Grade 6 — Grade 6
Everything you need to know about applying for Grade 6 roles in the Civil Service: what assessors expect, how behaviours are tested, and grade-specific examples.
What Grade 6 level involves
At Grade 6 level, you are expected to provide director-level leadership, set strategic direction, and manage large-scale change. You should show evidence of cross-organisational influence and systemic thinking.
The 9 behaviours at Grade 6 level
Below are all nine Civil Service behaviours with typical word counts and links to grade-specific examples. Most departments ask for 500–750 words per behaviour at this level.
| Behaviour | Typical word count | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Seeing the Big Picture | 500–750 | Example |
| Changing and Improving | 500–750 | Example |
| Making Effective Decisions | 500–750 | Example |
| Leadership | 500–750 | Example |
| Communicating and Influencing | 500–750 | Example |
| Working Together | 500–750 | Example |
| Developing Self and Others | 500–750 | Example |
| Managing a Quality Service | 500–750 | Example |
| Delivering at Pace | 500–750 | Example |
Scoring expectations at Grade 6
At sift, your behaviour statements are scored on a scale of 1–7 against the Success Profiles framework. To pass, you typically need to score at least 4 ("Achieved") on each behaviour required for the role.
The difference between a score of 4 and a score of 5 is often specificity. A statement that says "I improved the process" scores lower than one that says "I redesigned the filing system, reducing retrieval time by 75%." Use numbers wherever you can.
How to progress from Grade 6
Progression to SCS is competitive and requires evidence of transformative leadership, strategic thinking at the highest level, and a track record of delivering outcomes that affect the whole Civil Service or public. Seek out SCS-shadowing opportunities and build a strong portfolio of achievements.