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100+ Free UK Police Sift (SJT) Practice Questions

Pass your College of Policing National Sift (Police Constable Online Assessment) - Situational Judgement Test exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.

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True or false: in the SJT you must give each of the four actions a different rating and use the full range of the scale.

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Key Facts: UK Police Sift (SJT) Exam

15

SJT Scenarios

College of Policing National Sift Candidate Guidance

5-point

Effectiveness Rating Scale

College of Policing

80

BSQ Statements

College of Policing

6 + 3

CVF Competencies and Values

College of Policing CVF 2024

Free

Cost to Apply

College of Policing

3 months

Wait Before Resit

College of Policing National Sift Candidate Guidance

The College of Policing National Sift opens police constable recruitment in England and Wales. It has two untimed online exercises: a situational judgement test of 15 scenarios (rate four actions each from counterproductive to very effective) and an 80-statement behavioural styles questionnaire. Both map to the Competency and Values Framework at level 1, require no law knowledge, and are scored as a combined percentile. Applying is free.

Sample UK Police Sift (SJT) Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your UK Police Sift (SJT) exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1In the College of Policing National Sift, the Situational Judgement Test (SJT) asks you to do which of the following for each scenario?
A.Write a short essay explaining what you would do
B.Rate the effectiveness of each of four possible actions
C.Choose the single best action and ignore the rest
D.Recall the relevant section of criminal law
Explanation: In the SJT you are shown a scenario with four possible actions and must rate each action's effectiveness on a five-point scale from counterproductive to very effective. Each action is rated independently of the others.
2How many scenarios are presented in the National Sift Situational Judgement Test (SJT)?
A.8 scenarios
B.15 scenarios
C.30 scenarios
D.50 scenarios
Explanation: The College of Policing SJT contains 15 job-relevant scenarios. For each scenario you rate four possible actions, giving 60 individual effectiveness ratings in total.
3On the SJT rating scale, which label describes an action that will have a negative impact or make the situation worse?
A.Ineffective
B.Slightly effective
C.Counterproductive
D.Effective
Explanation: 'Counterproductive' is the lowest point on the scale and describes an inappropriate action that worsens the situation. 'Ineffective' is a poor action that simply fails to help, which is distinct from actively making things worse.
4Which sequence correctly orders the SJT five-point effectiveness scale from worst to best?
A.Ineffective, counterproductive, slightly effective, effective, very effective
B.Counterproductive, ineffective, slightly effective, effective, very effective
C.Counterproductive, slightly effective, ineffective, effective, very effective
D.Slightly effective, ineffective, counterproductive, effective, very effective
Explanation: The official scale runs counterproductive, ineffective, slightly effective, effective, then very effective. Knowing the order helps you place each action accurately.
5True or false: in the SJT you must give each of the four actions a different rating and use the full range of the scale.
A.True - every action must have a unique rating
B.False - you may give the same rating to more than one action
C.True - you must always use 'very effective' once per scenario
D.False - you may only use three of the five rating points
Explanation: The official guidance states you can allocate the same rating to more than one action within a scenario and you do not have to use the full range of the scale. Rate each action independently on its own merits.
6The National Sift consists of which two exercises?
A.A numerical reasoning test and a verbal reasoning test
B.A situational judgement test (SJT) and a behavioural styles questionnaire (BSQ)
C.A written report and a face-to-face interview
D.A fitness test and a medical assessment
Explanation: The national sift is made up of the SJT (15 scenarios) and the BSQ (80 statements). The competency-based interview and other stages come later in the process, not in the sift itself.
7The Behavioural Styles Questionnaire (BSQ) contains how many statements?
A.15 statements
B.40 statements
C.80 statements
D.120 statements
Explanation: The BSQ presents 80 statements about your typical behaviour and preferences at work, rated on a seven-point agree/disagree scale, and takes around 20 minutes.
8What scale is used to respond to statements in the Behavioural Styles Questionnaire (BSQ)?
A.A five-point effectiveness scale
B.A seven-point agreement scale from completely disagree to completely agree
C.A simple yes/no choice
D.A 1-to-10 confidence rating
Explanation: BSQ statements are rated on a seven-point scale running from 'completely disagree' to 'completely agree'. Depending on your responses you may also be asked to rank statements by how much they are like you.
9Against what framework are SJT actions assessed?
A.The Police and Criminal Evidence Act codes
B.The Competency and Values Framework (CVF)
C.The Highway Code
D.The National Decision Model only
Explanation: The SJT is mapped to the College of Policing Competency and Values Framework (CVF), which sets out the behaviours and values expected in policing. For the national sift the competencies are assessed at level 1.
10At what CVF level are the competencies assessed during the national sift?
A.Level 1
B.Level 2
C.Level 3
D.Senior leader level
Explanation: For the national sift the competency review criteria are set at level 1, the entry behaviours expected of all officers and staff. Higher levels apply to supervisory and leadership roles.

About the UK Police Sift (SJT) Exam

The National Sift is the first online assessment in the College of Policing police constable recruitment process for forces in England and Wales. It consists of two untimed exercises: a situational judgement test (SJT) of 15 realistic policing scenarios where you rate four possible actions each on a five-point effectiveness scale, and a behavioural styles questionnaire (BSQ) of 80 statements rated on a seven-point agreement scale. Both exercises are mapped to the Competency and Values Framework (CVF) at level 1 and require no prior knowledge of law or police procedure. Scores from the SJT and BSQ are combined and benchmarked as a percentile against a comparison group of applicants, and candidates are told whether they have met the national standard before progressing to the competency-based interview.

Questions

15 scored questions

Time Limit

Untimed (SJT approx. 30-45 minutes; BSQ approx. 20 minutes)

Passing Score

No fixed percentage published; benchmarked as a percentile against a comparison group and the national standard

Exam Fee

No candidate fee (free to apply) (College of Policing (England & Wales), with assessment platform support via Cubiks)

UK Police Sift (SJT) Exam Content Outline

~60%

Situational Judgement Test (SJT)

15 realistic policing scenarios, each with four actions rated on a five-point effectiveness scale (counterproductive to very effective) against the CVF competencies

~25%

Competency and Values Framework (CVF)

Six CVF competencies and three values (courage; respect and empathy; public service) at level 1, plus Code of Ethics principles

~10%

Behavioural Styles Questionnaire (BSQ)

80 statements rated on a seven-point agree/disagree scale with some most-like-you ranking, measuring behavioural fit

~5%

Sift Format, Scoring & Logistics

Rating-scale rules, percentile scoring, resit policy, reasonable adjustments, and how the sift fits the wider recruitment process

How to Pass the UK Police Sift (SJT) Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: No fixed percentage published; benchmarked as a percentile against a comparison group and the national standard
  • Exam length: 15 questions
  • Time limit: Untimed (SJT approx. 30-45 minutes; BSQ approx. 20 minutes)
  • Exam fee: No candidate fee (free to apply)

Keys to Passing

  • Complete 500+ practice questions
  • Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
  • Focus on highest-weighted sections
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

UK Police Sift (SJT) Study Tips from Top Performers

1Learn the five-point SJT scale by heart - counterproductive, ineffective, slightly effective, effective, very effective - and rate each action independently.
2Master the six CVF competencies and three values; for every action ask which behaviour it demonstrates or undermines.
3Favour actions that are professional, respectful, proportionate and in the public interest over harsh, hasty or purely convenient ones.
4For each action, think about the consequences: what is the impact, who is affected, and how are they likely to react?
5Remember you can give two actions the same rating and need not use the full range of the scale - rate honestly on merit.
6Answer the BSQ honestly and consistently about your typical behaviour; do not try to guess 'ideal' answers, which can flag inconsistency.
7Complete the untimed exercises in one sitting in a quiet, distraction-free location to give your most consistent responses.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the College of Policing National Sift?

The national sift is the first online assessment in police constable recruitment for forces in England and Wales. It consists of a situational judgement test (SJT) of 15 scenarios and a behavioural styles questionnaire (BSQ) of 80 statements, both untimed and mapped to the Competency and Values Framework.

How does the Situational Judgement Test (SJT) work?

The SJT presents 15 realistic policing scenarios. For each, you are given four possible actions and rate each one independently on a five-point effectiveness scale: counterproductive, ineffective, slightly effective, effective, or very effective. You may give two actions the same rating.

Do I need legal or policing knowledge to pass?

No. The College of Policing states that no prior knowledge of law or police procedure is required for the national sift. The exercises assess your judgement, behaviour and values, not legal recall.

What is the Behavioural Styles Questionnaire (BSQ)?

The BSQ presents 80 statements about your typical behaviour and preferences at work, rated on a seven-point scale from completely disagree to completely agree. Depending on your responses, you may also rank statements by which is most like you. It takes around 20 minutes.

Is there a pass mark, and how is the sift scored?

There is no single published percentage pass mark. The platform automatically scores both exercises, combines the SJT and BSQ into an overall score, and benchmarks it as a percentile against a comparison group of police constable applicants. You are told whether you met the national standard.

How much does the national sift cost?

There is no fee to candidates. Applying to become a police officer in England and Wales is free, including the national sift and any resits within the allowed limits.

Can I resit the national sift if I am unsuccessful?

Yes. You may resit from three months after your assessment date and are limited to two attempts in any 12-month period. You must complete both the SJT and BSQ again.

What happens after I pass the sift?

Successful candidates move on to the online assessment process, including the competency-based interview (CBI), followed by fitness, medical, vetting and background checks before any offer and training.