Rate each action as the real test asks, then see our rating and the reason.
Scenario 1 of 6Seeing the big picture0:00
Your team processes grant applications. A new government priority means applications from small rural businesses should now be handled first. Your manager mentions this briefly in a meeting, but your team's daily work list has not changed.
Rate each action. More than one can share a rating.
Ask your manager how the new priority should change the order of the work list, and suggest a way to flag rural applications.
Carry on with the work list as it is, because nobody has formally changed it.
Start reordering the whole team's work list yourself without telling anyone.
Read the published announcement about the priority so you understand what it covers.
Your application may also include a numerical test. Practise Civil Service numerical questions with full working, free.
An unacceptable action that would make the situation worse.
Ineffective
A poor action that would not help the situation.
Fairly effective
A useful action that would be of some help to the situation.
Effective
A good action that would help to resolve the situation.
The labels and meanings are the real test's. Each of our 18 scenarios tests one of the nine Civil Service behaviours, two per behaviour. Our ratings follow what GOV.UK says each behaviour looks like, and an independent reviewer rated every action again without seeing them.
Scoring: 2 points when your rating matches ours, 1 when it is one step away. 75% is our target: it means matching most ratings and staying close on the rest. The real test reports a percentile, so no practice score converts to it exactly.
Questions people ask
What is the Civil Service Judgement Test?
An online situational judgement test. You read workplace scenarios and rate four actions for each, from counterproductive to effective. A short first part asks about your own preferences at work and counts for 15% of the score.
Is the CSJT timed?
No. GOV.UK says most people take two to four minutes a scenario and suggests allowing at least an hour.
What is the pass mark?
There is no fixed one. Your score is a percentile against other applicants, and each job sets its own pass mark, which the recruiter can raise after the deadline.
Can more than one action be effective?
Yes. Rate each action on its own. Two or more can share a rating.
Are these the real questions?
No. They are original scenarios in the same format. GOV.UK links to an official practice test that shows the look and feel but is not scored.