I keep scoring 3 on Civil Service personal statements. What am I doing wrong?
Repeated Score of 3 on Civil Service Personal Statements
Hello,
I have applied for several EO operational roles and my personal statements keep receiving a score of 3. I usually reach the online tests, but I do not get through the sift when the statement is scored.
I structure each statement around the essential criteria and include examples from my current customer service role. I describe what happened, what I did and the result. The examples feel relevant to me, so I cannot work out why they are still being marked as limited evidence.
The feedback is only the score. I have compared my writing with online examples and made it more polished, but the result has stayed the same.
What should I check before sending another application?
Quick Answer
A repeated score of 3 usually means the statement contains some relevant evidence but does not prove enough depth, ownership or connection to the vacancy. The quickest fix is to audit each paragraph for the exact action you took, why you chose it and what changed because of it.
Read our EO Personal Statement Help for the full guidance.
Need help with your own situation? Visit Get Tailored Advice or browse more questions in Advice.
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How I Would Diagnose a Personal Statement That Keeps Scoring 3
Continue reading to see the checks I would run against your evidence, wording and grade level before rewriting the next application.
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