Officers working alone at night must check in with dispatch every 30 minutes. If an officer misses a check-in, dispatch calls the officer twice and then sends the nearest available unit to the officer's last known location.An officer misses a check-in and does not answer either call. What happens next?

Dispatch sends the nearest available unit to the officer's last known location

Job assessment practice

Police exam practice test: free written exam questions

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Prepare for the police written exam (the police entrance exam most departments give first) with original practice questions in the four areas these tests usually cover: reading comprehension, written expression, problem solving and memory. Start with 5 free questions, then take two full 50-question timed tests with an explanation for every answer.

5 free questions
2 full tests, 100 questions
Reading, writing, reasoning, memory
60 minutes per test
Practice certificate PDF

What is on the police written exam?

There is no single national police exam. Each department or state chooses its own entrance test, but most written exams measure the same basic skills:

Reading comprehension: understanding policies, procedures and short reports, and applying a rule to a situation.
Written expression: spelling, vocabulary, grammar, punctuation, clear sentences and objective report writing.
Problem solving and reasoning: deductive and inductive reasoning, putting steps in the right order (information ordering), spotting errors in a report, directions and basic math such as times, speeds and percentages.
Memory and observation: remembering details from a scene, a photo or an incident summary.

Common examples are the California POST Entry-Level Law Enforcement Test Battery (PELLETB: spelling, vocabulary, clarity and reading comprehension), the FrontLine National exam from National Testing Network (video-based judgment, a reading test and a writing test with report writing), and city civil service exams. No law enforcement knowledge is needed: you are tested on aptitude, not on the law.

How long is the police exam and what is the passing score?

Length and scoring depend on the test. The PELLETB takes about 2 hours and 15 minutes and is scored as a T-score; POST recommends a T-score of 42 or higher, but each agency sets its own cut-off. Many city exams, such as San Diego's written test, require 70% or higher. FrontLine scores reading and writing pass/fail and adds a video test and a work attitude questionnaire, so the whole session takes about 3 hours.

Many departments do not just pass you: they rank candidates by score and invite the highest scorers first. So aim well above the minimum. On MyLevel, each practice test has 50 questions in 60 minutes and shows your score per section, with 70% as an indicative pass level.

How to pass the police entrance exam

Reading: read the question first, then find the exact sentence in the passage that answers it. Use only what the passage says, not what you think the policy should be.
Writing: learn the commonly misspelled words (occurrence, lieutenant, harassment, necessary) and practice writing in the first person and past tense, with facts instead of opinions.
Reasoning: work out math by hand (calculators are usually not allowed), draw a quick sketch for direction questions and check rules one condition at a time.
Memory: scan in a fixed order: who, what, when, where, which way, vehicle and plate. Say key details to yourself once.
Pacing: do not get stuck. Answer every question, because most tests do not take points off for wrong answers.

What you get: free practice, then one price

Start with 5 free questions, one from each area, and see your result straight away. The full pack costs $12.99 once, with no subscription, and gives you two full timed practice tests (50 questions, 60 minutes each), an explanation for every question, your score per section and a MyLevel practice certificate (PDF). The same purchase also unlocks every other MyLevel job test.

All questions are original practice questions written by MyLevel in the style of common police written exams. They are not real exam questions from any department or test publisher.

MyLevel is independent and not affiliated with, or endorsed by, any police department, POST commission, civil service commission or test publisher (including California POST and National Testing Network). PELLETB and FrontLine are named only to describe common test formats. All questions are original practice questions written by MyLevel, and a practice score is not an official exam result.

Frequently asked questions

Is the police exam hard?

Most police written exams test high school level reading, writing and reasoning, so the questions are not difficult on their own. The hard parts are the time limit and the competition: many departments rank candidates by score, so a higher score helps you get called sooner.

What is the passing score on the police exam?

It depends on the department. Many city exams use 70%. The California PELLETB uses a T-score, and POST recommends 42 or higher, while each agency sets its own cut-off. FrontLine scores reading and writing as pass/fail. Always check the job posting.

How many questions are on the police written exam?

It varies by test, often around 75 to 150 multiple-choice questions over 2 to 3 hours. MyLevel practice tests have 50 questions in 60 minutes each, so you train the same skills at the same pace.

Can I use a calculator on the police exam?

Usually not. The math on police exams is basic (times, distances, percentages, averages), so all MyLevel math questions are made to be solved by hand.

What do I get for $12.99?

Two full timed practice tests of 50 questions each, an explanation for every answer, your score per section and a practice certificate. It is a one-time payment with no subscription, and it also unlocks every other MyLevel job test.

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 result, not an official document or exam result.