NYS Correction Officer Test Prep
Shir Enzer

Shir, Civil Service Assessments Expert at JobTestPrep.

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What Is the NYC Correctional Officer Exam?

The NYS/NYC Correctional Officer Exam assesses your ability to become a New York State Correctional Officer and serve in a local Correctional Facility. To be considered for appointment, you are required to pass a written test for correction officers. Your final score must be 70% or higher, the same as score requirements for other Civil Service exams in New York state. The test consists of 100 multiple choice questions to be answered in a 3.5-hour period. 

If you are applying for a different correctional setting, please see the main correctional officers page.

If you are interested in civil service exams in general, click here for our main civil service exams page.

Correction Officer Test Components

The written test will measure your skills and knowledge in the following areas:

1. Applying Written Information 

Assesses your ability to read, interpret and apply rules, regulations, directives, written narratives and other related material. Correctional Officers need to be capable of understanding, applying and working with rules and other written content they may encounter in their correctional facility.

Applying Written Information Sample Questions

1. Read the text and answer the following question.

Before you go to bed at night...
Turn electrical products that aren't designed to be kept on, off, whenever possible. Fridges and freezers are obviously meant to be on all the time but turning off items such as the TV at the mains, rather than leaving it on standby, reduces your chances of a fire breaking out.
Unplug (or turn the switch off if the socket has one) phone chargers, toasters, irons and the like. Avoiding overloading plug sockets is vital - one plug per socket is best to limit the chances of overheating. If you can't manage that, bar-style extension leads are safer than square blocks with a socket on each face.

Shutting internal doors wherever possible as part of your bedtime routine can buy extra time in a fire to get everyone out once a smoke alarm has gone off. A closed door won't prevent smoke reaching the detector as there will normally be enough of a gap around its edges and alarms are sensitive to quite small amounts of smoke.

Which of the following statements is correct?

A. A fridge is designed to be turned off at night.
B. All lights should be turned of at night.
C. The fewer electrical items that are on, the less chance there is of a fire breaking out.
D. Square blocks are prettier than bars.
Correct Answer
Incorrect Answer
The correct answer is option C as this is the gist of the first paragraph.
"Fridges and freezers are obviously meant to be on all the time but turning off items such as the TV at the mains, rather than leaving it on standby, reduces your chances of a fire breaking out."
A is incorrect because it is the opposite of what is stated.
B. is incorrect because it is never stated in the text. It can be argued
that every unnecessary light should be turned off, but B states ALL lights should be turned off.
D. is incorrect because the text does not discuss the aesthetics of square blocks compared to bars.

2. Read the text and answer the following question.

The dangers of cigarettes
Carelessly discarded cigarettes and other smoking materials are a major cause of fire. A cigarette can smolder for several hours, especially when surrounded by combustible material.
Many fires are started several hours after the smoking materials have been emptied into waste bags and left for future disposal.
It is worthwhile to consider prohibiting smoking in your premises other than in the designated smoking areas. Display suitable signs throughout the premises informing people of the smoking policy and the locations where smoking is permitted.
In those areas where smoking is permitted, provide non-combustible deep and substantial ashtrays to help prevent unsuitable containers being used. Empty all ashtrays daily into a metal waste bin and take it outside. It is dangerous to empty ashtrays into plastic waste sacks which are then left inside for disposal later.

According to the article, why are cigarettes so dangerous?

A. They cause smokers to get cancer.
B. Passive smoking is unsociable behavior.
C. Smoldering Cigarettes can cause large fires if not disposed of properly.
D. It is important to purchase non-combustible deep and substantial ashtrays.
Correct Answer
Incorrect Answer
The correct answer is option C as this is the only option that suggests a reason why cigarettes are dangerous.
It may well be that the other options are factually correct, but they are not based on the article.

2. Observing and Recalling Facts and Information

Tests your ability to observe, memorize and recall information describing or depicting prison scenes. This is critical for correctional officers who work in correctional facilities in which such scenarios may occur.

Observing and Recalling Facts and Information Sample Questions

Go over the following text for 10 minutes, and then answer the following questions without going back to the text.

Click here to reveal/hide the text

Police Accident Investigation Report:


        On 4/27/04 at approximately 10:40pm, I arrived at Thomas Dr. and Quarts St. to assist with a crash that had occurred there. When I arrived, I saw a black motorcycle lying in the roadway with damage to the front of the vehicle. I then drove to 3614 Hill Top Dr. Panama City Beach Florida, which was north of the crash scene, where I met with Sgt. Rafael Stewart. While there, I advised Sgt. Stewart that I would handle the crash from that point on due to the fact that he had been on duty since 10am. Due to the severity of the injuries in the crash, it would have required him to stay on duty for a longer period of time. Sgt. Stewart advised me that he had placed John Jacob Christo Jr. (ID by his Florida driver's licenses 4C623-254-59-481-0) under arrest for leaving the scene of the crash with injuries. I then walked over to the Toyota Camery parked in the driveway at 3614 Hill Top Dr. When I walked around to the passenger side of the vehicle, I saw extensive damage to the vehicle which was consistent with the damage to the motorcycle.
        Sgt. Stewart also showed me where a small amount of marijuana and a marijuana pipe was located in the front driver’s floor board on the right corner closest to the driver's seat. I then took possession of the marijuana and marijuana pipe. Sgt. Stewart explained that the motorcycle was traveling west in the right lane of Thomas Dr. and that the Camery was traveling east on Thomas Dr., turning left onto Quarts St. As the Camery made the left turn, it was driven into the path of the motorcycle resulting in the crash. I then took Mr. Christo out of Sgt. Stewart's car and placed him in my patrol car. An ambulance with Bay Medical arrived at the scene upon Cpl. Baker's request to get blood due to the severity of the injuries of the motorcycle rider.
        At approximately 11:00pm while in the back of the ambulance, I asked Mr. Christo if he would provide two samples of his blood and he said that he would.
        At approximately 11:10pm, paramedic Connie drew blood from Mr. Christo's inner left arm. I then transported Mr. Christo back to the scene of the crash prior to transporting him to the FHP station on CR 3321. While at the scene of the crash, I saw where the collision occurred. I saw where the motorcycle came to rest and that the motorcycle rider came to rest west of the collision which was consistent with what Sgt. Stewart had told me about the directions of travel.
        Once at the station, I weighted the marijuana which weighted one gram. I then transported Mr. Christo to the Bay County Jail where he was booked. While Mr. Christo was in my company, I could smell the odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from him and stronger as he spoke.
        After leaving the jail, I went back to the FHP station where I spoke to Cpl. Baker. Cpl. Baker advised me that Lt. Bob Harris with the Bay County Sheriff's office located the vehicle with Mr. Christo still sitting in the driver's seat behind the steering wheel. Cpl. Baker also told me that Mr. Christo admitted to driving the vehicle when the crash occurred after reading him his Miranda Rights. This all took place in Bay County Florida.

3. Why did the reporting officer tell Sgt. Stewart he will take over the investigation?

A. Because Sgt. Stewart was sick
B. Because it wasn't Sgt. Stewart's shift
C. Because he was ordered to do it
D. Because he didn't want Sgt. Stewart to have to stay on duty any longer
Correct Answer
Incorrect Answer

The correct answer is D.
The reporting officer said that Sgt. Stewart had been on duty since 10:00 AM and he thought that due to the severity of injuries, the Sgt. would have to stay longer. To say that it wasn’t the Sgt.’s shift is inaccurate.

Memorization Methods:
Go back to the original text.


Keep it Simple + Menmonics:

In order to memorize the text it is important to understand the sequence of events. The easiest way to do this would be to tell it to yourself simply and in your own words.
It can also be helpful to create a timeline in the form of a graph or list.
For instance, we could try to list the reporting officer’s actions:
1. 10:40PM- arrived at crash site in order to provide assistance.
2. Met with Sgt. Rafael Stewart at 3614 Hill Top Dr.
3. Looked at the car and took the marijuana.
4. Spoke with Sgt. Stewart some more about the crash.
5. Took Mr. Christo into my custody

We can continue to list the events in order. Of course, this form of data arrangement allows only some amount of the information to be used, and we can use other methods to complete the picture we have in our minds and memorize the rest of the data.

For instance, we can memorize the sequence of events which led to the crash by telling ourselves in simpler words what happened, and memorizing only some key words.

“the motorcycle was traveling west in the right lane of Thomas Dr. and that the Camery was traveling east on Thomas Dr., turning left onto Quarts St. As the Camery made the left turn, it was driven into the path of the motorcycle resulting in the crash”

  • The vehicles were driving on opposite lanes on the same street- Thomas Dr.
  • Motorcycle-> right lane, west.
  • Camery-> east.
  • Then the Camery turned left onto Quarts St. and crashed into the motorcycle.


Mnemonics and Associations:

We can memorize names using details about them that we find in the text.
For instance, we can remember that Lt. Bob Harris in with the Bay County Sheriff's office because they both start with B. Or we can remember that he was the one to find Mr. Christo in the Camery by making up a silly rhyme:
“Lt. Bob Harris has a really good eye, he found Mr. Christo and knew he was the guy.”

4. Where was the marijuana pipe found?

A. Under the driver's seat
B. In the driver's floor board
C. Next to the passenger's seat in the front
D. None of the above
Correct Answer
Incorrect Answer
Explanation
The correct answer is B.
The pipe was located “in the front drivers floor board on the right corner closest to the driver's seat” and not underneath the driver’s seat.


Memorization Methods:

Go back to the text.

Keep it Simple + Menmonics:

In order to memorize the text it is important to understand the sequence of events. The easiest way to do this would be to tell it to yourself simply and in your own words.
It can also be helpful to create a timeline in the form of a graph or list.
For instance, we could try to list the reporting officer’s actions:
1. 10:40PM- arrived at crash site in order to provide assistance.
2. Met with Sgt. Rafael Stewart at 3614 Hill Top Dr.
3. Looked at the car and took the marijuana.
4. Spoke with Sgt. Stewart some more about the crash.
5. Took Mr. Christo into my custody

We can continue to list the events in order. Of course, this form of data arrangement allows only some amount of the information to be used, and we can use other methods to complete the picture we have in our minds and memorize the rest of the data.

For instance, we can memorize the sequence of events which led to the crash by telling ourselves in simpler words what happened, and memorizing only some key words.

“the motorcycle was traveling west in the right lane of Thomas Dr. and that the Camery was traveling east on Thomas Dr., turning left onto Quarts St. As the Camery made the left turn, it was driven into the path of the motorcycle resulting in the crash”

  • The vehicles were driving on opposite lanes on the same street- Thomas Dr.
  • Motorcycle-> right lane, west.
  • Camery-> east.
  • Then the Camery turned left onto Quarts St. and crashed into the motorcycle.

Mnemonics and Associations:

We can memorize names using details about them that we find in the text.
For instance, we can remember that Lt. Bob Harris in with the Bay County Sheriff's office because they both start with B. Or we can remember that he was the one to find Mr. Christo in the Camery by making up a silly rhyme:
“Lt. Bob Harris has a really good eye, he found Mr. Christo and knew he was the guy.”

Our NYC Correctional Officer Exam Preparation Pack gives you everything you need to pass the test and become a correctional officer. It includes practice tests for every single category, with immediate feedback after completion and full solutions for each question, including solving tips and tricks for the NYC Correction Officer Exam.

3. Preparing Written Material

Measures your ability to organize paragraphs logically and comprehensibly and understand written information. Correctional Officers also need to be capable of writing reports that are comprehensible and easy to read for their fellow workers in correctional facilities.

Preparing Written Material Sample Questions

5. Select the answer choice that represents the most appropriate and effective ordering of the sentences below.

A. The new district email will provide you a better filter on your inbox.
B. We are very excited to have this new provider and want to continue using it appropriately.
C. If you are found to be in violation of this policy, your supervisor will be advised and a memo will be placed in your file.
D. It is important to remember that this is not your personal email and that all messages are being monitored.

1. CABD
2. BCDA
3. ADCB
4. ABDC
Correct Answer
Incorrect Answer

C – Represents the best organized paragraph. The first thing that should be done is to read all the sentences and see if you can easily identify the introduction, supporting or closing sentences. Sentence 1 and 2 both seem to be general sentences, while sentences 3 and 4 seem provide information indicating they are support sentences. You should then eliminate any option that starts or ends with sentence 3 or 4, that would be option A and D. Next I would look at the two supporting sentences, 3 and 4 and see what order they might go in. Sentence 3 seems to build on sentence 4, so I would order the paragraph: introduction, 4, 3 and then conclusion, which would then eliminate option B.

Arranged correctly it should read:
The new district email will provide you a better filter on your inbox. It is important to remember that this is not your personal email and that all messages are being monitored. If you are found to be in violation of this policy, your supervisor will be advised and a memo will be placed in your file. We are very excited to have this new provider and want to continue using it appropriately.

6. Select the answer choice that represents the most appropriate and effective ordering of the sentences below.

A. E-learning systems have been used recently by major corporations.
B. By providing interactive courses using the Internet infrastructure directly to one's personal computer, and supporting the learner at their own pace, e-learning can, at times, be more effective than other conventional forms of training.
C. These systems, in most cases are used as an economical replacement for the long established leadership development programs.
D. With the leadership role becoming increasing complex, on the one hand, and budgets for one-on-one or group training shrinking, on the other, e-learning is a simple and cost effective solution.

1. ABDC
2. ACDB
3. BACD
4. BADC
Correct Answer
Incorrect Answer

B – Represents the best organized paragraph. The first thing that should be done is to read all the sentences and see if you can easily identify the introduction, supporting or closing sentences. In this paragraph the two general sentences are 1 and 2, while sentence 3 and 4 both seem to be supportive sentences since they don't introduce or summarize anything. The second thing that you should do is look at your options; you know that the first sentence is either 1 or 2. Sentence 1 is more of an introduction, grabbing your attention, which allows you to eliminate option C and D. Sentence 2 has a lot of information and summarizes the other sentences indicating it is a concluding sentence, which allows you to eliminate option A. Remember a great paragraph introduces the idea (introduction sentences) then has 2-3 supporting the idea (supporting sentences) and then summarizes the information given (closing sentence).

Arranged correctly it should read:
E-learning systems have been used recently by major corporations. These systems, in most cases are used as an economical replacement for the long established leadership development programs. With the leadership role becoming increasing complex, on the one hand, and budgets for one-on-one or group training shrinking, on the other, e-learning is a simple and cost effective solution By providing interactive courses using the Internet infrastructure directly to one's personal computer, and supporting the learner at their own pace, e-learning can, at times, be more effective than other conventional forms of training.

4. Understanding and Interpreting Written Information

Here, you’ll be given the opportunity to display your ability to present, understand and interpret information clearly and accurately. Aside from rules, correctional officers need to be skilled readers in general.

All the information needed to answer the questions is contained in the set of information provided. You will not be required to have any special knowledge relating to the subject areas of the selections.

Understanding and Interpreting Written Information Sample Questions

7. Read the following text and answer the question below.

RAILROAD TRANSPORT

Europe has long benefited from a dense railway network and is the world leader in the supply of railway systems. Employing 1 million people in rail operations and another 250,000 in manufacturing, the European railway sector has a 60% share of the world market and an annual turnover of €95 billion.

Rail transport offers a viable and competitive means of shifting more cargo traffic away from the continent’s crowded roads, thus improving traffic circulation and cutting vehicle-emitted pollution. The EU places particular emphasis on stimulating new investment in trans-European transport infrastructure such as rail, and supports research efforts to create new methods of interoperability, higher safety standards and the reduction of rail-related noise levels.

One of the main advances in the EU's railway system is the recently launched MODTRAIN project. The project brings together, for the first time, all the main European rail system manufacturers, sub-system suppliers and rail operators. Working towards interoperability of national rolling-stock systems, MODTRAIN offers a radical approach to rolling-stock construction. Its goal of reducing the number of single components in a railway carriage from 1,200 to 120 parts and cutting construction time by more than 50% should give a huge boost to the sector’s competitiveness.

QUESTION: Which ONE of the following does the passage suggest about railway transport?

A. It has an annual turnover of 95 billion euros
B. It reduces air pollution
C. It has high safety standards
D. It is a good economic investment
E. It employs 1.25 million people worldwide
F. The EU is not satisfied with it
Correct Answer
Incorrect Answer

The correct answer is B.

The question deals with railroad transport in general, as opposed to Europe's railway. It is based on the following section in the passage: ‘Rail transport offers a viable and competitive means of shifting more cargo traffic away from the continent’s crowded roads, thus improving traffic circulation and cutting vehicle-emitted pollution’. Now that we understand the question and have identified the corresponding section in the passage, let us eliminate distractors:

  • Statement A follows from the passage but addresses only the European railroad system.
  • Statement B follows from the passage and addresses rail transport in general.
  • Statement C does not follow from the passage; the passage says that the EU supports research to ensure high safety standards. 
  • Statement D does not follow from the passage as it is not mentioned in the text. 
  • Statement E follows from the passage but addresses only the European railroad system. 
  • According to the passage, the EU is supporting new research and launching new projects to advance the European railroad system. It does not mean that the EU is not satisfied (statement F).


The only statement that follows from the passage and concerns the railroad system in general is: statement B.

8. Read the following text and answer the question below.

THE EVOLUTION OF EDUCATION

Over the past decade, higher education has become increasingly international. More and more students choose to study abroad, enroll in foreign educational programs and institutions in their home country, or simply use the Internet to take courses at colleges or universities in other countries. The internationalization of higher education means that in university courses – especially but not exclusively post-graduate courses - you increasingly find someone whose mother-tongue is not English teaching a group of students, very few of whom have English as their first language. This undoubtedly affects the way people learn and how people teach. Not an insignificant amount of London University PhD students are multilingual and write in English, although French and Italian are also regular working languages, making the European University Institute (EUI) an ideal place to debate the challenges ahead for other institutions. ‘There is a kind of denationalized way of looking at the disciplines that we teach; it’s not ignoring the national traditions but we’re not so constrained by them and we tend automatically to see things from a comparative and transnational perspective. We are therefore able to start thinking seriously about what it means to teach in this way and in these international environments’, explains the president of EUI.

QUESTION: Which ONE of the following trends is described in the passage?

A. The growing popularity of online university courses
B. The globalization of higher education
C. An increase in teachers who do not possess English as their mother-tongue
D. More multilingual students in London
E. Greater challenges for educational institutes
F. Over-enrollment in foreign educational programs
Correct Answer
Incorrect Answer

The correct answer is B.

The question deals with the main trend described in the passage. It is advisable to start reading from the beginning of the passage since usually the principal subject is presented there. The passage begins by stating: ’Over the past decade, higher education has become increasingly international’. It continues by elaborating on ways in which higher education has become international and then repeats this idea in the following sentences: ’The internationalization of higher education means that…’ We have enough information now to conclude that the trend described in the passage is the globalization of higher education (statement B). The remaining distractors describe only different aspects of the trend (statements A, C, E) or a more local trend instead of a global one (D). Statement F is not mentioned in the passage.

Preparing and passing the written exam is a first step and a great start in pursuing NYS Corrections Officer Career.

The Benefits of a Corrections Officer Career

Are you serious about your career? Then you should devote your time and effort and prepare for the exam, due to the many advantages of being a Correction Officer:

  • Job Security: as a civil servant, your employment is regulated and secured by the Civil Service Law.
  • Salary: the position is one of the highest-paid civil servants’.
  • Insurance, Leave and Retirement Benefits: you’ll be covered by health, dental, prescription drug, optical, and life insurance; and have very liberal leave benefits. Furthermore, you will be part of the civil employee’s retirement system in the.
  • Promotional Opportunities: civil service promotion examinations are very seldom open to the general public, leading to an Assistant Warden and even Warden position.
  • Other Benefits: these might include credit union membership, consumer buying power, uniform allowances, education and training incentives, and disability insurance.

The Department of Citywide Administrative Services

When applying for a civil service position in NYC, your application may be performed online through the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS). DCAS offers efficient and supportive services to assist the New York City government in a variety of operations. Its goal is to assist in recruiting, hiring, and training employees, as well as other service fields. The DCAS exam schedule is released is posted during the fiscal year and is constantly being updated to keep applicants updated on any relevant changes. 

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