Law Enforcement Exams - The Complete Guide [2023]

Law Enforcement Tests

 

• Criticall Test

The Criticall 911 test (also known simply as the Criticall test) includes a variety of sections that the candidate must complete within a brief period of time. Depending on the configuration of the test chosen by the agency you’re applying to, the test may take between 1- 3 hours.

Different versions of the Criticall tests are offered in different jurisdictions, but they all serve to identify the skills necessary for working as an emergency dispatcher.

Time management skills, stress resistance, and computer literacy are going to be important in any specific configuration of the Criticall test, as it is designed to evaluate those skills.

Sections may include Decision making, Data entry, map reading, call summarization, typing, cross-references, memory recall, sentence clarity, reading comprehension, mathematics, spelling, character checking, and probability.

💡 Detailed information about different variants of the Criticall Tests and the positions requiring them is available on our Criticall test page.

• POST Dispatcher Test

Candidates applying for Dispatcher positions in the state of California are required to pass the POST Dispatcher Test.

This test evaluates four types of key abilities necessary if you are to work as a public safety dispatcher: your verbal, logical reasoning, memory, and perceptual ability. This is done through 11 brief tests that are together known as the POST Entry-Level Dispatcher Selection Test Battery. Together, those tests can be seen as fairly challenging to new candidates, partly because of the high difficulty level of the questions, but also due to the strict time limits in the POST Dispatcher Test.

💡 To learn more about preparing for the tests, go to our POST Dispatcher Test page.

• NYC Communication Technician Test

Candidates applying for NYPD 911 operator positions must undergo the Police Communications Technician Exam.

The NYC Police Communications Technician Exam evaluates similar skills as other Dispatcher tests - it is a computer exam evaluating the candidate’s written comprehension, written expression, memorization, problem sensitivity, deductive and inductive reasoning, and information ordering skills.

💡 More information about the test is available on the Communications Technician Exam page.

Police exams are almost exclusively written exams, which means they consist of a series of questions that must be answered using a paper questionnaire or a computer (in an online or proctored setting. Topics may include:

• Reading comprehension, vocabulary, spelling, and grammar- these questions evaluate the candidate’s ability to write reports or fill out forms.
• Mathematical, deductive, and inductive reasoning
• Spatial orientation / map reading, visualization, memorization, selective attention, and problem sensitivity ]

For example, the PELLET-B test incorporates an Written Expression test, where the candidate is asked to choose the clearer sentence out of four similar options:

The police psychological exam is a key element of the police officer selection process. This is because police departments want to be certain that the candidates possess the essential personality traits required to carry out high-stress tasks.

Personality tests are often confusing for some candidates, because it is difficult to understand what kind of answers are the ‘correct’ ones. (While it is sometimes said there are no right or wrong answers, that’s obviously not true – if there were no right or wrong answers, the test would be useless!)

Here is an example of a question:

Many police positions will require that the candidate possess a high level of the modesty trait, which means you want to score in a way that will help you present yourself as modest. In this case you would probably want to avoid answering ‘Agree’ or ‘ Strongly Agree’ to the question above.

The exact types of answers in personality tests may vary depending on the position you apply to. Our police psychological exam prepPack will help you prepare to answer the questions depending on the kind of job you’re aiming for.

 

The police situational judgment test (or SJT) is used, in different forms, to ensure that the candidate is able to demonstrate good judgment in law enforcement-related situations.

For example, try answering the following question:

This is one of the most challenging stages of police examinations. Answering it properly requires noticing subtle details in the given situation and following the qualities that are expected from a police officer.

• California Corrections Officer Exam

In this test, candidates need to answer 53 multiple-choice questions within 113 minutes, and get a score of at least 70%. The questions cover English and mathematics skills as well as situational judgment.

💡 Read more about The California Corrections Officer Exam.

 

• Texas Correctional Officer Exam

To become a correctional officer in the state of Texas, candidates must complete an examination consisting of five sections - Memory and observation, reading comprehension / deductive reasoning, verbal reasoning, and arithmetic.

Of these, the memory and observation section of the exam is the hardest. Candidates are shown three images, and after viewing the images for a total of 5 minutes, they are given an additional 5 minutes to answer 20 questions about the three images. This is quite the test to answer!

💡 Learn more about the Texas Correctional Officer Exam.

 

• NYS Corrections Officer Exam

The NYS Corrections Officer Exam is laser-focused on the candidate’s reading and writing skills. It gives the candidate three and a half hours to answer 100 questions testing their skills in Applying Written Information, Observing and Recalling Facts and Information, Preparing Written Material, and Understanding and Interpreting Written Information.

💡 Learn more about the NYS Corrections Officer Exam.

 

• Massachusetts Corrections Officer Exam

The Massachusetts Corrections Officer Exam, also known as the MA Department of Correction Entry-Level Exam, requires the candidate to answer 80 multiple-choice questions testing 6 ability areas: Gathering information, Writing concisely and accurately, Reading, understanding, explaining, and applying information, Working accurately with names, numbers, codes and/or symbols, Analyzing and determining the applicability of quantitative and qualitative data, as well as Maintaining accurate records.

💡 Learn more about the Massachusetts Corrections Officer Exam.

The Special Agent Exam evaluates the array of skills and experience necessary for the candidate to work as a Secret Service Special Agent. It consists of three sections – a logic-based reasoning test, an experience inventory, and a language skills test.

💡 To learn more, go to our Special Agent Entrance Exam (SAEE) Page.

As its name implies, the UDEE evaluates candidates for the uniformed divisions of the Secret Service. It is a computer-based exam and is one of the most challenging exams used by any uniformed law enforcement agency in the United States, as it requires answering 300 questions within 3 hours and 45 minutes (including breaks). Questions assess Critical Thinking, Situational Judgement, Memory Skills, Figural Reasoning, Writing, and Work Style.

💡 To learn more, go to our Uniformed Division Entrance Exam Page.

The Treasury Enforcement Agent Exam (or TEA Exam for short) consists of five sections that evaluate the candidate’s cognitive abilities. These require solving verbal reasoning and arithmetic reasoning questions, as well as an investigative reasoning section. In addition, candidates are required to complete a Candidate Experience Questionnaire.

💡 To learn more, go to our Treasury Enforcement Agent Exam.

The FBI Phase 1 test is a computerized exam carried out at a proctored exam facility. It is made of five assessments: Logic-Based Reasoning, Figural Reasoning, Personality Assessment, Preferences and Interests questionnaire, and a Situational Judgement test.

This test is used for candidates for Special Agent and Analyst positions at the Federal Bureau of Investigations.

Sample logic-based reasoning question:

While many of the questions you might see on the FBI Logical Reasoning test are more advanced than the one seen here, it is a good examplar of the features that cause these questions to be viewed as challenging by many candidates. The candidate is expected to read and notice details that are spread throughout a fairly extensive test, and are not always stated overtly.

The FBI Logical Reasoning Test must be completed within 90 minutes and contains between 40 and 50 questions, which means a candidate is subject to a lot of time pressure as they have just about two minutes to answer each question.

Candidates for intelligence analyst positions must not only pass a Phase 1 test, but also a Phase 2 test, which assesses your ability to interpret intelligence reports and produce written reports based on it, as well as a Phase 3 structured interview with an interview panel.

💡 Learn more about the Intelligence Analyst Selection Process.

Federal Air Marshals are responsible for protecting America’s air travel system from terrorist and criminal attacks, by securing aboard aircraft, participating in investigations, and working closely with other law enforcement agencies.

Federal Air Marshal Candidates must go through the Federal Air Marshal Service Assessment Battery Test (FAB), which consists of a Logic Based Reasoning test, a Writing test, and a Situational Judgement Test (SJT).

💡 For help preparing for the Federal Air Marshal test, go to our Air Marshal Test Page.

 

U.S. Marshal candidates typically apply for one of three primary positions:

• Deputy U. S. Marshal (DUSM) - responsible for protective witnesses, judges, and courtrooms, arresting and investigating Federal fugitives,
• Detention Enforcement Officer (DEO) - responsible for management, transportation, and body searches of prisoners.
• Aviation Enforcement Officer (AEO) - responsible for management of prisoners who are being moved by air.

The United States Marshals Service (USMS) Test (aka Deputy U.S. Marshal Assessment Test) is the main screening test for all of these positions. It contains two sections – a situational judgment test and a writing assessment.

💡 Click here for help with preparing for the U.S. marshals online assessment test.

The CBP Officer Exam is a challenging test, deliberately so, as it intends to filter out candidates at an early stage of the CBP’s nine-step selection process. It measures logical reasoning, arithmetic reasoning, and writing skills.

💡 To learn more, go to our CBP Officer Exam page

The Border Patrol Agent Entrance Exam is a unique assessment of both candidates' logical reasoning and foreign language capabilities, assessed in the form of either a Spanish Language Test (for those who already speak Spanish) or an Artificial Language test (evaluates the ability to learn a new language). This test lasts about 4-6 hours, and also includes a work experience assessment.

💡 To learn more, go to our Border Patrol Agent Exam page.

ATF Special Agents investigate a variety of crimes, from firearms offenses to arson. To become an ATF Special Agent you must go through a highly selective hiring process. The ATF Special Agent Exam is one of the stages in the selection process evaluating your verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and investigative reasoning using a three-part test.

💡 More information about this exam is available on the ATF Special Agent Exam page.