The Police Written Test: A Detailed Guide

If you are looking to become a police officer, you will be expected to complete a number of tests designed to evaluate your suitability for the role.

The Police Written Test is an important part of this process, and passing it is essential. You’ll need to demonstrate your ability in written communication as well as your understanding of English language, spelling, and grammar.

In this detailed guide, you will learn more about the types of questions that you might be asked, how the assessments differ from area to area, and what you can do to prepare so that you can perform at your best on test day.

What Is the Police Written Test?

In the Police Written Test, you will be evaluated on your ability to communicate. This is a hugely important part of the role; you will need to be able to create incident reports, update logs, and write court documents.

You will need to demonstrate that you have excellent reasoning skills to make the right decision at the right time, and you will also need to be able to talk to people from all walks of life, communicating clearly enough to be persuasive and give commands.

In the Police Written Test, you will answer questions that take your situational judgment skills into account, as well as your spelling, grammar, punctuation, and sentence-building skills.

This is an assessment that does not assume any prior knowledge of the role; you are being evaluated on the skills and abilities that you already have to establish your suitability for the role.

You can expect the level of difficulty of the assessment to be similar to a college entry exam.

Common Sections of the Police Written Test

Reading Comprehension

Although you might assume that most of the role of a police officer is being out on the streets, there is a significant amount of paperwork – so you need to be able to read and understand many different types of written communication.

In this section of the assessment, you will be given several passages of text. These might be incident reports or witness statements, for example. You will be asked questions based on the information in the text.

Writing and Grammar

In this section of the assessment, you might be asked to fill in the blanks in a sentence with one of several given words. These questions are often looking for you to choose the word that is in the right tense, is spelled correctly, and makes sense with the rest of the sentence.

You might also be asked to put a sentence in the right order, choose a synonym or antonym to a given word, or demonstrate your language knowledge by thinking of the best words to complete a sentence.

Spelling and grammar are an essential part of successful written communication.

Mathematics

Basic math skills are needed in policing; these will be used to determine distances, time spent on a case, and even dealing with things like overtime, pay, and benefits.

You will only be expected to have basic math knowledge, but you will need to be able to use percentages, fractions, and measurements as well as the usual addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.

You might be asked to use numerical reasoning skills in the assessment, so you will need to be able to come to logical conclusions based on number data in tables or graphs.

Situational Judgment

Situational judgment questions use scenarios that you might come across in the role, and ask you to decide what the best course of action would be to deal with the problem.

Situational judgment questions are often the ones that candidates dread the most – they don’t always have a ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ answer; instead, you need to answer them in the way that corresponds with how you would actually tackle the issue yourself.

The assessors are looking for answers that match what they would expect from someone who is in the role, and your answers are expected to match that.

Police Written Exam Example Questions

Reading Comprehension

This section assesses the candidate’s ability to understand and interpret written materials, such as reports, instructions, and legal documents.

Example Question 1:

Read the following passage:

‘The suspect was last seen heading south on Main Street. Witnesses described him as wearing a blue jacket and a red hat. The local police department advises citizens to report any sightings.’

What was the last known location of the suspect?

a) North on Main Street
b) East on Elm Street
c) South on Main Street
d) West on Oak Avenue

The correct answer is: c) South on Main Street

This question tests comprehension of specific details from a passage.

Example Question 2:

According to the passage, what should citizens do if they see the suspect?

a) Confront the suspect directly
b) Report any sightings to the police
c) Ignore the suspect
d) Follow the suspect quietly

The correct answer is: b) Report any sightings to the police

This question evaluates understanding of instructions given in the passage.

Grammar and Writing Skills

This section tests candidates on their knowledge of grammar, punctuation, and the ability to construct clear and concise sentences.

Example Question 1:

Select the sentence that is grammatically correct.

a) The officer did not have no reason to stop the vehicle.
b) The officer didn’t have any reason to stop the vehicle.
c) The officer didn’t had reason to stop the vehicle.
d) The officer doesn’t had no reason to stop the vehicle.

The correct answer is: b) The officer didn’t have any reason to stop the vehicle.

This question assesses the candidate’s understanding of proper grammar usage.

Example Question 2:

Which of the following sentences is punctuated correctly?

a) The suspect fled the scene; but was captured later.
b) The suspect fled the scene, and was captured later.
c) The suspect fled the scene but was captured later.
d) The suspect fled the scene, and, was captured later.

The correct answer is: c) The suspect fled the scene but was captured later.

This question evaluates the candidate’s knowledge of punctuation rules.

Situational Judgment

This section tests the candidate’s ability to make decisions based on hypothetical scenarios they might encounter in law enforcement.

Example Question 1:

You arrive at the scene of a disturbance and see two individuals arguing loudly. What should be your first action?

a) Separate the individuals and tell them to leave
b) Call for backup and assess the situation
c) Ignore them unless they start fighting
d) Arrest both individuals immediately

The correct answer is: b) Call for backup and assess the situation

This question evaluates the candidate's decision-making in a potentially dangerous situation.

Example Question 2:

While on patrol, you observe a suspicious vehicle parked outside a closed business late at night.

What is your best course of action?

a) Drive past and ignore it
b) Investigate the vehicle and check for occupants
c) Wait for the owner of the business to arrive
d) Leave the scene and file a report later

The correct answer is: b) Investigate the vehicle and check for occupants

This question assesses the candidate’s judgment and proactive approach to suspicious activity.

Preparation Tips for the Police Written Exam

Study Materials

The police service that you are applying for is the best place to start when you are looking for study materials. While general knowledge in English language skills is needed, the type of questions that are asked on Police Tests are more specific.

You can find free Police Written Exam practice tests and revision materials for all the state-specific tests online, and these will be the best way to prepare for the right test.

Improve Reading and Writing Skills

The more you read, the better your writing skills will be. Of course, it is best if you are looking for more formal writing sources to use; you might want to look at newspapers or journals, and work on your comprehension skills by creating concise summaries of the data in them, for example.

You can also practice writing reports yourself, even if it is just about your vacation, or a summary of an interaction that you have had with someone.

Brush Up on Mathematics

Math is something that you can always improve on, and there are plenty of resources online that can help keep you sharp.

Focus on the basics, especially if you are not particularly confident in the subject. Percentages, fractions, and word problems should be the main part of your studying.

Practice Situational Judgment Scenarios

Making the right decision on the spot is a daily occurrence in the police service. You need to be able to demonstrate this ability in the situational judgment questions – so the more you practice, the better.

Scenarios that are based on day-to-day police work are the best way to practice, and you will find this in police-specific test prep packs – but the most important thing in these is to really think about what you would do in the situation (and make sure it is the right thing based on what the role requires).

What to Expect on the Police Written Exam Day

Before the Test

In many cases, the Police Written Examination will be a part of a larger assessment, and these tend to happen on the same day.

It is essential that you prepare yourself mentally and physically before the test so you can give your best performance. This includes getting enough rest and ensuring that you have had a healthy meal beforehand. Don’t forget to hydrate, too!

Before the Police Written Examination, you will be told what you need to bring – this usually includes your ID documents, for example. If you are allowed to bring any tools to the assessment you will be informed of this, although usually it is only a calculator for the math section.

During the Test

The Police Written Test will be a timed assessment, which means you need to make sure you are using your time effectively. While you will need to work quickly, it is essential that you take the time you need to read each question thoroughly rather than assuming you know the answer – rushing could make you miss the right answer.

If you are finding a question too challenging, leave it, and move on – you can come back at the end of the assessment and try again if you have time.

After the Test

Depending on the state you are taking the test in, the results might be available immediately, or you might have to wait to find out.

Some districts require all potential applicants to take the tests before being placed in a pool for selection for the cadet process; in this case, your result will be provided to the police academy too.

If you pass the written examination for police officers, your application will progress to the next stage. If you don’t get the required score to pass, you may be allowed to retake the assessment – you might have to wait six months or a year for this, however. It is best to speak to your recruiter to find out what the retake requirements are.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the Police Written Test?

The Police Exam Written Test is usually about three hours, but it can be longer, especially if you are taking all the tests in one day.

Can I retake the test if I fail?

There are usually opportunities to retake the Police Exam Written Test, but it depends on your location. Some areas require a waiting period of up to a year; speak to your recruiter to find out more.

What is the passing score for the Police Written Test?

The passing score for the Police Written Test depends on the area that you are applying for. You are expected to have a solid grasp of English to be a police officer, so these scores are expected to be high. The best way to ensure success is to score as highly as you can.

Are calculators allowed during the math portion of the test?

Some authorities will allow calculators to be used in the math section, while others do not. You might be asked to provide your own, or there might be one on the screen that you can use in questions where it is necessary.

How should I prepare for the situational judgment section?

The situational judgment section of the assessment can be prepared for by using online resources – you can look for scenarios that are similar to the ones you might have in the role and think about how you would choose to deal with these situations.

Final Thoughts

The Police Written Test is designed to ensure that candidates can demonstrate the necessary understanding of the English language to be able to complete all the paperwork that is inherent in the role.

It also evaluates decision making, situational judgment, and the ability to convey messages in different ways.

Thorough preparation (using materials such as free Police Written Exam practice tests and revision materials) is key for success, as you will need to pass this assessment to progress in your application to the police academy in your chosen area.