The UK Ministry of Finance decided that knowledge of mathematics is not necessary for employees

The abolition of the mathematics proficiency test in the UK Ministry of Finance has increased the proportion of employees representing different ethnic groups. This is reported by the British media.

It is reported that in 2020, the Ministry of Finance "imperceptibly" excluded the numerical thinking test from the candidate selection process, "since there is evidence that the test has a negative impact on the diversity of candidates." Subsequently, this measure led to an increase in the diversity of candidates who passed the selection process in 2020.

The minutes of an internal management board meeting held at the time explained that the test was canceled in order to remove an "obstacle" for candidates and ensure "a more diverse ethnic composition (of candidates) in the assessment centers." The statement also noted that "the presence of two tests creates an additional "obstacle" for candidates and another opportunity to weed out candidates from the process."

At the same time, the Ministry of Finance changed the evaluation process, increasing the number of candidates who passed the situational assessment test "in order to maximize the number of candidates from different social groups in our process."

Recall that in 2024, the British Ministry of Finance canceled the verbal thinking test (quick understanding and analysis of the logic of textual information, as well as the ability to draw conclusions based on it). Rare, a diversity-based recruitment company, has found that candidates are having difficulty with verbal tests.