The written exam is the first gate in police hiring, and it stops more applicants than any other single step. This free practice test works like the real thing: 20 multiple-choice questions covering situational judgment, police knowledge, reading, writing and basic math — with the correct answer explained after every question, so you learn as you go.
Note: This is a practice test, not an official exam. Every department sets its own test and pass mark, so use this to build skill and confidence — then confirm your department’s exact format and requirements on its hiring page.
Police Exam Practice Test
20 questions drawn at random from a 60-question bank: situational judgment, police knowledge, reading comprehension, writing and basic math — the same mix as a real police written exam. Every answer is explained. No sign-up, no cost, take it as many times as you like.
What Is on the Real Police Written Exam?
Most departments test the same core skills. Reading comprehension uses short reports, policies and witness statements, like the passages in this test. Writing sections check spelling, grammar and clear report sentences. Math stays practical: totals, percentages, averages and time. Situational judgment presents street scenarios and asks for the best response, and some exams add memory, mapping and basic police knowledge. The mix differs, but if you can do well here, you can do well there.
How This Practice Test Works
Each attempt draws 20 questions at random from a bank of 60, half from judgment and knowledge and half from reading, writing and math, so no two attempts are the same. You get feedback the moment you answer, and your score screen breaks the result down by section, which tells you exactly where to study next.
How to Prepare for the Real Thing
Little and often beats one long cram: a 20-question attempt a day builds the reading speed and judgment the exam rewards. Read every explanation, including for questions you got right — the reasoning is what transfers to unfamiliar questions. And do not neglect the other gate: most departments test fitness right alongside the written exam, so check your numbers in our Fitness Test Standards Checker while you study.
When you can score 17 or better here twice in a row, you are ready to sit the real exam with confidence. Book your test, sleep properly the night before, and read every question twice — on the real paper, just like here, the careful answer is usually the correct one.
Police exam questions, answered
Is this the real police exam?
No. This is a free practice test written for Police Pathfinder in the style of real police written exams. Every department writes or buys its own test, so your actual exam will have different questions — but the sections (reading, writing, math, situational judgment) and the style of question are the same, which is what makes practice useful.
How many questions are on the real exam, and what score passes?
It varies by department — commonly 50 to 100+ multiple-choice questions, and many departments set the pass mark around 70%. Some exams are pass/fail, others rank you on a list where a higher score means an earlier academy seat. Check your department’s hiring page for its exact numbers.
What happens if I fail the written exam?
Usually you can reapply and test again after a waiting period, which is often 6 to 12 months depending on the department. A failed attempt is common and is not a permanent disqualification — candidates who prepare properly usually pass on a later attempt.
How should I prepare for the situational judgment section?
Think like a supervisor reviewing your answer: protect life first, stay within the law, use the least force that solves the problem, communicate, and document. Answers that rush in alone, overreact to rudeness, or skip verification are almost always the wrong ones — on the exam and on the street.
Can I retake this practice test?
Yes, as many times as you like. Each attempt draws 20 fresh questions at random from the 60-question bank, so retakes stay useful — and reading the explanation under every answer, right or wrong, is where most of the learning happens.
Keep reading on Police Pathfinder
- How to become a police officer — the full hiring process, step by step
- How to get into the police academy — what stands between you and a seat
- Police Fitness Test Standards Checker — the other half of hiring: will you pass the physical test?
- What disqualifies you from becoming a police officer? — check before you apply