Situational Judgement Test (SJT) Guide (UK): Examples, Tips and How They Are Scored
A situational judgement test (SJT) is a set of workplace scenarios where you decide how you would respond. UK employers use them in graduate recruitment, banking, retail, the Civil Service and policing because they show how you would behave in realistic situations.
How does an SJT work?
You are shown a scenario and several possible actions. You may have to choose the best and worst response, rank them or rate how effective each one is. The tests are timed but not as strict as numerical tests.
An example
Scenario: You discover that a colleague has been making small mistakes in customer records for a few days. Options include: correct the errors quietly, tell your manager, speak to the colleague privately, ignore it. The best response is usually to speak to the colleague and, if the problem continues or is serious, raise it with the manager. Ignoring it is the least effective.
What employers look for
Honesty and integrity.
Teamwork and respect.
Customer focus.
Following procedure while using judgement.
Taking ownership of problems.
Tips to score well
Read the company values and think about which behaviours fit them.
Choose actions that solve the problem and are fair to everyone.
Avoid extreme responses, such as shouting at someone or doing nothing.
Escalate when needed, but try a sensible first step where appropriate.
Do not overthink. Your first instinct based on good practice is usually right.
How to practise
Practise a few sample tests under timed conditions. Afterwards read the explanations to understand why an answer is better. Many employers provide practice tests with the invitation.
Quick answers
Is there a pass mark? Employers set their own thresholds, and your score may be compared with others.
Can I fail an SJT by being too honest? No. Honesty and good judgement are what the tests are looking for.
Want to practise with questions written for your exact job? Our question bank covers hundreds of UK roles with model answers, and every role has five questions free.
Practise for specific roles
Pick your role: Police Community Support Officer, Customer Service Advisor.
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