The Police Psychological Test: A Detailed Guide

The Police Psychological Test is an essential part of the recruitment process for becoming a police officer. 

It’s not a stretch to say that it can be one of the most emotionally challenging jobs on the planet, and those who are doing the job must be able to manage the unique stresses of the role.

In this guide, you will learn more about the typical structure of the Police Psychological Test, the types of questions you are likely to face, and how best you can prepare for the assessment so that you can approach it in the right way and get the best result. You will also find practice Police Psych Exam questions to help aid your study prep. 

What Is the Police Officer Psych Test?

The Police Psychological Test is one of the last steps in the application process for becoming a police officer and attending the police academy. 

It can be a challenging assessment, as it is usually structured in three distinct parts, and in each, there are not always obviously right or wrong answers. 

It is also difficult to prepare for using practice tests, as it is not evaluating your skills or abilities, but rather your personality and your psychological resilience and maturity.

Working as a police officer means dealing with difficult situations, long working hours, violence, and distressing crime scenes. So the Police Officer Psychological Exam is used to ensure that all candidates are emotionally stable and mature enough to deal with the stress of the role.

Key Traits Assessed on the Police Officer Psych Test

Emotional Stability

Being emotionally stable doesn’t mean being robotic, but it does mean that you can deal with potentially dangerous, stressful situations calmly. 

You aren’t likely to react irrationally or allow your emotions to rule your decision-making skills, and you are mature enough to understand that other points of view exist. 

Decision-Making

Police officers have to make quick decisions under pressure, often in dangerous situations, and this can have an impact on their safety as well as the lives of others. Police officers must be able to make calm and logical decisions in emotional, distressing, and unpleasant situations.

Stress Tolerance

The day-to-day role of a police officer might not always involve traumatic situations, but it can have a long-term impact on stress levels when it is combined with uncertainty of what is coming next.

You will be expected to work long hours, and you are not always going to be in safe situations.

Interpersonal Skills

One of the most important parts of policing is being able to communicate effectively with everyone that you come in contact with.

From members of the public to victims of crime, and even known criminals, you need to be able to negotiate, give commands, and maintain a professional communication style.

Other Traits Assessed

• Impulse control
• Honesty
• Self-awareness
• Bias
• Compliance
• Desire to support
• Courage
• Emotional intelligence

Police Officer Psych Test Structure and Common Components

Personality Inventory

The first part of the Police Officer Psychological Exam tends to be a self-assessed questionnaire. You will be given a series of statements, and you will need to decide how well you think the statements describe you based on a five-point range from Strongly Agree through to Strongly Disagree.

These statements are usually based on the Big Five Personality Traits used in many personality tests, so they will be evaluating candidates based on:

• Openness
• Conscientiousness
• Extraversion
• Agreeableness
• Neuroticism

Situational Judgment Tests

The scenario-based questions in the Police Psychological Examination are similar to those in other job applications, except these are usually based on some of the difficult decisions that a police officer might have to make during a shift.

You will be marked on how your answers demonstrate that you are a balanced individual, with emotional maturity and the ability to make responsible decisions.

You can find sample Police Psychological Exam questions and answers online for a more accurate representation of what to expect.

Clinical Interview

This is usually the final part of the psychological section of the police assessment, and you will be interviewed by a qualified and appropriately licensed psychologist.

This discussion is not designed to catch you out or to diagnose you with any mental health issues; it is merely looking for answers that demonstrate you can take responsibility, handle stress, and are emotionally intelligent enough to be resilient and supportive.

Example Police Psych Exam Questions

Personality Assessment

This section assesses various personality traits relevant to police work, including resilience, empathy, and integrity.

Example Question 1:

You are faced with a stressful situation, such as responding to a high-pressure call. How do you typically react?

a) I remain calm and focused, relying on my training.
b) I become anxious and struggle to concentrate.
c) I try to avoid the situation altogether.
d) I overreact and act impulsively.

The correct answer is: a) I remain calm and focused, relying on my training.

This question evaluates the candidate's ability to handle stress effectively, a critical trait for police officers.

Example Question 2:

When dealing with conflicts, how do you generally approach the situation?

a) I try to understand the other person's perspective.
b) I become defensive and argue my point.
c) I ignore the conflict and hope it resolves itself.
d) I tend to escalate the situation.

The correct answer is: a) I try to understand the other person's perspective.

This question assesses the candidate’s interpersonal skills and ability to empathize, which are vital in law enforcement.

Situational Judgment

This section evaluates decision-making skills and how candidates respond to hypothetical scenarios they might encounter as police officers.

Example Question 1:

You are on patrol and see a fellow officer treating a suspect harshly.

What do you do?

a) Ignore it and continue your patrol.
b) Confront the officer in front of the suspect.
c) Report the behavior to a supervisor later.
d) Speak to the officer privately after the incident.

The correct answer is: d) Speak to the officer privately after the incident.

This question tests the candidate's ability to handle sensitive situations diplomatically while maintaining professionalism.

Example Question 2:

You are called to a domestic disturbance where emotions are running high. What is your first course of action?

a) Immediately separate the individuals involved.
b) Calmly assess the situation and listen to both parties.
c) Leave the scene if it seems too dangerous.
d) Call for backup without engaging.

The correct answer is: b) Calmly assess the situation and listen to both parties.

This question evaluates the candidate's ability to handle potentially volatile situations with a focus on de-escalation and communication.

Emotional Response

This section examines candidates’ emotional intelligence and ability to cope with challenging situations.

Example Question 1:

How do you feel after witnessing a traumatic event while on duty?

a) I find it easy to compartmentalize my feelings.
b) I feel overwhelmed and struggle to cope.
c) I discuss my feelings with colleagues or supervisors.
d) I completely shut down emotionally.

The correct answer is: c) I discuss my feelings with colleagues or supervisors.

This question assesses the candidate's emotional awareness and willingness to seek support, which is essential for mental health in policing.

Example Question 2:

If you receive negative feedback about your performance, how do you typically respond?

a) I take it personally and become upset.
b) I view it as an opportunity for growth.
c) I disregard the feedback completely.
d) I argue with the person giving feedback.

The correct answer is: b) I view it as an opportunity for growth.

This question evaluates the candidate's resilience and ability to learn from criticism, crucial traits for personal and professional development in law enforcement.

Preparation Tips for the Police Psychological Exam

Be Honest and Self-Aware

While you might want to only give the ‘right’ answers, or the answers that you think the recruiters want to read, this is not the best approach in psychological assessments.

Answering honestly is the best way to ensure that you are right for the role – and that the role is right for you.

If you are not great at dealing with stress, you might not be a successful police officer and ‘gaming’ the system will lead to problems in the long run.

Remember, you will be interviewed by a professional, so it is best to be honest and self-aware from the start.

Familiarize Yourself With Common Personality Tests

The self-directed questionnaire will be similar in structure to typical personality tests, so this is one area of the assessment that you can somewhat prepare for.

While you still want to answer honestly, you can familiarize yourself with the structure of these assessments and what some of your answers will say about you based on the Big Five Personality Traits.

Prepare for the Clinical Interview

During the clinical interview, you will be asked questions about your previous roles and to discuss the ways you deal with stress in your personal life as well as in your professional life.

You will find it useful to reflect on this as part of your preparation so you can give some examples. Again, you need to be honest here – the clinician will be able to tell if you are being cagey or not telling all the truth.

Develop Emotional Resilience

As you already know that you will be dealing with a stressful role, it is a good idea to build resilience into your life in different ways. You might want to add more exercise to your routine for some stress-busting or practice mindfulness, or even meditation if that works for you.

However you decide to build your emotional resilience, having a clear plan for dealing with the stress of the role will make you a stronger candidate in the long run.

What to Expect on the Police Psychological Exam Day

Before the Test

Assessments are stressful anyway and knowing that you have the Police Officer Psychological Exam coming up is going to be the same. The best thing you can do before the test is ensure that you have had enough sleep, you have eaten a decent, healthy meal, and you are hydrated.

Plan your journey to the testing center so you arrive early, and make sure that you have everything that you have been asked to bring (such as ID and other documentation).

During the Test

This is not a quick test, and with several stages and sections, you can expect it to last for most of the day. Take opportunities for breaks, make sure you try and eat throughout the day when it is appropriate, and drink plenty of water.

You need to manage your stress through the assessment, so practice mindfulness to help you remain calm.

After the Test

Your results will form part of the larger application that you will have completed. As already mentioned, this is usually one of the last stages of the recruitment process, so the psychologists will analyze your answers and then pass the details on to the recruiters.

Speak to your recruiter for more information about how these details are used.

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of questions are asked in the Police Psychological Test?

You can expect some personality test questions in the Police Officer Psychological Exam, as well as a clinical interview with a licensed psychologist and a situational judgment test. You can find an example of a situational judgment test on TestHQ.

Can I fail the psychological test if I’m nervous during the interview?

The psychologist will know that you are likely to be nervous, and while they will be evaluating your body language and non-verbal communication as much as what you say, they are not likely to fail you just for being nervous.

How should I prepare for the situational judgment scenarios?

You can prepare for the situational judgment questions by looking for prep packs and practice tests online – these are an excellent resource. You can even find sample Police Psychological Exam questions and answers for a more accurate representation of what to expect.

How long does it take to receive the results from the test?

The psychologist will analyze your results, so it might take a little longer than you might expect – and results will come out at different times depending on which state you have applied in. You can ask your recruiter for more specific information.

What happens if I don’t pass the Police Psychological Exam?

If you don’t pass the Police Psychological Examination, you are likely unsuitable for a role as a police officer – however, the recruiter will be able to tell you if there is a potential for retaking the assessment at a later date.

Final Thoughts

The Police Psychological Examination is a particularly important part of the police recruitment process. Those who wear the uniform must be mentally and emotionally stable enough to be able to deal with the high-pressure, high-stress situations that officers can find themselves in.

While you need to be honest in the assessment, you can prepare by familiarizing yourself with the structure and likely content of the Police Psychological Test (such as taking lots of Police Psychological Exam sample questions) so that you can demonstrate the right parts of your personality through your answers.