APS Pitch CheckerHow to write an APS pitch for 500, 750 and 1000-word limits
Short answer: Write a short opening, then one to three worked examples, then a brief close. Use two examples at 500 words, two deeper or three shorter at 750, and usually three at 1000, spending about 60% of each example on your own actions and 20% on results.
A 500-word pitch and a 1000-word pitch aren't the same document with more padding. Here's how to plan each one, with word budgets you can use straight away.
What an APS pitch is for
Many Australian Public Service job ads ask for a "pitch" or "statement" of a set length instead of a response to each selection criterion. The panel uses it to decide two things: can this person do the work at this level, and is it worth an interview? They'll often read dozens of them in a sitting, sometimes scoring against the capabilities listed in the ad or the position description.
That shapes how you write. The panel isn't looking for your life story or a list of duties. They want evidence: a few real situations where you did the kind of work the role needs, told so that your own actions and the results are easy to find. The word limit is how they make everyone compete on the same terms. Going over it is one of the few mistakes that can get a pitch set aside before it's even read properly, so treat the limit as a hard ceiling.
Always check the ad first. Some agencies say whether headings are allowed, whether the limit includes them, and what to focus on. Some say how they view generative AI. Their instructions beat any general advice, including this page.
Word budgets for 500, 750 and 1000 words
The structure that works at most levels is: a short opening, one to three worked examples, and a short close. Within each example, use STAR (situation, task, action, result) but spend most of the words on what you did. A good starting split inside each example is roughly 10% situation, 10% task, 60% action, 20% result.
| Limit | Opening | Examples | Each example (S / T / A / R) | Closing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 500 | ~50 | 2 × ~205 | ~20 / ~20 / ~125 / ~40 | ~40 |
| 750 | ~75 | 2 × ~307 (or 3 × ~205) | ~31 / ~31 / ~184 / ~61 | ~60 |
| 1000 | ~100 | 3 × ~273 | ~27 / ~27 / ~164 / ~55 | ~80 |
These are starting points, not rules. If one example is clearly your strongest and covers more criteria, give it more room. The free APS Pitch Checker works out this split for any limit, including custom ones like 600 or 800 words, and shows how close your draft is to it.
Writing to 500 words
At 500 words you have room for two examples, and only just. Everything has to work hard.
- Opening (2-3 sentences): say the role and level you're applying for, your current role and a one-line summary of what your examples will show. Skip "I am writing to apply for…" and get straight into it.
- Pick two examples that cover several criteria each. A single example about fixing a process can show initiative, stakeholder work and written communication at once. Map your examples to the criteria before you write a word.
- Set the scene in one or two sentences. The panel doesn't need the history of your team. They need just enough to understand why the work mattered.
- Close in one or two sentences. Link your examples to this role and stop.
Most 500-word drafts fail by spending 150 words on background. If your situation is longer than your result, cut it.
Writing to 750 words
750 words gives you a choice: two deeper examples, or three shorter ones. Choose based on the criteria.
- Two deep examples suit roles where complexity and judgement matter (APS6 and above): you have room to show how you weighed options, managed risk or brought people along.
- Three shorter examples suit ads with four or more distinct criteria that don't overlap well, such as client service, data accuracy and teamwork.
- Use the extra words on actions and reasoning, not a longer opening. Explaining why you chose an approach is one of the clearest signals of level.
- If headings are allowed, a short heading per example (like "Clearing a 600-email backlog") helps a tired reader find your evidence.
Writing to 1000 words
A 1000-word pitch is usually for higher APS levels or EL1 roles, where the panel expects breadth: delivery, leadership of people or projects, stakeholder management and advice to senior decision-makers.
- Three examples is the usual sweet spot. Aim for different contexts (a delivery problem, a people or stakeholder challenge, a piece of advice or strategy) so you aren't repeating the same strength.
- Show scale and judgement. Numbers of people, budget size, number of agencies or the seniority of the audience help the panel place you at the right level.
- At EL1, show how you led others, not only what you did yourself: how you set direction, delegated, coached or managed performance. Keep it in the first person ("I set up…", "I coached…").
- Resist the urge to fill. A tight 920 words beats a padded 1000.
A short fictional APS5 example
Here's one example paragraph written to the 500-word budget (about 200 words). The person, agency and figures are made up. Use it to see the shape, not as text to reuse.
Fixing a slow monthly report. Each month our team spent about three days compiling a performance report on 40 grants from separate spreadsheets, and errors were common. With my team leader's agreement, I offered to fix it. I mapped where each data item came from, agreed one set of definitions with the finance and program teams, and built a workbook that pulled the data together with checks that flagged missing or inconsistent entries. I ran it alongside the old process for two months to confirm the figures matched, then wrote a short guide and trained two colleagues so the process didn't depend on me. Preparation time fell from three days to half a day, the director's reports had no errors over the next six months, and the branch has since adopted the workbook for two other programs.
Notice the balance: two sentences of situation and task, four of action (all starting with "I"), and one dense result sentence with three measurable outcomes, one of which reaches beyond the team. That last detail, other teams adopting the work, is a strong APS5 signal.
How to cut when you're over
- Cut the background first. Situation sentences are the easiest to shorten without losing evidence.
- Delete throat-clearing: "I believe that", "I am confident that", "In this role I was responsible for".
- Merge small actions. "I emailed… I then called… I also met…" can often become one sentence.
- Swap phrases for words: "in order to" → "to", "a large number of" → "many", "at this point in time" → "now".
- Only then touch actions and results. Those are what get scored.
Paste your draft into the checker to see how many words you're over and where your STAR balance sits.
Common mistakes checklist
- Going over the limit, even slightly.
- Writing "we" throughout so the panel can't see what you did.
- Listing duties ("responsible for…") instead of telling what happened.
- No results, or results with no detail. Add a number, timeframe, decision or piece of feedback.
- Examples pitched below the level (an APS6 pitch full of tasks someone else directed).
- Generic phrases ("team player", "excellent communication skills") instead of evidence.
- Ignoring a criterion entirely. Every criterion in the ad should be visibly covered by at least one example.
- Reusing a pitch written for a different job without re-checking it against this ad.
Check your draft in seconds
The free APS Pitch Checker counts words against your limit, estimates your STAR balance and flags long sentences, passive voice and overused phrases. It runs in your browser and doesn't save your text.
Open the checkerFAQ
How many examples should a 500-word APS pitch have?
Usually two. Each gets roughly 200 words, which is enough for a one-sentence situation, a short task, several concrete actions and a measurable result.
Do headings count towards the word limit?
It depends on the agency. Some ads say so explicitly. If the ad is silent, assume they count, or keep them very short, and ask the contact officer if it matters.
What happens if I go over the word limit?
Many panels will stop reading at the limit or treat it as not following instructions. Treat the limit as a hard ceiling.
Should I use STAR in an APS pitch?
STAR (situation, task, action, result) is a reliable way to structure each example, as long as most words go on your actions and results rather than background.
Free download: a worked APS5 pitch (PDF)
A complete 500-word fictional APS5 pitch with notes on why each paragraph works, plus a one-page STAR planner. Email is optional. You can download it straight away either way.
Want the full workbook and templates?
The APS Pitch Kit (A$24, made by us) adds an Excel/Google Sheets example bank, a criteria matcher with word counts for 300-1000-word limits, pitch, statement of claims and selection criteria templates, and three fictional worked pitches (APS4, APS6, EL1). One-off price, instant download, 14-day refund with no questions asked. If you got here from the free sample, code SAMPLE20 takes 20% off (A$19.20).
It's a writing aid. It can't guarantee an interview or a job, and you don't need it to use this free checker.
Disclosure: Mint sells the APS Pitch Kit mentioned above. This guide is independent general information, not affiliated with the APSC or any agency. Examples are fictional. Last updated 2026-10-19.