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Trainees, it was felt, had probably had some connection themselves with the service in the not too distant past. The question, which proved the least popular on the paper, was worded in such a way to enable candidates to score well for good newspaper practice even if they had no special knowledge of the subject. Intelligent thought, use of contacts and sources and an indication of their line of questions enabled several candidates to gain a reasonable pass mark here. The big surprise was the small number of answers where candidates indicated they would use the internet which the question clearly indicated was a particular feature of the changes being introduced.

Most popular was question four which asked the candidate's response to a phone tip-off that a syndicate of four school dinner ladies were at that moment (Friday afternoon) celebrating a £500,000 win on the national lottery, drinking champagne in the school kitchen. Answers attracted some of the highest marks. Most candidates indicated that they would seek to get a photographer (or grab a camera themselves) and head straight for the school. Although too few indicated that they would seek any form of permission to enter the building to get their interviews several candidates appreciated that there could be security obstacles to be overcome to get into a junior school these days. Four, not all from a West Country morning newspaper, indicated that they would stop at an off-licence, purchase a bottle of champagne and on arrival seek permission to congratulate the winners! Human-interest questions to be asked of the ladies included: why were they celebrating today - had nobody checked the syndicate's numbers on Wednesday evening? Any significance in the numbers used? Short and long term plans for use of money - any special needs such as relatives needing expensive operation overseas etc.

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