Communicating and Influencing
Tell us about a time you influenced a decision without formal authority.
Civil Service competency questions, examples & scoring
Civil Service interviews are competency-based. Panels ask behaviour-specific questions and score each answer 1–7 against a published rubric. Understanding how competencies map to scores is the fastest way to move from a pass into the top band.
Competencies vs Success Profiles behaviours
The Civil Service moved from the old competency framework to Success Profiles in 2018. In practice most candidates (and many panels) still use "competency" and "behaviour" interchangeably — the assessment method is the same: a targeted question, a STAR answer, and a 1–7 score against a level descriptor for your grade.
Civil Service competency scoring: the 1–7 bands
| Score | Band | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Exceptional | Consistently exceeds the level descriptor. Vivid, specific evidence at appropriate scale. Reflective. |
| 6 | Strong | Fully meets the descriptor with clear personal contribution and quantified outcome. |
| 5 | Effective | Meets the descriptor. Some specificity; result present but may lack scale. |
| 4 | Acceptable | Partially meets the descriptor. Answer is structured but light on evidence. |
| 3 | Minor concerns | Some relevant content but weak on personal contribution or outcome. |
| 2 | Concerns | Little relevant evidence. Generic or hypothetical. |
| 1 | No evidence | Answer does not address the competency. |
Most departments require a minimum score of 4 on every competency plus an average of ~5 across the panel to be appointable. Higher grades (G7+) typically need 5s and 6s.
Civil Service competency examples by behaviour
Making Effective Decisions
Describe a decision you made with incomplete information and how you managed the risk.
Delivering at Pace
Give an example of delivering to a challenging deadline. How did you protect quality?
Managing a Quality Service
Tell us about a service you owned and how you measured its quality.
Leadership
Describe a time you led a team through difficulty.
Working Together
Tell us about building a working relationship across organisational boundaries.
Changing and Improving
Describe a change you introduced. What evidence convinced you it was needed?
Developing Self and Others
Tell us about how you supported the development of a colleague.
How to move an answer up a band
- 4 → 5: add a quantified outcome and specific personal actions.
- 5 → 6: pick an example at the right scope for your grade and show trade-offs.
- 6 → 7: add reflection — what you learned, or what you'd do differently.
Score your competency answers
Interviewr scores your STAR answers against the Civil Service 1–7 rubric and tells you exactly which band you're hitting — and what to fix to move up.