Correctional officer exam practice test: free written exam questions
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Practise for a correctional officer written exam with original questions in the areas these exams test: reading policies and incident reports, applying written rules and procedures, report writing and grammar, situational judgment and officer safety, observation of detail and basic math with counts, times and shifts. Start with 5 free questions, then take two timed tests of 50 questions in 50 minutes, with an explanation for every answer and your score per area. Physical tests, interviews and background checks are separate and not practised here.
- 5 free questions
- 2 timed tests, 100 questions
- 50 questions in 50 minutes
- Score in 6 areas
- Practice certificate PDF
How many questions are on the correctional officer exam?
There is no single national correctional officer exam. Each city, state and the federal government run their own hiring process, and some no longer use a written test at all. Examples from official sources:
| Agency | Written test | Fee and scoring |
|---|---|---|
| NYC Correction Officer, Exam No. 6303 (NYC DCAS, 2026) | Multiple-choice computer-based test, testing expected from 13 August 2026 (applications 1 April to 29 May 2026); no question count or time published | $68 application fee; at least 70% to pass; qualifying physical test; 21 to be appointed |
| New York State Correction Officer Trainee (DOCCS, 20-615010) | No written multiple-choice test: an online questionnaire about your education, training and experience is the test | No application fee; 70 or higher to pass; at least 21 |
| California CDCR Correctional Officer | Written exam on grammar, spelling, punctuation, reading comprehension and basic math, then a physical fitness test | CDCR says 79% of candidates pass; a rank score; 30 days before you may reapply after a fail |
| Florida Basic Abilities Test (CJBAT, FDLE) | A separate test for corrections; Pearson VUE lists 97 questions in 90 minutes for the BAT, in three timed sections including memorization, written comprehension and expression, and reasoning | At most three tries per 12 months; a pass is valid for four years |
| Federal Bureau of Prisons | No written screening test is listed; a panel interview before selection, and a written test on policies at the training academy | Apply before your 37th birthday; physical abilities test at the academy |
Sources: NYC DCAS amended notice of examination No. 6303 (29 April 2026); NYS Department of Civil Service announcement 20-615010 (reissued August 2024); CDCR hiring process, written examination page; FDLE Basic Abilities Test page and Pearson VUE FDLE BAT page; BOP hiring process. Checked 29 October 2026. Always read the current notice of the agency you apply to.
What is on the correctional officer written exam?
Entry-level exams measure aptitude, not knowledge of prisons or the law. The abilities named in the official material above are written comprehension and expression, deductive and inductive reasoning, information ordering, problem sensitivity, number facility and memorization (NYC Exam 6303), and grammar, spelling, punctuation, reading and basic math (CDCR). MyLevel splits each 50-question test into six areas:
| Area | What you practise | Per MyLevel test |
|---|---|---|
| Reading policies and incident reports | Facts, exceptions, word meaning, what an officer saw versus what was said | 10 |
| Applying rules and procedures | A written rule and a situation: what the rule requires, step by step | 10 |
| Report writing and grammar | Clear, factual sentences, time order, spelling, punctuation, word choice | 10 |
| Situational judgment and officer safety | Words before force, inmate interaction, no favors or gifts, keys and doors, reporting | 10 |
| Math | Counts, shift times past midnight, overtime, staffing ratios, percentages | 6 |
| Observation and detail | A short written description of a person, cell or scene and a question on its details | 4 |
This split is MyLevel's own, not an official weighting. The rules, codes and policies in the questions are written for practice and are not any real facility's policy. Memory parts of real exams that show a picture first and ask later are practised here in text form only.
What you practise on MyLevel
Every MyLevel question is an original practice question with one correct answer, three wrong ones and a short explanation. Calculations (counts, shift and transport times, overtime pay, staffing ratios, percentages) were re-solved by script. The two full tests have 50 questions in 50 minutes each: a MyLevel timer, since NYC publishes no length; Florida's CJBAT runs a little faster, at 97 questions in 90 minutes. After each test you see your score per area, so you know what to study next.
Two timed tests cost $9.99, a one-time payment with no subscription and no time limit, and the pack also unlocks every other MyLevel job test. Not useful? Full refund within 14 days.
How to pass the correctional officer exam
- Read the notice of examination first: it tells you whether there is a written test at all, the fee, the dates, the age limits and the pass mark. New York State, for example, now scores a training-and-experience questionnaire instead of a written test.
- Apply the rule, not your instinct: in rule and policy questions, check every condition and every exception ('unless', 'except') against the situation.
- Write like a report: facts you saw, in time order, in the past tense, with names instead of 'he', and no opinions.
- For judgment questions, pick the answer that keeps everyone safe, uses words before force, refuses favors and gifts, and tells your supervisor.
- Practise count and time math without a calculator, including shifts that run past midnight and ratios you round up.
- Train under time: take a full MyLevel test, read every explanation you missed, study your weakest area and retake. Aim for 70% or more in every area, and higher to rank well on a list.
- Prepare for the other steps separately: physical tests, the interview, background investigation and medical exam are part of most processes.
MyLevel is independent and not affiliated with, or endorsed by, NYC DCAS, the NYC Department of Correction, the New York State Department of Civil Service or DOCCS, CDCR or CalHR, the Federal Bureau of Prisons, FDLE, Pearson VUE, TDCJ or any city, county, state or federal corrections or civil service agency. All questions are original practice questions written by MyLevel, not real exam questions. A practice score is not an exam result and does not put you on a hiring list.
Sample question with explanation
A housing unit has 48 cells with 2 inmates in each. Today 7 cells are empty. How many inmates are in the unit?
- 82
- 89
- 96
- 41
Show the answer
Answer: A. 82
Occupied cells: 48 - 7 = 41. Inmates: 41 x 2 = 82.
Frequently asked questions
Is this correctional officer exam practice test free?
Yes, you can start with 5 free questions with explanations, from five of the six areas. Two full timed tests of 50 questions cost $9.99 once, with no subscription.
How many questions are on the correctional officer exam and how long is it?
It depends on the agency. Florida's CJBAT has 97 questions in 90 minutes (Pearson VUE); the NYC notice for Exam 6303 gives no question count or time; New York State has no written test but an online questionnaire. Check the notice of examination where you apply.
What is the passing score for the correctional officer exam?
Each agency sets its own. NYC Exam 6303 needs at least 70% (NYC DCAS, 2026) and New York State's questionnaire needs 70 or higher; CDCR gives a rank score and says 79% of candidates pass. Many lists are ranked, so aim above the minimum.
Is the correctional officer written exam hard?
The questions test reading, rules, writing, judgment and simple math, not knowledge of prisons, but they are timed and lists are ranked by score. Practising under time and reading every explanation you missed is the best preparation.
Can I get the real correctional officer exam questions and answers as a PDF?
No. Agencies do not publish their live exam questions, and a PDF that claims to have them is not a reliable way to prepare. MyLevel gives original practice questions in the same areas, with a worked explanation for every answer; CDCR also publishes its own sample questions on its written exam page.
Can I unlock only this test?
There is one option, so you never have to choose: the $9.99 job pack, one time. It unlocks the 2 full tests on this page and every other MyLevel job test, with no subscription and a full refund within 14 days if it does not help you.
Do I get a certificate?
Yes. After a full practice test you can download a MyLevel practice certificate (PDF) with your score. It is a personal record of your practice, not an official document and not an exam result.
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