Grade comparison chart

A printable chart showing all 9 Civil Service behaviours across all 7 grades. Use this to understand what is expected at each level and how to tailor your examples.

How to use this chart

Find the grade you are applying for and the behaviour you are writing about. The focus area tells you what assessors expect to see at that level. Use this to check that your example matches the right level of complexity, not too junior, not too senior.

At a glance

Grade	Typical word count	Focus	Key shift from previous
AO	250 words	Following procedures, supporting team, awareness of context	Entry level: show reliability and willingness to learn
EO	250 words	Ownership of work, initiative within role, team support	More independence: show you can manage your own workload
HEO	250 words	Managing workload, supporting juniors, broader awareness	Management responsibility: show you can lead small tasks
SEO	250–500 words	Leading projects, managing stakeholders, strategic input	Strategic thinking: show cross-team influence
Grade 7	500 words	Programme leadership, policy or operational expertise	Significant responsibility: show you can shape direction
Grade 6	500–750 words	Director-level leadership, strategic oversight, large-scale change	Organisational impact: show cross-departmental influence
SCS	750 words	Senior leadership, organisational strategy, organisation-wide change	Systemic leadership: show evidence at scale

Behaviours by grade: what changes

Seeing the Big Picture

Grade	What assessors look for
AO	Awareness of team goals and how your work supports them
EO	Understanding of departmental priorities and how your role contributes
HEO	Engagement with wider organisational objectives and stakeholder needs
SEO	Strategic awareness: linking team goals to organisational and government priorities
G7	Policy or operational context: understanding how decisions affect multiple teams or the public
G6	Systemic thinking: understanding cross-organisational and cross-government dynamics
SCS	National or sector-level strategic awareness: shaping priorities at the highest level

Leadership

Grade	What assessors look for
AO	Enthusiasm, reliability, supporting team members when asked
EO	Taking ownership, suggesting improvements, supporting new starters
HEO	Leading small tasks, mentoring, managing day-to-day team performance
SEO	Leading projects, managing team dynamics, influencing without authority
G7	Leading programmes, developing talent, managing complex stakeholder relationships
G6	Leading directors, setting organisational culture, managing large-scale change
SCS	Setting national strategy, developing senior leaders, shaping organisational direction

Delivering at Pace

Grade	What assessors look for
AO	Meeting deadlines, completing tasks efficiently, asking for help when needed
EO	Managing own workload, prioritising tasks, maintaining quality under pressure
HEO	Managing team workload, delegating, keeping others on track
SEO	Managing project timelines, balancing competing priorities, removing blockers
G7	Managing programme delivery, resource allocation, risk management
G6	Managing large-scale delivery, organisational efficiency, transformation
SCS	Setting delivery standards, national programme oversight, crisis management

Key insight

The difference between grades is not just the complexity of the example. It is the scope of impact. At AO, your impact is on your own work. At SCS, your impact is on the whole organisation or sector. Make sure your example matches the scope expected at your target grade.

Word count by grade and behaviour

Most departments use the same word count for all behaviours at a given grade. However, some may vary. Always check the job advert.

Grade	Typical per behaviour	Total (if 3 behaviours)	Total (if 5 behaviours)
AO	250	750	1,250
EO	250	750	1,250
HEO	250	750	1,250
SEO	250–500	750–1,500	1,250–2,500
Grade 7	500	1,500	2,500
Grade 6	500–750	1,500–2,250	2,500–3,750
SCS	750	2,250	3,750