How the police BSQ works
Most of the questionnaire is single statements, such as “I enjoy having to solve complex problems”, which you rate on a seven-point scale from completely disagree to completely agree. Some screens instead show three statements: you choose the one most like you, then the one most like you of the two left.
There are 80 statements and no clock; the College expects about 20 minutes. The statements cover nine areas: the six competencies in the SJT plus the values of respect and empathy, courage, and public service.
The BSQ is not marked on its own. Your result is added to your SJT result to make one score, which is compared with other applicants to policing roles. Both exercises have to be redone if you re-sit.
How to answer the statements
The College’s one piece of advice is to be as honest as possible. In practice:
- Read to the end of each statement. Words like “always”, “never” and “only” change what you are agreeing to.
- Watch for statements worded the other way round. Agreeing with “I prefer to avoid difficult conversations” says the opposite of agreeing with “I tackle difficult conversations early”.
- Answer with your first honest reaction, thinking of how you behave at work or study, not how you would like to.
- Use the whole scale. Only use 4, the middle point, if you genuinely do not lean either way.
- On a ranking screen, choose the most accurate statement, not the most impressive one. All three are usually positive.
Worked example
Statement: “I would rather stick with a method I know works than try a new one.” This is worded against the competency we are innovative and open-minded. If you usually look for better ways of working, the honest answer is a 2 or 3 (disagree), not a 6 because sticking with what works sounds sensible.
Ranking: “I keep calm when people are angry with me”, “I check my work for errors before passing it on”, “I speak up when I see something wrong.” Suppose the second is most like you. Then choose between the other two the same way. Each one is about a different area, so there is no right order, only an honest one.
Tips for the real police BSQ
- Do not try to work out the ideal officer and answer as them. You would have to keep that act up across 80 statements and nine areas.
- Do the questionnaire somewhere quiet in one sitting. There is no clock, so there is no reason to hurry.
- Read the College’s list of competencies and values beforehand, so you recognise what each statement is about.
- Remember the BSQ counts toward your sift score. Careless answers matter as much as on the SJT.
- Read your personalised feedback report afterwards, especially if you need to re-sit.
Practise the police BSQ on CogniPrep
Our Behavioural Styles Questionnaire is 80 statements rated from 1 (completely disagree) to 7 (completely agree), with no back button: tapping a rating records it. After each block of 10, if you gave a 6 or 7 to three or more different areas, you get one ranking screen, up to eight in a sitting. That trigger is our design, because the College does not say how it places ranking items. You get a profile across the nine areas rather than a mark, which shows where you rated yourself high and low.