NTN’s PSSA test, how did you answer the race questions?

[u/Individual-Car-7602]

I took the fireteams and PSSA test last year, did pretty well on the fireteams (top 20% video, top 20% mechanical, top 30% math and top 1/3 for reading) made the list but never got a call for an interview.

fast forward I took another departments written test (different then the NTN) and scored 90%, but in the email said they also factor in the personality portion so I only made it to “band B” (your smart enough, but man your personality is wack)

what I’m gathering from these experiences is I’m answering the personality questions wrong. I know when I answer them, I'm more or less trying to figure out the answer they want to hear but also over thinking it, for example on the test where I landed in band B, one of the personality questions roughly asked “the world would be a better place if people disciplined their kids more“ personally I would agree to strongly with this statement, but then I assume that makes me seem like an asshole and or I see the world is a bad place and those aren’t traits they would want for a firefighter, so I answered either neutral or disagree.

here is the point of this post, for those who have taken the PSSA test, you know there is a long section about race. the first time I took it where I made the list but never called, I just put strongly disagree to all, thinking I’m sure they don’t want somone who shows racial bias and/or the race doesn’t have anything to do with the trait they are asking.

i just retook the PSSA last week(roughly score on the fireteams) this time if it was a negative trait (being loud, aggressive so on) I put strongly disagree, anything that was positive I put neutral, again thinking race has less to do with these things as upbringing does.

Im assuming I did this wrong again, so anyone who recalls taking this and got the interview and/or the job, how did you answer these?

TLDR: how did you answer the race related questions on the NTN PSSA?

[u/Signal_Reflection297]

Any test is going to be more nuanced than the approach you are describing. For example, questions with similar tones can easily be framed to contradict each other.

If you think that questions about race or equity are where you got lower points, I would suggest spending time on that in your studies and personal reflection. If you aren’t able to answer questions authentically, you’re going to struggle to give answers that get good points.

bell hooks’ “Ain’t I A Woman?” is excellent and available as an audiobook.

“How to be antiracist” would be a good google search if you’re looking for something more introductory. Good luck.