your memory, write them over again, after having, if necessary, read the corresponding portion of the text book on each occasion. In all cases make. sure of the dates, for they are the landmarks, and you cannot get on without them. Make yourself perfectly acquainted with the principal acts of parliament, and all the other chief stepping-stones in the long journey. The examiners very frequently give questions on the following points:-Magna Charta, The Act of Settlement, Ship Money, Habeas Corpus Act, Bill of Rights, Reform Bill of 1832, Grand Remonstrance, The Trial of the Bishops, Petition of Right, Exclusion Bill, War of Spanish Succession, The Barons' War, Constitutions of Clarendon, Peninsular War, &c., &c. You should also be prepared for questions on the Progress of the power of Parliament at various periods; Trial by Jury; and on the parts played by remarkable persons, such as Clive, Walpole, Washington, Wilkes, Warren Hastings, Drake, Guy Fawkes, Hampden, Sacheverell, Blake, Wellington, Wolfe, Byng, &c., &c. You may be asked to sketch the characters of some of the principal men of English history, such as Edward the Confessor, Alfred, the Black Prince, Henry VII., George II., William Rufus, Edward I., &c.; or to answer such questions as "What are the chief legislative changes since 1830-1800-1760 ?"-"Constitutional rights acquired by the Commons previous to 1500-1600 -1700 ?"-" Prime ministers and diplomatists of note in the 16th,-17th,-18th century ?". "History of the acquisition of one or several colonies ?""Right of Stephen-Henry IV.-Henry VII. to the throne ?" &c., &c. A number of questions like these will be poured on you without the slightest regard to the sequence of events or the order of chronology; rendering it necessary that you be perfectly acquainted with all the details of the subject, as they are commonly found in the ordinary single volume school histories, CHAPTER XII. PREPARATORY EXAMINATIONS. It is quite possible for a young man who has got a good elementary education in school, to prepare for the Civil Service Examination without any assistance whatever; and indeed one of the chief purposes of this little book is to direct such a student on the right course. Nevertheless, it must not be forgotten, that the candidate who is fortunate enough to be able to secure the services of a good grinder, has an immense advantage over those who have no such assistance; and I therefore advise him, by all means, to have a teacher, even though he may not be as experienced or efficient a teacher as could be wished. If this be impossible, the next best thing is that two candidates should study in company, for they will serve in some measure in place of teachers to each other. A really good grinder devotes most of the time he spends directly with the pupil, to examination; examination is his chief business, study and preparation the business of the pupil. For, observe, a candidate may, by close study, have acquired a sufficient knowledge of all the subjects, and yet be only indifferently prepared for the final test. He must be frequently subjected beforehand to examination, say once a month at least; for dexterity in going through such an ordeal is quite as necessary as knowledge, and is acquired and improved by practice. These preparatory examinations should be carried on as a regular part of your preparation. A good teacher, who is himself well acquainted with the various subjects, and who knows what good answering consists in, is of incalculable service here; for he will read your answers before your face, point out where you are right, and correct you where you are wrong. If you have no teacher, your companion in study should examine youyou doing the same for him; and even in case you are a mere solitary student, you should go through written examinations periodically, with the same care, and with the same formalities, as if you were under the direction of a teacher. At the earlier stage, the questions may be moderately easy, and plenty of time can be allowed; but as you advance in your preparation, each examination should be carried on so as to resemble in all respects, as nearly as possible, those of the Civil Service Commissioners :-they should last from 11 o'clock till 5, or for the same amount of time at some other part of the day, with half an hour's relaxation; the questions should be as numerous. and as hard; the student should work against time; and he should answer the questions fully, carefully, and neatly, exactly as if the papers were go before the Civil Service examiner. to If you are unaccustomed to be examined, you will almost certainly go in to the final examination flurried and nervous, and excited-a state of mind sure to lead to a break-down in some one or more questions, or perhaps in the entire examination. |