Leadership behaviour scoring: what the 1–7 scale means
Leadership statements are usually scored on a 1–7 scale, with 4 the benchmark and 7 exceptional. This guide explains what each of the key scores looks like for Leadership, and how moderation keeps marking fair.
The 1–7 scale in brief
Most departments score behaviour statements on a scale where 1 means little or no evidence and 7 means an exceptional demonstration. The middle of the scale matters most: 4 is a reasonable demonstration, 5 is clear and consistent, 6 is strong, and 7 is rare.
In practice, most well-prepared statements land between 3 and 5. Scores of 6 and 7 are genuinely uncommon, because they require not just a complete story but evidence of judgement, development of others, and lasting impact, all within the word limit.
Scores are awarded against the level descriptor for the advertised grade, not against other candidates. Your statement is read alone, ticked against indicators, and given a number. The assessment criteria guide explains those indicators in detail.
From the official guidance
GOV.UK describes the Success Profiles framework and its assessment approach at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/success-profiles. Sift pass marks and scoring practice vary by department and campaign, so check the job advert for what applies to you.
What 4, 5, 6 and 7 look like for Leadership
| Score | What it looks like |
|---|---|
| 4 | A real example with personal actions and some direction of others, but gaps: support or numbers may be thin. |
| 5 | Clear first person actions, visible direction, at least one person supported, and a counted result. |
| 6 | Everything at 5, plus judgement: the writer adapted when the plan failed, and the result lasted. |
| 7 | All of the above at the right scale for the grade, with leadership of others' development and impact beyond the immediate team. |
Notice that moving from 4 to 5 is about completeness, not drama. Moving from 5 to 6 and 7 is about judgement and reach: changing course when needed, building other people, and results that outlived the moment.
How moderation keeps scores fair
Your statement is usually scored by one assessor, but departments sample and moderate: second assessors re-mark a proportion, and panels check borderline or outlying scores. A generous or harsh marker gets corrected towards the descriptor.
This is why writing to the descriptor beats writing to impress. Moderation anchors everything to the published indicators, so the statement that survives moderation is the one with checkable evidence, not the one with the best vocabulary.
How to push your statement up a point
Three upgrades reliably move a Leadership statement from 4 towards 5 or 6. First, convert every we-decided into a decision you personally took. Second, add one named individual you supported and say how it ended for them. Third, replace the closing adjectives with two honest numbers.
Why this scores well
The single most reliable 6-to-7 signal at senior grades is evidence you developed leaders, not just delivery: deputies mentored, team leaders promoted, capability that remained after you moved on.
One warning: do not inflate. Assessors and moderators see inflated claims constantly, and a result that does not match the scale of the story drags the whole statement's credibility down with it.
Read a scored-shape example at your grade, such as our Leadership Grade 7 example, and use the word counter to spend your words where the marks are.
Frequently asked questions
There is no universal pass mark. Many departments sift at 4, but competitive campaigns may require higher scores or rank candidates from the top down. As of July 2026, practice varies across departments, so read the job advert and assume you should make every statement as strong as possible rather than aim for a number.
Usually no: the statement is scored as a whole against the level descriptor. STAR is a writing structure that helps you include the evidence assessors need, not a marking scheme. A statement with all four parts present, weighted mostly to Actions, naturally covers the indicators the score depends on.
Yes, but the descriptor still rules. At AO a 7 means a complete, compelling demonstration of AO-level leadership: direction, support, fairness and a counted result, told entirely in first person. You are not expected to show Grade 7-scale strategy; you are expected to be exceptional at the advertised level.
Next step
Get the free STAR template — the same structure used in every example on this site.
Download the template pack