# 80 Ill. Adm. Code 250.50: Section 250.50 Examinations

> Illinois · Regulations · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IL_IAC_T80_P250_S250_50

## Section

- **Citation:** 80 Ill. Adm. Code 250.50
- **Heading:** Section 250.50 Examinations
- **Jurisdiction:** Illinois
- **Kind:** Regulations
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** Illinois Administrative Code / Title 80 PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES / CHAPTER VI: STATE UNIVERSITIES CIVIL SERVICE SYSTEM / Part 250 STATE UNIVERSITIES CIVIL SERVICE SYSTEM / Section 250.50 Examinations

## Text

Section 250
Section 250.50  Examinations
a)         Kinds of Examinations. Each classification shall have a
designated examination.  Each examination may have multiple components.  A
candidate who obtains a score on the examination that is deemed to be passing
will have his/her score placed on either an original entry register or a
promotional register. Examinations  shall be open and continuous competitive
examinations.  For the purpose of this Section, an original entry and a
promotional examination shall be considered to be one and the same examination.
b)         Eligibility to Compete in Examinations
1)         Any citizen or resident of the State of Illinois who applies
for examination in a specific class at a constituent place of employment served
by the University System, who is not rejected or disqualified under subsection
(c), and who meets the minimum qualifications as prescribed in the class
specification shall be admitted to the examination. Out-of-state applicants may
also be admitted for examination in accordance with conditions outlined in
subsection (b)(6).
2)         A status employee in a place of employment who is not rejected
or disqualified under subsection (c), who meets the minimum qualifications
specified in the class specification for a higher class in the appropriate
promotional line, and who is working by virtue of a status appointment in a
position of a lower class in the same promotional line, is on leave of absence
from that position, or is on layoff from that position shall be admitted to an
examination. An employee who obtains a passing score will have his/her score
placed on a promotional employment register.
3)         An applicant who fails to meet the minimum qualifications
established for the class, but who can offer qualifications, that in the
opinion of the Executive Director, are considered to be compensatory, shall be
admitted to the examination for the class
tted to an
examination. An employee who obtains a passing score will have his/her score
placed on a promotional employment register.
3)         An applicant who fails to meet the minimum qualifications
established for the class, but who can offer qualifications, that in the
opinion of the Executive Director, are considered to be compensatory, shall be
admitted to the examination for the class.  The names of all applicants who
pass the examination shall be placed on the appropriate register in order of
score.
4)         In the absence of a name of a candidate on any existing
register for a class, an applicant who does not possess the minimum
qualifications for the class and cannot present compensatory qualifications may
be admitted with prior approval of the Executive Director to the examination
for the class for the purpose of attempting to fill a specific vacancy.  The
name of an applicant so admitted, and who passes the examination, shall remain
on the register only until the specific vacant position has been filled.
5)         In accordance with the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA)
(42 USC 12101), any applicant with a recognized disability may receive an
accommodation for any examination maintained by the University System.  These accommodations
are to be administered in coordination with requirements contained in the ADA,
the State Universities Civil Service Act and this Part, and other applicable
policies at each employment location.
6)         For classes within the 01 professional, 02 semi-professional, 03
or managerial occupational areas for which a broader recruitment base is
typically applied, out-of-state residents may be admitted to the examination
and equally considered.  In these instances, when the Illinois citizenship or
residency requirement is waived,
out-of-state
candidates must establish Illinois residency within 180 calendar days after any
employment offer or final appointment
03
or managerial occupational areas for which a broader recruitment base is
typically applied, out-of-state residents may be admitted to the examination
and equally considered.  In these instances, when the Illinois citizenship or
residency requirement is waived,
out-of-state
candidates must establish Illinois residency within 180 calendar days after any
employment offer or final appointment.
7)         Any applicant may complete an examination for a class four
times within any 12 month period, with at least one month time lapse between
every rewrite.  The candidate's place on the register for the class shall be
determined by the highest score achieved on any examination for the class.
c)         Rejection or Disqualification of Applicants.  The employer may
reject any applicant or, after examination, the Executive Director may refuse
to certify any candidate who, in addition to requirements specified in Section
36f of the State Universities Civil Service Act and subsection (b), fails to
pass a physical examination given to determine his/her physical qualifications
for employment, abuses intoxicating substances, uses illegal drugs or narcotics,
has been dismissed from either private or public service for a cause
detrimental to his/her employment, has maintained an unsatisfactory employment
record, has practiced deception or fraud in his/her application, examination or
material pertaining to these, or has committed an offense that, in the judgment
of the Executive Director, disqualifies him/her for employment.
d)         Character of Examinations
1)         All examinations within the classification plan shall consist
of one or more of the following:  cognitive or knowledge test; typing test;
oral board test; physical fitness test; credential assessment test; or modified
education and experience test or other similar examinations as authorized by
the Executive Director
lifies him/her for employment.
d)         Character of Examinations
1)         All examinations within the classification plan shall consist
of one or more of the following:  cognitive or knowledge test; typing test;
oral board test; physical fitness test; credential assessment test; or modified
education and experience test or other similar examinations as authorized by
the Executive Director.
2)         A
cognitive or knowledge test may be utilized for certain examinations and
consist of one or more of the following components:  essay, multiple choice,
true/false, or short answer questions.  A typing test may be required for
certain examinations that would require an applicant to perform this skill.
Oral board and physical fitness tests are components for the Police Series
examinations.  A credential assessment test may be utilized for certain
classifications. That test consists of a review of the applicant's resume or
employment application, professional certification, licenses, or other
education or experience deemed relevant.  A modified education and experience
test is a rating of an applicant's training and experience based on the
applicant completing a prescribed examination form provided by the University
System.  For classifications requiring valid licenses or certifications, an
applicant must show possession of the license or certificate prior to taking
the examination.
3)         All examination content shall be provided by the staff of the University
System.
4)         All examination supplies and materials and all examinations
are the property of the University System.
5)         An examination may be revised, with the approval of the Executive
Director, without affecting existing original entry or promotional registers
for the class, providing the revision does not change the character or
weighting of sections of the examination
versity
System.
4)         All examination supplies and materials and all examinations
are the property of the University System.
5)         An examination may be revised, with the approval of the Executive
Director, without affecting existing original entry or promotional registers
for the class, providing the revision does not change the character or
weighting of sections of the examination.
6)         Upon approval of the Executive Director, the character or
weighting of sections of an examination may be changed, provided there is
sufficient evidence that the current examination for the class is not a
satisfactory examining instrument and the current examination has been in use
for a period of at least one year.  At least 30 calendar days advance notice of
the change shall be given to all appropriate employers who shall then
communicate the notice to each candidate on an original entry or promotional
register by score and shall further communicate the notice to any applicant who
applies for an examination during the notice period.  During the notice period,
qualified applicants and candidates whose names are already on the register by
score may be scheduled for the examination upon his/her request.  At the end of
the notice period, the previous original entry register or promotional register
of candidates by score will be voided, and a new original entry register or
promotional register by score shall be established on the basis of the new
examination.
e)         Security and Confidentiality Requirements in the
Examination Development Process
1)         The
examination development process requires all subject matter experts, and any
other participant in the development process, to exercise discretion and
maintain the confidentiality and security of ALL examination materials in their
possession
tablished on the basis of the new
examination.
e)         Security and Confidentiality Requirements in the
Examination Development Process
1)         The
examination development process requires all subject matter experts, and any
other participant in the development process, to exercise discretion and
maintain the confidentiality and security of ALL examination materials in their
possession.  Any person, including but not limited to a University System staff
member, Designated Employer Representative/Human Resources employee, subject
matter expert, union representative, or incumbent/volunteer involved in any
step of the examination development process who willfully or corruptly
discloses, distributes, or fails to secure and maintain materials used in the
development of an examination instrument shall be considered in violation of
the Act.
2)         Following
the final development of the examination questions, all electronic/paper copies
of questions, along with all reference sources for these questions, must be
deleted from emails, computers, external hard drives, etc.  Any hand
written notes that contain examination data elements or comments must be
returned to the University System.
3)         All
persons must be aware that any violation of the Act is a criminal offense and
is punishable under Section 46 of the Act.
4)         If a
security breach is discovered, the University System will contact the Illinois
Inspector General's Office and the State's Attorney of the county where the
offense occurred for investigation and prosecution.  The offending party
may be held liable for costs incurred by the security breach and the position
held by the party will become vacant upon conviction.  Additionally,
universities and agencies may be forced to freeze all registers and discontinue
all employment actions in the affected classification or classifications
f the county where the
offense occurred for investigation and prosecution.  The offending party
may be held liable for costs incurred by the security breach and the position
held by the party will become vacant upon conviction.  Additionally,
universities and agencies may be forced to freeze all registers and discontinue
all employment actions in the affected classification or classifications.
f)         Administration of Examinations
1)         As approved by the Executive Director, examinations shall be
scheduled and administered by the employer.  The examinations shall be
conducted on an open and continuous basis.  Upon request by the employer and
approval by the Executive Director, examinations to original entry registers at
each place of employment may be closed up to six calendar months when a
sufficient number of candidates on the register has been established and
further recruitment and testing is not required for a period of time.
2)         In
making the determination to close an examination, the Executive Director will
consider requests by the employer based on the number of positions in the
class, projected new positions, and annual turnover rate.  The employer shall
be responsible for the security of all examination materials in the employer's
custody and access to any electronic examination process, as provided to the
employer by the University System.
g)         Rating of Examinations
1)         The Executive Director and the staff of the University System shall
use appropriate scientific techniques and procedures in rating tests and in
determining resulting rank to the end that all competitors receive uniform and
fair treatment.
2)         Each
examination shall contain a rating or grading form for employers to utilize in
the grading of an examination.  Each examination will have its own rating form
and is developed by the University System at the time of a new or revised
examination
s and procedures in rating tests and in
determining resulting rank to the end that all competitors receive uniform and
fair treatment.
2)         Each
examination shall contain a rating or grading form for employers to utilize in
the grading of an examination.  Each examination will have its own rating form
and is developed by the University System at the time of a new or revised
examination.  The rating form provides a breakdown of how points are awarded in
each area of the examination.
3)         Failure in any portion of a total examination, the passing of
which is deemed necessary to qualify for eligibility in the class for which the
applicant is being examined, shall eliminate the applicant from passage of the
complete examination, regardless of his/her score in other portions of the
examination.  For each eliminating test and the final average in an
examination, the Executive Director shall announce the minimum acceptable
rating.
4)         The passing score for eligibility for certification shall be 70.
This score shall be the same for all examinations given for a class, but it may
be changed if, in the judgment of the Executive Director, the change is for the
best interest of the University System.  The change shall be applicable
uniformly to all examinations for the class.  The passing score shall be made
known to all those taking the examination.
5)         An applicant who fails to gain eligibility for employment in a
higher class may, at the discretion of the Executive Director, elect to accept
eligibility for a lower appropriate class, if his/her scores on all appropriate
parts of the examination are sufficient to qualify him/her for the lower class.
6)         All examination scores shall be on a scale of 1 to 100, with
decimal points in examination scores being rounded to the nearest whole number,
i.e., with below .5 having the decimal points dropped and with .5 or above
being rounded to the next whole number
priate class, if his/her scores on all appropriate
parts of the examination are sufficient to qualify him/her for the lower class.
6)         All examination scores shall be on a scale of 1 to 100, with
decimal points in examination scores being rounded to the nearest whole number,
i.e., with below .5 having the decimal points dropped and with .5 or above
being rounded to the next whole number.
h)         Notification and Review of Scores
1)         An applicant shall be sent a written notice of the date and
results of his/her examination.  The notice must indicate whether the score
achieved is passing or failing and if it includes credit for Veterans
Preference.
2)         All requests by applicants for formal review of examination scores
shall be submitted to the Executive Director.
i)          Filing of Examination Records.  All examinations, and all
examination components, administered by the employer shall be retained by the
employer in accordance with the employer's record retention policy or in
accordance with the University System's record retention policy and in
accordance with the State Records Act [5 ILCS 160].

## Nearby sections

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IL_IAC_T80_P250_S250_50. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.