2025 Edition

Police Practice Test

Take this free police practice test to see the types of questions on the real officer entrance exam. All answers are fully explained and the test is applicable to all police departments. Many police departments and law enforcement agencies use the National Police Officer Selection Test (POST), which focuses primarily on math, reading comprehension, grammar and writing skills.

We also offer a 500 Question Police Practice Test with flash cards, exam review and testing tips.

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1.	Officer Smith often works as a drug-use prevention officer in the local public schools. He visits three schools a week, 40 weeks out of the year. How many schools does he visit in a year?
		a. 100
		b. 110
		c. 120
		d. 130
3 schools a week x 40 weeks = 120 school visits Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

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2.	A robbery suspect has been arrested. The judge in the case has set bail at one million dollars. The bail bondsman requires a 10% deposit to issue a bail bond. What portion of the one million dollars does the robbery suspect need to pay to get the bail bond?
		a. $100,000
		b. $10,000
		c. $1,000
		d. $100
$1,000.000 x .1 = $100,000 Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

3.	Select the word or phrase that most clearly means the same as the underlined word. When the suspect refused to open the door, the police executed the search warrant and took the door off of its hinges.
		a. broke down
		b. presented
		c. signed
		d. carried out
As used in this sentence, "executed" means to carry out or to do what is required by an order, plan or course of action. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

4.	Identify the misspelled word in the following sentence. The surprising news anemated the conversation amongst the group.
		a. surprising
		b. anemated
		c. conversation
		d. amongst
The correct spelling is "animated". The meaning of "animated" is to be full of life or excitement, to be lively. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

5.	Solve the following: 18 - 3 + (- 5) =
		a. 26
		b. 20
		c. 16
		d. 10
18 - 3 + (- 5) 18 -3 - 5 18 - 8 = 10 Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

6.	Cindy goes to her bank to withdraw some money from her account. She has a balance of $527.41. She withdraws $250.00. What is the balance of her account after the withdrawal?
		a. $227.41
		b. $267.41
		c. $277.41
		d. $287.41
$527.41 - $250 = $277.41 Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

7.	Starting from the ground floor, John takes an elevator to the 10th floor. John then goes down 2 floors and up 8 floors. John is on what floor?
		a. 20
		b. 18
		c. 16
		d. 4
10 - 2 + 8 = 16 Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

8.	The witnesses said that ______ staying at a local motel.
		a. their
		b. they're
		c. there
		d. None of the above.
They're is a contraction of the plural pronoun "they" and third person pluaral verb "are". Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

9.	"The shooting occured early Monday morning, at 3:27." Which word is misspelled?
		a. shooting
		b. occured
		c. morning
		d. early
The correct spelling is "occurred", which means to have happened or have taken place. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

10.	Select the sentence that is correctly written.
		Officer Salanco and me drove to the scene of the crime.
		I and Officer Salanco drove to the scene of the crime.
		Officer Salanco and I drove to the scene of the crime.
		Me and Officer Salanco drove to the scene of the crime.
It is a convention in the English language to use the form "Someone and I" when you list several people including yourself. "Someone and I" is the subject of the sentence. You should use the subjective form "I" instead of the objective "me". Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

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11.	Select the sentence that is correctly written.
		a. Last week, the officers had self-defense training.
		b. Last week, the officers have self-defense training.
		c. Last week, the officers has self-defense training.
		d. The officers, last week, have self-defense training.
Use "had" as the past tense of both "have" and "has". Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

12.	Use the following information to answer questions 12-14. A local pharmacy has been burglarized. The following is a summary of the kinds of drugs that were stolen and their total value: Narcotics $7,000; Barbiturates $4,000; Analgesics $9,500; and Other $3,000. What category of drugs represents the most expensive loss to the pharmacy?
		a. Narcotics
		b. Analgesics
		c. Barbiturates
		d. Other
The stolen analgesics totaled $9,500 in loss while all of the other narcotics were in lesser value amounts. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

13.	What was the total value of the stolen goods?
		a. $23,500.00
		b. $22,500.00
		c. $24,500.00
		d. $23,000.00
$9,500 + $7,000 + $4,000 + $3,000 = $23,500 Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

14.	What category of drugs represents the least expensive loss to the pharmacy?
		a. Narcotics
		b. Analgesics
		c. Barbiturates
		d. Other
According to the scenario, "other" narcotic types were stolen in lesser amounts than the other listed narcotics. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

15.	Read the following passage once and answer questions 15 - 17. Do not refer back to the passage to answer the following questions. The city has a policy that searches can be conducted on an employee's locker, desk or city-owned vehicle at any time, with or without the employee's presence. Officer Randall is asked by his supervisor to search the desk of the City Controller, an elected official, due to the report of a city worker that the City Controller was seen smoking marijuana behind the city building and putting a baggie with a green leafy substance in his desk about one hour ago. When the City Controller's secretary refused to allow the search, Officer Randall showed the secretary a written copy of the city policy. The secretary called the City Controller, who was out on a job site, inspecting a city owned warehouse. He informed the secretary to refuse the search on the basis that he is an elected official. Officer Randall forced his way past the secretary and went through the City Controller's desk. Nothing incriminating was found. The secretary sustained a broken arm as a result of the incident. The city worker who reported the City Controller was known to have much animosity toward the City Controller because the City Controller suspended the city worker the previous month for tardiness. On what basis does Officer Randall seek to search the desk of the City Controller?
		a. search warrant
		b. city policy
		c. imminent threat of the destruction of evidence
		d. inherent police power
The officer sought to search the City Controller's desk on basis of the city policy that permitted searches with or without the employee being present. The officer did not obtain a search warrant. There was no imminent threat to the destruction of evidence since the City Controller was away at a job site. Police officers act by virtue of authority given to them by statutory law and administrative regulations which govern the agency they work for. "Inherent police power" is too vague an answer and does not refer to any specific authority. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

16.	The City Controller does not agree to the search on basis that he is an elected official. Which of the following states his position in another way?
		a. He's done nothing wrong.
		b. There's nothing incriminating in his desk.
		c. That the police officer has merely a copy of the policy, not the policy itself.
		d. That he is not a city employee.
The city policy applies to city employees. The City Controller tries to establish that his desk is not coverd by the city policy because he's an elected official, or, in other words, not a city employee. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

17.	Which of the following is a true statement based on the passage?
		a. The city worker who reported the crime actually saw what he reported.
		b. The city worker's report of a crime is reliable.
		c. The City Controller took the bag of marijuna before the officer searched the drawer.
		d. The city worker had a motive to harm the reputation of the City Controller.
The city worker who reported the City Controller had a motive to harm his reputation. The passage states that the city worker had been suspended for tardiness the previous month by the City Controller. Due to this situation, the city worker may not be reliable. While the report states the City Controller was seen smoking marijuana, it does not identify the witness as the city worker. There is no statement in the passage that the City Controller removed a bag of marijuna from his desk before the officder serached it. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

18.	How many people are referenced in the passage?
		a. 3
		b. 4
		c. 5
		d. 6
Five people are referenced in the passage: 1. Officer Randall 2. Officer Randall's supervisor 3. City Worker 4. City Controller 5. City Controller's secretary Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

19.	Which of the following sentences is not grammatically correct?
		a. The accident happened on Seventh street at two-thirty in the afternoon.
		b. All the witness gave good statements.
		c. The incident report has a number of issues.
		d. You have to finish the report on the traffic accident before you can go home.
Wtiness needs to be in the plural form for this sentence to be grammatically correct. The plural form for witness is "witnesses." Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

20.	Their were two cars involved in the accident that happened Monday morning at the corner of Broadway and Third Street. Which word is misspelled?
		a. corner
		b. happened
		c. accident
		d. Their
The possessieve pronoun "their" should not be used. Instead, the adjective "there" would help make clear that two cars were involved in the accident. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

21.	Jane's monthly income in the year 2020 was $48,200, where 14% of her salary was withheld for income tax. In the year 2021, her monthly salary was $51,800, where 16% of her income was withheld for income tax. What was her average take home pay during the years 2020-2021?
		$48,482
		$46,486
		$44,462
		$42,482
First, we have to determine the take home pay for each of the two years, 2020 and 2021 In 2020, Jane paid the followoing in taxes: $48,200 x .14 = $6,748 $48,200 - $6,748 = $41,452 take home pay for 2020 In 2021, Jane paid the following in taxes: $51,800 x .16 = $8,288 $51,800 - $8,288 = $43,512 To find the average for the two years, add $41,452 and $43,512 and then divide by 2: $41,452 + $43,512 = $84,964 $84,964 ÷ 2 = $42,482 Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

22.	There were five ____________ to the crime.
		a. witness's
		b. witness'
		c. witnesses
		d. witness
The plural form of witness is witnesses. The sentence does involve the possessive form of witness, so an apostraphe is not needed. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

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23.	During a 10 day period, Officer Mandel drove his patrol motorcycle 1,320 miles. If he drove 105 miles on one day, how many miles did he average on the other days?
		a. 105
		b. 135
		c. 255
		d. 305
First, subtract 105 from 1,320 to determine the distance covered in the other nine days: 1,320 - 105 = 1,215 Divide 1,215 by nine days to find the average per day: 1,215 ÷ 9 = 135 miles per day Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

24.	Officer Perry prepared a police report on a theft from a hardware store. He listed the stolen property as follows: Air Compressor - $600 Drill - $100 Electric Saw - $250 Copper Pipe - $500 What is the total value of the stolen property?
		a. $1,400
		b. $1,450
		c. $1,550
		d. $1,650
$600 $100 $250 +$500 $1,450 Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

25.	What is the value of the goods in question 24 not including the electric saw?
		a. $1,100
		b. $1,200
		c. $1,300
		d. $1,400
$600 $100 + $500 $1,200 Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

26.	Which term is opposite in meaning from the underlined word in the following sentence? The women seemed to be inebriated when giving her statement to the police officer.
		a. uneducated
		b. sophisticated
		c. awake
		d. sober
Inebriated mean intoxicated. Sober means not affected by alcohol. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

27.	What term is the same in meaning as the word underlined in the following sentence? The victim's arm was lacerated in the accident.
		a. cut
		b. broken
		c. pulverized
		d. folded
Both lacerated and cut mean torn. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

28.	Read the following scenario and answer questions 28 - 31. In an effort to cut down on traffic and air pollution in the center of town, an ordinance is enacted and signed by the mayor that forbids certain size trucks from entering the city limts, except delivery trucks which have either to drop off or pick up goods or other materials from local businesses or residences. To enter the city, delivery vehicles must first obtain a special permit from the office of licenses and permits and display the permit on the front windshield. The ordinance authorizes the police to ticket any truck in the city not displaying a permit. On May 2nd, Officer Brown saw a truck go by him in the town without a permit displayed. He pulled the truck over and questioned the driver. The driver said he was from out-of-town and was not aware of the ordinance. Officer Brown gave the driver a warning and told him to either drive out of the city or, if he was making a delivery, to go to the office of license and permits to get a permit. The driver was compliant and drove out of the town. On May 10th, Officer Brown saw the same truck and driver in the town, again without the required permit. The driver apologized and said he did not know he was in the city limits. Officer Brown ticketed the driver. The driver appealed his ticket and a hearing was held in the city on May 28th. The judge was not sympathetic to the driver's excuse, as there was a sign giving notice of the city limit just down the street that the driver had passed when entering the city limits. When Officer Brown was leaving the courthouse, he noticed the driver had parked his truck in a lot down the street. Officer Brown was surprised to see that the truck failed to display the required permit. Officer Brown put a ticket on the front windshield of the truck and went about his day. Why did Officer Brown ticket the driver the first time?
		a. The driver ignored the warning that was given the first time.
		b. The driver did not have the required permit.
		c. The officer wanted to teach the driver a lesson.
		d. The driver parked his vehicle outside the courthouse without the required permit.
The officer ticketed the driver the first time because he failed to have the required permit to drive into the city. While the driver did ignore the previous warning, that is not the basis of the ticket. The question asks about the first ticket, and answer D addresses the second ticket. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

29.	Why was the judge not swayed by the driver's excuse?
		a. The driver had sufficient notice of the city limit.
		b. The driver ignored the first warning given by the police officer.
		c. The driver parked the truck outside the courthouse without the required permit.
		d. None of the above.
The scenario states that the driver drove past a sign indicating the city limit. Therefore, the driver had actual or constructive notice that he had gone into the city and was required to have a permit, as he was first warned. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

30.	Based on the driver's conduct after the warning, what can be inferred from the passage?
		a. The driver was making a delivery within the city limits.
		b. The driver was not making a delivery within the city limits.
		c. It cannot be determined from the passage whether the driver was making a delivery within the city limits.
When the driver was first stopped and given a warning, the officer gave the driver the choice of driving out of the city or to go to the office of license and permits and get a permit to make deliveries. The driver drove out of the city without seeking a permit, so it can be inferred that he was not making a delivery. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

31.	On what date did the driver get his first ticket?
		a. May 2nd
		b. May 3rd
		c. May 10th
		d. May 28th
The officer gave the driver a warning on May 2nd, a ticket on May 10th and a second ticket on May 28th. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

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32.	John followed his captain to the office and they review the criminal complaint that was to be filed that day. Which answer below corrects the use of verb agreement for the underlined text?
		a. Followed, reviews
		b. Following, reviewed
		c. Followed, reviewed
		d. Follows, reviews
The only correct answer options where the verbs agree are in the past tense. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

33.	Officer Simon listened to the victim wincing in astonishment. Correct the misplaced modifier in the sentence.
		a. Officer Simon listened to the wincing victim in astonishment.
		b. Wincing in astonishment, Officer Simon listened to the victim.
		c. Officer Simon was astonished to listen to the wincing victim.
		d. Officer Simon winced listening to the astonished victim.
The dangling participle is an error that causes confusion. The participle should be placed immediately before or after the subject of the sentence. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

34.	A suspect as fast as a rabbit. Turn this sentence fragment into a sentence.
		a. A rabbit as fast as a suspect.
		b. A suspect like a rabbit that is fast.
		c. The suspect was as fast as a rabbit.
		d. A fast rabbit and a suspect.
A sentence fragment does not have enough to make it complete. It is usually missing a subject or a verb. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

35.	The day was cloudy with rain the roads were wet and slippery. Fix this run-on sentence.
		a. The roads were wet and slippery the day was cloudy with rain.
		b. The day was cloudy with rain. The roads were wet and slippery.
		c. The day was cloudy with rain the wet roads were slippery.
		d. The day was cloudy with rain, the roads were wet and slippery.
A run-on sentence is a sentence with too much in it. It typically has two complete sentences. It is incorrect to insert a comma between the two sentences, as this creates another error, a comma splice. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

36.	.08 + 3 x 4 =
		a. 1.8
		b. 7.08
		c. 12.08
		d. 12.32
By order of operations, you first carry out multiplication before subtraction or addition. .08 + 3 x 4 = x .08 + 12 = x x = 12.08 Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

37.	Study the following crime scene photo for one minute. After one minute, answer the following questions without looking at or referring to the photo. If needed, use zoom on your screen to enlarge the photo.
		a. 2
		b. 3
		c. 4
		d. 5
There are four people present in the photo. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

38.	The photo is taken from what vantage point?
		a. From the front of the store to the back of the store.
		b. From behind the customer service desk to the front of the store.
		c. From the outside of the store to the inside of the store.
		d. From a dressing room to the customer service desk.
The photo is taken from the vantage point behind the customer service desk to the front of the store. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

39.	What kind of business establishment is it?
		a. Convenience store
		b. Travel agency
		c. Real estate office
		d. Clothing store
The incident takes place in a clothing store. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

40.	What type of clothing is the person stopped at the door wearing?
		a. Gray hoody and blue jeans
		b. Blue sweater and black slacks
		c. White blouse with black pants
		d. Black sweatshirt with black pants
The person stopped at the door is wearing a gray hoody. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

41.	How many manikins are in the photo?
		a. 0
		b. 2
		c. 3
		d. 4
There are 4 manikins present in the photo. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

42.	Study the following crime scene photo for one minute. After one minute, answer the following questions without looking at or referring to the photo. If needed, use zoom on your screen to enlarge the photo.
		a. In a street
		b. In a yard
		c. In a driveway
		d. In an indoor parking lot
The victim was laying on a street which is indicated by the type of concrete used and the presence of a curb. The presence of grass along the road indicates it is outdoors. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

43.	How many bullet cases where found at the scene?
		a. 1
		b. 2
		c. 3
		d. 4
There are two bullet cases present in the photo. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

44.	If the victim was laying face down, the gun lays next to the victim's:
		a. Right hand
		b. Left foot
		c. Left hand
		d. Right shoulder
If the victim was laying face down, the handgun is located at the victim's left hand. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

45.	If the victim was fatally shot, what is missing from the scene as revealed by the photo?
		a. Blood evidence
		b. The first bullet case
		c. Car skid marks
		d. Fingerprints on the gun
Typically, if a victim is shot, there will be blood evidence at the scene of the shooting. There is no apparent blood evidence on the street. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

46.	What does Evidence Marker 4 identify?
		a. A bullet casing
		b. A single shot handgun
		c. A semi-automatic handgun
		d. A double action revolver
Evidence Marker 4 identifies a semi-automatic handgun. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

47.	Study the following crime scene photo for one minute. After one minute, answer the following questions without looking at or referring to the photo. If needed, use the zoom on your screen to enlarge the photo.
		a. Laptop
		b. Metal safe
		c. Mini television
		d. Jewelry box
The suspect carries a metal safe in the photo. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

48.	What type of lock does the object have that the suspect carries?
		a. Pad lock
		b. Cam lock
		c. Electronic lock
		d. Manual combination lock
The metal safe that the suspect carries has an electronic lock. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

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49.	What is the setting of the crime?
		a. A residence
		b. A furniture store
		c. A business office
		d. A hotel lobby
The setting suggests the crime takes place in a residence. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

50.	Will there likely be fingerprint evidence?
		a. Yes, the suspect was bare handed.
		b. No, the suspect was wearing gloves.
		c. Yes, the suspect touched the stolen goods.
		d. Both a and c
It is unlikely to be fingerprint evidence since the suspect is wearing gloves. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

51.	Which of the following profiles fits the suspect in the photo?
		a. 17 year old male
		b. 25 year old female
		c. 28 year old male
		d. 45 year old male
The suspect in the photo is likely an adult male in his 20s. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

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Police Sergeant Tyler Nelson

is a 13 year police veteran who currently works with the Mohave County Sheriff's department in Arizona. Officer Nelson has taught several courses in law enforcement. During his career, he has worked as a patrol officer, SWAT medic and field training officer. Officer Nelson holds a Master Degree in Public Administration and a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice from Southern Utah University.

Mark Mellett

is a former Assistant District Attorney from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He served as a Special Assistant United States Attorney in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania in gun and drug cases. Prior to work as an ADA, Mark served in the U.S. Navy JAG Corp as a prosecutor. He earned his Bachelor's Degree from the University of Notre Dame and his law degree from the Duquesne University School of Law.

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