How to Score Higher on a Police Civil Service Exam

Your score on a civil service exam will help determine whether you get hired or not, as well as the order of hiring. If the number of available positions are filled before they go down the list and get to you, you're out of a job. Therefore, you need to get the highest score you can in order to place yourself at the highest point on the civil service list as possible. The following steps will tell you how to help yourself get a higher score on the exam.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Confidence
• A book (or video) about police civil service exams
• Established friendships with police officers
• Access to inside police info (if possible)
• A clean criminal record
• A good employment history

1. Go out to a bookstore or shop online for a book (or video) that promises you that you'll not only pass, but score higher on a police exam. If possible, buy one that includes practice exams. Then, read it, study it, read it, and study it as much and as often as possible. There is at least one company that offers a “Police Exam Video Training Course.” The company's home study course promises that you'll get “top scores” on your police exam with “satisfaction guaranteed.”

2. Attempt to forge friendships police officers. A good way to start is by gaining employment as a non- civil service police dispatcher. While learning all the ins and outs of police department operations, you'll form friendships with police officers. Then spend as much time as possible with your new friends. Ask them as many questions as you can and learn all you can from the officers.

3. If possible, go on “Ride-Alongs” with the police officers that you know. Some police departments will allow this, others will not for reasons of liability. If they let you ride along with the officers, you'll gain a wealth of information from the experience. After each situation you encounter, ask the officer why he did things the way he did and why he made the decisions he made during the incident.

4. Sign up for and take a similar civil service exam. Almost any other exam in the law enforcement field will do, such as the Dept of Motor Vehicles, or Environmental Police. Often, state colleges have Civil Service Campus Police Officer Jobs. Use this exam for practice. You'll get an idea of how well you'll do and get a feel for what to expect from your real police exam.

5. When you possible, make notes about your experiences with the officers. Note things about the laws in your community, what took place, and how the officers handled each situation.

6. Gain all the knowledge and experience that you can get from as many reliable sources as possible. Start thinking like a cop and be confident in yourself, your knowledge, and your abilities. If you follow the steps above, you should do fine on the exam. Good luck.

Tips & Warnings

• The night before the exam, eat well and get plenty of sleep.
• Remember that on multiple choice questions, the longest answer is usually the correct one.
• Take the exam seriously; your future is on the line.
• Take your time on the exam and utilize all the allotted time for it.