Highways England Assessments

Prepare for the Highways England recruitment process with tailor-made practice materials.

Careers at Highways England

Highways England is a government-owned company that deals with the UK's 4,300 miles of motorways and major roads — which includes everything from designing and building, to operating and maintaining.

As a result, there are a huge number of jobs available for those interested in maintaining safety for drivers, passengers and pedestrians, and ensuring the smooth running of the country's roads.

Types of Jobs At Highways England

Whether it's the design of the roads themselves or looking after the finances at head office, there is a wide and varied selection of careers available at Highways England.

Roles in head office support, engineering, project managing and patrolling are some of the most commonly sought after roles in the company, but it's worth keeping an eye on the Highways England careers page as new opportunities are added regularly.

How To Get Hired At Highways England

With seven different graduate schemes, there's something for everyone at Highways England.

Work experience isn't deemed the most important thing for getting onto a graduate scheme. Instead, you'll need to share any relevant qualifications, as well as show how you'd react to certain commonplace work scenarios in the situational judgement test.

Highways England Application Process

Highways England Online Application

A strong application is the first step to getting hired and unlike a lot of companies, Highways England doesn't request a traditional CV and cover letter. Instead, once you've selected the job(s) you want to apply for you'll be asked to fill out a short application on their website and complete a situational judgement test.

Highways England Aptitude Tests

Highways England Situational Judgement Test

The situational judgement test aims to learn more about the type of employee you're likely to be, and how well you respond to a series of hypothetical workplace challenges that you could encounter at Highways England.

You'll be asked to mark down which responses are most and least like the responses you'd give to each situation.

There may not be 'right' or 'wrong' answers, but there are answers that mark you out as a more suitable candidate, and if you score highly enough you'll move onto the next stage of the process.

Highways England Video Interview

The video interview gives Highways England a chance to learn more about you, your qualifications, any relevant experience you may have and the strengths you're likely to bring to the role you're applying for.

It's also a chance for you to ask any questions you may have, sell yourself and show why you'd be a great hire.

Highways England Assessment Centre

The final stage of the process is an assessment centre which is currently being run virtually.

Lasting around half a day, the assessment centre will include various tasks such as a presentation and group exercise, as well as another interview with a senior member of Highways England staff.

Assessment centres are a chance for staff to thoroughly assess the last remaining candidates to ensure they hire the best person or people for the job(s). As a result, it's important you try to speak up and share any thoughts or ideas so they get a chance to hear from you. Equally, you want to make sure you show yourself to be a respectful listener and that you don't take over every conversation.

Try and make sure you have a strong internet connection and you're able to set yourself up in a quiet room, free from distractions, for the assessment centre. This will give you one less thing to worry about on the day and will ensure you can concentrate fully on the tasks at hand.

Tips To Get Hired At Highways England

Practice Tests

Practicing Situational judgements tests before the Highways England test is a really good idea.

Not only will it help you to familiarise yourself with the kinds of questions you may be asked, it'll also give you a chance to reflect on the values and strengths Highways England will be looking for in their employees.

Use Exam Conditions

Whether it's practicing tests, being interviewed or taking part in the assessment centre, it's helpful to set up an area in 'exam conditions.' This means somewhere quiet, where you can time yourself if you're practicing a test, and where you'll be uninterrupted should you be taking part in an interview or the assessment centre.

Know The Highway Code

Familiarising yourself with the Highway Code will help you to have a better base understanding of the work Highways England does to make our roads safer. It could also give you an edge over other applicants.

Build Confidence

The best way to build confidence is to thoroughly prepare for each stage of the process.

Practicing past aptitude tests, reading the Highway Code, learning more about Highways England, brushing up on your interview techniques and ensuring your computer is set up in a quiet and well-lit room are all things you can do to help yourself stand out as a top applicant.

Sample Highways England Assessments question Test your knowledge!

Score: /5

From an engineering perspective, which of the following aspects is crucial when considering materials for road surfacing in a region with frequent heavy rains?

  • Color variety
  • Aesthetic finish
  • Surface water drainage properties
  • Ease of installation during winter months

During the planning phase of a road expansion project, what is the most important factor to consider to minimize disruption to the public?

  • Local wildlife migration patterns
  • Peak traffic hours and potential diversions
  • Promotions and advertising for the new expansion
  • Landscaping and aesthetic features along the road

Which of the following is a key component of a Health and Safety Management System in road construction?

  • Conducting regular team-building exercises
  • Ensuring the availability of gourmet meals on-site
  • Holding weekly sales meetings
  • Implementing a rigorous risk assessment process

If a project is affected by unforeseen geological conditions, what is the most professional approach to maintain the project timeline?

  • Immediately halt all work indefinitely.
  • Continue as planned and address issues if they arise.
  • Assess the impact and discuss mitigation measures with your team.
  • Ignore the conditions and proceed without informing stakeholders.

When dealing with a roadway project, which regulatory document is most critical to ensure health and safety compliance?

  • Food safety standards
  • National highway sector schemes
  • Company quarterly financial report
  • Internal employee dress code manual

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Highways England Assessments Tips

Familiarize Yourself with Common Formats

The types of tests used by Highways England during their recruitment process can vary, but typically include a mix of aptitude and situational judgment tests. Spend time on Psychometric Tests getting to know the ins and outs of these formats. Learning how questions are typically structured and what kind of answers are expected will give you a significant advantage, making the actual test-taking experience less daunting.

Brush Up on Relevant Knowledge

While some tests are designed to measure your innate abilities, others might assess your technical knowledge or understanding of the highway and transport sectors. Make sure you're up to speed with the basics of road safety, project management, and any other knowledge area relevant to the position you're eying at Highways England.

Manage Your Time Wisely

Time management is key when taking these practice tests on Psychometric Tests. The real exams will have a time limit, so it's crucial to practice pacing yourself to ensure you have ample time to answer all the questions. Start by understanding how much time you have for each question and then work on techniques to stay within these timeframes. Don’t linger too long on any one question.

Simulate the Testing Environment

To really get the feel for the test day, create a similar environment when taking our practice exams. Find a quiet space, set a timer, and eliminate all distractions. The more closely your practice conditions resemble the actual test conditions, the more comfortable you'll feel when it's showtime.

Review and Reflect

After taking each practice test, take the time to go through your answers, especially the ones you got wrong. Understand why the correct answers are right and why you may have made a mistake. This reflection is crucial for learning and improving your performance for the next round of practice tests on Psychometric Tests.

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Highways England Assessments FAQs

What Qualifications Do I Need To Work For Highways England?

This depends on the role you're applying for.

Although for many jobs you'll need to be qualified to a certain level, Highways England also prides itself on having a culture of learning where you can work towards further qualifications and career progression.

How Much Do Highways England Employees Get Paid?

Again, this depends on the job and seniority level. However, apprentices will start at around £18,000 per annum, whereas a senior project manager could earn upwards of £67,000 per annum.

How Much Does A Traffic Officer Earn In The UK?

The average salary for a Traffic Officer in the UK is £28,434 per annum.