In-Tray Exercise

Updated November 8, 2023

Written by Edward Mellett

Test Tips
Take a Free Practice In-Tray Exercise

This is a three question practice in-tray exercise.

Test Tips

Make sure you read and fully understand each question before answering. Work quickly, but don't rush. You cannot afford to make mistakes on a real test.

If you get a question wrong, make sure you find out why and learn how to answer this type of question in the future.

Take a Free Practice In-Tray Exercise

PRT In - Tray Exercise: question 1 of 3

Assume you have just arrived at the start of your shift at 8 a.m. on Monday 5 August 2019 as the front desk executive of your office. Your manager has sent in a reminder email to send in last month’s expense reimbursement report by the end of the week. There is a calendar invite for an all-hands meet on the office floor at 10 a.m. A customer arrives with a service complaint and a person is on-hold on the phone to negotiate the best rates for an upcoming event on 15 August. There is also a Post-It note on your work station reminding you to arrange an informal team get-together to finalise the date for the monthly book-club meeting. You also hear a beep on the fax machine signalling an incoming message and a delivery boy walks in through the door carrying office supplies ordered.

Question: Which of the following is the best order you should complete the tasks in?

a) Acknowledge the customer and ask him to wait as you finish the on-hold call quickly. Attend to the customer. Accept the calendar invite. Check the fax message. Receive the office supplies from the delivery boy. Attend the all-hands meet. Work on the expense report due at the end of week. Look out for a suitable date for the book-club meeting.b) Attend to the customer. Finish the on-hold call. Look out for a suitable date for the book-club meeting. Accept the calendar invite. Check the fax message. Receive the office supplies from the delivery boy. Attend the all-hands meet. Work on the expense report due at the end of week.c) Acknowledge the customer and ask him to wait as you finish the on-hold call quickly. Look out for a suitable date for the book-club meeting. Accept the calendar invite. Check the fax message. Attend to the customer. Receive the office supplies from the delivery boy. Attend the all-hands meet. Work on the expense report due at the end of week.