Math for CSI
November 1, 2013 11:04 AM Subscribe
My girlfriend is applying for to work for the city as a crime lab trainee, a position they will train her for, but will be tested for basic knowledge (they are looking for someone with a two-year degree, apparently in anything). The test will include math. What do you think she will need to be sure she's solid on?
Here's the exact text of the application:
The multiple choice examination (passing score 65%) will consist primarily of multiple choice questions designed to measure skill in reading comprehension, attention to detail, basic mathematics, report writing, grammar and critical reasoning.
Here's the exact text of the application:
The multiple choice examination (passing score 65%) will consist primarily of multiple choice questions designed to measure skill in reading comprehension, attention to detail, basic mathematics, report writing, grammar and critical reasoning.
I've taken the exams to work for the city/state/county, and the math sections on all of them were grueling. They weren't difficult (required a handle on nothing more advanced than basic algebra), but the questions were long and detailed.
You can look online for sample civil service tests...I would imagine that it's similar to what she's going to be given.
Basically it boiled down to: can you competently strip the relevant information from this paragraph, put the basics into a formula, and show how you can solve to find the answer?
Sometimes the answers required just being able to give the formula. Sometimes it required doing some hand-calculation (no calculators allowed on mine).
A review of algebra (lots of solve for x type stuff) as well as a refresher on multiplying/dividing fractions and decimals will probably be helpful here. Work on real world examples. (One of the tests I took was REALLY on about calculating hourly wage/payroll deductions/tax and so forth.)
posted by phunniemee at 11:16 AM on November 1, 2013
You can look online for sample civil service tests...I would imagine that it's similar to what she's going to be given.
Basically it boiled down to: can you competently strip the relevant information from this paragraph, put the basics into a formula, and show how you can solve to find the answer?
Sometimes the answers required just being able to give the formula. Sometimes it required doing some hand-calculation (no calculators allowed on mine).
A review of algebra (lots of solve for x type stuff) as well as a refresher on multiplying/dividing fractions and decimals will probably be helpful here. Work on real world examples. (One of the tests I took was REALLY on about calculating hourly wage/payroll deductions/tax and so forth.)
posted by phunniemee at 11:16 AM on November 1, 2013
A study guide seems like a reasonable request that she could make.
posted by oceanjesse at 11:16 AM on November 1, 2013
posted by oceanjesse at 11:16 AM on November 1, 2013
The multiple choice examination ... will consist primarily of multiple choice questions designed to measure skill in ... attention to detail...
I already am a little worried about this test because of the description, but that's just me. To me, "basic math" is arithmetic and word problems ("if chris paid $10 for a CD at at 15% discount, how much was the marked price?"). She will definitely want to be solid on working with fractions and percentages, and looking up numbers in tables. I would be indignantly surprised if the test included any geometry or higher math.
posted by ubiquity at 11:57 AM on November 1, 2013
I already am a little worried about this test because of the description, but that's just me. To me, "basic math" is arithmetic and word problems ("if chris paid $10 for a CD at at 15% discount, how much was the marked price?"). She will definitely want to be solid on working with fractions and percentages, and looking up numbers in tables. I would be indignantly surprised if the test included any geometry or higher math.
posted by ubiquity at 11:57 AM on November 1, 2013
Forensics relies on stats more than anything. Confidence intervals, regressions, and ANOVA are very common tools. More sophisticated approaches are becomming increasingly common---it's a very deep rabbit hole.
However, for a generic civil service exam, she's going to get mid-high school math questions, as many others have said. Practicing word problems is a high pay-off strategy for her. Make sure she's solid on things like factorization. There may also be some (very) basic trig. She should know how to calculate areas and the like.
posted by bonehead at 1:07 PM on November 1, 2013 [2 favorites]
However, for a generic civil service exam, she's going to get mid-high school math questions, as many others have said. Practicing word problems is a high pay-off strategy for her. Make sure she's solid on things like factorization. There may also be some (very) basic trig. She should know how to calculate areas and the like.
posted by bonehead at 1:07 PM on November 1, 2013 [2 favorites]
Part of my job involves assessment testing for entrance into academic and professional programs. Based on what I've seen, I think at the very least your girlfriend should review multiplication, division, addition, subtraction, fractions, decimals, percentage, ratios, word problems, measurement, metric conversion, and reading graphs.
If she has time, it might be worth it to review basic algebra and geometry.
(Khan Academy can be good for review.)
Also--this is important--she should make sure she can do all this math without a calculator, as that may be a requirement.
Best of luck to her!
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 5:25 PM on November 1, 2013
If she has time, it might be worth it to review basic algebra and geometry.
(Khan Academy can be good for review.)
Also--this is important--she should make sure she can do all this math without a calculator, as that may be a requirement.
Best of luck to her!
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 5:25 PM on November 1, 2013
No idea about your test, but I graded "basic math skills" at a university for a couple of years. Questions people got wrong a lot: Percentages, especially the different types (things like the difference between "x is what percentage of y?" and "what is x percentage of y?"). Fractions. Rate of change word problems. Factoring. Word problems. Did I mention word problems?
posted by anaelith at 9:15 PM on November 1, 2013
posted by anaelith at 9:15 PM on November 1, 2013
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posted by Captain_Science at 11:13 AM on November 1, 2013