Police Officer Selection Test
Learn about the Police Officer Selection Test.
The Police Officer Selection Test, or POST, is a generic name for the entrance exam given by law enforcement agencies for entry-level positions. It may also be referred to as the Civil Service Exam for Police. The POST consists of several different steps, of which the Police Written Exam is just one. Other steps include the Physical Abilities Test, the Psych Exam, the Polygraph and more. There is no national standard in the U.S. for the POST - each agency decides what to use within guidelines set by their state law enforcement commissions.
Police Written Test
The Police Written Test is stressful for most applicants.
“Preparation and lots of practice tests are critical, since you want to rank as high as possible against your competition.””
The police written test is a critical first step in the police hiring process. It is stressful for all applicants. When you pass the police exam, you are placed on the eligibility list for further evaluation. The higher you rank on this list, the better your chances of getting hired.
Though most agencies test applicants for 12th grade knowledge, approximately 80% of test takers will not pass. Do NOT underestimate the police written exam!
The police written test will vary from agency to agency throughout the country. Many police agencies outsource their written exam to third-party testing companies.
In the days and weeks prior to taking the written test, it is imperative to study. This is one phase of the hiring process where good preparation will put you ahead of your competition.
The following paragraphs will cover:
Questions on the Police Written Exam
Police Written Exam varies across the country
Most police entry-level tests nowadays use multiple choice questions because they are easy to grade and remove any subjectivity. Reading and writing skills are most common. Having to write an essay is not common. Math is less common nowadays.
The types of questions that may be found on most police exams are listed in the following paragraphs. Examples of each of these will be found in the Police Test Prep courses recommended on this site.
Police Logical Reasoning Questions
Logical Reasoning is a big part of the Police Exam
There are many types of logical reasoning questions that police written exams include. Sometimes these are called “Judgment and Problem Solving” questions. It is important for applicants to study all of these potential classes of logical reasoning questions:
Deductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning tests one’s ability to apply general rules to specific problems and come up with logical answers. It involves deciding if an answer makes sense.
Inductive Reasoning
Inductive Reasoning involves the ability to combine separate pieces of information and form general conclusions. It reveals one’s ability to think of possible reasons for why things go together. Questions generally have you read a procedure then draw conclusions from what you read.
Verbal Reasoning
Verbal Reasoning is the ability to use words correctly and to understand meaning from the use of words (as opposed to pictures and diagrams.) Examples include common sense questions, analogy questions and classification questions.
Non Verbal Reasoning involves reading diagrams, maps and pictures
Non-verbal Reasoning
Non-verbal Reasoning tests measure one’s ability to recognize visual patterns and sequences, interpret diagrams and maps, and memorize visual features. Variations of these tests include Selective Attention, Spatial Orientation, Facial Recognition and Flexibility of Closure. More about Spatial Orientation tests.
Arithmetic Reasoning
Arithmetic Reasoning is a fancy word for “math questions.” The math tests on police written exam are fairly easy. You will need to solve word problems.
Police Writing Skills Questions
Learn about the Police Written Exam from Sgt. Godoy
Law enforcement agencies place high priority on one’s ability to write clearly due to the courts’ requirements for accurate and clearly written police reports. The most common elements of the writing abilities tests found on police written tests include:
Writing Clarity (Grammar and Punctuation)
Vocabulary
Spelling
Incident Report Writing
Written Essay (not common)
Preparation for these questions is very important, as most of us have forgotten much of what we learned in high school about proper grammar and how to write clearly.
Reading Comprehension Tests
There are two major types of reading comprehension tests that you may find on the police written exam
There are two categories of reading questions found on Police Written Exams: the traditional, multiple-choice Reading Comprehension Test and the CLOZE Reading Test.
In the traditional multiple-choice Reading Comprehension Test, the applicant reads one or more passages. The applicant then chooses the best answer from 4 or 5 answer choices about specific points or conclusions presented in the material.
CLOZE Reading Test
Learn about the Police Written Exam and the CLOZE test from Sgt. Godoy
The CLOZE reading test is used in California on their recommended police written exam known as the PELLETB. It is rarely found at other agencies throughout the U.S. Most applicants have never been exposed to the CLOZE test. The CLOZE presents the student with a passage where words are omitted. The applicant is to fill in the correct word. This test is a powerful way of testing a whole range of English skills including grammar, spelling, and vocabulary, as well as reading comprehension. Special practice is required to pass the CLOZE. The Best PELLETB and CLOZE Prep Course is PELLETB QuikPrep by Sgt. Godoy.
Police Situational Judgment Test
Situational Judgment Testing measures how you will instinctively react to stressful situations.
Situational Judgment Test (SJT) are becoming more commonplace on police entry exams. This form of question measures how you would instinctively react to various stressful situations you will run into as a police officer. Some tests will refer to this as Problem Solving. More sophisticated versions of this test measure certain personality traits that are desirable for the job like Integrity, Openness, Cooperation, Focus, Stability, Interpersonal Skills and more. Good preparation will help on this type of test. Learn more about Situational Judgment Testing.
Best Police Test Prep Course
Learn about the Police Written Exam from Sgt. Godoy
Best Police Test Prep is PoliceExam911™
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Online, video Tutorials that give you real insight and tips for solving each type of question that will be asked on your exam.
Access to hundreds of stimulating Practice Questions with detailed answer explanations that use modern technology to make your learning experience fast and easy.
Access to advanced prep courses for the Psych exam, the Polygraph, the Police Interview and more.
Personalized Support should be available from a law enforcement expert who is dedicated to your success.
Great Value – reasonably priced with unlimited use.
According to over 1000 public reviews on ShopperApproved, the Best Police Test Prep Course on the market is Sgt. George Godoy’s acclaimed PoliceExam911™ Prep Course.
Sgt. Godoy also offers subsets of PoliceExam911 aimed as specific exam formats and test subjects. Check them out here.