CPS Firefighter Exam - Free Questions and Answers (2026)

Be it the firetruck, hoses, ladders, pulleys, or any other of the many tools of the trade, the firefighter relies heavily on being able to apply mechanical principles effectively. The Mechanical Aptitude section measures your basic understanding of mechanics, and how they relate to the many tools that you will be using on the job. The questions in this section can be especially tricky under a strict time limit, so brushing up on your mechanical aptitude is essential.

What the section tests:

• Pulleys, gears, and wheels: understanding direction of movement and speed relationships between connected components
• Levers and balance: calculating forces, weights, and distances around a fulcrum
• Basic mechanical and technical principles as they apply to firefighting equipment

Test format:

• 25 multiple choice questions
• Around 30 minutes (note: in the actual CPS test, time is allocated for the full test as a whole, not divided per section)
• Questions are image-based - you will be looking at diagrams of mechanical systems and selecting the correct answer from the options shown

What makes it challenging: Unlike math or reading, mechanical aptitude questions require you to mentally visualize movement and force - a skill that feels unnatural without practice. The image-based format also means that misreading a diagram under time pressure can lead you to the wrong answer even if you understand the underlying principle.

Strategy tip: If mechanical concepts are unfamiliar to you, reviewing a mechanical aptitude study guide before practicing is strongly recommended. Focus especially on gear and pulley direction rules and lever balance calculations, as these appear consistently across CPS mechanical questions.

A firefighter must be able to navigate quickly and effectively, be it en route to the site of an incident, or inside a structure. This is why understanding how to read a map well is a crucial part of every firefighter's toolbox. In this section of the CPS fire test your spatial reasoning abilities will be tested, as well as your ability to use a map effectively.

What the section tests:

• Directional navigation: tracking heading changes (North, South, East, West and diagonals) across a series of turns
• Street map navigation: following traffic flow rules, one-way restrictions, and intersection sequences
• Grid-based navigation: counting blocks and tracking position across a coordinate-style map
• Floor plan analysis: interpreting room dimensions and calculating square footage from a building layout

Question types you'll see:

• Direction tracking: a vehicle or person makes a series of turns - determine the final heading
• Street map questions: follow a specific route through a map with traffic direction restrictions and identify your destination
• Grid map questions: travel a set number of blocks in specified directions and identify your arrival point
• Floor plan questions: use written room dimensions to compare areas or answer layout-based questions

What makes it challenging: Each question type requires a different mental approach. Direction tracking demands you rotate your spatial frame of reference with each turn, while street map questions add the complexity of one-way traffic rules. Under time pressure, it's easy to lose track of your position mid-route and arrive at the wrong answer.

Strategy tip: For direction and grid questions, trace your route step by step with your finger or on scratch paper rather than trying to visualize it mentally. For floor plan questions, rely strictly on the written dimensions provided - not on how the rooms appear to scale in the image.

Firefighting is not just about physical strength and technical skills; it is a profession built on teamwork, integrity, and public service. Firefighters live in close quarters for long shifts and must work seamlessly as a unit during high-stress emergencies. This section of the CPS exam uses Situational Judgment Test (SJT) questions to evaluate your ability to handle interpersonal conflict, follow departmental protocols, and maintain professional relationships with both your colleagues and the community you serve.

What the section tests:

• Integrity and ethics: taking responsibility, being honest with supervisors even when it's uncomfortable
• Teamwork and interpersonal relations: supporting colleagues, handling conflict within a team appropriately
• Professional judgment: knowing when and how to escalate a situation to a supervisor
• Public relations and community living: demonstrating respectful, professional conduct toward the public and co-workers
• Communication skills: active listening, giving full attention, and reading interpersonal cues correctly

Question types you'll see:

• Workplace scenario questions: you are presented with a realistic firefighting situation and must choose the best response from 4 options
• Questions test how you handle conflict, ethical dilemmas, team dynamics, and supervisor relationships

Test format:

• 15 questions in the practice test
• Around 20 minutes for practice (note: in the actual CPS test, 2 hours are allocated for the full test without dividing it into sections)

What makes it challenging: Multiple answers will often appear reasonable or ethical on the surface. The key is understanding the specific competency being tested — integrity, teamwork, or professional conduct - and identifying which response best reflects fire department values. Questions that ask for the worst response are particularly tricky, as they require you to recognize subtle ethical violations that may look acceptable at first glance.

Strategy tip: Fire departments value integrity and accountability above almost everything else. When in doubt, the answer that involves taking responsibility, communicating openly with supervisors through the right channels, and supporting your teammates will almost always outrank answers that are passive, self-serving, or that bypass the chain of command.

Firefighters are required to write accurate incident reports, document emergency procedures, and communicate clearly in writing with colleagues, supervisors, and the public. The Written Communication section of the CPS exam tests your command of standard English to ensure you can produce clear, professional written communication on the job.

What the section tests:

• Spelling: identifying and correcting misspelled words in context
• Punctuation: recognizing missing or incorrect punctuation marks
• Grammar and word usage: identifying grammatical errors and incorrect word choices
• Overall sentence correctness: evaluating a sentence across all three areas simultaneously

Question types you'll see:

• Error identification: read a sentence and identify what type of error it contains — spelling, punctuation, grammar/word usage, or no error
• Correct sentence selection: choose the one sentence out of four that is correct in all aspects — spelling, punctuation, and grammar

Test format:

• 15 to 20 questions
• Recommended time: 15 minutes (one minute per question)
• Note: in the actual CPS test, time is allocated for the full test as a whole, not divided into sections

What makes it challenging: The answer choices in correct sentence questions are designed to look nearly identical — differing by a single word, a comma, or a subtle grammatical error. The errors are deliberate and easy to miss when reading quickly. You need to slow down and read each option carefully rather than going with what sounds right at first glance.

Strategy tip: Read each sentence out loud in your head — your ear will often catch a grammatical error that your eye skips over. For error identification questions, check spelling first, then punctuation, then grammar, in that order, to avoid missing subtle mistakes.