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- A multi-tasking feature (New)
- Speed typing test practice (New)
- 5 Decision-making tests
- 15 Data entry tests
- 4 Memory recall tests
- 10 Map reading tests
- 15 Checking tests
- 15 Reading comprehension tests
- 8 Numerical tests
Note: You will need to complete only specifically selected sections based on the preferences of the state or county where your test is held.
Hi, I'm Arbel, JobTestPrep's expert for the CritiCall test. Have a question? Feel free to send me an email at any time.
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Get to Know the CritiCall Test Sections Inside Out
How to Pass the CritiCall Test?
Interpreting Your CritiCall Test Scores
Five CritiCall Test Tips to Help You Master the Exam
What Is the Criticall Test?
The CritiCall test is a pre-employment test used to screen candidates for public safety dispatcher or 911 call handler and operator jobs in the U.S and Canada. It’s a computer-based assessment that ensures you possess the necessary skills to perform the required duties of the job, and it’s usually administrated in the hiring agency’s offices.
Watch my short video to start to get a good grasp of the CritiCall exam:
Get to Know the CritiCall Test Sections Inside Out (+ Sample Questions)
The CritiCall assessment includes up to 23 modules and may take up to 3 hours to complete. But don’t worry, you won’t be tested on all 23.
These modules vary between departments because each public safety agency chooses the specific modules you’ll be tested on.
Now:
The hiring agencies usually don’t disclose which modules will appear on their tests. So, your best bet will be practicing the most commonly used modules, which I outlined below.
Note that the CritiCall preparation pack found on this page covers all these modules completely.
CritiCall Decision-Making Test
Dispatchers must know which emergency service(s) to send to a scene. This decision-making module will challenge you with a single task – you’ll have to quickly respond to emergency messages that pop up on your screen.
However, in other test modules, you’ll perform the decision-making task alongside another one. Additionally, this part of this section is done vocally, so instead of entering the answer into the computer, you will speak into a microphone.
Here’s a snippet from the Decision-Making module in our CritiCall PrepPack™, which highly resembles what you’ll see on the actual exam:
CritiCall Data-Entry Test
The CritiCall data entry test evaluates your ability to take various information segments and place them into the correct data field. This information is provided in various formats, such as written and audio, and includes addresses, phone numbers, names, etc:
(The screenshot is taken from the CritiCall preparation pack.)
During this assessment, you are also tested on your decision-making and multitasking skills. So, you’ll have emergency messages pop out (similar to the decision-making module) while you enter data, requiring you to multitask quickly.
CritiCall Typing Test
The ability to type fast is crucial during the Criticall test (and on your future dispatch job). While there isn’t a particular CritiCall typing test module, your ability to type fast will be evaluated in several test modules, such as the Data Entry, Call Summarization, and Vocalization Summary.
How fast you need to type?
The minimum typing speed required from a 911 dispatcher candidate is set by the agency you’re applying to. Overall, it ranges from 15 to 50 WPM, or 4500 to 15,000 KPH. For 911 dispatchers, it’s recommended to reach typing speed of 35 WPM, and to be able to type for at least 5 minutes.
In our complete CritiCall PrepPack™, you’ll get exclusive typing practice tests that offer live feedback that follow you as you type and show your accuracy, WPM, keystrokes per minute, and more. This will help you track how your typing speed and accuracy improve the more you practice.
Here’s how the typing platform looks like:
CritiCall Call Summarization test
This section of the test is administered via audio. You will listen to short stories or call simulations, summarize what happened, and then enter the correct addresses into their appropriate the data field(s).
CritiCall Memory Recall Test
Memory is such a vital part of being an emergency dispatcher. Thus, in the CritiCall memory test section, you will be shown phrases, letters, or numbers and need to recall the information based on your memory. Additionally, you will need to do the same for information given in various audio segments.
CritiCall Map Reading Test
Dispatchers need to know how to read maps so they can send emergency units to the correct scene. On the CritiCall map reading test section, you’ll need to select the best route(s) while still obeying basic traffic laws, so emergency services get to the scene safely and legally.
Here’s a sample question taken from one of our CritiCall map reading practice tests:
Read the question and select the correct answer according to the map.
You are driving north on Albert St next to the shop. you take the second available right turn. Then you take the first right turn and immediately take another right turn, driving west. You skip the first intersection and turn left on the first available turn.
What do you see to your left?
A. The Library
B. The Highschool
C. The Sea
D. The Shop
In the complete PrepPack™, you’ll learn specific tactics that help reduce your solving time, as well as tips and tricks to sharpen your map reading skills.
CritiCall Spelling Test
The usage of spelling and grammar is critical in emergency services to avoid confusion and ensure that units are sent out and informed about the situation. This CritiCall spelling test section may be in both written and audio formats.
CritiCall Cross-Referencing Test
This module includes address books where you are required to enter the requested data into the correct table. Additionally, you may be required to enter data via audio recordings verbally. Regardless of the method, you must make sure to compute the data accurately.
Here’s how a Cross-Referencing practice question looks like in our PrepPack™:
CritiCall Character Checking Test
In this section, you are given two tables of similar data that look nearly identical. You will need to comb through each to figure out where they differ.
This module may also test your multitasking skills. Often, you’ll need to swift through the data while listening to an audio recording, as shown in the sample below, which is taken from the preparation pack:
CritiCall Prioritization Test
One major task of being a dispatcher is knowing which emergency is most severe. Therefore, you will be given scenarios and rank the urgency of the calls.
CritiCall Reading Comprehension Test
You will encounter various reading material as a dispatcher, whether reading training materials, data from incoming calls, or public safety services. Brushing up on these skills before the exams will be of great benefit to you.
CritiCall Sentence Clarity Test
This section is similar to the reading comprehension, where you will be given different passages that convey the same message and then need to choose the passage that makes the most sense.
CritiCall Math Test
Being savvy with numbers is an essential part of being a 911 handler/dispatcher. In this field, you are required to keep track of responding to units, the number of units in each district, the number of people at the emergency, and the number of emergency responders at a scene.
How to Pass the CritiCall Test?
The key to passing the CritiCall is knowing exactly what you’re up against and gaining the specific skills tested on this assessment.
That’s because the CritiCall is not a standard exam you see at college or high school. It’s a unique assessment that requires you to stay alert for up to three hours and handle scenarios that you don’t face daily (unless you’re a 911 operator or dispatcher.)
Moreover, the short amount of time you’re given to every question raises the stress levels and may cause you to make critical mistakes.
So, to help you pass the CritiCall test and make a huge step forward in your recruitment process, we created a complete CritiCall test prep package that focuses on three powerful tools:
- Accurate CritiCall practice test simulations covering all exam modules with realistic practice questions that look and feel like the actual thing.
- Laser-targeted drills aimed to teach you the exact skills needed to pass the test with high scores.
- Advanced tactics and solving tips to help improve your performance under time pressure.
Ready to ace the CritiCall? Let’s do it!
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Interpreting Your CritiCall Test Scores
The CritiCall test passing score varies between agencies, as every agency chooses different testing modules and has slightly different requirements.
That said, the average CritiCall passing score for most modules ranges between 70% to 75%, with some agencies raising the bar to 80% and even 90%.
Most public safety agencies don’t reveal their specific cutoff scores. So, to be on the safe side, you should strive to score as high as possible on every test module.
| Test Name | Minimum Score |
| Keyboarding | 35 WPM |
| Data Entry MT* | 3594 KPH |
| Data Entry MT (Audio)** | 1697 KPH |
| Call Summarization 1 | 70% |
| Call Summarization 2 MT* | 70% |
| Cross Referencing | 70% |
| Cross Referencing (Audio) | 70% |
| Character Comparison | 70% |
| Memory Recall | 70% |
| Memory Recall – Numeric (Audio) | 70% |
| Prioritization | 70% |
| Suburban-Rural Map Reading | 70% |
| Spelling | 70% |
| Sentence Clarity | 70% |
| Reading Comprehension | 60% |
How Is the CritiCall Test Graded?
Your CritiCall test score is graded using three metrics: Keystrokes-per Hour (KPH), Words-per-Minute (WPM), and percentage scores (%) of each module. These are accumulated into an overall score shown in percentages.
Five CritiCall Test Tips to Help You Master the Exam
- Prepare for the test using accurate practice materials that simulate the actual testing experience. Don’t rely solely on prep books and CritiCall study guides because they’re missing crucial elements of the real exam, such as the time constraints.
- Focus on learning and improving the specific skills needed to pass the exam, as outlined in the section above. Don’t waste your prep time on things that don’t matter on the real test.
- On the real exam, you’ll have very limited time to answer every question. So, focus on improving your time-management skills so you won’t crack under time pressure.
- The CritiCall Dispatcher test uses a negative marking scheme during scoring. Unless you’re informed otherwise in the instructions for each section, you’ll be penalized if you skip any questions during the test.
- Don’t practice your typing skills on a laptop. On the real test, you’ll use a regular keyboard. So, you should feel comfortable typing on it and especially using the numbers on the right, making things a lot easier.
What’s the Difference Between the CritiCall Test and Other 911 Dispatcher Tests?
The CritiCall Test is used to screen dispatcher role candidates, but it’s not the only one. There are a few other popular 911 dispatcher tests or 911 operator tests throughout the United States and Canada, such as the Dispatcher Selection Tool (DST™).
Nevertheless, the CritiCall and other dispatcher tests share several common modules, like the 911 dispatcher typing test, listening test, telecommunicator test, and more.
FAQs
The CritiCall is a difficult exam. Not only does it test skills like multitasking, decision-making, memorization, and typing speed, it does so in a very tight time limit. Moreover, the CritiCall passing scores are high, especially in more competitive agencies, which makes it harder to get accepted.
The best way to prepare for the CritiCall is by using practice tests that are as similar as possible to the real test. This will ensure you familiarize yourself with all the unique question types that appear on it and get used to working under time pressure.
The sole purpose of this assessment is to determine whether a candidate possesses the necessary skills to effectively handle the duties associated with the job. A 911 dispatcher role requires high levels of quickness, accuracy, and interpersonal skills, just to name a few.
Wear a business casual outfit for your CritiCall test. For men – tall pants, button-down shirts, sweaters, leather shoes, leather belt, and a tie. For women – tall pants or conservative-length skirts, sweaters, twinsets, cardigans, knit shirts, or a professional dress.
Every hiring department has its own retesting policy with no one-size-fits-all policy for the number of times you can take the CritiCall test. However, failing the CritiCall will usually result in the termination of your application. To re-apply, you’ll have to retake the test.
It depends on every agency’s hiring schedule. Some hand you the results immediately, while others send out the results only several weeks after all testing dates have been completed.
Every 911 dispatcher must have a good grasp of safety procedures and telecommunication systems, as well as excellent map-reading skills and geography knowledge. Besides that, there are certain dispatcher skills, such as attention to detail, multitasking, and fast typing, that 911 dispatchers must hold to perform their duties efficiently.
You will only be asked to complete the dispatcher test if you have already submitted your application for a specific role. This test is computer-based and will likely take place inside of a simulated workplace environment.