Online iAHQ Exams
Our iAHQ system is an online, merit-based Achievement History Questionnaire that functions as an advanced training and experience evaluation. Candidates complete it unproctored on any device, and responses are auto-scored to produce eligibility lists while reducing agency staff time and cost.
The iAHQ System
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Advanced, merit-based evaluation
An online Achievement History Questionnaire that functions as an advanced training and experience assessment, built to identify the most qualified candidates. -
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Unproctored and device-friendly
Candidates complete the exam securely on any internet-connected device, without scheduling a test site or arranging proctors. -
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Auto-scored eligibility lists
Responses are scored automatically to produce clear eligibility lists fast, ready for hiring or interviews. -
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MQs drive pass status
Candidates who meet minimum qualifications pass. Those who exceed them are ranked higher. -
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Validated and fair
The model is validated to support low adverse impact and is designed for strong candidate acceptance. -
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Lower effort and cost
Agencies save staff time and budget compared to proctored online testing, while speeding the path from announcement to interview.
iAHQ at a glance
iAHQ Exams – From the Beginning
Our iAHQ is based on the California State Personnel Board’s “Three Ranks” model, which evaluates candidate achievements, education, and work history to create eligibility lists. Donnoe & Associates, Inc. conducted the formal evaluation of the State’s multi-year pilot of their Three Ranks program, which tested hundreds of thousands of candidates. Our 2011 evaluation found the approach successful, well understood by HR teams, merit-based, more inclusive, and faster for departments. We adopted the same evidence-driven idea, refined it, and brought it online during COVID as the Achievement History Questionnaire.
Today we offer a growing catalog of stock iAHQ exams and have tested thousands of candidates. Agencies report high-quality lists, reduced adverse impact, lower costs, and lower risk. Candidates appreciate the clear, modern experience, and demand from agencies continues to expand the test lineup.
Inside the iAHQ
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By default, iAHQ evaluates training, education, and experience. If you want MQ screening, we can enable it as an add-on so the questionnaire flags non-qualifiers and separates them from eligible candidates. We configure the MQ rules to your class specs, and you choose whether MQs simply add points or act as a screen in or out. When the window closes, you receive clean, digital lists and documentation you can rely on.
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The iAHQ looks past a checklist of “desirable” items to evaluate the full spectrum of training and experience, including relevant parallel experience. It captures what candidates have learned, where they learned it, and how they have applied it on the job. Use it for entry, journey, and advanced roles to see clear, comparable evidence of what each candidate brings to the position. The result is a practical profile you can use to shortlist with confidence.
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Each iAHQ is built for a specific job, grounded in the agency’s class specifications and reviewed by subject matter experts. Stock iAHQs draw on prior Donnoe projects and cross-agency SME input; Custom iAHQs add questions tied to your minimum qualifications and include full SME review of items and scoring. This job-based design provides content validity: every question and grading rule maps to documented duties and requirements. Our proprietary scoring system supports reliability, producing consistent results from one administration to the next. (By contrast, multiple oral panels can vary with panel composition, which is why we standardize training and documentation when oral components are used.)
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The iAHQ significantly reduces adverse impact by scoring candidates on real achievements, training, and experience rather than abstract test puzzles. This approach produces more diverse top bands and clearer job fit. Compared with remote AI-proctored or in-person multiple-choice testing, iAHQ avoids technology barriers, false “cheating” flags, and facial recognition issues that can disadvantage some groups. It also sidesteps privacy concerns tied to mandatory video recording and special software, so candidates can complete the exam on any device, including those available in public spaces. Security is maintained through structured questions and auto-scoring without intrusive monitoring, giving agencies a fairer, more accessible, and defensible alternative.
✺ Frequently asked questions ✺
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No. The iAHQ is a training and experience evaluation, not a multiple-choice test. It asks about a candidate’s actual achievements, education, and work history, then maps those responses to job requirements. Multiple-choice items measure recall and require proctoring; the iAHQ measures real-world preparation and fit without that format.
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Any online multiple-choice exam needs proctoring, which often relies on AI monitoring and can create access barriers and adverse impact. The iAHQ is different. It evaluates what candidates have done and learned rather than right-or-wrong trivia, so there is nothing to “cheat” from a test booklet. That lets agencies test at scale without webcams or special software.
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Any internet-connected device works. Candidates can complete the questionnaire on a smartphone, tablet, laptop, or desktop using a standard web browser. No downloads, plugins, or special hardware are required.
To demo the iAHQ system, or to set-up a fully custom iAHQ exam for your agency’s recruitment, please contact us.
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We build your iAHQ from your class specifications and job details, then tailor it to what matters for your agency. For highly technical roles (for example, Water Treatment Plant Operator), we can factor in specific certifications, required training, and directly relevant experience—mapped to your expectations and minimum qualifications. You decide whether MQs add points or act as a screen, and we align questions and scoring to your standards so results reflect your job, not a generic profile.
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Use the iAHQ alone to produce a merit-based eligibility list or pair it with interviews and other assessments. Agencies often use the iAHQ early to move quickly from announcement to interviews, reduce staff workload, and keep documentation clear for stakeholders. If you want help planning the mix, we can advise on timelines and next steps.
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It removes the biggest expense drivers in testing: no test sites to reserve, no proctors to staff, and far less scheduling and setup. Your team shares a single link, candidates complete the questionnaire on their own devices, and results are auto-scored and delivered with documentation. The streamlined workflow shortens timelines, reduces materials and staff hours, and scales easily for large applicant pools.