Five Critical Incidents Test Mistakes PSRAS Candidates Should Avoid

Mistake 1: Answering before you prioritise

Candidates often jump to “I would tell the client to stay silent” before identifying what has gone wrong in the scenario. Examiners and scenario rubrics look for triage: What is urgent? What is unlawful? What affects client welfare immediately?

Fix: Read twice, bullet Code C issues, number them by urgency, then draft your answer. Verbalising this order in firm mocks helps on assessment day when adrenaline speeds you up.

Mistake 2: Ignoring vulnerability triggers

Scenarios frequently embed juveniles, learning disabilities, or inappropriate adults missing from the room. Missing these triggers suggests you are not reading for Code C compliance — only for dramatic interview conflict.

Fix: Scan every scenario for age, mental health hints, language needs, and whether custody flagged vulnerability. State what you would ask the custody officer if information is ambiguous.

Mistake 3: Technical language without client advice

Listing PACE paragraphs without plain-language client advice scores poorly. The rep role requires communication skills units as well as knowledge units.

Fix: After each legal point, add one sentence you would say to the client — calm, accurate, and free of jargon where possible. PSR Train scenario feedback often marks this separately from issue-spotting.

Mistake 4: Peripheral points before consultation

Complaining about bail conditions or long-term disclosure disputes while the client has not had private consultation is a common ordering error.

Fix: Consult first unless an emergency truly prevents it. Challenge unlawful interview plans before debating secondary evidential points.

Mistake 5: No firm reporting or escalation

CIT scenarios sometimes expect you to note when you would escalate to your supervising solicitor — conflicts of interest, serious disclosure failures, or ethical limits on advice.

Fix: End answers with “I would update the firm with X and seek supervisor input on Y.” This mirrors professional practice and completes the decision trail assessors want.

Practice one scenario per week on PSR Train with a timer. Compare your structure to model answers focusing on whether you spotted the same legal triggers, not whether your wording matches verbatim. Transferable Code C reasoning beats memorised scripts.