This acronym has two terms of origin:
The committee that decides on the test criteria is called the Police Officer Standards and Training (POST) One type of exam used is called the National Police (or Peace) Officer Selection Tests (again, shortened to POST or NPOST).
Although these are two different entities, the term ‘POST’ is often used to refer to the entire police application and exam process. The exam is a compulsory entry-level test used to assess the basic cognitive and academic skills necessary to work as a police officer. All applicants are required to take the POST before progressing to the next stage of recruitment. One of the most popular exams is the PELLETB, taken in California, which you can read about in our dedicated article.
What Do the Exams Assess?
The police tests are designed with law enforcement in mind, so consist of specific and relevant questions to assess the skills needed. As there is no one set exam, the committee for every state or police department will select an exam of their choice that fulfills the criteria. Commonly, the areas of skill assessed in a selection test are:
Math Writing Grammar Reading comprehension
These skills are deemed necessary to perform well as a police officer and carry out tasks such as report writing, incident reporting and assessing a situation accurately. A candidate for the US police must also possess specific characteristics such as:
Honesty Integrity A desire to see justice
Some police exams assess this through personality or psychological tests. Other minimum requirements to apply to join the US police force include:
A high school diploma or General Education diploma Being between the ages of 21 and 37 US citizens only Must possess a valid driver’s license Must pass a full background check
How Might US Police Exams Differ by State?
These exams are compulsory throughout the US but can vary state by state. Each US state has a committee responsible for choosing an exam that fits their criteria, meaning that there is no standard country-wide exam. You should find out which particular exam structure and content your state uses to help you prepare adequately. For example:
Florida
Current police force of over 40,000 officers The state of Florida offers three basic ability tests, of which you will be expected to complete one. All the tests assess relevant job-related skills and are of an equivalent level of difficulty. The Entry-Level Police Exam has a pass mark of 74%, the Criminal Justice Basic [Ability Test] (CJBAT) has a pass mark of 79%, and the Florida Basic Abilities Test (FBAT) has a pass mark of 71%. A different examination board delivers each. The tests assess a combination, or all, of the following:
Language abilities – Written comprehension, written expression Visualization abilities – Inductive reasoning, memorization, problem sensitivity (the ability to recognize or predict a problem) and flexibility of closure (the ability to identify a hidden object within distracting material) Reasoning abilities – Spatial orientation, deductive reasoning and ordering information
Test scores are valid for four years after taking the exam, and if you are unsuccessful in your attempt, you must wait six months before you can retake the test. In some Florida police departments, you may be required to take an additional test called the Test for Adults Basic Education (TABE); a preliminary test that assesses fundamental skills.
New York
Current police force of over 77,000 officers Law enforcement in the state of New York is a highly competitive industry, with recruitment opportunities happening only once every few years. To apply to become a police officer anywhere in the state of New York, you must first pass a written exam consisting of ten sections including:
Visualization Reasoning Problem sensitivity Memory Spatial orientation Written comprehension
If successful, you will then have to complete further tests depending on the police department in which you wish to work. The New York City police exam consists of four sections:
Understanding and interpreting written information Applying it to relevant situations Preparing written information Memory
New York State has recently migrated over to the EB Jacobs Law Enforcement Aptitude Battery (LEAB-II). This three-hour exam involves both pen and paper and online tests. It has a reputation for catching candidates off guard with questions about their life and experiences as well as the typical aptitude questions seen in other equivalent examinations.
Texas
Current police force of nearly 60,000 officers All police applicants in the state of Texas must pass the State Trooper exam which poses questions at a level equal to a 12th-grade education. Many Texas police departments use the Law Enforcement Validated Entry Level test (LEVEL). This police exam has a two-and-a-half-hour time allowance. It consists of seven sections:
Vocabulary Arithmetic Reading comprehension Grammar Spelling Punctuation Differential decision making (making the best choice from the options available)
Beyond this, individual city police departments administer further exams at their discretion. Houston requires a four to five-hour exam involving a reading comprehension exercise and an interview with a recruiter. Dallas asks candidates to pass a two-and-a-half-hour exam involving reading, writing and math-based activities with a pass mark of 80%. Austin demands a comprehensive and challenging set of assessments including reading comprehension, vocabulary tests, a video observation exercise and two psychological tests.
Montana
Current police force of under 2,000 officers The Montana police application process is overseen by the Montana Law Enforcement Testing Consortium (MTLETC). It involves the Post Officer Selection Test, comprising of four sections:
Mathematics Grammar Reading comprehension Incident report writing
The exam relates to law enforcement situations, but no prior knowledge or experience is required to be able to answer the questions.
Memory Visualization Reading comprehension Spatial awareness Problem sensitivity
As a general exercise to test your skills and improve in areas commonly assessed by the police admissions process, the following practice questions resemble real questions you may be asked: For example, Q. The following steps are necessary for recording a crime. Put them into the correct order. a) Offer advice on what happens next b) Take the identifying details of the person reporting the crime c) Find a vacant room to conduct an interview d) Record the details of the allegation e) Ask the person reporting the crime their version of events
Deductive Reasoning
Deductive reasoning questions test the candidate’s ability to read information and understand it from multiple angles, beyond what is explicitly written. For example, ‘The offender escaped the scene of the crime with just one member of the public giving chase unsuccessfully. The victim later presented to his local police station to report the crime. The police officer investigated surveillance camera footage of the area to attempt to identify the suspect. The victim was escorted to the hospital to have their injuries assessed.’ Q. What do you believe was the nature of this crime? a) Verbal abuse b) Fraud c) Physical assault d) Homicide Here’s an example: ‘The defendant was found guilty of driving under the influence and has vowed to attend a rehabilitation center for the remainder of his recovery. He has settled out of court claims for the victim’s car, which was irreparably damaged in the collision. The defendant professes his sincerest apologies for those he has embarrassed or hurt while battling his addictions.’
- For what crime was the defendant arrested? 2. Were any other cars damaged during the incident? 3. Has the defendant admitted responsibility?
Written Expression
These questions are designed to assess your ability to communicate a concept or idea clearly, either through speaking or writing. The police officer ______ the cars driving dangerously. a) Witness b) Observing c) Witnessed d) Encouraged The investigative nature of law enforcement means that candidates must show that they can judge a situation correctly and have an awareness of the nuances of social interactions. The candidate is not required to solve the problem, merely identify where a problem exists. Based on the above information, do you feel the police officers should continue to question the men? In a real-life situation, a police officer may need to link a series of crimes to one offender.
- All types of crime have increased in number over time. True or False?
- Overall, crime is reducing in the state of Florida. True or false?
- In 2013, Florida introduced new measures to reduce rates of assault. They were successful. True or false? Spatial orientation questions assess whether they can observe a map or environment and determine their position. a) North and then west b) South c) South and then west d) South and then east $45.90 of this was used to top up the gas on his patrol car. $21.09 was spent on refreshments during patrols. The remaining expenses were marked as miscellaneous.
- What was the total cost marked as ‘miscellaneous’? 2. Is Officer Johnson in breach of his expenses allowance of $95 per month? This is an essential skill in policing when searching for a small object in a large area or trying to identify a suspect in a crowd.
- How many times does the letter ‘A’ appear?
- The letter ‘Z’ appears in the image three times. True or false?
- All the characters are letters. True or false? Whichever test you take, the questions are related to work as a police officer. However, you will not necessarily need any specific experience or insight to be able to answer correctly. It is always advisable to find out from your state and police department exactly which tests you’ll be required to take so that you can tailor your preparation accordingly. You will also be told important information such as the location of your assessment center, what to bring with you and the time allocation needed.
Top Tips for Doing Well in the US Police Civil Service Exams
Take practice tests. It’s essential to prepare well for the police exams and, as well as the example questions here, you can also find more practice tests online. Take the practice exams under test conditions to get used to the time allowance and how to pace yourself to complete as many questions as possible. Access a study guide. Local police departments can provide study guides that provide examples of the types of questions asked in an exam. If you can find out which testing company is administering your test, you may be able to access a study guide from them. Know what to expect. Your local police department can provide information about the assessment center location, what to bring with you and how long the test will be. Find out all the necessary information beforehand so you can approach the exam calmly. Be prepared for multiple-choice questions. Many questions on the various police civil service exams provide multiple-choice options for the answer. If you encounter a question you struggle to answer, use a process of elimination to exclude answers you know to be incorrect to narrow down your options. An effective approach is to try to decide on the correct answer before looking at the multiple-choice options.
Other Stages Involved in the US Police Recruitment Process
Beyond the written police selection tests, an applicant will also be expected to pass a physical fitness test. The physical fitness test is designed to ensure a baseline fitness level that is sufficient to cope with the physical demands of law enforcement. Everyday policing can involve chasing and using physical force to detain suspects. A standard physical fitness test can assess strength using push-ups and sit-ups and other bodyweight exercises. A timed run will test cardiovascular fitness, speed and stamina. You will need to present a waiver form signed by your doctor to confirm you are medically fit to take part in the tests. It is common for a state to insist on medical tests for all police service applicants to ensure good health and to support officers who may need additional measures putting in place. It may be appropriate to visit your doctor for a check-up before your tests if you have any health concerns you’d like to address. Finally, candidates must possess and be able to demonstrate the right attitude and approach to law enforcement to be successful. Usually these will be assessed by interview. Confidence, honesty and a strong moral compass are all vital attributes for a career in the US police force.
Final Thoughts
The US police force is an attractive employment option, and as such, applications are very competitive. The first stage of the recruitment process involves passing an exam to demonstrate your basic abilities in areas such as reading, writing, visualization and memory. Exam questions are related to law enforcement, but no prior experience is necessary to do well in the tests. Candidates wishing to apply to join the US police have the best chances of success if they understand what is involved in the preliminary tests and spend time practicing in the lead up to test day.
