How to Score Higher on a Police Civil Service Exam

Taking a police exam requires preparation before, and concentration during, the test.

There are currently more than 12,000 state and local law enforcement departments across the United States, and the hiring and recruiting methods among them vary greatly. All departments require criminal background checks and health examinations, and most require police applicants to take such entrance exams as aptitude tests, civil service exams or cognitive ability tests. While the exams may utilize a variety of testing methods and questions, most of them are looking for the same thing: knowledge about a potential officer's intelligence, problem-solving ability and deduction capabilities. Because many departments offer tests infrequently, therefore limiting a potential candidate's window of employment, it is critical that anyone planning to take a police exam adequately prepare for the test ahead of time.

Instructions

Complete Prerequisites and Make a Plan

1. Visit the police department in which you plan to apply for employment for specific testing and recruit requirements. Because tests and dates vary, it is important to understand exactly what is expected of you. Obtain a list of test-taking dates, testing materials and application procedures if they are available. If these requirements are not available, take note of important dates and procedures.

2. Make a plan of action. Read through the application procedures and make a list of things you need to do. If certain tasks must be completed before you are allowed to take a written test, take care of those as soon as possible. Complete the job application, prepare your resume, schedule medical exams and complete necessary background check procedures if they must be completed before the written exam is taken.

3. Decide when to take the written exam, if it's possible to choose. Choose a testing date and apply or sign up for the test if necessary. Give yourself a few weeks or months to prepare for a written test ahead of time. Develop a schedule for test preparation and set aside time every day to prepare for your test. Create a schedule based on your past academic history. Think about your past grades, test results and school successes. If tests have been difficult for you in the past, be sure to give yourself adequate time to get ready.

4. Obtain specific information about your department's test. Many departments offer test manuals, study guides and sample tests online or by mail. Although general test preparation can help, getting specific information is important. If you have attempted a police civil service test before but failed, see if the department will give you some detailed information about the types of questions you missed. Understanding areas for improvement can be extremely helpful.

5. Purchase a general book of study skills or test successes. Read reviews of testing books and find one that has favorable reviews and that will suit you. Some testing and academic preparation companies offer manuals specifically designed to prepare individuals for police civil service exams. Other companies offer online subscriptions for testing materials or downloads of sample tests and manuals.

Prepare

1. Begin studying for your test by sticking to your plan. If you set aside thirty minutes daily for studying, be sure to stick with it. If distractions at home are keeping you from studying, go to your local public or university library for a quiet study space.

2. Read through all testing materials. Highlight instructions and read through them several times to make sure you understand what the questions are asking. Once you have reviewed question types, take several practice tests. Understanding what the tests will look like beforehand is extremely helpful in achieving a high score.

3. Analyze your practice test results. Go back into manuals and sample tests and read through correct answers. Find out why the correct answer is different from the one you chose. If you aren't sure about a question and its answer, get help from someone else. Sometimes gaining another person's perspective can help you better understand test questions.

Take your Test

1. Get a good night's sleep before the test and eat properly before taking it. Trying to take a test on an empty stomach or when you're tired could lower your test score.

2. Ask questions if you don't understand testing procedures. Carefully follow all rules about cell phone use, pencils, testing procedures and answer sheets. If you do not understand something, be sure to ask.

3. Skim and scan the entire test or test section before beginning. Look through the test to determine how many questions you have to answer. Take note of the time and be sure to keep your eye on the clock throughout the test so that you give yourself adequate time to finish; however, be sure to take your time. The highest scorers are often the test takers who start right away and finish last because they've spent the most time with the test.

4. Implement test-taking strategies. Create diagrams or do calculations on blank sheets of paper when possible. Talk yourself through difficult questions, take breaks when offered and stay focused. Remove definite "no" answers from multiple choice questions before choosing the correct answer. Make sure your writing is legible on short answer or essay questions. Never leave a question blank.

5. Read through your answers, if possible. If time remains when you are finished, go back through the test or section you completed to make sure that you answered all the questions. Skipped or missed questions can be found this way; also, skim and scan all questions and answers to make sure you answered correctly.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have attempted a test more than once and have not seen an improvement in your score, consider hiring a tutor. Ask the police department if they have a list of tutors who can help with the exam. Find someone who successfully passed the test and ask for help.

• Multiple failed attempts may indicate a need for academic coursework. Consider talking to a community college or university academic advisor to create a plan of action for passing your test. Inquire about useful coursework and study-skills courses. If you have a criminal justice degree already, consider contacting one of your past professors or the academic department for advice and assistance.

• If you are allowed to bring an eraser to testing, find a clean white "Magic Rub" type eraser. These erasers do a good job of erasing dark pencil marks.

• If your test has a bubble answer sheet, make sure the bubbles are filled in neatly, but do not darken them too much. It wastes time to fill them in and it takes longer to erase them if you make a mistake.

References

• "FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin"; Police Officer Candidate Assessment and Selection; David A. Decicco; December 2000
• "Journal of Law Enforcement Technology"; Weeding Out the Bad Seeds; Pamela Mills-Senn; April 2007
• New York State Department of Civil Service: How to Take A Written Test
• New York State: Preparing for a Civil Service Exam
• Pittsburgh Personnel and Civil Service Commission: Civil Service Test Tips

Resources

• Occupational Outlook Handbook: Police and Detectives
• National Law Enforcement Recruiters Association: Approved Links
• United States Capitol Police: Study Guide and Sample Test