Canada Revenue Agency Assessment Tests

Careers at Canada Revenue Agency

Previously known as Canada’s Customs and Revenue Agency, Canada Revenue Agency has a huge and varied remit, ranging from writing tax laws for Canada and all its provinces and territories, to supervising the country’s charity registration scheme and even playing a role in scientific research.

Recognized as one of the top 100 employers in Canada, the CRA has over 40,000 employees and its work affects the lives of every single Canadian in one way or another.

Committed to diversity and inclusion, Canada Revenue Agency is motivated by high employee morale and fosters it through a variety of different ways, including programs designed to ensure employees’ ideas and opinions are heard and actioned.

So, whether you want to get started through a graduate recruitment scheme, take on an apprenticeship or development program or are interested in a career in anything from HR to tax law, there are a wealth of opportunities at the CRA if you can make it through the rigorous testing and interview process.

The Canada Revenue Agency hiring process is extremely competitive, and the tests help to probe candidates’ strengths and weaknesses to give the CRA a better understanding of who has what it takes to be given a role.

Applying to work for Canada Revenue Agency involves an online application, a series of tests and an interview. Helpfully, the CRA publishes its whole assessment list, so you can see exactly what you might be asked to sit. The tests come from four different producers, the CRA’s own test development team, the Public Service Commission, EPSI and Korn Ferry, and which ones you face depends on the job, level and department you’re applying to. The general structure of the recruitment process stays the same either way.

Practice and preparation at every stage is crucial if you want to make it through to the end and receive a job offer from CRA.

Below are details of what the application process might entail.

Online application

Canada Revenue Agency’s recruitment process starts with an online application.

You’ll be required to upload your resume and provide any necessary additional documents to support your application.

You may also be asked a couple of questions on why you want to work for CRA. Take your time answering these and ensure your passion, relevant experience and what you could bring to the role stand out in all of your answers.

Canada Revenue Agency Aptitude Tests

CRA accounting tests

If the position you’re applying for is in accounting, you’ll be required to take either the level one or two accounting test.

The test is multiple-choice and will ask you questions on basic accounting principles, practices and techniques. Whether you feel confident in this area or not, it’s important to brush up on your skills by taking some practice tests.

If you’re taking the level two test (for a more senior or high level position) you can expect more challenging questions. As well as the basics, you’ll also be assessed on GAAP and Books of Accounts.

CRA auditing tests

Just as you’d expect, the auditing tests examine your skills when it comes to basic auditing principles and techniques.

Just as with the accounting tests, there are two levels of auditing tests. Those applying for more senior roles will be expected to take auditing level two, and will be asked additional multiple choice questions on more complex topics such as auditing standards and risk assessment.

Both tests are 40 minutes in length, and both carry a 180-day retest period. That window applies to any re-sit rather than only a failed one, and a result from a retake taken too soon will not count, so it’s really important to put as much as you can into your practice and preparation the first time.

CRA problem-solving test

Another multiple choice paper, the problem solving test is designed to assess your ability to keep calm under pressure when solving problems.

You’ll be given a set amount of time, normally around 90 minutes, to complete the multiple-choice questions. The problems you’ll be faced with are those that you may encounter in the workplace.

Although there are no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ answers, a CRA employer will be looking for certain traits and qualities and will form opinions on your suitability for the role depending on the answers you give.

CRA situational judgment tests

Situational judgement tests assess a candidate’s ability to navigate problems, challenges and issues that may come up in the role or team they’re applying to work for. As part of the CRA’s recruitment process, there are two possible situational judgement tests you might be asked to take:

Management. If you’re applying to be a manager, the situational judgement questions you’ll have to answer will be tailored to this role. That means you’ll be answering questions that aim to draw out more information about your leadership style and how equipped you are to guide a team of people. This test is 60 minutes long.

Recruitment. The recruitment test is much longer than the managerial test (it’s 140 minutes) and is for those looking to work in recruitment. Questions will focus on conflict management and ethics, amongst other subjects.

CRA tax center clerical test

The tax center clerical aptitude testmeasures your ability to carry out clerical tasks such as error checking. Finding a balance between speed and accuracy is important in this test, as you’ll have just 60 minutes to work through all the questions.

The questions could be about anything and everything from your basic mathematical knowledge, to your understanding of grammar and your ability to process and apply information.

Being fast, careful and methodical at the same time is challenging, but it’s an important skill to master if you want to succeed at the tax centre clerical test.

CRA writing skills test

The writing skills test is designed to assess how comfortable you are with everything from spelling and grammar, to capitalization, punctuation and structuring sentences.

Assessing skills that are crucial to many roles within Canada Revenue Agency, the writing skills test is essential for almost every office-based position. Proving you’re confident in this area will go a long way to showing a CRA employer that everything from your internal emails to external facing documents will be produced to a certain standard.

Practicing written exercises before the test is really important to ensure you’ve brushed up on your skills and given yourself the best possible chance of success.

CRA office skills test

CRA administrative and clerical positions require a candidate to have taken and passed an office skills test as part of the recruitment process.

Assessing your administrative and communication skills, your ability to check through dense passages of text for errors, how good your time management is and your confidence using different types of software, this is a multifaceted test with lots of challenging questions.

CRA video interview

After any tests required for the role have been taken, successful candidates can expect to progress to the final stage of the process — the video interview.

Designed to assess your competency, as well as your character and suitability for the role, you’ll be expected to answer each question you’re asked concisely.

Questions vary depending on the interviewer and the role you’re applying for, but it’s useful to prepare by going through common interview questions and ensuring you’re comfortable relaying key parts of your resume. It’s also important to read up on Canada Revenue Agency and have a think about questions you’d like to ask the interviewer should you be given the opportunity.