Civil Service Initial Sift Test - A guide for candidates

Sep 30, 2026

Civil Service Initial Sift Test guidance explains how psychometric online situational judgement assessments are used alongside application forms, competency evidence, and interviews to determine whether applicants have the required capabilities for a grade. It outlines why the tests are designed to be fair and consistent, how personal information is handled securely, the three CSCF level variants and timing, the scenario and question structure, and key preparation and access requirements. It also covers scoring, percentile interpretation, pass marks, retesting rules, and how results are considered for progressing to later selection stages.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages4

Reading Time10 min

AccessFree to download

About the Civil Service Initial Sift Test (CSIST)

The structure of the test

Taking a test

Preparation

Test results

Feedback from the test

Civil Service Initial Sift Test A guide for candidates Civil Service psychometric tests The Civil Service uses psychometric tests alongside other assessment methods (such as application forms, competency evidence, and interviews) to decide whether a person has the required capabilities to meet the needs of a job at a particular grade. Using tests can offer benefits by: 􀁸 giving candidates an opportunity to demonstrate their strengths 􀁸 providing the recruiter with an objective method of assessing candidates on relevant criteria 􀁸 helping identify areas where candidates could benefit from further development The tests are fair and free from bias or discrimination because: 􀁸 they are robust as measurement tools – they work effectively each time they are used 􀁸 there is no advantage in having more educational qualifications or work experience 􀁸 provided that the test is administered appropriately, including the correct use of cutoff benchmarks, the tests have been found to be fair towards all protected groups and to predict candidates’ performance in later stages of selection Your personal information is held securely in Civil Service Jobs. The test supplier does not see your personal information and will only know your name if you choose to share it with them. Your information will only be used for the purposes of enabling your application for a job and for evaluating the effectiveness of the tests. About the Civil Service Initial Sift Test (CSIST) The Civil Service Initial Sift Test is an online situational judgement test. It measures your ability to demonstrate the behaviours underpinning the Civil Service Competency Framework (CSCF) . There are 3 separate tests matching 3 levels of the CSCF: 􀁸 Level 1 (AA/AO)– 25 minutes 􀁸 Level 2 (EO)– 30 minutes 􀁸 Level 3 (HEO/SEO)– 30 minutes These tests are used to assess whether you meet the minimum requirements for the grade/level you have applied for. They are not testing the skills needed for a specific job at that level. The structure of the test The test will give you 9 different workplace scenarios and you will be asked 3 to 5 questions per scenario. For some questions there is only 1 correct answer from the options given, however for other questions you will have to use a rating scale to indicate how appropriate or inappropriate an action is. The test is timed, and takes 25 or 30 minutes depending on the grade/level of the test. Practice questions are included at the beginning of the test. No specialist knowledge or experience is required, and all the information you need to answer the questions is provided within the scenario. Taking a test The test is taken online and we will send you an invitation and will provide full instructions on how to complete the test. You should complete the test on your own, as we may retest you under supervised conditions to validate your test results. We recommend that you use a desktop computer and a modern browser to complete the test, as some questions may not display well on devices with smaller screens such as mobiles or smaller tablets. You’ll need to remain connected to the internet for the duration of the test. You should ensure that you’ve enough time to complete the test before you start, as once the test begins responses cannot be saved and the test cannot be restarted. Some workplaces block access to this type of test on their computers. If this is the case, you may need to try an alternative computer or location. If you need a reasonable adjustment to be made (such as additional time), or experience accessibility issues with the test you should contact the recruitment team or the point of contact in the job advert. Preparation You should try to take the test as early as possible after you are invited to, so that you will have time to resolve any technical or access issues before the deadline. All queries or requests for help should be submitted at least two working days before

FAQs

What is the Civil Service Initial Sift Test (CSIST) used for?

It is an online situational judgement test that assesses whether you can demonstrate behaviours underpinning the Civil Service Competency Framework (CSCF) for the grade level you applied for.

How long are the CSIST tests and how many versions are there?

There are three separate tests matching three CSCF levels: Level 1 takes 25 minutes, Level 2 takes 30 minutes, and Level 3 takes 30 minutes.

Can I save and restart the CSIST once I begin?

No. The test is timed and once it begins your responses cannot be saved and the test cannot be restarted, so you should ensure you have enough uninterrupted time before starting.

Sep 30, 2026

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