FireTEAM Practice Test: Free Study Guide [2026]
Updated: February, 2026
The Ergometrics FireTEAM (Fire Training, Entry-level Assessment and Measurement) Test is a video-based cognitive and behavioral assessment used by 150+ fire departments across the US and Canada to screen and select qualified firefighter candidates. Developed by Ergometrics and delivered through the National Testing Network (NTN), it measures four distinct skill domains — human relations, mechanical aptitude, reading ability, and math — and takes approximately 2 to 2.5 hours to complete, with all math calculations performed mentally and no calculators or written working permitted.
Unlike standard written exams, FireTEAM presents real-world firefighting video scenarios that candidates must analyse and respond to, making it one of the most format-specific and challenging entry exams in fire service hiring.
On this page, we'll cover everything you need to know about the FireTEAM test structure, scoring, and what departments use it — along with free FireTEAM practice questions with answers and explanations to show you exactly what to expect.
What Is the FireTEAM Firefighter Test?
The Ergometrics FireTEAM Test is a video-based cognitive and behavioral assessment developed by Ergometrics and delivered through the National Testing Network (NTN), used by hundreds of fire departments across the US and Canada to screen entry-level firefighter candidates. It measures four skill domains — Human Relations, Mechanical Aptitude, Reading, and Math — and takes approximately 2 to 2.5 hours to complete, with all math performed mentally and no calculators permitted.
The FireTEAM is highly competitive by design. Each section carries its own minimum passing threshold — typically 70% or higher depending on the department — but passing alone is rarely enough. Departments rank all candidates by their final score and hire from the top of that list. Human Relations carries the heaviest weight in the final score, with some departments weighting it at 70% of the total composite. In competitive hiring cycles, candidates invited to proceed are typically those with the highest scores — for example, Seattle Fire Department advances only the top 25% of passing candidates to the next stage. FireTEAM scores are valid for one year, and candidates must wait at least three months before retaking the test.
What makes the FireTEAM distinct from generic firefighter written exams is its video-based format. Rather than reading written scenarios, candidates watch real video footage of firefighting situations and must select the best and worst course of action — a format that rewards preparation specific to FireTEAM, not general exam study.
In the following sections, we'll break down each of the four FireTEAM sections, explain what each one measures, and provide practice questions — so you know exactly what to expect on test day.
Firefighter Test
Learn More About the Common Firefighter Entry Tests
1. Mechanical and Tools Aptitude Questions
Mechanical Skills Test - Buoyancy
Look at the image below to answer the question.
Which fluid is heavier?
Mechanical Skills Test - Circuits
Study the following image to answer the question.
What would happen to the television and computer if you turn on Switch A?
Mechanical Skills Test - Cogwheels
Analyse the picture to answer the question below.
In which way do you need to turn the RED star, to make the GRAY star move in the GREEN arrow direction?
Mechanical Skills Test - Tools Identification and Usage
The following questions refer to the image below. Please mark the most accurate answer:
Which of the tools above is used for holding objects in place?
From the pump on a firetruck to the pulleys on a rescue line, firefighters depend on mechanical systems every day — often under pressure and with no time to think twice. The Mechanical Skills section of the FireTEAM test measures your ability to understand how those systems work: not from memory of textbook definitions, but from being able to look at a mechanical scenario and reason through it in real time.
According to the National Testing Network, the section is presented in a video-based format built around an animated brick-making factory. You watch the factory in operation, then answer questions about what you observed — covering everyday tools, equipment, and fundamental mechanical principles including valves, pressure, and system troubleshooting.
What the section tests:
-
Mechanical reasoning:
- Gears and cogwheels: direction of rotation, speed relationships, and how movement transfers through a gear chain
- Pulleys and levers: mechanical advantage, force reduction, and balance around a fulcrum
- Pressure and fluid systems: how pressure behaves in closed systems, valves, and pipework
- Basic electricity: circuits, current flow, and component behavior
- Analytical problem-solving: spotting faults in a running system and anticipating what happens next
Tools — identification and usage:
- Recognizing common hand tools and knowing their correct application (e.g., ball peen hammer vs. rubber mallet, staple gun vs. similar tools)
- Firefighting-specific equipment: hose fittings, couplings, nozzles, and accessories such as increasers and reducers
- Understanding which tool is appropriate for a given task or material
Test format:
- Multiple choice questions presented via video
- Based on an animated factory scenario — you observe first, then answer
- Our FireTEAM PrepPack includes 9 mechanical question tests with more than 120 questions time limited in order to simulate the real test conditions
What makes it challenging: The FireTEAM Mechanical section is not a written diagram test — it is observational. You watch a sequence unfold and must track multiple moving parts simultaneously, which is a very different cognitive demand from a static image on paper. Candidates who have never practiced this format often find themselves answering the wrong question simply because they lost track of which component was which during the video. The subject range is also wide: a single sitting may require you to reason about gear chains, electrical circuits, and water pressure in sequence — and then shift entirely into tool identification, where points are lost not from weak reasoning but simply from not recognizing what a piece of equipment is or what it is used for. Familiarity with both general hand tools and firefighting-specific equipment like hose fittings and couplings is assumed, not taught, on the day of the test.
Strategy tip: Because the mechanical section covers ground that many candidates haven't formally studied since high school — or never at all — it rewards preparation more than almost any other section. Work through cogwheel direction rules, pulley mechanical advantage, lever balance formulas, and basic circuit logic before you attempt timed practice. For tools, build familiarity with common hand tools first, then move to firefighting-specific equipment — hose fittings, couplings, and accessories are a reliable area of focus since they appear consistently in this section. The sample questions on this page will show you exactly what the reasoning demands look like in practice.
2. Mathematical Questions
FireTEAM Numerical Questions
Firefighters use math constantly in the field — calculating hose lengths, estimating water supply, and making quick decisions that depend on getting the numbers right first time. According to the National Testing Network, the Mathematics Skills section covers addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and proportions, framed around the type of math firefighters use on the job.
3. Teamwork and Human Relations Questions
Human Relations Test - Interpersonal Skills (Teamwork)
Read the following paragraph and decide what the most acceptable behaviour is:
You have been invited to attend a one-week firefighter safety course. Your colleague attended the same course several weeks ago and tells you that it is pointless and that you should decline as it’s a waste of your time. What do you do?
Human Relations Test - Decision Making
Read the following paragraph and decide what the most acceptable behaviour is:
You are on your way to extinguish a fire that has broken out in a Jewish synagogue. You notice three young men running away from the scene. You are certain these men started the fire as a hate crime. What would you do?
Best response: C
Explanation: In this scenario, you need to extinguish a fire. However, you are certain that the individuals who started the fire are running away. You need to decide what the best course of action is.
The best response is C. You are a firefighter and your main responsibility is to put out the fire you have been called to. It is not your place or responsibility to start running after alleged arsonists. Furthermore, catching the youth who started the fire is police responsibility, and thus you should notify them as soon as possible. However, your immediate concern is to tackle the fire.
Response A is insufficient as you are suggesting that three firefighters focus on catching the alleged arsonists. This would therefore mean that not all the manpower dispatched to extinguish the fire is available. Your main role and duty is to put out the fire, not to chase the youth.
Response B may sound like a good response. In it, you go to tackle the fire rather than focus on those who started it. However, response C is better. You tackle the fire and request police to investigate the issue of who started it.
Response D may sound good as you are first dealing with the fire, which is your main task. However, by not reporting the incident to the police beforehand, you are compromising their chances of catching the suspects. You are better off informing the police, and allowing them to chase these men in real time, even if they are not guilty for starting the fire. Once the men are detained by the police, they can investigate and decide how to proceed.
Tip
For this section of the test, the answer should reflect traits and values commonly associated with Firefighters.
Human Relations Test - Professionalism
Read the following paragraph and decide what the most acceptable behaviour is:
You have been invited to attend a one-week firefighter safety course. Your colleague attended the same course several weeks ago and tells you that it is pointless and that you should decline as it’s a waste of your time. What do you do?
The Teamwork and Human Relations section is consistently the most challenging part of the FireTEAM test — not because of technical difficulty, but because most candidates have never encountered this question format before and have no instinct for what fire departments are actually looking for in the answers.
The section a video-based Situational Judgement Test and consists of two parts. According to the National Testing Network, candidates watch video clips featuring real actors, select the best course of action in Part I, then immediately answer questions about the characters they observed in Part II.
What the section tests:
- Interpersonal judgment: how to handle conflict, complaints, and tension with the public and colleagues
- Teamwork and integration: working effectively with diverse team members and new recruits
- Professionalism and integrity: making the right call when personal comfort conflicts with duty
- Decision-making under stress: identifying the most appropriate first response in high-pressure situations
- Self-awareness: recognizing when your own condition or behaviour affects the team
Test format:
- Video-based, with real actors presenting workplace scenarios
- Part I: select best and/or worst action from 4 options per scenario
- Part II: rate the effectiveness of observed behaviors on a scale, or answer questions about specific characters
- 28 scenarios, 76 questions, 57 minutes — per NTN
- Our FireTEAM PrepPack includes 5 situational judgment practice tests covering the full range of scenario types
What makes it challenging: Unlike mechanical or math questions, there is rarely an obviously wrong answer in the Human Relations section — multiple options can seem reasonable. The difficulty is understanding the specific values and priorities that fire departments look for: transparency with supervisors, team cohesion, de-escalation with the public, and personal accountability. Candidates who answer based on gut instinct or what they would personally do often score lower than those who have studied the underlying competency framework. Part II adds an additional demand — you must have tracked specific individuals and behaviours during Part I closely enough to answer detailed questions about them afterward.
Strategy tip: Before practicing, study what fire departments are actually evaluating in this section: professionalism, integrity, teamwork, and sound judgment under pressure. Learning the competency framework first means you can approach each scenario with a clear filter rather than guessing.
*Please note that in the real FireTEAM Test, the situation will be presented in a video clip with real actors, not as a written story.
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4. Reading Comprehension and Analysis Questions
Reading Test - Reading Comprehension
Read the statement below and then answer the questions choosing the words that are most suitable to fill in the blanks.
Firefighters are trained professionals who are responsible for ___________ fires and conducting rescue operations. They often work long hours and face physically demanding conditions, including exposure to high levels of ___________ and extreme temperatures. Alongside their emergency roles, firefighters also engage in ____________ to educate the public about fire safety.
What is the missing word in the first blank?
What is the missing word in the second blank?
What is the missing word in the third blank?
The correct answer is C.
Alongside their emergency roles, firefighters also engage in outreach activities to educate the public about fire safety.
Tip
Remember to pay attention to spelling, punctuation, and context when answering these questions.
Reading Test - Reading Measures
Look at the diagram below and answer the following questions.
What is the difference between the green lines on the psi scale (approximately)?
The Reading Skills section of the FireTEAM test has two distinct components that test different abilities - and candidates who prepare for only one of them are often caught off guard by the other.
Reading — fill-in-the-blank
According to the National Testing Network, the Reading test is designed specifically for firefighters, reflecting the job's ongoing requirement to study technical materials, reports, and protocols. Rather than a standard reading comprehension format, candidates are presented with passages containing numbered blanks and must select the word that best fits each gap from multiple choice options. This tests vocabulary, grammar, contextual understanding, and the ability to process written information accurately under time pressure.
Reading Measures
This component tests your ability to read and interpret measurement instruments - a practical skill firefighters use directly on the job. Question types include:
- Gauges: Reading pressure gauges displaying multiple scales simultaneously (psi, kPa), requiring you to identify the correct value from the correct scale
- Thermometers: Reading temperature values and converting between Celsius and Fahrenheit
- Rulers: Measuring objects against a scale and converting between centimeters and inches
- Speedometers: Reading speed values and converting between metric and imperial units
What makes it challenging: The two components require completely different mental modes. The fill-in-the-blank section demands language precision - choosing the grammatically and contextually correct word from options that may all seem plausible. The measures section demands visual precision - reading a scale correctly, identifying the right units, and performing a conversion mentally without writing anything down. Candidates who are strong readers sometimes lose points on gauges simply because they read the wrong scale, and candidates comfortable with instruments can struggle with the vocabulary demands of the fill-in-the-blank passages.
Strategy tip: For the fill-in-the-blank section, practice reading passages quickly and identifying the grammatical and contextual logic of each gap before looking at the answer options. For the measures section, memorize the key conversion formulas in advance - Celsius to Fahrenheit, centimeters to inches, kilometers to miles — so that under time pressure you are applying a known formula rather than trying to reconstruct it from scratch.
What Is the Best Way to Study for the FireTEAM Test?
Studying with our FireTEAM practice test will ensure you are well prepared and confident when you take the actual test. Understanding the questions and developing an answering strategy beforehand will highly increase your chances of beating the competition and ensuring your place in the Fire Department of your dreams!
What's included?
- 4 FireTEAM dedicated study guides.
- Teamwork and Human Relations section: 6 Situational Judgment practice tests.
- Mechanical Reasoning Skills Section: 3 Tools practice tests and 9 Mechanical Aptitude practice tests.
- Mathematics Skills section: 4 Math practice tests.
- Reading Skills section: 3 reading Comprehension practice tests.
With JobTestPrep's PrepPack you will:
- Identify your strengths and weaknesses so you can focus your study time on the areas that need the most improvement.
- Practice answering questions under timed conditions.
- Gain confidence and familiarity with the FireTEAM test material.
FireTEAM Exam - FAQs
Passing scores are set by each individual fire department, not by NTN or Ergometrics, and vary significantly between departments. For example, Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue requires minimum scores of 80% in Human Relations, 80% in Reading, 70% in Math, and 60% in Mechanical Aptitude. Passing the minimum threshold alone is rarely enough — departments rank all passing candidates by score and hire from the top. Aiming well above the minimum in every section is the only reliable strategy for being competitive.
Scoring structure varies by department. At Bend Fire & Rescue, for example, the FireTEAM score accounts for 50% of the overall civil service score, with the remaining 50% coming from a video interview — and the FireTEAM score itself is calculated based primarily on your Human Relations result. This makes the Human Relations section the most consequential part of the test for overall ranking. Always check the specific scoring methodology published by the department you are applying to, as weights differ significantly between agencies.
Yes. According to the National Testing Network, scores are valid for one year from your test date and can be sent to multiple NTN-affiliated departments for an additional fee per department. After one year, scores expire and you must retest to be eligible. NTN charges a base fee for the test itself plus a separate fee for each department you designate to receive your scores.
According to NTN, you must wait a minimum of three months before retaking the test. When you retest, your previous scores and all department designations from your original application are deleted — only your most recent scores are used. NTN data cited by Bend Fire & Rescue indicates that candidates who retake the test typically do not improve their scores and often score lower, making thorough preparation before your first attempt the stronger strategy.
No. According to official FireTEAM test instructions published by South Metro Fire Rescue, the Human Relations section is explicitly described as a test of common sense, not prior fire service experience or departmental policy knowledge. Candidates who already work in the fire service are specifically instructed not to apply departmental procedures they know to their answers. The test evaluates judgment and interpersonal reasoning, which can be developed through practice regardless of experience level.
The FireTEAM test is administered at NTN-approved testing centers across the US. Testing date availability varies by location. You can view current available exam dates, locations, and times through the NTN candidate portal at nationaltestingnetwork.com without providing payment or personal information before reviewing the schedule.
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