Everyone works at a different pace, and we do not want you to rush through the exams. Please feel free to ask questions of the monitor when taking the exams.

All exams are scored here at Western Illinois University. Each exam is scored individually. We do read every answer that you write to make sure that you have answered the question(s) correctly. A rating guide for each examination is supplied to us by the State Universities Civil Service System (SUCSS). Electronic exams are scored on–line.

Your test results will be e-mailed to you at the e-mail address indicated on your application. Please add HR-Testing@wiu.edu and HR-Employment@wiu.edu to your contact list. Correspondence from the employment and examination areas will be through e-mail. Please be sure to notify us of any contact information changes so that we can keep your applicant records up-to-date. You may check your standing on the register at any time by contacting us at (309) 298-1971, or stopping by the Human Resources Exam Department. Rankings can change on a daily basis as we add other scores to the register.

The examinations are specific to each classification. Questions on the exam could include: spelling, punctuation, grammar, mathematics (addition, multiplication, fractions, percentages). Further, you may be asked to provide written examples of what specific tasks you have done in past courses or positions.

No one is allowed to look at their examination once it is turned in after completion. We can, however, tell you how you did in each section of the examination. We can also let you know how many correct answers you had in each section. We will do the best to help you achieve the highest score that you can possibly get on any examination. For any exam that does not require exam notification, you can retake the exam within 30 days of the initial exam date, and three times within the course of a year. Your highest score is always kept on the register. Keep your application current! Please put all employment history on your application. If you move, please let as know.

Answer Sheet

1. A B C D

"C" Should be marked on the system answer sheet, since Chicago is the correct answer.

(A) 17   (B) 16   (C) 12   (D) 21

2. A B C D

"A" Should be marked on the system answer sheet, since 17 is the correct answer.

Human Resources Exam Area is located at:Sherman Hall, Room 103Sherman Hall is located off of Adams Street in Macomb, IL

Additions to Fortinet Fortiflex deliver more flexible licensing options to customers

Cybersecurity firm Fortinet Inc. today announced new product and service additions to its Fortiflex program that deliver more flexible licensing options to customers.

Fortiflex is a suite of virtualized solutions for protecting cloud and virtual data center deployments and, with today’s announcement, now supports services for physical FortiGate next-generation firewall appliances. As of today, Fortiflex is also available via a private offer in the Amazon Web Services Inc. Marketplace as an additional purchasing option. 

Fortinet says that with highly distributed users accessing highly distributed applications and a growing number of edges, networks are evolving at an unprecedented rate. Information technology teams are often expected to procure and deploy solutions before they fully understand their needs, which frequently change.

Flexible licensing programs, which allow organizations to pay by usage, are a solution to navigating this challenge. Fortinet argues that though there will always be a need for traditional product licensing models, usage-based pricing offers customers an additional way to leverage the solutions they need and adapt to their business’ dynamic needs.

FortiFlex uses a points system to help customers track their balance, usage trends and total spending. Organizations can spend points on any combination of cloud, hybrid cloud and on-premises deployments. Budgets committed to certain cloud providers, such as Google Cloud and now Amazon Web Services, can be used to purchase FortiFlex points. FortiFlex also caters to managed security service providers, allowing them to pool licenses across their customer base and easily manage license migration and reassignment.

The updated FortiFlex now supports the FortiGuard AI-powered Security Services and FortiCare technical support for several FortiGate next-generation firewall appliances. The appliances support a hybrid mesh firewall architecture, offering a coordinated system of threat intelligence and security policies.

The FortiFlex program also now supports FortiGate 40F, FortiGate 60E/F series, FortiGate 70F, FortiGate 80F, FortiGate 100E/F series, FortiGate 200 E/F series, FortiGate 400F and FortiGate 600F.

For customers using the AWS Enterprise Discount Program, FortiFlex can help reduce their minimum spending threshold by converting portions of it into FortiFlex points. This allows customers to secure better AWS service prices and leverage Fortinet’s secure networking products.

“The solutions organizations deploy today are becoming more flexible to support highly distributed users and applications. Licensing models should be just as flexible,” John Maddison, executive vice president of products and chief marketing officer of Fortinet, said ahead of the news. “That’s why we’re excited to expand our FortiFlex program to give customers more licensing options to utilize Fortinet solutions and services according to their evolving needs.”

“TheCUBE is an important partner to the industry. You guys really are a part of our events and we really appreciate you coming and I know people appreciate the content you create as well” – Andy Jassy

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Placement Exams and Assessments

See McCormick's webpage for more information.

Find information about accessing these in the Exams and Assessments section below.

How do you know if you need to take a Biology course at Northwestern? Review the June Purple Prep email for your school for a helpful breakdown.

Regardless of your undergraduate school, if you have previously studied a language other than English, you are encouraged to visit the Weinberg College website (below) to learn more about languages offered at Northwestern, language placement exams, and AP exam score applicability. If you have not previously studied the language you intend to take at Northwestern, the language placement exam is not required. 

Curious if language is a degree requirement for your school? Review the June Purple Prep email for your school for a helpful breakdown.

Once you have reviewed the above section to determine which exams and exams are relevant to you, find more information on each exam/assessment below, including deadline dates, access links, and contact information.

This optional exam is recommended for students with a strong background in biology who think they could be ready for BIOL_SCI 202 Cell Biology. The exam covers core competencies in the molecular biology subject area and goes further than most high school AP/IB biology classes. Any student interested in taking this exam should sign up  by July 6. Those who sign up by the deadline will be able to access and complete the exam on Canvas from July 10-23. 

This exam is required for all students—including students with AP Chemistry credit—who plan to take any chemistry course at Northwestern and for all McCormick students regardless of chemistry plans.  The exam is administered on Canvas. Invitations to the Canvas site will be sent directly to students starting on June 1. For more information, visit the Department of Chemistry website.

This placement exam is required in addition to the initial chemistry exam for students planning to take Accelerated General Chemistry (CHEM 171), Organic Chemistry (CHEM 215), or Organic Chemistry for Majors (CHEM 217), regardless of any credit earned through AP or IB examination.  The exam is administered on Canvas.  Invitations to the Canvas site will be sent directly to students starting June 1.

Language placement policies and procedures vary by department and are only applicable to students who have previously studied a language other than English. Language Placement Exams are not administered via Canvas.

The math placement exam is required for any non-McCormick student planning to take a calculus course at Northwestern and for all McCormick students. The exam is administered on Canvas. Invitations to the Canvas site will be sent directly to students starting on June 1. For more information, visit the Department of Mathematics website.

If you need accommodations for an online placement exam or exams, plan to initiate the AccessibleNU (ANU) application process four weeks in advance of your placement test. Please note that language placement exams are not timed.  

Canvas is commonly used at Northwestern for accessing course materials, turning in assignments, viewing grades, and handling other academic tasks. You'll use Canvas this summer if certain online placement exams and exams are required for you. Every incoming student is emailed an invitation to join the Canvas exam page even if no exams or exams are required.