The research and writing of this page were contributed by HL Contreras, a former Public Safety Dispatcher who worked for six years at NCSO and MCCCD, four of them as a trainer of new 911 dispatchers and operators.
If you have a question about your upcoming CritiCall test, feel free to send an email to our CritiCall test expert. We usually respond within 24 hours.
The CritiCall's purpose is to determine the likelihood of you being a successful dispatcher or call-taker. As most candidates arrive with zero experience, the assessment is used to weed out applicants who don't reach the pre-determined minimum scores on every module.
The CritiCall test is a difficult exam, especially if you've never done anything similar before. It simulates the challenging day-to-day tasks that any dispatcher is required to do and it does so under immense time pressure.
Despite these difficulties, it's definitely possible to train yourself, improve your skills, and increase your chance of passing the exam. And the CritiCall preparation pack that’s on this page will be your best companion in this process.
The CritiCall test consists of multiple "modules." Each module is designed to assess specific skills and every agency can choose the modules that are most important to them.
Additionally, every agency and department can choose its own passing scores for each module.
(More on the passing scores later on this page)
The company that made the CritiCall exam, Biddle Consulting (administered by Test Genius), created 25 different modules. However, most agencies choose to use up to 10 modules only, and they are usually similar across departments.
JobTestPrep's CritiCall practice tests cover the most common modules and their test format, so you can rest assured that you'll be fully prepared for anything.
Now, let's go over the most frequently used modules so you'll start to get the hang of them.
Use the quick navigation table below to jump to a section that interests you:
CritiCall Typing Test (Keyboarding)
The ability to type fast is essential during the CritiCall dispatcher test and in your future dispatch job.
The minimum typing speed required from a 911 dispatcher candidate is set by the agency you’re applying to. That said, it’s recommended to reach a typing speed of 35 WPM and above, and to be able to type at this speed for at least 5 minutes.
The CritiCall practice pack includes a unique typing software that follows you as you type and shows your accuracy, WPM, and more. This will help you track how your typing speed and accuracy improve the more you practice.
Here's how it looks:
CritiCall Decision-Making Test
Here's an example from the actual test:
And here's how it looks in JobTestPrep's prep pack that includes dedicated decision-making practice simulations:
The emergency messages on JobTestPrep's CritiCall practice resemble the different scenarios on the actual test and have the same time limits. This allows you to practice with realistic conditions and sharpen your decision-making skills under time pressure.
CritiCall Data Entry Test
Here's how the first Data Entry version (non-audio) looks in JobTestPrep's practice pack:
And this is how the audio Data Entry sounds in the prep package (will open in a new tab): Data Entry with Audio
JobTestPrep’s CritiCall preparation pack includes thorough practice for the Data Entry part, which is one of the most important modules of the exam. This practice will help improve your data entry skills and your multitasking abilities (multitask between data entering and responding to emergency messages).
CritiCall Call Summarization Test
Ready to try a Call Summarization sample question?
Listen to this recording, taken from JobTestPrep’s CritiCall practice tests, and then answer the following question. Try to listen to it only once, as on the real test you’ll have only one shot as well.
How many kids are inside the vehicle?
The Call Summarization is a vital section on the CritiCall test and appears almost on any agency’s test. That’s why JobTestPrep gave extra focus to this module and created 5 dedicated practice simulations and a thorough study guide. These practice materials have been vastly updated in March 2022.
CritiCall Cross-Referencing Test
Here’s how the practice questions look on JobTestPrep’s prep kit:
You’ll find six Cross-Ref. practice simulations (three written and three audible) in JobTestPrep’s prep package.
CritiCall Memory Recall Test
This module assesses your short term memory and is considered one of the hardest modules on the CritiCall test. It can appear in three types:
First Type:
In the first type, you’ll need to memorize a list with three pairs of words for 15 seconds. Then, you’ll be asked to match one word from the list with the word it was previously paired together.
For example, you may see the following list:
PENNY
GUM
NICKEL
CANDY
DIME
SUCKER
And then might be asked, “The word paired with NICKEL is…”
Second Type:
The second type is audio recall. For example, you may hear “5-B-3-6-G-1”. Then, there will be a 2-second pause and you’ll need to type what you’ve just heard.
Third Type:
In the third type, you’ll hear a series of 7-digit phone numbers (e.g “476-9472”) and you’ll need to type what you’ve heard in the exact same order.
* JobTestPrep’s CritiCall prep course includes practice simulations for all three versions.
Important: you must not write down any information or take notes on this module. You must recall the information using your memory only. Writing down anything during this portion of the test will result in immediate failure for the entire test.
CritiCall Prioritization Test
See this example, which resembles questions from the real test:
Report of teenagers throwing rocks at parking cars.
In the CritiCall practice kit, you’ll find 5 Prioritization practice simulations that simulate the question types seen on the actual test.
CritiCall Map Reading Test
Try the following map reading question from the CritiCall practice kit, which resembles questions from the actual test:
What is the most direct route from the west entrance of the cafe to the intersection of Third Downhill street - while obeying traffic signs?
JobTestPrep’s map reading questions strive to replicate the real test’s questions. Practicing them will improve your map reading skills, calculate routes and follow directions.
CritiCall Sentence Clarity Test
In this module, you’ll see two passages and you must choose the passage that is more clearly written.
See this example that resembles questions from the actual test:
Choose the passage below that is most clear:
A. Growling and barking, the dog tore up the coat while the man watched helplessly.
B. Growling and barking, the man watched helplessly as the dog tore up the coat.
JobTestPrep’s practice includes 6 sentence clarity practice simulations to help sharpen your grammar skills and score higher on this module.
CritiCall Reading Comprehension Test
Check the following reading comprehension practice question taken from JobTestPrep’s CritiCall test practice:
Last year, road fatalities decreased by 9%. According to the latest figures published by the Department of Transportation today, this year has seen the lowest number of deaths in road traffic since records began.
However, road deaths are only the tip of the iceberg, because for every death on US roads there are 10 serious injuries such as damage to the brain or spinal cord. Country by country statistics show that the number of road deaths per year still varies greatly across the US with the countries reporting the lowest number of fatalities being California, Oregon, Washington, Vermont, and Maine, with only 30 deaths per million inhabitants.
Vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, and users in certain age groups, notably the elderly, are particularly affected by serious road injuries.
Which of the following statements is correct?
JobTestPrep’s CritiCall Reading Comprehension prep includes 10 practice simulations, ranging from basic to advanced level to ensure you master any Reading question on the test.
CritiCall Spelling Test
In the Spelling section, you’ll be presented with a sentence that has a missing word. An audio recording will read the full sentence and you will have to type the missing word based on what you heard.
Try the following practice question from the CritiCall prep package, which resembles questions from the real test:
Click here to listen to the audio. Then complete the missing word:
Workers should wear gloves while working with __________ chemicals.
JobTestPrep’s CritiCall prep package includes 12 Spelling practice simulations to help you pass this section with no sweat.
CritiCall Character Comparison Test
Try the following practice question taken from the prep package, which highly resembles questions from the actual exam:
From the alternatives below, choose the one which is exactly the same as:
2C4GM68475R65969
JobTestPrep’s CritiCall prep pack includes 10 Char. Comparison practice simulations with dozens of questions similar to the above.
CritiCall Math Test
Check the following practice question that resembles questions from the actual CritiCall test:
Maria started to read the newspaper at 4:24 p.m.
The reading took her 57 minutes.
Nine minutes before she finished reading the newspaper, the phone rang.
What time was it when the phone rang?
The CritiCall prep package includes 8 Math practice simulations to help sharpen your numerical and basic math skills, even if you haven’t touched math for years.
Try more CritiCall sample questions in this free CritiCall practice test.
As you’ve just seen, the CritiCall consists of numerous modules, many of which are challenging and require you to think on your feet.
From our experience with thousands of job candidates, the best method to ensure you're fully prepared to ace this test is by using accurate practice.
That’s why we offer you a comprehensive prep pack that includes dozens of practice exams that simulate the actual exam and give you hands-on experience.
Plus, it’s backed up by an ironclad money-back guarantee in case the real exam is different from the practice simulations.
The CritiCall assessment is used as a major screening tool as part of the application process, but it’s not the only one. There are a few other popular 911 emergency 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 skills tests share several common sections, like the keyboarding test, call summarization test, data entry test, and more.
The CritiCall test normally takes between an hour to an hour and a half, but in some cases might extend to up to three hours. The length depends on the modules the agency chooses to use, in addition to other factors such as your typing and reading speed.
You should dress comfortably for sitting. Business casual would be the best option. The people who administer the test will be most likely your supervisors, managers, or co-workers. So, it’s always best to make a nice impression.
Every hiring department has its own retesting policy with no one-size-fits-all policy for the number of times you can retake it. In some agencies, you can retake the CritiCall after six months, and in others it’s possible only when they’re re-opening a position.
Your CritiCall test location will be given by your hiring agency or department. As of 2021, some agencies administer an online CritiCall test, due to social distancing reasons.
Your CritiCall test score is graded using three metrics: Keystrokes-per Hour (KPH), Words-per-Minute (WPM), and percentage scores (%) of each section. These are accumulated into an overall score shown in percentages.
The average CritiCall passing score for most portions ranges between 70% to 75%. Some agencies raise the bar to 80% and even 90% in the most competitive ones. The cutoff scores are usually determined by testing existing dispatchers and setting the benchmarks according to their scores.
It depends on the hiring department. Many agencies will send you a failure message on the test day. Others will send you an invitation to the next hiring stage. And the minority will show your exact score at the end of each section.
The results’ processing time depends on every agency’s hiring schedule. Some hand the results immediately to candidates, while others send out the results only several weeks after all testing dates have been completed.
Use the following tips and prep strategies to increase your chances of scoring high:
Test takers who pass the CritiCall test will face a rather lengthy hiring process. It may slightly differ between departments, but the road to becoming a 911 dispatcher is usually the same.
Here are the hiring stages after completing the CritiCall dispatcher test: