Police Officer Exam

The type of examination that is administered throughout the country to select qualified men and women for careers in the police field has been greatly modified over the past few years. As a result of a Supreme Court decision a number of years ago, test writers are not permitted to use certain kinds of questions. For example, questions cannot be asked which require prior knowledge of the law, police procedures, or the duties and responsibilities of a police officer. You are not required to know what a police officer is to do under certain circumstances such as if he or she arrives at the scene of a robbery. That is the kind of knowledge you acquire after you are admitted to a police academy.

The procedures and questions used in this book were written after a continuous and careful analysis of recent major police officer examinations and all court cases dealing with police entrance level examinations. This chapter will serve to familiarize you with the contents of this manual so that you will be able to fully utilize it in preparing for the exam. By using this book properly, you will be prepared to take, and successfully complete, the most recent types of entry level police officer examinations.

You are planning to take the Police Officer Examination because you have decided to join the police force. Therefore, it seems only fitting to provide an overall view of the types of positions available and the compensation that can be expected.

As you probably already know, the basic mission of the police is to protect life and property, to find and arrest criminal offenders, to preserve the peace, to enforce laws, and to prevent and detect crime. The basic mission is the same for all police officers regardless of whether the department involved is a city, county, state, or federal agency. The difference between police departments is one of degree of work and not kind of work. In other words, all police agencies perform the same kind of work and differ only in the amount of work they perform in each area of the basic mission. Also, in both large and small police departments, the activities of the police are divided into both “line” and “staff” duties. Line duties concern those jobs which directly deal with accomplishing the basic mission. Staff duties are jobs which help and support line duties.

In this position, uniformed police officers “patrol” through the community by foot, scooter, motorcycle, automobile, and sometimes by boat or plane. Responsible for a “beat,” “post,” or “sector,” which is an assigned, fixed geographical area, the police officer spends much time answering a wide variety of calls for assistance from the public.

An often difficult job, police officers working in uniform on traffic duty prevent vehicular accidents and congestion by issuing summonses, directing traffic, and investigating traffic accidents.

Working in business attire, detectives, the investigators of the police department, are called to the scene after a major crime has been committed. They follow investigatory leads and attempt to identify and arrest persons responsible for past criminal acts.

Usually involved in the enforcement of laws dealing with alcohol, prostitution, narcotics, gambling, and pornography, police in vice enforcement work in street clothes or disguise, and often act in a very demanding undercover role infiltrating criminal organizations.

Officers in youth work are involved in investigating crimes committed by and upon children. This work, performed either in uniform or plainclothes, calls for great sensitivity.

TYPES OF POLICE POSITIONS

Line Positions

Patrol

Traffic

Detective

Vice Enforcement

Youth Work

Staff Positions

Communications

Criminal Identification

Forensics

Support Services

Intelligence Services

These positions involve handling calls from the public, dispatching police to the scene of emergencies, inputting and retrieving crime data from computers, and maintaining surveillance equipment.

Police involved in this area must take fingerprints of victims or criminals, discover and retrieve fingerprints at the scenes of crimes, and search fingerprint files to identify criminals.

Officers in this area use the sciences to identify the nature and origin of substances, such as blood, hair, semen, and other body fluids. They also interview witnesses, do ballistics work, induce hypnosis, and administer polygraph operations.

Police officers perform a variety of support roles, ranging from that of ambulance attendant to auto mechanic. The scope and degree of support services depends on the size of the police department and the policies of that department.

In light of the aftermath of September 11, 2001, the attention given by police departments throughout the United States to the need for intelligence (screened information) increased tremendously. Consequently, Intelligence Units now typically perform the following duties:

Officers assigned to an Intelligence Unit gather comprehensive and relevant intelligence for their department by turning raw information into information that can be used to wage the war against threats such as international and domestic terror. This is a process whereby officers gather information and then further evaluate its potential to be useful in this war. After this evaluation, the information then is collated or organized according to its intended purpose—that is, providing intelligence regarding gangs, terrorism, threats against public officials, etc. Once collated, the information is futher analyzed in an attempt to ensure its reliability and accuracy. Finally, the information, now seen as intelligence, is transmitted to the appropriate unit within the department involved and also shared with other municipal, federal, and state agencies.

The duties of officers assigned to an Intelligence Unit are comprised mainly of interviewing and interrogation, as well as surveillance of both people and places.

It should be noted that in some departments, officers are even assigned to positions in foreign countries when performing intelligence duties. For example, the New York City Police Department (NYPD) has officers permanently assigned to intelligence duties in foreign countries such as Great Britain and Italy. In addition, the NYPD has officers assigned as intelligence liaison officers to federal law enforcement agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Police work is not a 9 A.M. to 5 P.M., Monday to Friday occupation. A police officer could be assigned to work any day of the week at any hour. The work week is an average of 40 hours. While there may be some disadvantages of working “around the clock,” it is in no way a humdrum existence.

What kind of salaries do police officers make? Many large departments begin their officers somewhere between $40,000 and $60,000 per year, with increments to $100,000. Then promotions are available, often as a direct result of a civil service examination, which can bring a salary up to $175,000 annually.

But salaries are not the only benefit. There is usually early retirement; that is, retirement with a pension after 20 to 25 years of service. Also, there are liberal sick leave, health insurance, vacation allotments (in most departments), and job security.

STEPS TO BECOME A POLICE OFFICER

Before Appointment

Application

Written Exam

Physical Exam

Medical Exam

Interview

Background and Character Check

After Appointment

Training School

Unit Probation

After determining which police agency you are interested in joining, the first thing you should do is to find out the dates of the filing period for making an application to take the written entrance examination for that agency. This can be done by contacting the municipal or state agency responsible for administering the written examination. Note that larger police departments often have recruitment units which you could call or visit to obtain information about the next scheduled entrance test. Remember, the more you know about the test you will be taking, the better able you will be to compete competitively on that test.

Other possibilities for obtaining job and testing information are to subscribe to your local civil service newspaper or to visit the website of the police agency you wish to join.

The bottom line is—do not be afraid to ask. Police departments want good people. You are taking the time to prepare yourself for the examination and, therefore, have begun to qualify as one of the candidates that police departments would want.

3.If you are successful on the written examination, take the physical examination. This test includes lifting, running, jumping, and other kinds of physical activities that a police officer is required to do, but it is designed so as not to discriminate against women.*

5.An interview often follows. This can include a battery of psychological tests.

After successfully completing these steps, your name is put on a list, and you will be notified as to when appointments will be made.

1.You will attend a training school for several months, sometimes referred to as a “Police Academy.”

2.After the initial training, you will be assigned to a police unit for a probation period, during which you will be called a “probie” or “rookie.” Most often, you will begin in a uniformed patrol assignment, the backbone of police work, to learn the basics. While on patrol, you will be evaluated for other types of assignments such as detective, youth work, etc. You then become eligible to take the civil service examination for promotion.

The police officer’s job is both rewarding and satisfying. Pursue it. Make it your goal. Use this book to help you. Remember, all police officers were once in the same position you are in right now. They did it, and you can too.

The most important step in the application process is to obtain a copy of the “Job Announcement.” It is available from the city, state, or federal agency that is responsible for preparing and giving the examination.

Listed below are a series of items usually contained in the Job Announcement, along with helpful comments on each item. Remember that the comments are of a general nature and that requirements vary from one jurisdiction to another. Also note that most departments have websites that contain specific information concerning future hiring intentions. (See “A Final Word” for additional information concerning official police department websites.)

1.FILING INFORMATION. Most jurisdictions require applicants to file for the examination by filling out and submitting an application by a certain date. After you file, you are notified by mail where and when to appear for the examination. The Job Announcement tells you where to get an application form. However, sometimes “walk-in exams” are held which do not require prior filing.

2.GENERAL REQUIREMENTS. The typical requirements to take the examination and/or to become a police officer are as follows:

■Age. Because age requirements vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, this requirement should be checked with the department you are seeking to enter. However, the age range to take the exam is typically from 18 to 35, with candidates over 35 being eligible if they have served with the Armed Forces during certain time periods. Please note that upper age limits have been eliminated by court decisions in some jurisdictions.

■Height requirements. The height requirement is disappearing as a factor in determining eligibility. For example, the New York City Police Department does not have a height requirement.

■Citizenship. Most, if not all, departments require a person to be a citizen to be appointed to the job, but not to take the entrance examination.

■Eyesight. Eyesight requirements vary considerably from city to city, but the trend is toward more relaxed standards. Some departments use uncorrected standards, while others use a corrected standard (i.e., they allow you to wear glasses when taking the eye examination).

■Physical agility test. Candidates are required to pass a physical agility test either before entry to the department or after their initial training period. Consult the Job Announcement or police recruiter for more details about your physical agility test.

■Driver’s license. This is usually a definite requirement to be appointed to the job, but not to take the test.

■Fees. Very often, a nominal fee in the range of twenty-five dollars is required when you file to take the examination.

■Education. The great majority of departments require either a high school diploma or a high school equivalency diploma to be appointed to the job, but not to take the examination. Some departments now require college credits. The individual department should be checked regarding its educational requirements.

■When and where the examination takes place. Usually, police entrance examinations are held on Saturday mornings at local high schools. As mentioned above, candidates are usually notified by mail where and when to appear. This notification comes after the candidate has filed for the examination. Note that if the examination is scheduled for a Saturday, a “Sabbath Observers Examination” is held on a different day of the week in most jurisdictions for those who cannot take the examination on Saturday because of religious beliefs.

*Many departments have now discontinued the physical examination before entrance to the department. They rely instead on a physical agility test administered after the official training period.

This section contains information you need to get the best return from your test preparation efforts so that you can achieve the highest possible score on your official police officer examination. Too many students approach test preparation in a slipshod manner. Consequently, they waste time and do not achieve their potential. The guidelines presented in this chapter are designed to help you avoid such wasted effort.

The first part of this section provides guidelines to help you develop good study habits. Until you are quite familiar with the rules for effective studying contained in this section, you should review them before each study session.

The second part of this section provides a specific strategy to deal with multiple-choice questions. This strategy has been updated to reflect the recent trend in police officer examinations to utilize computer-based testing. The era of pencil-and-paper testing is coming to a close. In multiple-choice, computer-based testing, the candidate views the test on a computer monitor and uses a mouse to click on his or her selected answer choices. Although the types of questions being asked remain the same, it is imperative that the candidate use a test-taking strategy geared for computer-based tests. Unfortunately, an unsophisticated test taker can do poorly on such an examination simply because of a lack of familiarity with the computer-based program. Don’t let this happen to you. The whole matter is complicated by the fact that the traditional pencil-and-paper examination is still used in some jurisdictions. You must find out which testing method is used for the examination you are taking—pencil-and-paper or computer-based—and then use the appropriate test-taking strategy.

Also included in the second part of this section are specific strategies to deal with material distributed in advance of the test and with tests that contain a video component. When applicable, understanding and mastering these strategies is vitally important.

Make sure that you review the strategies appearing later in this text dealing with the handling of multiple-choice questions before taking each of the full-length examinations included in this book. Finally, be sure to practice these strategies while taking these examinations. In time, the strategies will become second nature and your organized approach to answering multiple-choice questions will serve you well.

Please note that some of the practice questions in this book are based on laws, rules, policies, and procedures that are similiar to those that might be found in a typical police department. Do not assume, however, that they are the exact laws, rules, policies, and procedures that are actually in use in any specific police department.

Also note that the difficulty level of the practice questions appearing in this book is, in most cases, higher than what you may encounter on your official examination. This is a very important point for you to understand.

If you can learn to master the questions in this book, you should have great success on your official examination. We caution you again, however, that if you are taking a computer-based multiple-choice question test, you must understand the specific strategy required to do well on such an examination. Also, remember not to get discouraged if you miss some questions when tackling the questions in this book. Instead, study the explained answers provided for every question to learn why you got them wrong, and avoid such errors in the future.

Many students incorrectly believe that the amount of time spent studying is the most important factor in test preparation. Of course, all else being equal, the amount of time you devote to your studies is a critical factor. But spending time reading is not necessarily studying. If you want to learn what you read, you must develop a system. For example, a student who devotes 60 minutes a day to uninterrupted study in a quiet, private setting will generally learn more than someone who puts in twice that time by studying five or six times a day for 15 to 20 minutes at a time.

We have listed a number of rules for you to follow to increase study time efficiency. If you abide by these rules, you will get the most out of this book.

1.MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND THE MEANING OF EVERY WORD YOU READ. Your ability to understand what you read is the most important skill needed to pass any test. Therefore, starting now, every time you see a word that you don’t fully understand, make certain that you write it down and make note of where you saw it. Then, when you have a chance, look up the meaning of the word in the dictionary. When you think you know what the word means, go back to the reading material which contained the word, and make certain that you fully understand the meaning of the word.

Keep a list of all words you don’t know, and periodically review them. Also, try to use these words whenever you can in conversation. If you do this faithfully, you will quickly build an extensive vocabulary which will be helpful to you not only when you take the police officer examination, but for the rest of your life.

2.STUDY UNINTERRUPTED FOR AT LEAST 30 MINUTES. Unless you can study for at least an uninterrupted period of 30 minutes, you should not bother to study at all. It is essential that you concentrate for extended periods of time. Remember, the actual examination takes anywhere from 3 to 5 hours to complete, with the average being 3½ hours. You must concentrate just as hard in the third hour of the test as you did in the first hour. Therefore, as the examination approaches, study for more extended periods of time without interruption. And, when you take the practice examinations, do a complete examination in one sitting, just as you must do at the actual examination.

3.SIMULATE EXAMINATION CONDITIONS WHEN STUDYING. Study under the same conditions as those of the examination, as much as possible. Eliminate as many outside interferences as you can. And if you are a smoker, refrain from smoking while studying since you will not be allowed to smoke in the classroom on the day of your examination!

4.STUDY ALONE. IF POSSIBLE, ALSO FORM A STUDY GROUP TO MEET PERIODICALLY. Studying alone is the best way to prepare for the police officer test. However, if possible, form a group of from three to five serious students and meet with them for 2 to 3 hours on a periodic basis, perhaps every other week. Prior to each meeting, the group should come prepared to discuss one area which will probably appear on the examination. In addition, everyone in the group should keep a list of items they are confused about; these items should be discussed at the study group meetings. Items that no one is certain of should be referred to an outside source, such as a teacher, parent, librarian, etc. Arguing in a study group defeats the purpose of the group, and must be avoided at all costs.

5.MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND THE ANSWERS TO EVERY QUESTION IN THIS BOOK. Every answer is accompanied by an explanation. Whenever you get a question wrong, be sure that you understand why you missed it so you won’t make the same mistake again. However, it is equally important to make certain that you have answered a question correctly for the right reason. Therefore, study the answer explanation to every question in this book as carefully as you study the question itself.

6.ALWAYS FOLLOW THE RECOMMENDED TECHNIQUE FOR ANSWERING MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS. Before the advent of computer-based testing, this was a relatively easy rule to follow. There was only one strategy to learn and follow. In the next section of this chapter we provide the time-tested, invaluable strategy for answering multiple-choice questions on a traditional pencil-and-paper examination. Because this traditional pencil-and-paper testing process is still used in some jurisdictions, you must learn and practice this strategy. We also include a recommended strategy to follow when taking a computer-based multiple-choice question examination. You must learn and apply this strategy if you will be taking a computer-based test. Remember, you must not assume you will be taking the traditional pencil-and-paper examination. You must make it your business to find out which of the two types of examinations you will be taking.

7.ALWAYS TIME YOURSELF WHEN DOING PRACTICE QUESTIONS. Running out of time on a multiple-choice examination is a tragic error that is easily avoided. Learn, through practice, to move to the next question after a reasonable period of time spent on any one question. Therefore, when you are doing practice questions, always time yourself—and always try to stay within the recommended time limits. The correct use of time during the actual examination is an integral part of the technique that will be explained later in this section.

8.CONCENTRATE YOUR STUDY TIME IN THE AREAS OF YOUR GREATEST WEAKNESS. The diagnostic examination will give you an idea of the most difficult question types for you. Though you should spend most of your time improving yourself in these areas, do not ignore the other types of questions.

9.EXERCISE REGULARLY AND STAY IN GOOD PHYSICAL CONDITION. Students who are in good physical condition have an advantage over those who are not. It is a well-established principle that good physical health improves the ability of the mind to function smoothly and efficiently, especially when taking examinations of extended duration, such as the police officer examination.

10.ESTABLISH A SCHEDULE FOR STUDYING, AND STICK TO IT. Do not put off studying to those times when you have nothing else to do. Schedule your study time, and try not to let anything else interfere with that schedule. If you feel yourself weakening, review the beginning of the introduction and remind yourself of why you would like to become a police officer.

1.PLAN TO BE FLEXIBLE. Because computer-based multiple-choice testing is in its infancy, there is no standard method of structuring these examinations. It is a mistake to believe that all you have to do is learn how one such test was administered. Approach each computer-based test you take with a flexible attitude. As time goes by, standardization will probably occur. For now, however, candidates must understand that an essential element of preparing for every computer-based test they take is to learn as much about the computer process that will be used for that particular examination.

2.DEVELOP BASIC COMPUTER SKILLS. Today, most candidates for the police officer examination will probably be comfortable working with a computer. However, if you do not feel comfortable performing basic computer functions, such as using a mouse and navigating around a computer screen, you probably should avoid computer-based testing. A better alternative, however, would be to develop these basic computer skills.

3.SAMPLE THE FIELD. Many of the most widely used computer-based multiple-choice examinations, like the GMAT, have tutorials to familiarize the candidate with the specific test interface used for each such examination. Without regard for the test content, police officer candidates scheduled to take a computer-based multiple-choice examination should seek out these tutorials and learn from them. As much as possible, become familiar with the various formats employed in computer-based multiple-choice tests. This will go a long way toward your being able to focus on seeking out the correct answers while taking a computer-based police officer test rather than having to focus on familiarizing yourself with the format of the test.

4.ASK IN ADVANCE ABOUT THE TEST FORMAT. Contact the testing agency administering the exam you will be taking and ask about the test format. Find out if you can view a tutorial for the examination you are taking before exam day. Another recommended step is to seek out people who have already taken the examination you will be taking. Ask them about the format of the test. Following are some of the details of the computer-based test format that you should ask about.

■Are the written directions/rules outlining the test taker’s responsibilities during the test available to the candidate before the day of the test? If so, obtain them and study them.

■Is there a computer-based method to make notes during the test? If not, are candidates supplied with a notepad to take notes? If not, can the candidate bring his or her own notepad into the test room? Later on in this section we will present a specific strategy for handling multiple-choice questions. This strategy includes note taking. It is imperative that candidates taking a computer-based multiple-choice question test understand how to make notes during the test.

■Must you answer the questions in the order they are presented or can you skip questions? Can you return to questions you have already answered?

■Is there one time frame for completing the entire examination or are there several different timed sections?

■What is the procedure to follow in the event of a computer malfunction during the test, such as a frozen screen?

5.PAY STRICT ATTENTION TO THE EXAM DAY TUTORIAL. Virtually every computer-based multiple-choice examination begins with a tutorial before the examination begins. Do not assume you know the instructions being discussed in the tutorial no matter how much advance preparation you have made. Keep in mind that test formats are continually evolving. Remain flexible.

6.CLEAR UP UNRESOLVED ISSUES BEFORE THE START OF THE TEST. When viewing the exam tutorial, be vigilant and seek out the answers to the questions posed in strategy 4. If, after the tutorial, you are not sure of the answers to these questions, make inquiries to the test room monitor before the test begins.

7.FOLLOW THE SPECIFIC TEST-TAKING STRATEGIES THAT FOLLOW FOR HANDLING MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS.

Very specific test-taking strategies that are valuable for a multiple-choice examination follow. These strategies will serve you well not only on the police officer examination but on any multiple-choice exam you might take. Study the strategies and practice them; then study them again until you have mastered them.

Please note that these strategies are written to apply to both the traditional pencil-and-paper examination and the computer-based examination. Also note that at first glance some of the strategies may seem overly complex. You will find, however, that if you put in the required effort to master them, you will in all likelihood find yourself at or near the top of the hiring list when it is published.

1.READ THE INSTRUCTIONS. Do not assume that you know what the instructions are without reading them. Make sure you read and understand them. There are test instructions and question instructions. Test instructions are a set of general instructions that govern the entire examination and are to be read before the start of the exam. Question instructions are found throughout the test before each series of questions that requires specific instructions. They govern the taking of each such series of questions appearing on the exam. On the day of your official examination, if you are unsure about the instructions, ask questions when given the opportunity.

If you are taking a computer-based multiple-choice question test, don’t forget to pay special attention to instructions dealing with the format of the examination.

2.MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE COMPLETE EXAMINATION. If you are taking a traditional pencil-and-paper examination, as soon as the examination officially starts, check the test booklet page by page. Because these booklets have numbered pages, simply count the pages. If you do not have a complete examination, inform a test monitor immediately.

3.UNDERSTAND HOW TO RECORD ANSWERS PROPERLY. If you are taking a traditional pencil-and-paper examination, keep in mind that some answer sheets number the questions vertically when other answer sheets number the questions horizontally. This numbering system is used to discourage cheating. The answer sheets used in this book for the practice examination are typical of what you will see on a traditional pencil-and-paper examination. However, do not take anything for granted. Review the instructions on the answer sheet carefully and familiarize yourself with its format.

If you are taking a computer-based multiple-choice test, make sure you know the answers to the following questions:

4.BE CAREFUL WHEN MARKING YOUR ANSWERS. If you are taking a traditional pencil-and-paper examination, be sure to mark your answers in accordance with the official instructions. Be absolutely certain that:

Please note that there is a difference between making extraneous markings on your answer sheet and making notes in your test booklet, which is the booklet that contains the test questions. As you will see, good test-taking strategy demands that you make certain notations in your test booklet. The only exception would be in the very rare instance where the test instructions prohibit writing in the test booklet.

If you are taking a computer-based multiple-choice test, this is not as important an issue as it is for those taking traditional pencil-and-paper tests. Just make certain when you take a computer-based test that you understand the proper method for entering your selected answer and, if necessary, for changing an answer you have already selected.

5.MAKE ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN YOU ARE MARKING THE ANSWER TO THE RIGHT QUESTION. Many people have failed traditional paper-and-pencil multiple-choice tests because of carelessness in this area. All it takes is one mistake. If you put down one answer in the wrong space, you will probably continue the mistake for a number of questions until you realize your error. We recommend that you use the following procedure when marking your answer sheet.

■ Select your answer, circle that choice on the test booklet, and ask yourself what question number you are working on.

■ If you select choice “C” as the answer for question eleven, circle choice “C” on the test booklet, and say to yourself, “C is the answer to question eleven.”

■Then find the space on your answer sheet for question eleven, and again say “C is the answer to question eleven” as you mark the answer.

Even though this procedure may seem rather elementary and repetitive, after a while it becomes automatic. If followed properly, it guarantees that you will not fail the examination because of a careless mistake.

If you are taking a computer-based multiple-choice test, this is not as important an issue as it is for those taking traditional pencil-and-paper tests. Most computer-based formats provide for automatic marking of the answer sheet upon selecting the answer for a particular question. To be on the safe side, however, make sure this is the case on the test you are taking. In fact, never assume anything about the format of the examination. Confirm everything.

6.MAKE CERTAIN THAT YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT THE QUESTION IS ASKING. Test takers often choose wrong answers because they fail to read the question carefully enough. Read the stem of the question (the part before the choices) very carefully to make certain that you know what the examiner is asking. If necessary, read it twice. Be certain to read every word in the question. If you do not, you could select a wrong answer to a very simple question.

7.ALWAYS READ ALL OF THE CHOICES BEFORE YOU SELECT AN ANSWER. Distracters are what examiners call incorrect choices. Every multiple-choice question usually has one best distracter, which is very close to being correct. Many times this best distracter comes before the correct choice. Therefore, don’t automatically select the first choice that seems to answer the question. Read all choices!

8.BE AWARE OF KEY WORDS THAT OFTEN TIP OFF THE CORRECT AND INCORRECT ANSWERS. When you are stuck on a question and must guess at the answer, you can often select the correct choice by understanding that absolute words tend to appear more often in incorrect choices and that limiting words tend to appear more often in correct choices. Absolute words are very broad and do not allow for any exceptions. Limiting words are not all inclusive and allow for exceptions.

Absolute Words—Often a wrong choice when guessing
(They are generally too broad and difficult to defend.)

9.NEVER MAKE A CHOICE BASED ON FREQUENCY OF PREVIOUS ANSWERS. Some students inappropriately pay attention to the pattern of answers when taking an exam. Multiple-choice exams are not designed to have an equal number of A, B, C, and D choices as the answers. Always answer the question without regard to what the previous choices have been.

10.MAKE A DECISION ON EACH ANSWER CHOICE AND RECORD IT. This strategy point is designed to enable the test taker to save time and mental energy by recording his or her decisions on each choice for every question in the entire test the first time through the test. The concept is simple: Recording your thoughts on each choice as you review it facilitates speedy review of the question as the need arises.

There are three possible decisions you can make for each answer choice you review. You know for sure that a certain choice either (1) is not the answer, (2) is the answer, or (3) may or may not be the answer. The time-saving tip for you is to record your decision for each choice you review, as described below in our three-step process.

THE THREE-STEP PROCESS

1.Use process of elimination to arrive at the correct answer.

2.Reread answer choices you were not able to eliminate.

3.If it applies, reread the question stem.

STEP 1 If you are taking a traditional pencil-and-paper examination, as you consider the various answer choices to each question, put an X in the test booklet to cross out the letter designation of any choice you know for sure is not the answer. If you cross out all but one of the choices, the remaining choice should be your answer. Read that choice one more time to satisfy yourself, put a circle around its letter designation (if you still feel it is the correct answer), and transfer it to your answer sheet using strategy 5. Spend no more time on this question.

If you are taking a computer-based multiple-choice test, use the note-taking function of the computer to record those answer choices you know for sure are not the answer. If you eliminate all but one answer choice, record that choice as your answer. Spend no more time on this question.

STEP 2 If, after your initial review of the choices, you are left with more than one possible answer, you need only to reread those choices that you did not eliminate the first time by putting an X through them. Many times, the second time you read the remaining choices, the answer is clear. If that happens, cross out the wrong choice by putting an X through it, circle the correct one, and transfer the answer to the answer sheet if you are taking a traditional pencil-and-paper test. If you are taking a computer-based multiple-choice test, use the computer to perform these tasks.

STEP 3 If, after the second reading of the choices, you still have not selected an answer, reread the stem of the question and make certain that you understand the question. Then review those choices that you did not initially eliminate by putting an X through them. Keep in mind the absolute words and limiting words mentioned in strategy 8, which may give you a hint of the correct answer. If you still haven’t decided which answer choice to select, guess at the answer and record your guess on the answer sheet. When guessing, be guided by the strategy outlined in paragraphs 8, 11, 12, and 16.

11.GUESS AT THE ANSWERS TO TROUBLING QUESTIONS YOU CANNOT DECIDE ON. The first time through the examination, do not dwell too long on any one troubling question. Spending too much time on a troubling question is an error you must avoid because it is a common cause of running out of time. You can avoid this error by doing the following:

■If you are taking a traditional paper-and-pencil examination, and you are faced with a question you cannot answer, guess at the answer and record it on your answer sheet after putting a circle around the question number in the test booklet and go on to the next question. The circle around the question number in the test booklet will help you find these troubling questions the second time through the examination, as explained in strategy 12.

■If you are taking a computer-based test, and you are faced with a question you cannot answer, guess at the answer and bookmark the question to provide a speedy return to it after you have recorded answers for all of the questions on the test, as explained in strategy 12.

If you answer a troubling question without guessing at it, put a star in the margin in your test booklet or otherwise bookmark it for speedy return. Time permitting, these are the second category of questions you should return to after recording answers for every question on the test in accordance with strategy 12.

12.RETURN TO THE QUESTIONS YOU GUESSED AT AFTER YOU FINISH THE ENTIRE EXAMINATION. After you have recorded an answer for all of the questions on the exam, check the time remaining. If time permits (it should if you follow our time management recommendations), return first to each question you guessed at and reread the stem of each of these questions and any of the answer choices that you did not cross out during your initial reading. It should be easy to find the questions you guessed at if you have followed the recommendations outlined in strategy 11. Many times the correct answer will now be easy to determine. Otherwise, time constraints demand that you stick with your best educated guess as discussed in strategy 15 and move on.

If you still have time after you have reviewed every question that you guessed at during your first time through the test, you should now review the questions you had trouble answering. These questions should also be easy to find if you have followed the recommendations outlined in strategy 11.

13.NEVER LEAVE QUESTIONS UNANSWERED UNLESS THE INSTRUCTIONS INDICATE A PENALTY FOR WRONG ANSWERS. In most police officer examinations, you do not have points subtracted from your final score for wrong answers. In other words, there is no penalty for guessing. If this is the case on your examination, guess at any question you are not sure of.

In rare instances, a penalty is assessed for wrong answers on multiple-choice examinations. Because this would have to be explained in the test instructions, be sure, as already recommended, to read all of your instructions very carefully. If there is a penalty for wrong answers on your examination, decide how strongly you feel about each individual question before answering it. Note, again, that this rarely happens on entry-level examinations such as the one you are planning to take.

14.DEVELOP A TIME MANAGEMENT PLAN. It is extremely important for you to have a time management plan when you take your examination. Not to systematically monitor the passage of time on an examination is similar to inviting failure. The mechanics of developing a time management plan are presented later in this section.

15.RULES FOR MAKING AN “EDUCATED GUESS.” Your chances of picking the correct answer to questions you are not sure of will be significantly increased if you use the following rules:

■Be aware of key words that give you clues as to which answer might be right or wrong.

EXAMPLE

Alicia’s complaint about the weather was that

(A)it was too hot.

(B)it was too cold.

(C)it varied too much.

(D)it was unpredictable.

In this example, choices C and D are so close together in meaning that neither is likely to be the correct answer. Choices A and B, on the other hand, are quite opposite each other, and one of them is most likely the correct answer.

■If two choices are worded so that combined they encompass all of the possibilities, one of them has to be the correct choice.

EXAMPLE

How old is John?

(A)John is 7 years old or less.

(B)John is 6 years old.

(C)John is over 7 years old.

(D)John is 14 years old.

In this example, it should be clear to you that the correct answer must be either A or C because if John is not 7 years old or less (choice A), then he must be over 7 years old (choice C). Please note that even if he is 14 years old (choice D), choice C is still correct. His age must fit into either choice A or choice C.

■An answer choice that has significantly more or significantly fewer words in it is very often the correct choice.

16.BE VERY RELUCTANT TO CHANGE ANSWERS. Unless you have a very good reason, do not change an answer once you have chosen it. Experience has shown us that all too often people change their answer from the right one to the wrong one. This doesn’t mean that you should never change an answer. If you discover an obvious mistake, for example, you should most certainly change your answer.

17.UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE SPECIFIC STRATEGIES FOR DEALING WITH DIFFERENT TYPES OF QUESTIONS. On every entry-level examination, you will encounter different types of questions, often called question types. For example, some questions might test your ability to understand what you read, others might test your verbal or mathematical ability, and still others might test your memory or your ability to interpret graphs, charts, tables, and so forth. If you are to maximize your test score, you must understand that it is wrong to answer all question types on the test with the same strategy. Instead, you should change your approach based on the type of question you are answering at any given time. Included in this book is a discussion for each of the most common question types used on most police officer examinations throughout the country. Also included in each discussion is an explanation of a strategy to follow for the specific type of question being considered. Learn to recognize the various question types, and learn the specific strategies for answering each one of them. Then, when you take the practice examinations, use these specific strategies.

The testing agency in the jurisdiction conducting the exam you will be taking typically informs the general public about an upcoming police officer test via what is usually called either a “Job Announcement” or a “Preparation Guide.” When the test involved is professionally developed and administered, this Job Announcement/Preparation Guide will contain significant information about the abilities being tested and the question types that will be used to assess these abilities. This information is also usually posted on the testing agency’s website.

A word of caution here is appropriate. Unless you have definitive information about the specific question types you will encounter, you should be ready for any of the question types discussed in this text.

The time management plan presented in this section applies to both traditional multiple-choice examinations and computer-based mulitple-choice examinations. The primary goal of a time management plan is to determine the average number of minutes you should spend on each multiple-choice question on the test and then to use that information throughout the test to guard against running out of time. In order to develop a time management plan, you must know (1) the number of questions on the exam and (2) the amount of time allowed to complete the test. Many times you will not have this information until the day of the test. But, because it is a relatively simple task, you can easily develop your time management plan on test day before you begin to answer any questions.

The following step-by-step explanation details how a time management plan is developed. For the purposes of this explanation, assume that you are taking an examination that has 100 questions and a time limit of 4 hours.

1.CONVERT THE TIME ALLOWED TO MINUTES AND PUT 30 MINUTES ASIDE OR, AS WE SAY, IN THE BANK. When you have finished the examination, use the 30 minutes to go back to the questions you have skipped and to otherwise review your exam. Using our example, convert 4 hours to 240 minutes and subtract 30 minutes, which leaves you with 210 minutes to answer 100 questions. Remember that this also leaves you with 30 minutes in the bank to use at the end of the test.

2.DIVIDE THE TIME ALLOWED TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS BY THE NUMBER OF QUESTIONS TO DETERMINE THE AVERAGE AMOUNT OF TIME YOU SHOULD SPEND ON EACH QUESTION. In our example, this means that you would divide 210 minutes by 100 questions and thus determine that you should spend approximately 2 minutes per question.

3.NOW USE YOUR TIME MANAGEMENT PLAN. Knowing that you should spend approximately 2 minutes per question is of little value unless you then proceed to monitor your time usage from the start of the exam. On a 100-question test, we recommend that you specifically check your time every 10 questions. Using our example, at the end of the first 10 questions, no more than 20 minutes should have passed (2 minutes per question); after completing 20 questions, no more than 40 minutes should have passed, and so forth.

By developing and using a time management plan, you will find out early in the test if you are falling behind. This information is quite beneficial because you will still be able to do something about it. Contrast that situation with one in which you realize much too late that you have been using too much time. Clearly, the former is the preferable situation.

In some jurisdictions, material about entrance examinations is distributed in advance of the test. The material typically takes the form of a test preparation and orientation booklet. Included in this advance material may be general information about the examination, a description of the types of questions that will appear on the examination, specific suggestions or hints for you to follow when taking the examination, and sample questions. In addition, you might also be given accompanying reference material containing information that you should study to prepare for the examination.

The rules to follow when dealing with advance material are both simple and obvious. You should read the material carefully and use it to prepare for the examination. Your score on the examination will, in all probability, be in direct proportion to your understanding of the advance material.

By reference material we mean material upon which actual test questions might be based. Concerning reference material distributed in advance, there are generally three possibilities. The way you deal with this reference material is predicated on which of the three possibilities applies to your particular examination.

The first possibility is that the advance reference material may be similar but not identical to the reference material you will be using on the day of the test. In that case, you should familiarize yourself with the format and structure of the material, but you do not need to learn it.

The second possibility is that the advance reference material may be identical to the actual reference material to be distributed on the day of the test. In that case, you should become very familiar with the advance material because the questions you will be asked will be based on that material; however, it is not necessary to memorize the material because you will have it at your disposal on test day.

The third possibility is that the advance reference material will be used on the day of the test, but you will not be able to refer to it even though the questions will test your knowledge of it. In that case, you must study and commit the information involved to memory before test day. Failure to do so will result in almost certain failure.

Another practice occasionally used in entrance-level examinations is the use of video simulations. Should a video be used on your official examination, you can expect the following. On the day of the test, you will be shown a video presentation and then asked questions about what you have heard and seen on the videotape. In some cases, the questions you are asked are designed to measure your ability to understand by observing and listening. Other questions are designed to test your ability to apply written material to the situations shown in each scenario.

In many tests that include a video component, candidates are shown a sample videotape before the day of the examination. If your test is structured in that way, it is absolutely essential that you view the sample video.

1.MAKE CERTAIN THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THE DIRECTIONS AND WHAT THE QUESTION IS ASKING. This general rule about the importance of reading and understanding test instructions and directions must be followed if you are to be successful on a video test. If, after reading the instructions, you are unsure about their exact meaning, ask questions when given the opportunity. Make sure that you know what to expect before the video begins because most video tests prohibit the asking of questions after the video begins.

2.TAKE NOTES AS THE VIDEO PRESENTATION UNFOLDS, UNLESS SPECIFICALLY PROHIBITED BY THE TEST INSTRUCTIONS. You should not try to record the scene verbatim. Make your notes as brief as possible. Use key words and phrases and not complete sentences. Use abbreviations that you understand whenever possible, keeping in mind that your notes are useless if you cannot interpret them later. Also keep in mind that candidates who get engrossed in taking lengthy notes often miss critical information.

3.CONCENTRATE. You must not let your mind wander. You must pay strict attention to what you are seeing and what you are hearing. Completely ignore the actions of those around you. Note that you can hone your note-taking skills and concentration ability through practice. Simply watch a news show on television (record if possible). Make notes of what you hear and see. After the show, see how many of the important points you have captured.

4.PAY PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO ERRORS AS YOU SEE THEM OCCUR. Make note of what appear to be inappropriate actions on the part of the actors in the video. Such actions will often become the basis for questions.

5.NOTE TIMES, DATES, AND LOCATIONS WHEN GIVEN. Understand that the time frames and locations involved are often the subject of questions.

QUESTION TYPES

Memory

Police Form

Directives, Procedures, and Regulations

Reading Comprehension

Legal Definitions

Sentence Ordering

Traffic Maps

Matching Sketches

Report Writing

Directed Patrol

Wanted Posters

Formulas

Find the Perpetrators

Frequency of Information

Arithmetic

Applying Policy

The typical police entrance examination contains the following types of questions.

1.MEMORY QUESTIONS. In this question type, the candidate is given written material and/or pictorial material and is permitted a period of time, usually about five minutes, to commit to memory as much about it as he or she can. The material is then taken away and the candidate is asked a series of questions, usually ten to twenty, based on its contents.

2.POLICE FORM QUESTIONS. There are two kinds of questions asked concerning department forms, as follows:

■The candidate is given a written story about a police incident, a blank police department form, and a series of questions asking what information should be placed in various boxes on the form. The candidate must choose pertinent information from the story to answer the questions pertaining to the form.

■The candidate is given a completed police department form and is required to answer questions using the information already on the form.

3.QUESTIONS ON UNDERSTANDING AND APPLYING POLICE DIRECTIVES, PROCEDURES, AND REGULATIONS. In this question type, the candidate is given a series of police department procedures and is tested on his or her ability to understand the procedures and to apply them to typical police situations.

4.READING COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS. This question type tests the candidate’s ability to understand written material that is reflective of the kind of writing that a police officer must be able to read and understand.

5.QUESTIONS ON UNDERSTANDING AND APPLYING LEGAL DEFINITIONS. In this question type, the candidate is given a series of legal definitions and is tested on his or her ability to understand these definitions and to apply them to typical police situations.

6.SENTENCE ORDERING QUESTIONS. In this type of question, the candidate is presented with a series of sentences, usually five, and then tested to determine if he or she can arrange those sentences in the most logical sequence as if they were to appear in a police report.

7.TRAFFIC MAP QUESTIONS. In Traffic Map questions, the candidate’s ability to go from one location on a map to another is tested. These questions are based on the ability to follow directions while using a street map that contains such things as “one way streets” and “dead end streets.” Included among these questions is a new type of question known as “Visualization Questions,” which test the candidate’s ability to maintain visual perception when viewing street scenes.

8.MATCHING SKETCHES QUESTIONS. This is a type of question that is completely non-verbal. The candidate is shown a sketch of a person’s face and then usually asked to select the same person from among a group of four other sketches. Sometimes the candidate is required to choose which of four sketches is NOT the same person as the original sketch.

9.REPORT WRITING QUESTIONS. In this type of question, the candidate is required to actually write a report or to examine written reports or written statements. The candidate is then asked to indicate if the reports have been written accurately and clearly or to select from several options the most correct way to express the same series of facts that have been presented in the stem of the question.

10.DIRECTED PATROL QUESTIONS. In this question type the candidate is given a number of facts about crime and/or other police related incidents. Based on this data, the candidate is then asked to select the optimum patrol areas and/or times to best deal with the crime or incident involved.

11.WANTED POSTERS. This is another type of question that tests the candidate’s memory. The candidate is shown a series of about six wanted posters containing a likeness of the wanted person and written information about that person, including pedigree information and information about the crime or crimes for which he or she is wanted. The candidate is given some time, usually five to ten minutes, to study the wanted posters; they are then taken away and the candidate is asked questions about the posters.

12.FORMULA QUESTIONS. In this type of question, the candidate is given information about what took place during a police officer’s tour of duty. The candidate is then asked to express in a mathematical formula such things as the amount of time spent on certain functions during that tour of duty.

13.FIND THE PERPETRATOR QUESTIONS. In this question type, the candidate is given information about a person who has been arrested, such as his age, weight, height, clothing worn, hairstyle, etc. The candidate is then given a description of other suspects wanted for other crimes and asked which of the other suspects could be the arrested person.

14.FREQUENCY OF INFORMATION QUESTIONS. In Frequency of Information questions, the candidate is given information received from witnesses to a crime or police related incident and asked to choose which of the witnesses most likely gave the correct information.

15.ARITHMETIC QUESTIONS. Many departments ask questions that test a candidate’s ability to perform the basic addition and subtraction skills needed by a police officer in the course of his or her day’s work. In the typical arithmetic question, the candidate is given a listing of stolen property and required to select the choice that most accurately reflects the total value of the stolen property.

16.APPLYING POLICE POLICY QUESTIONS. In these question types, the candidate is given a statement about the policy of a police department and then tested to see whether he or she can apply that policy. These questions, which closely resemble reading comprehension type questions, require the candidate to exercise some degree of independent judgment. However, by carefully reading the introductory stem of the question (the part before the choices) and by following some simple rules, which we describe later in this text, such judgment decisions become obvious.

Don’t be concerned if your initial reading of the above information seems difficult for you. Each of the above question types is fully explained in this book, and for each question type we give you helpful hints and strategies to follow. You are also given many sample questions in each area, along with fully explained answers to each question.

To obtain maximum benefit from the use of this book, we recommend the following approach:

1.Learn the “Strategies for Handling Multiple-Choice Questions,” which appear in this chapter.

2.Take the Diagnostic Examination. After completing this examination, fill out the diagnostic procedure chart that follows the examination. This will indicate your strengths and weaknesses. You can then devote most of your study time to correcting your weaknesses.

3.As mentioned above, concentrate your study efforts in your weak areas, but make certain to cover each chapter. Be sure to follow the “Ten Rules for Studying More Effectively,” which appear in this chapter. Also, make sure to employ the test-taking strategies mentioned earlier when doing the practice questions at the end of each chapter.

4.Take Practice Examination One. After you have finished this examination and have reviewed the explained answers, complete the diagnostic procedure chart that follows the examination. Then restudy the appropriate chapters in accordance with the directions on the bottom of the diagnostic chart.

5.Take Practice Examination Two. After you have finished this examination, follow the same procedure that you followed after finishing Practice Examination One.

6.Take Practice Examination Three. Once again, follow the same procedure you followed after Practice Examination One.

7.When the actual examination is two weeks away, read the final section of the book. Be sure to follow the recommended strategy contained in this chapter for the seven days immediately preceding the examination.

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