Situational Judgement Tests

Published 11 March 2020 · Updated 13 October 2026

• What are situational judgement tests?

  A situational judgement test, commonly referred to as an SJT, is a form of psychometric test used by employers during recruitment to learn more about each applicant's character.

  SJTs are based on hypothetical workplace scenarios. Many are written around the job you're applying for, and most ask you to answer a series of multiple-choice questions.

  You read each scenario carefully, then respond to the possible actions given. Depending on the test, you choose the most appropriate ones, rank them or rate each one.

  SJTs are marked against a scoring key agreed in advance, usually by people who know the job well, and many employers set a minimum score or pass mark. Your answers show how you are likely to handle situations that call for skills such as communication, teamwork and building working relationships. For leadership roles, SJTs may even measure your vision for strategy and long-term planning.

  Because many SJTs are written for a particular role, they can also give you a realistic preview of situations you would face in the job, which is useful if you are just starting a new career.

• Why do employers use situational judgement tests?

  Situational judgement tests are used by recruiters to identify the most suitable candidates for a role receiving a high volume of applicants, or where interpersonal skills are of the utmost importance to the role.

  SJTs are used by all different sectors from law and finance to high street retailers. Some employers use tests written for their own roles and values, while others use scenarios from a test publisher's existing bank. They are designed to show how well you would fit the organisation and how you would handle the everyday parts of the job.

  Situational judgement tests are especially good at assessing soft skills such as communication and interpersonal skills which a CV cannot fully show. SJTs are often taken online and alongside other psychometric tests to get a holistic view of your aptitude for the role.

• How do situational judgement tests work?

  Whether a test is written for one employer or drawn from a publisher's bank, SJTs share common features that you can get to know before the day.

  SJTs are multiple-choice tests. Some are timed and some are not, and the number of scenarios varies from test to test. Read the instructions closely: some tests ask what you would most likely do, while others ask what the best response would be, so answer the question that is actually asked.

  Common formats ask you to choose the most appropriate responses, rank the options in order, or rate each option on its own, for example from counterproductive to effective. Scoring varies between tests: some give partial marks for answers close to the keyed answer, and some take question difficulty into account.

• What skills do you need for situational judgement tests?

  SJTs measure a broad range of skills that offer insight into a candidate's character. They tend to focus on soft skills, and the exact skills a test looks for depend on the employer and the level of the role.

  Desirable entry-level skills would include the ability to work in a team and build positive relationships, good communication and an organised approach to work. However, senior leadership roles would also call for a demonstrated ability to influence and motivate people, negotiate and think strategically.

  The questions are usually framed as everyday work scenarios, enabling you to show your potential employer how you're likely to react to challenging everyday issues. The best way to show up confidently on the day is to use practice tests to familiarise yourself with likely examples and the format.

• How best to prepare for a situational judgement test

  There are several things you can do to feel prepared for your upcoming situational judgement test. Though the test content itself isn't something that can be revised, you can start by researching and understanding the organisation you've applied to. Many employers base their scenarios on their values or a behaviour framework, such as the Civil Service Behaviours, so keeping their approach in mind usually helps.

  Understanding the role you have applied for will also help you when taking your SJT. Having a clear understanding of what skills and characteristics the test is measuring you on will help you contextualise the scenario and land on the correct response. But most of all, we recommend undergoing as many practice situational judgement tests as possible.

  These will prepare you for the format of the test and questions and analysing the results will highlight where you're unsure what the best call would be. You can use this information to strengthen your confidence and research the organisation's preferred response to these particular scenarios.

• Effective test-taking strategies

  Along with the steps we've just mentioned, there are additional strategies you can employ to maximise your impact when taking an SJT.

  Firstly, you can ask your recruiter which test provider they use. That lets you practise with similar tests, or at least find out how that provider's style differs so you are ready for it.

  It also helps to revise the values the organisation expects and the basics of what is legally right or wrong at work. Matters such as client confidentiality and data protection follow clear rules, which you can read up on ahead of time.

  Lastly, you can gain knowledge of how others have previously found the recruitment process and specific tests. Websites such as Glassdoor offer an opportunity to anonymously share your experience interviewing and working for a company. Take the responses on here with a pinch of salt, but see if you can uncover specific guidance on what to prepare.

• SJT Tests Tips

  Here are our top tips for your situational judgement test.

  1. Research company values

  This is one of the most useful things you can do. Getting to know the company that you are applying to work for and the type of people they hire will help you to respond with their ideas in mind.

  Reading press releases, external communications, mission statements and values will all support your research.

  2. Answer with ethics in mind

  Many SJT scenarios involve ethical choices. A company may give the impression that they are laid back about rules and regulations, but there are universal standards to be met when dealing with people, personal information and confidential material.

  Be sure to familiarise yourself with basic employment law and GDPR rules for the more technical scenarios and always be inclusive and compassionate in people-led scenarios.

  3. Practice tests

  Practice is one of the best ways to go into your situational judgement test feeling calm and confident. Practice tests prepare you for a multitude of workplace scenarios you might not have been able to think up yourself. The results show you where your judgement wavers and give you the opportunity to strengthen that ahead of the actual test.

  4. Be time conscious

  Some situational judgement tests are timed and some are not, but either way you don't want to dwell on questions for too long. Remember, all the information you need to answer the question is given, so remain in the context that is given and refrain from letting your mind wander to unknown variables.

  5. It's okay to guess

  You probably won't be certain of every answer. When you aren't, make your best choice and move on. Unless the instructions say wrong answers lose marks, answer every question, as a guess can still earn marks that a skipped question cannot.