Civil Service assessment scoring
How behaviour statements and interviews are typically scored under Success Profiles, and what a higher score actually looks like in evidence terms.
Key idea: Scores reflect the strength of evidence against the behaviour at the grade advertised, not how impressive your job title sounds.
Typical score bands
Many campaigns use a 1–7 scale. Exact descriptors vary by department, but the pattern is consistent:
| Band | What it usually means |
|---|---|
| 1–2 | Little or no evidence; wrong behaviour; duties only. |
| 3–4 | Some evidence but thin actions, unclear ownership or weak result. |
| 5 | Solid grade-level example with clear STAR and a credible outcome. |
| 6–7 | Strong, specific evidence; complexity matches or exceeds the grade; clear impact. |
How to write for higher scores
- Choose one example with enough challenge for the grade.
- Make your judgement visible in Action.
- Quantify results where honest.
- Avoid mixing several unrelated mini-stories in one statement.
Pair this with the sift guide and examples library.