The National Sift Explained
The first online assessment stage in police officer recruitment — before the assessment centre, before vetting, before anything else. Two parts, both online, both scored automatically.
Situational Judgement Test
Rate four actions per scenario on the official five-point scale: 32 original scenarios, full reasoning, a score and a breakdown of your weak spots.
Practice The SJT →Behavioural Styles Questionnaire
What the BSQ measures, the rating and ranking format, timing, and why honest answers beat a strategy.
Understand The BSQ →The National Sift at a glance
What the official sources say, checked 1 October 2026.
| Situational Judgement Test | Behavioural Styles Questionnaire | |
|---|---|---|
| What it does | Assesses judgement and decision-making in job-relevant scenarios | Measures typical behaviour and preferences at work |
| Format | Scenarios with four possible actions each; rate each action from Counterproductive to Very effective (five points) | Statements rated on a seven-point agreement scale; you may also be asked to rank statements by which is most like you |
| Length | Untimed; about 45 minutes per the College (15 scenarios and about 30 minutes per joiningthepolice.co.uk) | Untimed; about 20 minutes (80 statements per joiningthepolice.co.uk) |
| Knowledge needed | None; answer from the information in the scenario | None; answer honestly about how you typically behave |
- You have a seven-day assessment window once invited, and can use a laptop, desktop, tablet or mobile device.
- Scores are combined, compared with other applicants and shown as a percentile; you're told whether you met the national standard.
- Retakes: three months after completing, up to twice in 12 months, both exercises again.
- Since 17 March 2026 the Police Regulations 2003 (regulation 10) require new constables, other than transferees, to pass the national sift test to the College's national standard. Some College and national recruitment pages still mention a force-run sift as an alternative, so check with your force.
- No extra time is offered as a reasonable adjustment because the exercises are untimed; talk to your recruiting force about other adjustments.
Sources: College of Policing national sift candidate guidance (updated 1 June 2026); joiningthepolice.co.uk. Where they differ we show both. More on how the National Sift is scored.
Where This Sits In The Process
The National Sift is a filter, not a formality: you have to meet a national standard to move on to the competency-based interview stage. Both halves are scored automatically and combined into one result; the weighting between them isn't published.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the National Sift?
The National Sift is the first online assessment stage for police officer recruitment in England and Wales, set by the College of Policing. It has two exercises, a Situational Judgement Test (SJT) and a Behavioural Styles Questionnaire (BSQ), both done online. Your scores are combined into one overall score. Passing it moves you on to the online assessment, which includes a competency-based interview. Not every force uses the national sift, so confirm with the force you're applying to.
What's the difference between the SJT and the BSQ?
In the SJT you read workplace scenarios and rate the effectiveness of four possible actions on a five-point scale, from Counterproductive to Very effective, so it tests judgement in specific situations. The BSQ measures your typical behaviour and preferences at work: you rate statements on a seven-point agreement scale (completely disagree to completely agree) and may also be asked to rank statements by which is most like you.
How long does the National Sift take?
Both exercises are untimed. The College of Policing's candidate guidance (updated 1 June 2026) says the SJT is expected to take about 45 minutes and the BSQ about 20 minutes. The national recruitment site still describes the SJT as about 30 minutes, and the College's own reasonable adjustments guide (updated 25 August 2026) gives about 20 minutes for the SJT and 30 for the BSQ, about 50 minutes in all. The sources differ, so allow at least an hour and do not rush. Once invited you have a seven-day assessment window, and the College recommends completing each exercise in one sitting where possible.
What's the National Sift pass mark and pass rate?
Neither is published. The College says the sift is scored automatically, your SJT and BSQ scores are combined, compared with a group of applicants to policing roles and shown as a percentile, and you're told by email whether you met the national standard. See our guide to how the National Sift is scored for the detail.
Do I need policing knowledge to pass the National Sift?
No. The College says no prior knowledge of the role or specialist knowledge is needed for either exercise, and that SJT answers should be based solely on the information in each scenario. It does suggest becoming familiar with the Competency and Values Framework (CVF), which is what both exercises are built around.
What happens if I don't meet the National Sift standard?
You won't progress to the next stage in that application. According to the College of Policing you can resit from three months after the date you completed the assessment, up to two attempts in a 12-month period, and you complete both exercises again. You'll get a personalised feedback report to help you prepare. Check your force's guidance too, as timelines vary.
Is Police Scotland's process the same?
No. Police Scotland runs its own separate recruitment process rather than the College of Policing's National Sift used in England and Wales, so the content on this page doesn't apply if you're applying to Police Scotland.
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