DE-Sample Scenarios

Highly Qualified 95 – 100 | Well Qualified 85 – 94 | Qualified 70 – 84

Jana – 84 – NV

Karli – 92 – TP

Larry – 78 – CP

Marvin – 86 – XP

Nick – 91 – CPS

Opal – 99 – NV

Who should be placed in the Highly Qualified category?

• Opal

• Larry, Nick, and Opal

• Karli, Larry, Marvin, Nick, and Opal

• Nick

John is applying for a Budget Assistant, GS-0561-05 position. He has 9 months of specialized experience and 75 semester hours toward his Bachelor’s degree in Finance. Does he qualify for the Budget Assistant position at the GS-05 level?

• Yes, he qualifies for this position through experience alone.

• No, he must finish his degree before he can use his education to qualify.

• Yes, he has experience and education, that when combined, equals at least 100% of the requirement.

• No, he does not have enough education and experience to qualify through a combination.

Mara (E-4) served honorably on active duty in the Army Reserve from July 1, 2000 – September 14, 2001. She has no qualifying badges or medals. How would you adjudicate her veterans’ preference?

• NV

• SSP

• TP

• XP

Scenario A: Your agency has posted an Economist, GS0110-09, vacancy. The vacancy announcement defines the specialized experience as "experience applying methods and principles of economics and their application to research projects or experience developing, analyzing, and presenting statistical information.”

1.) For the economics 0110 series, the OPM qualification standards is covered by a group standard and has individual occupational requirements (IOR). Which OPM qualifications group standard is used for an Economist position?

• Clerical and Administrative Support Positions

• Technical and Medical Support Positions

• Administrative and Management Positions

• Professional and Scientific Positions

Scenario A: Your agency has posted an Economist, GS0110-09, vacancy. The vacancy announcement defines the specialized experience as "experience applying methods and principles of economics and their application to research projects or experience developing, analyzing, and presenting statistical information.”

2) Maria applies to this Economist, GS-0110-09, vacancy. She possesses a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university. She submits a copy of her college transcripts which list a major in economics with 24 completed semester hours in economics and 6 completed semester hours in calculus. Maria’s resume notes 18 months of experience as an Economist Assistant, GS-0119-5. As the HR Specialist reviewing Maria’s qualifications, what is the correct qualifications determination?

• Maria meets the minimum qualification requirements and the individual occupational requirements

• Maria meets the individual occupational requirements but does not meet the minimum qualification requirements

• Maria does not meet the individual occupational requirements

• Maria does not meet time-in-grade

3) From the qualified candidates listed in Table 1, who should be placed in the Gold category?

• Maria, Ken, Lauren, Teresa

• Lauren

• Lauren and Teresa

• Maria, Jason, Ken, Nina, Teresa

4) The HR Specialist is preparing to issue the certificate of eligibles for the Statistician, GS1531-11, position to the hiring manager. The agency policy allows the HR Specialist to merge categories. The hiring official would like to merge, if possible. Can the Gold and Silver categories be merged?

• A. Yes, merging is allowable because there are fewer than 3 eligibles in the Gold category

• B. No, merging is not allowable because there is a preference eligible in the Gold category

• C. No, merging is only allowable after selections have been made

• D. Yes, merging is allowable because there are preference eligibles in the Silver category

5) Merge the top two categories. Who are the eligibles in the newly merged highest quality category for the Statistician, GS-1530-11, position?

• A. Maria, Jason, Ken, Lauren, John, Nina, Teresa

• B. Maria, Jason, Lauren, Nina

• C. Maria, Jason, Ken, Nina, Teresa

• D. Maria, Jason, Lauren, Nina, Teresa

6) Merge the top two categories. Based on the newly merged highest quality category, who is within reach for selection for the Statistician, GS-1530-11, position?

• A. Lauren

• B. Maria, Jason, Nina, and Teresa

• C. Maria, Jason, and Teresa

• D. Maria and Teresa

Scenario C: Your agency has posted an Industrial Hygienist, GS-0690-12, vacancy. There are three candidates in the highest quality category who claimed veterans’ preference: Stephanie, Rachel, and Mark.

7) Stephanie served in the military on active duty from August 3, 2003, to June 3, 2005. Her DD-214 shows she received the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Purple Heart, and an Honorable discharge. How should you adjudicate Stephanie’s claimed veterans’ status?

• As a TP preference eligible, because Stephanie served on active duty for more than 120 days during a qualifying period of time

• As a TP preference eligible, because the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal is qualifying for veterans’ preference

• As a CP preference eligible, because Stephanie was awarded the Purple Heart

• As an XP preference eligible, because Stephanie was awarded the Purple Heart