In order to begin your career as a police officer – whether it be with the New York Police, New Jersey Police, or any other police department, you must receive a high score on your law enforcement entrance exams.
The purpose of these initial tests is to evaluate your style of thinking, situational awareness, judgment, and cognitive ability.
Although there isn’t one specific police officer exam used across the board for all departments, the free sample questions on this page will give you an idea of the types of questions you'll face.
A typical passing score for the police written exam is 70%. Some police exams are pass/fail, but this will vary according to each police department. As a rule of thumb, the higher your score, the better your chances are to get selected. So make sure you get high quality, extensive practice!
If you want to learn more about the personality test and understand exactly what the test includes visit our dedicated police personality exam page.
Although there isn’t one specific police officer exam used across the board for all departments, this free test sample will give you an idea of the types of questions you'll face.
Police Sample Question 1:
The map below is a scheme of subway lines in the city.
Each line is marked by a different color and is associated with a different letter. Stations are numbered by their location on the line(s). The numbering of the stations progresses from the beginning of the line to its end. Lines always begin at the northernmost station, except for lines G and M which begin at the westernmost station. Codes associated with some of the stations have been written below them.
A station can have more than one code associated with it, as some stations have more than one line passing through them.
Question: Ms. Sol Aroches needs to commute from station M3 to station O3. Which of the following routes would be the least efficient (passes through the most stations)?
Police Sample Question 2:
Question: Mr. Absalom Holmes needs to commute from station B9 to station M9 but cannot take his usual route since section M6 → M7 is blocked due to a malfunction. Which of the following routes would be the most efficient (passes through the least stations)?
Police Sample Question 3:
OFFICER NOTES: At about 11 am on September 6, 2014, I met with Mr. David Lewis at 11 Allenby Street, the Westside Mall, regarding a vehicle theft.
QUESTION: Which one of the following choices most clearly and accurately expresses the facts presented in the note above?
Police Sample Question 4: Math
The police math test section tests your basic math skills. It includes: addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
There will most likely math word problems that are found in everyday situations. Some tests may include fraction, decimals and percentages, and others may not include a math section at all.
Here is quick example:
A train travels 90 miles in 15 minutes, how many miles does it travel in 2 hours?
Practice your math skills now!
Police Sample Question 5: Vocabulary
One of the types of questions that you may find is fill-in. You will be given a sentence and have to find the word that best fits the completion of the sentence.
Find the answer that completes this sentence correctly.
____ claim that new lines of inquiry are being ____ .
Police Sample Question 6:
An officer would MOST likely require the backup assistance of other officers in which of the following situations?
Police Sample Question 7: Paragraph Organization
For this question type, you need to choose the most coherent and effective order for the sentences presented.
1. This building will utilize less energy and resources while still being a state of the art facility.
2. All future buildings are going to require this type of certification, and the aquarium is honored to be the first certified.
3. The department of parks and recreation opened its first aquarium in San Beach this week which will be LEED certified.
4. As a LEED-certified building, this aquarium will serve as a model for future buildings.
Select the answer choice that represents the most appropriate and effective ordering of the sentences above.
Our preparation packs are customized to mimic the actual exam and to better help you prepare for it. They include score reports, study guides, and answer explanations to help you better understand your results.
To excel on your police written exam, start practicing our free police sample questions on this page and then get our accurate preparation pack.
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Becoming a police officer isn’t easy – you must go through a highly competitive hiring process to get the job you want.
The entry-level police exam is the most important part of the police officer recruitment process. That is why you must prepare for it.
The police written exam is used to assess basic cognitive abilities, such as reading comprehension, math, grammar, and spelling. It also evaluates specific skills relevant to the police profession, such as memory and spatial orientation.
Another major part of the recruitment process is the police psychological exam, which assesses your personality traits and behavioral tendencies to determine whether you are a good fit for the career. In this preparation, a personality test + study guides
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The following are some of the most critical characteristics that a police officer must have:
There are three different shift times for 8 and 10-hour shifts. The first is referred to as the first shift or day shift. The second shift, swing shift, or mid-shift are all terms used to describe the second shift. Finally, there is the third shift, also known as night shift or graveyard shift hours.
Police Officers have excellent benefit packages. Medical, dental, and life care, as well as retirement plans, are common examples. Vacation, maternity leave, parental leave, and long-term disability pay are also available to employees.