Prepare for the CPS Firefighter Test
The CPS firefighter test (Cooperative Personnel Service Test) is a challenging cognitive ability and behavioral test that is used in the hiring process of numerous fire departments in the US and Canada to select suitable candidates.
By combining complex questions and a tight time limit of under a minute per question on average, the CPS fire test is not one to be taken lightly.
On this page we will review essential information regarding the test, and answer CPS practice test questions that will give you a glimpse of what to expect.
CPS Firefighter Practice Questions
What Is the CPS Firefighter Test
The CPS firefighter test is a cognitive and behavioral test that includes six sections and a strict time limit of two and a half hours.
The six sections of the CPS firefighter test contain seven possible areas of cognitive and behavioral abilities. In the following section, we will review every element of the CPS fire test and answer CPS practice test questions to give you a picture of the types of questions you will be answering on the real test.
CPS Practice Test Question - Reading Comprehension
Read the following instructions, identify the relevant information, and answer the question below.
Dealing With a Personal Fire
If your clothes catch fire don’t run around; you will fan the flames and make them burn faster. The correct thing to do is to lie down as this makes it harder for the fire to spread and reduces the effect of flames on your face and head (flames burn upwards), smother the flames, and cover the flames with heavy material, like a coat or blanket; this blocks the fire's source of oxygen. Roll around – rolling smothers the flames.
If your escape route is blocked:
If you’re on the ground floor, go out of a window – throw bedding or cushions onto the ground outside to break your fall. If you can’t open the window, use a heavy object to break it at the bottom corner and cover any jagged edges with clothing, a towel or a blanket. Lower children as far as possible before letting them drop. Get an adult to break their fall if you can. Lower yourself by your arms from the window ledge before dropping.
If you can’t get out, get everyone into one room: choose a room with a window and, if you can, put cushions, towels or bedding at the bottom of the door to block smoke; open the window and call for help. Think now about which room might be best for this – you need a window that can be opened and, if possible, a phone for calling 999.
Which of the following statements is correct?
The CPS Test Sections
You've just solved a reading comprehension question, which is one of two verbal sections on the CPS exam:
- Understanding Oral Information (listening exercise) – When reacting to an emergency, firefighters must operate in very loud environments and be able to decipher spoken verbal information accurately - this is often a matter of life or death. In this section, you will listen to recordings and answer questions related to the information in them.
- Understanding Written Information (reading comprehension) – During an emergency, there is usually an LED sign with scrolling texts explaining the situation, so it is important that your reading comprehension skills are up to par. This involves being able to identify crucial information in a text, and to read quickly and accurately - exactly what this section of the test measures.
All test sections are as follows:
| No. | Section Name | Number of Questions |
| 1 | Understanding Oral Information | 10-15 |
| 2 | Understanding Written Information | 20-30 |
| 3 | Mathematical Ability | 20-30 |
| 4 | Mechanical Ability | 25 |
| 5 | Teamwork, Public Relations, and Community Living (SJT questions) |
15 |
| 6 | Written Communication | 15-20 |
Regardless of the exact composition of your cognitive aptitude test, the total number of questions will always be 100.
CPS Practice Test Question - Mathematical Ability
What is the value of X?
x/2 = (x+1)/3
CPS Numerical Questions
Firefighters use a lot of math in their operations, and must be able to perform complex calculations while under the pressure of performing life-saving activities. For example, firefighters must be able to understand what hose length is needed to reach the scene of the fire, which ladder is the correct height, or how much water is still in the tank and if it is sufficient. The section contains multiple-choice questions that cover two main aspects of mathematical ability: word problems and arithmetic reasoning.
Let's review a couple of questions that represent the mathematical ability section of the CPS firefighter test:
CPS Practice Test Question - Word Problems
A shop owner bought some shovels for $5,500. The shovels were sold for $7,300, with a profit of $50 per shovel. How many shovels were involved?
Be it the firetruck, hoses, ladders, pulleys, or any other of the many tools of the trade, the firefighter relies heavily on being to apply mechanical principles effectively. The mechanical aptitude section measures your basic understanding of mechanics, and how they relate to the many tools that 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.
CPS Practice Test Question - Mechanical Aptitude
Danny received a bunch of colorful helium balloons for his birthday. One of the balloons was not attached properly and flew away.
Assuming the temperature remains constant, what will be the volume of the balloon at a very high altitude?
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. Let's have a look at a representative question:
CPS Practice Test Question - Maps & Diagrams
If a firetruck is heading Northeast and then turns right, left, right, and right again, in which direction is it then headed?
The correct answer is D.
CPS Practice Test Question - Situational Judgement Test
During the last fire, the hose got caught in the truck. It took an extra five minutes to loosen the hose and lay it out long enough to reach the fire. Following this incident, your captain calls in Tom, the firefighter from your fire department who performed the last equipment check before you left. You know that your captain is upset after this dangerous error, and you know that Tom will get in trouble. You also remember that it was you who rolled the hose last and that you did it while talking on the phone, which may have distracted you.
What would be the worst response to this situation?
What Are Situational Judgement Test (SJT) Questions?
This section is similar to a personality test, but with a focus situational judgment, i.e. how you are likely to react in the daily interpersonal interactions typically encountered in fire departments and on the job as a firefighter.
The reason this section is included in the CPS test is that firefighters must live and work together for extended periods in close quarters, as well as interact with civilians experiencing extremely difficult moments. Firefighters are therefore expected to hold certain personality traits that will ensure they can handle these situations professionally.
Did you know that fewer than 20% of candidates pass the CPS in many fire stations? This is why accurate and thorough prep is essential!
Firefighter Test
A firefighter test, fireman test, or firefighter exam is an assessment used in the hiring process of firefighters.
Frequently Asked Questions
The CPS test is a product of CPS HR, a company specializing in recruitment solutions for government and public sector jobs.
However, registeration for the exam is done through your local fire department, via their official recruitment office.
The CPS Exam is typically taken in-person in a location selected by your department. The test is proctored.
No. Calculators are not allowed on the CPS firefighter test.
After completing the CPS, which is the written exam section of the hiring process, several steps will typically follow. The process may take several weeks to several months, and it may be a good idea to ask your recruiters what to expect.
The CPAT, or physical ability test, is the phase many prospective firefighters are concerned about. However, even candidates who are not in shape can usually reach the goals set by the physical exam if they begin practicing several weeks ahead of time.
Aside from the written and physical exams, many departments will require a psychological test, a background check, a medical evaluation, and a drug screening.
Some may also schedule in-person interviews or invite you to participate in an "assessment center", which usually involves group exercises.
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Good as a starting point.
It was a good resource for the exam. I wasn’t a huge fan of all of the explanations of the answers, but I’m no expert.
I’d recommend it just to get exposure to the questions format and for the reasoning behind the answers.
Store Owner Hi Tom! Thank you for your thoughtful review! We're glad to hear the prep helped you feel more confident going into the exam and that it gave you a fresh perspective on how to approach the questions.
We appreciate your note about the explanations — we’re always working to make them clearer and more insightful, especially for test-takers who want to understand the reasoning in depth. Your feedback helps us improve, and we’re really grateful for that.
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