An in-tray, or e-tray, simulates a busy inbox. You decide what to handle first, what to delegate and what to leave, usually in a short, stated scenario.
An in-tray exercise puts you in a made-up job with a pile of emails, memos and requests, and asks you to prioritise and respond. It is a judgement exercise rather than a knowledge test, so the best preparation is a repeatable method for sorting tasks by deadline, consequence and who else depends on you.
Providers differ, so treat this as a general picture rather than a rule. Many in-tray exercises, particularly those delivered at assessment centres, follow the same arc.
Marking depends on the format. Multiple-choice and ranking versions are normally compared against a key built by the test developers, often from the views of experienced staff. Free-text versions are commonly assessed by a trained person against a list of behaviours or criteria, and a few providers use automated scoring. Publishers rarely disclose exact weightings, so be wary of any number you read online that claims to describe them.
What assessors typically look for is consistent: you spotted the time-critical item, you did not ignore someone who depends on you, you noticed conflicts between items, and your actions were proportionate. Doing everything yourself, or ignoring the awkward email, tends to read as poor judgement.
Scenario: it is Monday, 09:00. You are an office coordinator and must finish a board pack figure request by mid-afternoon. Six items are waiting.
| Item | From | Content | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Client (Ms Okoye) | Needs the renewal paperwork resent before 11:00 today or her quote lapses | Today 11:00 |
| B | Manager | Asks for last month's figures for the board pack | Today 15:00 |
| C | Supplier | Invoice differs from the purchase order by 340 EUR; payment is due on Friday | Friday |
| D | Facilities | Fire alarm test on Wednesday at 14:00; no action needed, for information | Wednesday |
| E | IT helpdesk | Your password expires in five days; the reset takes a few minutes | Five days |
| F | Colleague | Asks for lunch recommendations for a visitor next month | None |
Ask four questions of every item, in this order, and write down the answers if the format allows notes.
Free-text in-tray tasks scored by an assessor are outside what a screenshot tool can fully rehearse, so be clear about what ReasonEra covers: it is built for question types such as situational judgement, and a multiple-choice or ranking e-tray item can be uploaded as a screenshot for an explained answer. Choose "Tutor Explanation" to see why one action is preferred over another.
For structured practice, try the free situational judgement practice test. A free account has 3 trials, and the 14-Day Pass costs 49 € for unlimited use for 14 days. Some employer processes also contain questionnaires about work style; ReasonEra does not cover that part.
This tool is meant for the weeks before an assessment, but some assessments are proctored and many forbid any assistance, so check the instructions before you rely on any tool.
They are the same idea in different media. An in-tray uses paper documents and an e-tray uses an electronic inbox, but both ask you to prioritise and respond to a set of tasks.
It varies a lot between providers and between assessment centres and online versions. Your invitation or the exercise instructions will state the time allowed.
In multiple-choice versions there is usually a keyed best answer, and in written versions assessors look for sound reasoning against set criteria. Several orderings can often be defended if you explain them.
Read the instructions, since some versions expect you to triage and leave low-value items. Deliberately deferring or declining an item with a reason is usually better than a rushed reply.
Practise a fixed prioritisation method on made-up inboxes and do situational judgement questions to rehearse choosing between competing actions. Check how your target process scores answers.
Pick a question that has been stumping you and upload it. The first three tries are free with an account.
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Notes. The advice here reflects common practice across providers, so confirm specifics with the recruiter. Notice an error? Tell us at info@reasonera.com.