Free CritiCall Practice Test: Questions, Answers, and Explanations
Updated: August 2026
The CritiCall Practice Test on this page was built using information gathered over years of working with 911 dispatch candidates and recruits. It has been written and approved by our psychometric experts.
The practice test is free, includes timed sections, focuses on the most commonly used CritiCall modules according to our surveys, and provides explanations and solving tips for the real exam.
Good Luck!
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Free CritiCall Practice Test - Questions, Answers, and Explanations
Each section below includes CritiCall sample questions and answers, helpful tips, and detailed explanations to help you understand the reasoning behind each correct response.
This page offers a free preview of the key topics and question types you may encounter, so you can begin preparing with confidence.
We’ll start with four of the most commonly used CritiCall modules, followed by the additional test modules that may appear in an agency’s customized assessment.
Call Summarization Practice
In the CritiCall Call Summarization test, you will listen to spoken information, such as a short narrative or simulated emergency call. Your task is to summarize the key information, identify important facts, and accurately type or use the details you hear.
Depending on the version selected by the hiring agency, you may also need to answer multiple-choice questions, enter caller information, or respond to emergency decision-making alerts while listening.
Depending on the version selected by the hiring agency, you may need to:
- Type notes or enter caller details while listening
- Answer multiple-choice questions about the call
- Ignore irrelevant information and identify important facts
- Respond to emergency decision-making alerts while completing the task
CritiCall includes several Call Summarization modules, including Call Summarization 1, Call Summarization 2, multitasking, and E911 versions. The exact format varies by agency.
Tip: Focus on the Who, What, Where, and When
When listening to a simulated emergency call, ignore repetition and irrelevant details.
Focus on:
- Who: The caller, victim, witness, or suspect
- What: The main incident or emergency
- Where: The address, location, or nearby landmark
- When: Whether it is happening now or occurred earlier
Take brief notes when permitted, especially names, numbers, addresses, and descriptions. Then summarize the most important facts in one or two clear sentences.
Need help taking faster, more effective notes? The full CritiCall PrepPack includes a practical note-taking guide designed to help you capture essential details without trying to write down every word.
Decision Making Practice
During certain CritiCall modules, an emergency message may appear. Follow only the decision rules provided in your test instructions.
- Select one response: Police, Fire, EMS, or Utility.
- Respond within 15 seconds.
- Apply only the rules supplied by the test.
- Do not rely on real-world assumptions about how an incident should be handled.
For both this section and the prioritization modules, there are objective right-and-wrong answers.
Sometimes you can arrive at these answers through common sense, but it's recommended you learn the rules in advance.
- Police: attempted, threatened, or actual physical harm to another person, or damage to another person’s property.
- Fire: immediate signs of fire, a fire alarm, or a trapped or confined person needing rescue.
- EMS: an emergency medical condition requiring medically trained intervention.
- Utility: a broken or malfunctioning public water, electric, natural-gas, or sewer system.
Typing Test Practice
Some CritiCall tests assess how quickly and accurately you can enter information such as names, addresses, phone numbers, and license plates.
Practice touch typing without looking at the keyboard, focusing on accuracy before gradually increasing your speed. Also practice typing both written and spoken information for several minutes at a time.
Try It!
Our course includes a realistic typing simulator and a library of practice texts.
Try this free typing-speed test using a short, easy-to-medium text about giraffes.
For the best experience, use a desktop or laptop with a physical keyboard rather than a mobile phone.
Tip: Practice During Your Day
One way to practice your typing speed and accuracy is to type along with an audiobook or podcast. This option lets you stay entertained while you hone your skills, which in turn helps you maintain your motivation for longer. Simply let the narrator stay a few words ahead of you and see if you can keep up with good accuracy.
Most audio platforms let you adjust the narration speed, so you can start slow and build up as you improve. Some free-to-use AI tools can even generate a podcast for you on a topic you find interesting.
Data Entry Practice
The CritiCall Data Entry test assesses how quickly and accurately you enter information into the correct fields. This may include names, addresses, telephone numbers, license plate numbers, VINs, and other letters and numbers.
The information may be presented in different ways:
- On screen: Copy information from one side of the screen into the corresponding fields.
- By audio: Listen to a simulated emergency call and enter the details you hear.
Some Data Entry tasks may also include emergency messages at the bottom of the screen. You must temporarily shift your attention, respond according to the provided decision rules, and then continue entering data.
These interruptions assess your ability to multitask while maintaining speed and accuracy. When a response time is shown, answer before it expires to avoid losing points.
Try It!
Take a sample Data Entry simulation with multitasking.
Map Reading Practice
The CritiCall Map Reading test assesses your ability to interpret maps, follow directions, and identify locations accurately. These skills are essential for 911 dispatchers, who may need to guide responders to an emergency using cardinal directions, such as north and south, as well as relative directions, such as left and right.
Map Reading questions typically involve two task types:
- Best Route: Identify the shortest or most direct route between two locations.
- Orientation: Follow a series of directions from a starting point and determine the final location.
Our CritiCall Preparation Pack includes a detailed Map Reading guide and 13 practice tests featuring hundreds of questions across a variety of map styles.
Map Reading - Questions 1 - 2
Answer the following questions based on this map:
Map Reading - Question 1
You exit the mall and turn east to Rosewell Ave. Take the first right turn and after three blocks turn right. You then take the next two turns on your way to the right. What do you see to your right?
The correct answer is (B).
Map Reading - Question 2
You are at the Fire station. You are getting a report that a kid is stuck on the roof of the Elementary school building and needs to be rescued. What is the most direct route from the fire station to the Webster Ave entrance of the school if you exit the fire station turning north to N81 St?
The correct answer is (A).
Map Reading - Questions 3 - 4
Answer the following questions based on this map:
Map Reading - Question 3
You are at your house and you want to get to the barber shop at Shady St. You drive east on Markel St, then turn south and take the first possible turn left. What do you see to your right?
The correct answer is (D).
Map Reading - Question 4
You are at the police station and you are asked to get to the Rose Garden and bring with you an extra police officer uniform. To get the uniform you have to get to your house first and then drive to the Rose Garden. What is the most direct route that goes through your house on Markel St and ends in the Poplar St entrance to the park?
The correct answer is (D).
Cross Referencing Practice
The CritiCall Cross-Referencing section measures how quickly and accurately you can locate alphabetic or numeric information in a written list. You may receive a written or spoken request and must find the corresponding name, number, code, or other detail.
What It Measures:
- Information-searching speed
- Attention to detail
- Alphabetic and numeric accuracy
Use the data in the following table to answer the questions below:
| Last Name | First Name | Address | Phone No. | VIN | License Plate |
| GREEN |
JEFFREY |
9123 WILLIAMS STREET | 361-946-9273 | 2GCEK19K5P1218458 | 6XJX353 |
| THOMPSON | CARL | 3891 FRANKLIN AVENUE | 443-762-7687 | 1HVBDZRM8NH459321 | 6ZXA459 |
| CARTER | DIAMOND | 3130 ESSEX COURT | 713-678-5225 | 5J6RE48558L048775 | RMJ 6699 |
| SCOTT | FINNEGAN | 630 WILLOW AVENUE | 774-489-5790 | 1FAFP33Z24W145616 | 445-YUR |
| CABLER | MIRANDA | 2055 ROUTE 30 | 398-343-1204 | WAUGFAFC7EN072017 | 6XAB175 |
| PARKER | RYAN | 3644 CLAY STREET | 663-601-8107 | 5XXGM4A72DG215499 | 6YVH144 |
| WESTCOTT | BRIANNA | 6632 COUNTRY CLUB ROAD | 385-452-9922 | 5NPEC4AB8DH507922 | 7CPT601 |
| MOORE | NATALIE | 2397 ROSE STREET | 269-743-9685 | 1G1AB5F52A7117210 | ATW V31 |
| MITCHELL | HUNTER | 9289 ROUTE 30 | 741-304-7424 | 2MEFM75W01X707833 | 7BSR491 |
| CARTER | HOLLY | 1255 WHITE STREET | 696-724-7942 | JS3TX92V124195237 | 7AVM897 |
| CABLER | GEORGE | 6334 WHITE STREET | 310-446-8695 | 1C3EL46X04N248206 | A38 7LG |
Tip: Chunk the Search – Don’t Scan Randomly
When you cross‑reference two tables, your brain naturally wants to jump back and forth between them, which wastes time and causes mistakes. Instead:
- Lock on the key identifier first (case number, name, or license plate).
- Isolate it in chunks – scan down one table vertically until you find it, then immediately cross over to the other table.
- Use your finger or cursor as an anchor to avoid losing your place as you switch tables.
By treating the task like two mini one‑direction searches rather than frantic back‑and‑forth scanning, you’ll maintain speed and accuracy under the timer.
Character Comparison Practice
The next module aims to test your attention to detail and focus. You will need to be methodical to ensure that no mistakes are made.
Tip: Use a fixed scanning order to avoid mistakes.
Compare characters left to right (or top to bottom) every time. Having a consistent method shortens your reaction times because your brain immediately knows what to do. It often helps to scan letters and numbers separately.
Common traps include transposed digits (e.g., 66182 → 66812), swapped letters (ZZT → ZZT vs. ZZR), and subtle name misspellings (Rowan → Rowen).
If something doesn’t match, mark it immediately—don’t rely on memory to revisit it later.
Probability Practice
The next module we will cover is the Probability Module, which requires both numerical and reasoning skills.
Tip: Convert words to fractions quickly.
Probability questions often describe chances using words (“2 out of 5,” “half the calls,” “1 in 4”). Rewriting these as either fractions or percentages as soon as you run into them can often help make the math clearer and find the ideal course of action faster.
For example, “1 in 4” = 25%, “2 in 5” = 40%. This speeds up decision‑making and prevents mistakes under time pressure.
Prioritization Practice
The Prioritization module will present you with different scenarios of varying urgency levels.
Prioritizing scenarios correctly is crucial and may be the difference between a successful response and a disaster.
Like the Decision-Making module, this section has objectively correct answers, based on a set of rules.
To follow them, you need to consider two separate dimensions: the time element (the first row in the diagram below) and the response urgency (the second row).
- Life Safety Comes First
- If a situation poses an immediate threat to life or serious injury, it takes top priority.
- Examples: A shooting in progress, a heart attack, a house fire with people inside.
- Crimes in Progress Are a Higher Priority
- Active crimes (e.g., robbery in progress, assault happening now) are more urgent than those reported after the fact.
- Ongoing situations often require multiple services (e.g., police + EMS).
- Property Damage Is Secondary
- Incidents involving only property damage (e.g., a car break-in from last night) are lower priority than threats to people.
- These might still require dispatch, but not urgently.
Prioritization - Question 1
- A man calls in reporting about his loud neighbors. He claims they are having a loud argument. Sounds of glass shattering and a scream for help were heard.
- The municipal garbage men crew found a dead homeless man in an alley in the city's commercial area. His corpse had signs of brutal violence on his head and chest. Gang graffiti was sprayed next to him.
Which situation is more urgent?
The correct answer is (A).
In prioritization questions, When deciding, follow scales. These scales will help you determine which scenario is the most urgent:
Scenario A depicts a possibility of abuse and violence that could be stopped (screams for help). A plausible outcome of this scenario is serious injury and physical harm (code 1).
Scenario B is an incident, which presents a dead homeless person. This incident is also code 1, but this case already happened, and the criminals are known. According to the time scale, incident A has priority on this call.
Tip: Use “Tier Grouping” Instead of Ranking One-by-One.
First, group all items into three urgency tiers—high, medium, low—based on the given criteria. Once grouped, rank only within each tier.
This method prevents constant back‑and‑forth comparisons and helps you stay fast and consistent, especially when there are many similar‑looking tasks.
Mathematics Practice
The CritiCall Mathematics section measures your ability to solve job-related calculations using addition, subtraction, and percentages.
Questions may involve real-life scenarios such as calculating distances, times, and amounts.
What It Measures:
- Basic arithmetic accuracy
- Percentage calculations
- Applying math to practical situations
Tip: Strengthen Your Mental Math
Calculators are not allowed on the CritiCall test, so practise addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, percentages, and decimals until they feel automatic. This will help you focus on solving the problem rather than the calculation itself.
Our CritiCall PrepPack includes a complete mental-math guide with shortcuts, techniques, and targeted practice.
Memory Recall Practice
CritiCall memory recall questions require listening to voice recordings of letters and numbers, and then repeating the recorded sequence.
Tip:
Break long letter-and-number sequences into small chunks, for example: JS-97-QR and repeat them mentally in the same order.
Reading Comprehension Practice
911 Dispatchers require more than just prioritization, typing, and summarizing skills.
The next module - Reading Comprehension - assesses the verbal skills necessary to understand and respond to texts. As the examples demonstrate, reading comprehension requires careful attention to minutiae, verbal proficiency, an understanding of context, and summarization techniques.
Some of the passages may be lengthier, contain more details, or be at a higher register of English
Reading Comprehension - Answer the questions below according to the following text:
Lots of people start running in their 30s or older, and it is one of the few sports in which you can improve with age. One example is the great Jack Foster, a self-styled "ancient marathoner”, who ran for the first time at the age of 32, and by the age of 40 found himself picking up a silver medal at the Christchurch Commonwealth marathon in 1974.
Of course, while we all may hold secret hopes of uncovering a latent talent, most of us are unlikely to progress to an elite level. But, whether we like to compete on a weekend or prefer to go on solitary excursions through the countryside, the message is that age is far less of a barrier in running than it is in other sports. With running, even if taken up later in life without any previous experience, it really is realistic to expect improvement with age.
Tip: Scan the Questions First, Then Read with Purpose.
Before reading the passage, glance at the questions so you know what information to look for—this prevents wasting time on irrelevant details and helps you read actively, not passively. As you read, mentally tag sentences that answer those questions instead of trying to memorize everything.
Sentence Clarity Practice
Next is another verbal module – Sentence Clarity, which focuses on using proper English and the ability to rephrase or clarify sentences.
The Sentence Clarity module requires excellent verbal skills, proficiency in English, and a sharp eye for errors. It involves deciding how a sentence should be phrased and rephrasing it in the most effective way.
Tip:
The clearest sentence is the one that communicates the idea most directly and unambiguously, even if it’s longer or uses simpler words.
Eliminate options that introduce extra details, vague pronouns, or complicated phrasing—clarity is about precision and ease of understanding, not brevity.
Spelling Practice
The following module is another verbal module – Spelling.
The Spelling module requires proper English, verbal proficiency, and listening abilities. The questions, which involve sentence completion or correction, could include either recorded or written words.
Tip: Visualize the word in context
If you’re unsure of a spelling, picture how the word would appear in a sentence or on a sign (e.g., “Police Department” or “Emergency Call”). Seeing it in a familiar context often triggers recognition and helps eliminate options that look wrong even if you can’t explain why.
More About the CritiCall Dispatcher Exam
The CritiCall is the most popular pre-employment test used to screen applicants for 911 dispatcher and call-taker roles across the U.S and Canada.
What Is the CritiCall Assessment Test?
The CritiCall Test is the premier recruitment exam for 911 dispatchers in the United States and Canada. It is designed to simulate the fast-paced environment of emergency call centers.
The CritiCall's purpose is to measure candidates' ability to think quickly, maintain their calm under pressure, and make tough calls.
Accroding to Biddle, the creators of CritiCall, their test uses a three-dimensional approach by gauging candidate hard skills, soft skills, and personality traits. This is why the testing platform is called CritiCall 3D.
Test Structure:
The test is customizable, with every agency choosing a unique combination of test modules.
Test Time:
The CritiCall's duration varies by agency, but it usually takes 1-3 hours.
Difficulty:
CritiCall is considered a challenging test by most aspiring dispatchers who have taken it.
The Test’s modules
The CritiCall has a unique feature:
Agencies that use the assessment gain access to a library of "test modules". They can choose which modules to include, and in what order.
Each module focuses on a specific skill required for emergency dispatch and telecommunications roles. This ensures that you are thoroughly tested on the core competencies that will help you succeed in the field.
We recommend practicing all modules, even though some may not be part of your test.
This extra practice will not only help you prepare for any surprises but also boost your overall abilities and confidence, setting you up for success in your career.
How the CritiCall is Scored and What Is a Good Score?
There is no overall CritiCall score. Instead, each module is scored independently, using different methods depending on the module itself. Your agency sets the passing threshold for each module and determines which modules are essential for passing and which are just there for data analysis or to break ties between two candidates.
What counts as a good score on the CritiCall varies by agency, but it's usually around 80% correct answers on multiple-choice modules and 3000 KPH or 35 WPM for throughput modules like typing and data entry.
Want to learn more about how CritiCall scores work? Read our CritiCall Scoring blog article.
Our CritiCall Prep Course
Our pack provides over 150 test simulations, tutorials and test guides.
• Sample tests for every CritiCall module
• Practice questions in varying difficulty levels
• Full solutions to sample questions, full feedback reports after each simulation
• The real CritiCall alternates between the Data Entry Module and a multitasking task to test your ability to shift your focus. On our pack, you can practice Data Entry with multitasking, to simulate the real test, or without it.
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FAQs
Retake policies vary—some agencies allow retries after 30–90 days, others limit attempts. Check with your hiring agency for specifics.
Agencies select 11–20+ modules. Review your test invitation or call the agency’s non-emergency line to confirm.
Arrive early with ID; expect a computer-based test with headphones for audio sections. No personal items (e.g., pens, paper) are allowed.
CritiCall does not publicize its pass-fail ratio. Many claims about the exact failure rate are unreliable. While we don't have an exact figure, there seems to be a consensus that most do not pass on their first try. This is a big part of the reason why practice can be a worthwhile investment.
The CritiCall is not a unified test format; it differs between agencies and call centers. With that said, all forms of the assessment require high levels of concentration, attention to detail, and multitasking skills. Test-takers often feel surprised and frustrated by the test's difficulty.
Requirements vary by agency. Most will only move forward with candidates who pass every section individually, using their own minimum score thresholds — typically around 80% for percentage-based sections, and 3,000 KPH or 35 WPM for typing-speed sections. This means failing even one section can result in an overall failed test.
Use our free sample questions above to mimic the test’s format.
The CritiCall test isn't an intelligence test, nor is it an assessment of your existing dispatcher knowledge. Instead, it measures the core skills needed for 911 dispatcher and call-taker roles: accurate typing, data entry, listening, memory, multitasking, decision-making, map reading, and clear communication under time pressure.
Because each agency chooses its own combination of CritiCall modules, your test may not include every section. Still, most versions assess how quickly and accurately you can process information in job-like emergency scenarios.
For a full breakdown of each skill and module, see our guide to what the CritiCall test measures.
California agencies may use the POST Entry-Level Dispatcher Selection Test Battery to evaluate verbal ability, reasoning, memory, and perceptual ability. Learn about its test sections and preparation options in our California POST Dispatcher Test guide.
Applicants for NYPD 911 operator positions may need to take the Police Communications Technician Exam. Review the skills assessed, sample questions, and available practice materials on our NYC Police Communications Technician Exam page.
The Ontario Provincial Police uses CritiCall to assess candidates for 911 dispatcher positions. Our Ontario Provincial Police CritiCall guide explains the test structure, commonly used modules, and relevant practice options.
ECOMM National is an emergency communications assessment that evaluates skills such as call-taking, recording important information, prioritization, multitasking, and problem-solving. Read our ECOMM test guide to understand its main sections and how it differs from CritiCall.
CritiCall is one of several assessments used to screen dispatcher candidates. Our 911 Dispatcher Test guide covers the recruitment process, common test types, skills you may be assessed on, and general preparation advice.
Next Generation 911, or NG911, is changing the technology and information available to emergency communication centers. Learn more about NG911 and how it may affect CritiCall and dispatcher preparation.
CritiCall 3D is a framework that evaluates applicants across operational dispatcher skills, personality traits, and situational judgment. Read our complete guide to CritiCall 3D to understand what the term means and what applicants may encounter during the hiring process.
Useful Links
If you are interested in a career with the force, check out some of our police-related pages:
