How The National Sift Is Scored
Pass mark, percentile, national standard and retakes: what the College of Policing actually says, and what it doesn't.
Checked against official sources on 29 September 2026. College guidance last updated 1 June 2026.
The short answer
The National Sift is scored automatically. Your Situational Judgement Test (SJT) and Behavioural Styles Questionnaire (BSQ) scores are combined into one overall score, compared with a group of applicants to policing roles and shown as a percentile. You're told whether you met the national standard. The College of Policing doesn't publish the cut-off, an answer key, or a pass rate.
What the College of Policing says
Automatic scoring
The national sift is scored automatically by the assessment platform.
One combined score
Your scores from the SJT and the BSQ are combined to give an overall score. The weighting between the two isn't published.
A percentile, not a raw mark
Your overall performance is scored against a comparison group of applicants to policing roles and displayed as a percentile.
A national standard
You're told by email whether you met the national standard or not. How long that takes varies by recruiting force.
A feedback report
You receive a personalised feedback report with your score, which the College says contains information about the kinds of performances that distinguish better-performing candidates from those who scored lower.
Retakes
If unsuccessful you may resit from three months after the date you completed the assessment, limited to two attempts in a 12-month period, and you complete both exercises again.
Source: College of Policing national sift candidate guidance. The national recruitment site joiningthepolice.co.uk confirms that candidates must meet a national standard to move on to the competency-based interview stage.
What isn't published
- The national standard itself: no pass mark or cut-off percentile is stated in the College's candidate guidance.
- A national pass rate. We couldn't find one published by the College of Policing or the national recruitment site, so we haven't quoted one. Be wary of sites that do.
- The SJT answer key and how it's built.
- How the SJT and BSQ are weighted in the combined score.
Because the standard is set against a comparison group, a percentile isn't the same as a percentage of questions correct, and there's no point trying to reverse-engineer a target mark. The useful thing you can control is the quality of your judgement: understand the reasoning behind the CVF values rather than looking for tricks.
If you didn't meet the standard
- Read your personalised feedback report. It's the best evidence you have of what to work on.
- Note the earliest resit date: three months after you completed the assessment. You can attempt it twice in 12 months, and both exercises must be redone.
- Practise the SJT reasoning, not just the format, using our free SJT practice test, which shows which type of mistake you make.
- Check with your force about their own timelines and re-application rules, as those can differ.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the pass mark for the police National Sift?
There isn't a published one. The College of Policing says your combined SJT and BSQ score is compared with a group of applicants to policing roles and shown as a percentile, and you're told whether you met the national standard. The standard itself, meaning the cut-off, isn't published.
What is the National Sift pass rate?
We haven't found an official pass rate published by the College of Policing or joiningthepolice.co.uk, so we can't give you one. Figures quoted elsewhere without a source should be treated with caution. Pass rates could also differ by force and recruitment window.
Is the National Sift marked by a person?
No. The College says the national sift is scored automatically by the assessment platform. People don't read or mark your SJT and BSQ answers.
How long do National Sift results take?
The College says you'll be informed by email whether you've met the national standard, with timing varying by recruiting force. Check the timeline your force gave you.
How long do I wait before retaking the National Sift?
According to the College of Policing, three months from the date you completed the assessment. You can attempt it twice in a 12-month period, and you must complete both the SJT and the BSQ again.
Does the SJT count for more than the BSQ?
The College says the two scores are combined into an overall score but doesn't publish the weighting, so nobody outside the College can say. Treat both as important and prepare for each: practise the SJT and answer the BSQ honestly.
Related
Independent PolicePay.co.uk material, not affiliated with or endorsed by the College of Policing. Official processes change, so confirm details with your recruiting force.