Ace the Traffic Enforcement Agent Exam | 2025 Guide and Practice
Updated: February 25, 2025
The Traffic Enforcement Agent position is highly sought after in the NYPD. To get hired, you will first have to successfully pass a multiple-choice test with 9 sections.
Get an accurate simulation of the real exam with realistic questions and detailed explanations of all categories: Logical Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, Spatial Orientation and more. All practice tests are based on efficient use of insider information to help you pass the test.
The testing period for the NYC Traffic Enforcement Agent Exam starts Wednesday, April 9, 2025.
Practicing ahead of time allows you to become familiar with the test and build confidence.
Traffic Enforcement Agent Test Practice
Comprehensive practice for the Multiple-Choice test:
- 6 Deductive Reasoning practice tests
- 14 Inductive Reasoning practice tests
- 8 Information Ordering practice tests
- 8 Memorization practice tests and guide
- 13 Number Facility practice tests and guides
- 2 Problem Sensitivity practice tests
- 6 Spatial Orientation practice tests
- 11 Written Comprehension practice tests and guide
- 13 Written Expression practice tests
What Is the Traffic Enforcement Agent Exam?
To become an NYPD Traffic Enforcement Agent, you must take the Traffic Enforcement Agent (TEA) exam. When you apply to become an NYPD Traffic Enforcement Agent or any other position in the civil service field in New York City, then the application process will most likely be through the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS). The DCAS exam schedule is posted during the fiscal year and is updated on a monthly basis, in order to keep candidates up-to-date on any relevant changes.
Some of the duties of the job include issuing summonses to illegally parked vehicles, directing traffic at intersections, testifying at administrative hearing offices and court, and preparing required reports, as well as sometimes even being called upon to operate a motor vehicle.
Receiving a high score on the TEA exam increases your chances of becoming an agent. The starting salary for a Traffic Enforcement Agent is $29,217, which increases to $33,600 after two years. Other benefits of the job include paid vacation and sick leave, medical and dental plans, and a 401K.
The Traffic Enforcement Agent exam contains ten sections. The questions are in the multiple-choice format, and you need a score of 70% to pass. Becoming familiar with the test will help increase your score as well as your chances of becoming a Traffic Enforcement Agent.
Traffic Enforcement Agent Exam Sections
The exam measures the skills needed to be a successful Traffic Enforcement Agent. The exam is computerized and consists of multiple-choice questions. The following job-related qualities are measured:
- Deductive Reasoning – This section tests your ability to apply general rules to specific problems and to come up with logical answers.
- Inductive Reasoning – This section assesses your ability to combine together separate pieces of information or specific answers to problems, thus forming a general rule or conclusion.
- Information Ordering – The questions test your ability to comply with a rule or a set of rules and arrange things or actions in a certain order. For example, to perform mathematical or logical operations and to arrange numbers, letters, words, pictures, procedures, sentences, etc.
- Memorization -These questions evaluate your ability to observe and retain details.
- Number Facility – You are assessed on your ability to solve simple mathematical operations—adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing—as well as finding percentages and taking square roots.
- Problem Sensitivity – These questions test how well you identify a problem and its elements, and whether or not you can detect an error.
- Spatial Orientation – You are tested on your understanding of spatial relativity between an object and yourself.
- Written Comprehension – These questions test your ability to understand written sentences and paragraphs.
- Written Expression – You are tested on your ability to convey a clear written message in English.
- Memory questions – This section measures your memory for information expressed in words, numbers, pictures, and procedures.
Traffic Enforcement Exam Sample Questions
Written Comprehension Sample Question
Read the following paragraph and answer the question.
Although not acknowledged by any country as an official currency, Bitcoin is recognized and used as currency in e-trading worldwide, with a cap of 21 million Bitcoin units total. Authorities and financial experts alike have been dumbfounded by the arrival of this new element and are currently struggling to adjust their mindset and devise appropriate plans in dealing with Bitcoin. Bitcoin has been the cause of great concern on the part of banks as well, due to its potential status as a competing currency. All of the problems facing these different players in the economy are compounded by the potential of criminal elements dealing in e-trade, which has already been the cause of new legislation.
What is one of the aspects of Bitcoin that has been difficult for financial experts to deal with?
Problem Sensitivity Sample Question
Read the following rule and answer the question.
RULE
A correctional officer whose life is not being threatened may not shoot a violent inmate with a rifle or handgun unless it is a .22 caliber rimfire using rubber, sand, or rock-salt ammunition.
Which of the following is in violation of the rule?
Inductive Reasoning Sample Question
Firefighters are at a fire incident at the city's center. It's been reported that the fire was set intentionally and a man with suspicious behavior has been seen at the site. While several firefighters work to extinguish the fire, another department member talks to witnesses to try and determine possible clues for the suspect's identity. The witnesses gave the following accounts:
Witness 1: “I was driving on Rosewood Ave. heading to the intersection of Ocean Parkway. To my right, I saw a few people crowded in front of the shopping center entrance. They were looking at the windows on the 10th floor; thick smoke was coming out of them. The traffic at my direction was congested and a fire engine blocked the access from the opposite direction. I noticed a man, around 6' tall with a green jacket and black hat running away from the crowd. He turned right on Ocean Parkway."
Witness 2: “I was driving north on Rosewood Ave. toward the shopping center but, I had to take the next left turn at the intersection of Ocean Parkway because a fire engine was blocking the way and Ocean Parkway is a one-way street. Right behind me there were 2 police cars who took the same turn. I believe they were chasing a pedestrian."
Witness 3: “I was driving on the congested Ocean Parkway. I couldn’t turn right onto Rosewood Ave. due to a fire incident. A police officer at the intersection was controlling the flow of the traffic. I proceed through the intersection and after 600 ft. I had to stop as the road was blocked by 4 police cars. The police officers that were outside the vehicles were arresting a pedestrian. I recall he had a black hat, green jacket and he looked like he was in his late 20s."
Witness 4: “I was walking east on Ocean Parkway when, out of nowhere, a man, probably 6' 2" faced me and knock me down to the ground. I was able to see that he had a green jacket. He didn't stop to check if I was ok, instead, he continued to run. A few moments later, 2 police cars were chasing after him."
The right answer is D.
In this case, you need to consider the unique perspectives of four different individuals and use them to weave together one cohesive picture. In order to answer this question, you have to build a diagram, either mentally or on paper, to reconstruct the traffic accident that took place.
Based on the account of Witness 2, you know that Rosewood Ave. is a north-south street direction. Based on the account of Witness 4, you know that Ocean Parkway runs west. Based on the account of Witness 3 you know that Ocean Parkway is a one-way street. With this information, you can construct the intersection in which the suspect has been spotted. By reading each account carefully, you should be able to construct an accurate diagram that includes all the witnesses, the vehicles and the suspect. The following diagram was constructed solely from the information contained in the four witness accounts.
According to the account of witness 1 the fire engine blocked traffic heading north on Rosewood Ave.
Tip:
The best way to answer this question is to build a similar diagram during your test. By referring to this diagram, it should be relatively easy to answer the questions.
Given the volume of information that you must synthesize, it is necessary to make some form of notes or diagram to generate a reasonable understanding of the situation that is described. Commonly, candidates will make errors on these types of questions because they are rushing and fail to generate a clear picture of the situation.
