DFES Firefighter Exam Prep Course (2026)
The DFES Firefighter Assessment is a pre-employment assessment used by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) to screen Career Firefighter applicants, delivered online, and completed as Stage Two of the recruitment process - after the initial online application stage and before the Beep Test, tunnel crawl, and circuit assessments.
The Stage Two session covers a cognitive assessment, most commonly comprised of verbal reasoning, numerical reasoning, error checking, spatial awareness, mechanical reasoning, and diagrammatic reasoning, alongside a personality assessment measuring behavioural traits against the Firefighter Success Profile. Prep sites report the cognitive assessment includes a game-based format called Cognify, though this isn't confirmed by DFES directly.
Try our complete DFES Firefighter PrepPack and practice library include timed section simulations covering the assessment's key sections.
DFES Firefighter Aptitude Test Prep Course
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What's included in our DFES Firefighter Assessment PrepPack?
- A full set of game-style practice drills covering verbal, numerical, and abstract reasoning, built to build the speed and reaction-time comfort needed for a timed, game-based aptitude assessment
- A Cognitive Ability practice course in standard question-and-answer format, covering verbal reasoning, numerical reasoning, error checking, spatial awareness, mechanical reasoning, and diagrammatic reasoning, plus a full-length timed simulation
- A Personality practice course, including guidance on answering honestly and consistently, and single-trait drills to help you understand how these assessments work
- Situational Judgement practice tests in a FACT-style format, plus a firefighter values guide and strategy guidance, built around realistic firefighting and workplace scenarios
- Detailed answer explanations throughout, including for questions you answer correctly
- Instant online access, practice on any device, at your own pace
Inside the Prep Course - Preview
We've created a comprehensive DFES Firefighter prep course designed to help you succeed. Our course closely mimics the actual test conditions and platform, allowing you to identify and improve your weaker areas. With this focused preparation, you'll be confident and ready to excel on test day.
Why preparation matters: DFES's Stage Two assessment is strictly timed, covering verbal reasoning, numerical reasoning, error checking, spatial awareness, mechanical reasoning, and diagrammatic reasoning in a single sitting, with no pausing the clock to think something through and no going back to a section once it ends. Our practice tests are timed to match those same real conditions, so when assessment day comes, the pressure of the countdown won't be something you're feeling for the first time.
What is the DFES Fire & Rescue Written Exam?
The DFES Firefighter Assessment is a pre-employment assessment used by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) to screen Career Firefighter applicants, delivered online as Stage Two of the recruitment process - after the initial online application stage and before the Beep Test, tunnel crawl, and circuit assessments. The session covers a cognitive assessment, most commonly comprised of verbal reasoning, numerical reasoning, error checking, spatial awareness, mechanical reasoning, and diagrammatic reasoning, alongside a personality assessment measuring behavioural traits against the Firefighter Success Profile.
DFES firefighters respond to emergencies across Western Australia involving structure fires, vehicle accidents, and rescues, and assist with search-and-rescue operations on land and at sea alongside WA Police Force and St John WA. The role also includes community education, property inspections for fire safety compliance, and bushfire mitigation activities. The role calls for teamwork, physical fitness, and strong communication skills, and successful recruits commit to 15 weeks of training at the WA Fire and Emergency Services Academy in Forrestfield. More detail on the role is available on DFES's own careers page.
Recruitment runs through a staged process: after you apply via the DFES website or Jobs WA, shortlisted applicants sit the cognitive and personality assessment covered on this page. Candidates who clear this stage move on to the Beep Test, a shuttle-run cardiovascular test where a level of 8.7 must be achieved to progress, a tunnel crawl completed in breathing apparatus and a frosted mask within 10 minutes, and a circuit assessment of physical tasks completed in breathing apparatus or a 14kg weighted vest. This is followed by a written assessment task, speed interviews, and panel interviews, then final validations covering driving proficiency, medical assessment, and referee and police checks.
What’s Inside Our DFES Test PrepPack
Using our DFES Firefighter PrepPack, you get:
- A full set of game-style practice drills, covering verbal, numerical, and abstract reasoning, built to build the speed and reaction-time comfort needed for a timed, game-based aptitude assessment
- A Cognitive Ability practice course in standard question-and-answer format, covering verbal reasoning, numerical reasoning, error checking, spatial awareness, mechanical reasoning, and diagrammatic reasoning, plus a full-length timed simulation
- A Personality practice course, including guidance on answering honestly and consistently, and single-trait drills to help you understand how these assessments work
- Situational Judgement - FACT-style, scenario-based questions exploring how you'd respond to realistic firefighting and workplace situations, supported by a firefighter values guide and a full test guide, with practice tests and answer explanations throughout
- A Values Guide, helping you understand the qualities firefighter assessments look for, with an introduction, practice modules, and a concluding test
- Detailed answer explanations for every question, including questions you answer correctly
- A proven platform with over 30 years of experience (since 1992) that has helped thousands of candidates pass firefighter entrance exams and fulfill their dream of becoming a firefighter
About JobTestPrep
At JobTestPrep, we've helped thousands of candidates pass competitive hiring assessments since 1992. Our materials are designed by psychometric experts and updated based on real candidate feedback to reflect the latest test formats.
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What are the Sections of the DFES Firefighter Aptitude Test?
Cognitive Assessment
Tests your suitability for the academic content of Trainee Firefighter School, most commonly covering verbal reasoning, numerical reasoning, error checking, spatial awareness, mechanical reasoning, and diagrammatic reasoning.
Personality Assessment
Explores your behavioural traits and preferences, assessing your fit against the competencies outlined in the Firefighter Success Profile and your ability to handle the demands of the role.
DFES Aptitude Test FAQs
The DFES Firefighter Assessment is Stage Two of the DFES Career Firefighter recruitment process. It follows the initial online application (Stage One) and comes before the Beep Test, tunnel crawl, and circuit assessments (Stage Three).
The cognitive assessment is designed to assess your suitability to undertake the academic content of the Trainee Firefighter School. The most common areas covered are verbal reasoning, numerical reasoning, error checking, spatial awareness, mechanical reasoning, and diagrammatic reasoning.
The personality assessment explores several behavioural dimensions to assess your suitability against the competencies outlined in the Firefighter Success Profile and your ability to deal with the demands of the job.
You will be required to book your own session time and date, so booking early gives you a better chance of getting your preferred slot. If you're scheduled and can't attend, you may be able to rebook if a place is available, but if not, no special consideration is made and you'll be removed from the process.
Yes. DFES reserves the right to change the recruitment stages, including throughout the selection process, with minimal notice. It's also worth noting that not all applicants who pass one stage automatically progress to the next.
You will have instant access to your PrepPack, which includes all your practice tests. You can start practicing immediately, learning from detailed explanations and guides, while tracking your performance with accurate, tailored questions to help you understand the correct approach to solving your assessment.
After your purchase, you will receive two emails. The first will contain your payment receipt, and the second will include a login link along with information about our general terms, conditions, and refund policy. To access your PrepPack, simply log in and reset your password. You can use the prep pack as many times as you want. Your progress is saved in your account, allowing you to revisit previous attempts. Our performance tracker helps you focus on the test sections that require more attention. You can purchase more than one pack. If you are unsure at the time of purchase, you can always upgrade later. Additionally, we offer a Premium Subscription that allows access to up to three PrepPacks at an affordable price. You can also extend your practice period. Simply contact our customer success team via c.serv@jobtestprep.com.
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Customer reviews
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Based on 69 reviews
The content was helpful and relevant, I just wish it was longer and included more for the price. I feel like I didn't get much help out of the practice exam.
Still working on it
Scheduled my test 6 days before the closing window and prepared using Job Test Prep! Was able to score in the high 80s! Had I not prepared with these practices, I may have not score as high as I did! Also I would not have been prepared and confident as I was taking the test!
Very similar to the test style. Helped me alot
I completed as much of the prep test material as i could before my real aptitude test.
This prep pack helped me prepare and you are leaving a stone unturned by not preparing yourself.
Just do it
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