I85PREP
⌘ K
Barbados Police Entrance Exam study materials
Barbados Police Entrance Exam study resources

Barbados Police Entrance Exam practice questions

One question at a time. Build your Barbados Police Entrance Exam understanding.

First 50 of 199 questions. Each one lists the choices, the correct answer, and an explanation. The checker at the top of this page saves progress in this browser when it is available.

Continue in the practice tool above to load more questions, 50 at a time.

Question 1English Language and Verbal Reasoning

Choose the word that is the correct plural form of the noun 'knife'.

  1. knifees
  2. knifves
  3. knives Correct answer.
  4. knifes

Explanation

Nouns ending in a single -fe generally change the -fe to -ves in the plural, so 'knife' becomes 'knives'. The same pattern appears in 'wife/wives' and 'life/lives'.

Question 2English Language and Verbal Reasoning

Identify the part of speech of the underlined word in this sentence: 'The children ran quickly towards the gate.' The word 'quickly' is a:

  1. adverb Correct answer.
  2. preposition
  3. noun
  4. adjective

Explanation

Words ending in -ly that describe how an action is performed are adverbs, and here 'quickly' modifies the verb 'ran'. Adjectives describe nouns, while prepositions show relationships of place or time.

Question 3English Language and Verbal Reasoning

Which sentence uses the apostrophe correctly?

  1. The dogs collar was loose.
  2. The dog's were barking loudly.
  3. The dog's collar was loose. Correct answer.
  4. The dogs' collar was loose and it belonged to one dog.

Explanation

A singular possessive noun takes an apostrophe before the -s, so 'the dog's collar' correctly shows that one dog owns the collar. The apostrophe signals possession rather than plurality.

Question 4English Language and Verbal Reasoning

Choose the word that best completes the sentence: 'She was ____ tired to finish her homework.'

  1. to
  2. tow
  3. too Correct answer.
  4. two

Explanation

'Too' is an adverb meaning 'excessively' and fits the sense of being excessively tired. 'To' is a preposition or infinitive marker, and 'two' is a number.

Question 5English Language and Verbal Reasoning

Which word is the antonym of 'scarce'?

  1. limited
  2. plentiful Correct answer.
  3. rare
  4. frugal

Explanation

An antonym expresses the opposite meaning, and 'plentiful' means existing in large amounts, which is the opposite of 'scarce'. 'Rare' and 'limited' are close synonyms of 'scarce' rather than opposites.

Question 6English Language and Verbal Reasoning

Choose the correctly punctuated sentence.

  1. Although, it rained we still went to the beach.
  2. Although it rained; we still went to the beach.
  3. Although it rained, we still went to the beach. Correct answer.
  4. Although it rained we still went to the beach.

Explanation

When a sentence opens with a dependent clause introduced by 'although', a comma separates that clause from the main clause. The comma belongs after 'rained', not after 'although'.

Question 7English Language and Verbal Reasoning

In the sentence 'The tall policeman directed the traffic', which word is the adjective?

  1. directed
  2. policeman
  3. tall Correct answer.
  4. traffic

Explanation

An adjective modifies a noun, and 'tall' describes the noun 'policeman'. 'Directed' is a verb and 'traffic' is a noun functioning as the object.

Question 8English Language and Verbal Reasoning

Which word is spelled correctly?

  1. receive Correct answer.
  2. receve
  3. receeve
  4. recieve

Explanation

The correct spelling is 'receive', which follows the familiar rule that 'i' comes before 'e' except after 'c'. The letters after 'c' are therefore 'ei'.

Question 9English Language and Verbal Reasoning

Choose the word that best completes the sentence: 'Neither the sergeant nor the constables ____ arrived yet.'

  1. has
  2. is
  3. was
  4. have Correct answer.

Explanation

With 'neither...nor', the verb agrees with the nearer subject, which here is the plural 'constables', so the plural form 'have' is required. The other options are singular forms.

Question 10English Language and Verbal Reasoning

Which sentence is written in the passive voice?

  1. The officer is writing the report.
  2. The officer will write the report.
  3. The report was written by the officer. Correct answer.
  4. The officer wrote the report.

Explanation

In the passive voice the subject receives the action, and the agent is often introduced by 'by'. Here 'the report' is the subject acted upon by the officer, shown by the 'was written by' construction.

Question 11English Language and Verbal Reasoning

Select the word closest in meaning to 'meticulous'.

  1. thorough Correct answer.
  2. careless
  3. reluctant
  4. hasty

Explanation

A synonym has a similar meaning, and 'meticulous' describes great attention to detail, which 'thorough' captures. 'Careless' and 'hasty' suggest the opposite quality.

Question 12English Language and Verbal Reasoning

Identify the error in this sentence: 'Each of the recruits have completed their training.'

  1. 'have' should be 'has' Correct answer.
  2. 'their' should be 'there'
  3. 'completed' should be 'complete'
  4. 'Each' should be 'All'

Explanation

'Each' is a singular indefinite pronoun, so it takes a singular verb, meaning 'has' is required rather than 'have'. The pronoun 'their' is acceptable as a gender-neutral reference.

Question 13English Language and Verbal Reasoning

Choose the best word to complete the sentence: 'The suspect was released ____ bail.'

  1. in
  2. at
  3. on Correct answer.
  4. by

Explanation

The fixed prepositional phrase in English is 'on bail', meaning released under conditions of bail. Other prepositions do not form this standard collocation.

Question 14English Language and Verbal Reasoning

Which sentence contains a dangling modifier?

  1. Walking down the street, the officer noticed the broken window.
  2. While walking down the street, the officer noticed the broken window.
  3. The officer walked down the street and noticed the broken window.
  4. Walking down the street, the broken window was noticed. Correct answer.

Explanation

A dangling modifier occurs when the introductory phrase does not logically attach to the subject of the main clause. Here 'walking down the street' seems to describe the window, which cannot walk.

Question 15English Language and Verbal Reasoning

Choose the word that best completes the sentence: 'If I ____ known about the roadblock, I would have taken another route.'

  1. had Correct answer.
  2. has
  3. would have
  4. have

Explanation

This is a third conditional sentence describing an unreal past situation, which uses 'if' plus the past perfect 'had known'. The main clause then uses 'would have taken'.

Question 16English Language and Verbal Reasoning

Which word is the correct comparative form to complete the sentence: 'This route is ____ than the one we took yesterday.'

  1. short
  2. shortest
  3. shorter Correct answer.
  4. more short

Explanation

Short adjectives of one syllable form the comparative by adding -er, so 'shorter' is correct before 'than'. The superlative 'shortest' is used only when comparing three or more things.

Question 17English Language and Verbal Reasoning

Identify the type of the underlined clause in: 'The man who stole the bicycle was arrested.' The clause 'who stole the bicycle' is a:

  1. noun clause
  2. relative clause Correct answer.
  3. main clause
  4. adverbial clause

Explanation

A relative clause begins with a relative pronoun such as 'who' and modifies a noun, here 'the man'. It functions like an adjective describing the man.

Question 18English Language and Verbal Reasoning

Choose the sentence that uses 'affect' and 'effect' correctly.

  1. The weather will effect our travel plans.
  2. The weather will affect our travel plans. Correct answer.
  3. The weather will have an affect on our travel plans.
  4. The weather will affects our travel plans.

Explanation

'Affect' is normally a verb meaning to influence, while 'effect' is usually a noun meaning a result. The sentence needs the verb 'affect' before the object 'our travel plans'.

Question 19English Language and Verbal Reasoning

Which sentence uses the semicolon correctly?

  1. I wanted to attend; but the meeting was cancelled.
  2. I wanted to; attend the meeting.
  3. I wanted; to attend the meeting.
  4. I wanted to attend; the meeting was cancelled. Correct answer.

Explanation

A semicolon joins two closely related independent clauses without a conjunction. 'I wanted to attend' and 'the meeting was cancelled' are both complete clauses, so the semicolon is appropriate.

Question 20English Language and Verbal Reasoning

Read this passage: 'The station was unusually quiet. Only one constable stood at the desk, and the telephone had not rung for hours.' What can be inferred about the station?

  1. It was extremely busy.
  2. It was understaffed by policy.
  3. It was experiencing a calm period. Correct answer.
  4. It had been closed permanently.

Explanation

An inference is a conclusion drawn from evidence in the text. The quietness, the single constable, and the silent telephone together suggest a calm, uneventful period rather than permanent closure.

Question 21English Language and Verbal Reasoning

Choose the word that best completes the sentence: 'Hardly ____ the building when the alarm sounded.'

  1. had he entered Correct answer.
  2. he entered
  3. did he entered
  4. he had entered

Explanation

When a sentence begins with the negative adverb 'hardly', subject-verb inversion is required, giving 'had he entered'. This mirrors the structure used with 'never' and 'seldom'.

Question 22English Language and Verbal Reasoning

Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

  1. The sergeant asked "Who is on duty tonight"?
  2. The sergeant asked, "Who is on duty tonight"?
  3. The sergeant asked "Who is on duty tonight?"
  4. The sergeant asked, "Who is on duty tonight?" Correct answer.

Explanation

A comma introduces the quoted question, the question mark belongs inside the quotation marks, and the sentence ends with the closing quotation mark. This follows standard conventions for direct speech.

Question 23English Language and Verbal Reasoning

Identify the rhetorical device in the sentence: 'The wind whispered through the trees as the night crept in.'

  1. hyperbole
  2. alliteration
  3. simile
  4. personification Correct answer.

Explanation

Personification gives human qualities to non-human things, and here the wind 'whispered' and the night 'crept', both human actions. A simile would use 'like' or 'as' to compare two things explicitly.

Question 24English Language and Verbal Reasoning

Choose the option that best replaces the underlined portion to make the sentence clear and correct: 'Having finished the report, it was submitted by the officer to the inspector.'

  1. submitting it
  2. it had been submitted
  3. the officer submitted it Correct answer.
  4. it was submitted by the officer

Explanation

The introductory phrase 'having finished the report' must refer to the subject of the main clause. Making 'the officer' the subject and using the active voice 'the officer submitted it' removes the dangling modifier.

Question 25English Language and Verbal Reasoning

Read this passage: 'The sergeant praised the recruit for her diligence, yet he reminded her that diligence without judgement could be dangerous.' Which statement best captures the sergeant's meaning?

  1. Hard work alone is always sufficient.
  2. Judgement is unimportant compared with effort.
  3. Hard work must be balanced with sound judgement. Correct answer.
  4. The recruit was lazy and careless.

Explanation

The passage uses 'yet' to contrast praise with a caution, showing that diligence is valuable but must be paired with judgement. The warning implies that effort without judgement can cause problems.

Question 26English Language and Verbal Reasoning

Choose the word that best completes the sentence: 'The constable spoke ____ so that everyone in the crowded hall could hear him.'

  1. aloud
  2. loudly Correct answer.
  3. loudness
  4. loud

Explanation

An adverb is needed to modify the verb 'spoke', describing how he spoke. 'Loudly' is the adverb form, while 'loud' is primarily an adjective and 'loudness' is a noun. 'Aloud' means audibly rather than with volume, which does not fit the purpose of reaching a crowded hall.

Question 27English Language and Verbal Reasoning

In the sentence 'The recruit ran quickly to the gate', what part of speech is the word 'quickly'?

  1. An adjective
  2. A preposition
  3. A noun
  4. An adverb Correct answer.

Explanation

The word 'quickly' describes how the recruit ran, so it modifies the verb 'ran'. Words that modify verbs are adverbs. An adjective would modify a noun, a noun would name something, and a preposition would show a relationship such as place or time.

Question 28English Language and Verbal Reasoning

Choose the word most nearly opposite in meaning to 'lenient'.

  1. Gentle
  2. Kind
  3. Strict Correct answer.
  4. Patient

Explanation

'Lenient' means showing mercy or being permissive when enforcing rules. Its antonym should describe someone who enforces rules firmly. 'Strict' carries that opposite sense, while the other options are closer to synonyms or unrelated qualities.

Question 29English Language and Verbal Reasoning

Choose the sentence that is written correctly.

  1. The officers who had trained, for months responded calmly.
  2. The officers, who had trained for months, responded calmly. Correct answer.
  3. The officers who had trained for months, responded calmly.
  4. The officers who, had trained for months responded calmly.

Explanation

A non-essential clause giving extra information about the officers should be enclosed by a pair of commas. Only the first option sets off the whole clause 'who had trained for months' with a comma at each end. The other options place a single comma in a position that breaks the sentence incorrectly.

Question 30English Language and Verbal Reasoning

Choose the word that best completes the sentence: 'The detective was ____ to believe that the witness was lying.'

  1. included
  2. inclined Correct answer.
  3. inferred
  4. inflicted

Explanation

The phrase 'inclined to believe' is a standard idiom meaning disposed or tending toward a belief. Only 'inclined' fits this construction and the meaning required by the sentence. The other words are similar in sound but carry unrelated meanings.

Question 31English Language and Verbal Reasoning

Choose the option that best replaces 'being that' in the sentence: 'Being that the road was flooded, the patrol took another route.'

  1. Although
  2. Despite
  3. Unless
  4. Because Correct answer.

Explanation

The sentence gives a reason for taking another route, so a causal conjunction is required. 'Because' supplies that cause-and-effect link in standard written English. The other choices signal contrast or condition, which would reverse or confuse the logic.

Question 32English Language and Verbal Reasoning

Identify the error in this sentence: 'The constables searched the building, they found nothing suspicious.'

  1. Subject-verb disagreement
  2. Missing apostrophe
  3. Incorrect pronoun case
  4. Comma splice Correct answer.

Explanation

Two independent clauses are joined here by only a comma, which is a comma splice. Each clause, 'The constables searched the building' and 'they found nothing suspicious', can stand alone. A full stop, semicolon, or coordinating conjunction is needed instead of the bare comma.

Question 33English Language and Verbal Reasoning

Choose the word that best completes the sentence: 'The evidence was ____; it proved the suspect's guilt beyond doubt.'

  1. conclusive Correct answer.
  2. conclusively
  3. conclude
  4. conclusion

Explanation

The blank follows the linking verb 'was' and must be an adjective describing the evidence. 'Conclusive' is the adjective form meaning decisive. The adverb, noun, and verb forms do not fit after a linking verb in this position.

Question 34English Language and Verbal Reasoning

Choose the sentence in which the pronoun reference is clear.

  1. When the sergeant met the constable, he praised him.
  2. When the sergeant met the constable, they praised his report.
  3. When the sergeant met the constable, he praised his report.
  4. When the sergeant met the constable, he praised the constable's report. Correct answer.

Explanation

A pronoun should refer unambiguously to one antecedent. Repeating 'the constable's report' removes doubt about whose report was praised. In the other options the pronouns 'his', 'they', and 'him' could refer to either man, creating ambiguity.

Question 35English Language and Verbal Reasoning

Choose the word that best completes the sentence: 'The officer was commended for his ____ handling of the dispute.'

  1. tactfulness
  2. tactfully
  3. tactful Correct answer.
  4. tact

Explanation

The blank sits before the noun 'handling' and must be an adjective modifying it. 'Tactful' is the adjective meaning showing sensitivity in dealing with others. The noun, adverb, and noun forms do not correctly modify 'handling' here.

Question 36English Language and Verbal Reasoning

Choose the word closest in meaning to 'candid'.

  1. Cautious
  2. Frank Correct answer.
  3. Formal
  4. Doubtful

Explanation

'Candid' describes someone who speaks openly and honestly, even about difficult matters. 'Frank' carries the same sense of direct honesty. The other options describe caution, formality, or uncertainty, which are different qualities.

Question 37English Language and Verbal Reasoning

Read this passage: 'The inspector reviewed the reports carefully. She noticed that two statements contradicted each other, and she summoned both witnesses for a second interview.' Which statement is best supported by the passage?

  1. The inspector had already closed the case.
  2. The inspector ignored the contradiction in the reports.
  3. The inspector believed both witnesses were lying.
  4. The inspector acted because she detected an inconsistency. Correct answer.

Explanation

The passage states that two statements contradicted each other and that she then summoned the witnesses. This shows she responded to the inconsistency she found. Nothing in the passage says she judged the witnesses as liars, closed the case, or ignored the problem.

Question 38English Language and Verbal Reasoning

Choose the word that best completes the sentence: 'Scarcely had the suspect entered the alley ____ the officers moved in.'

  1. than
  2. when Correct answer.
  3. then
  4. that

Explanation

The construction 'scarcely had ... when ...' is a fixed pattern in formal English, where 'scarcely' introduces one event immediately followed by another. 'When' completes this correlative structure correctly. 'Than' belongs with 'no sooner', and 'then' and 'that' do not fit the pattern.

Question 39English Language and Verbal Reasoning

Choose the option that best replaces 'having been told the news, the meeting was cancelled by the sergeant' to make the sentence clear and correct.

  1. Having been told the news, the meeting was cancelled by the sergeant.
  2. The meeting, having been told the news, was cancelled by the sergeant.
  3. Having been told the news, the sergeant cancelled the meeting. Correct answer.
  4. Having told the news, the meeting was cancelled by the sergeant.

Explanation

An introductory participial phrase must describe the subject of the main clause. The sergeant, not the meeting, was told the news, so the sergeant must be the subject. Only the first option attaches the phrase to the correct subject and avoids the passive construction that produced the dangling modifier.

Question 40English Language and Verbal Reasoning

Read this passage: 'The sergeant praised the recruit for her punctuality, but he warned that punctuality alone would not earn promotion. Reliability, he said, must be matched by sound judgement under pressure.' Which conclusion is best supported by the passage?

  1. Punctuality is valuable but insufficient for promotion. Correct answer.
  2. Punctuality is the most important quality for promotion.
  3. The sergeant disapproved of punctuality.
  4. The recruit was unlikely to be promoted.

Explanation

The sergeant praises punctuality yet says it alone will not earn promotion and must be matched by judgement. This supports the conclusion that punctuality matters but is not enough on its own. The passage does not rank punctuality first, predict failure, or show disapproval of it.

Question 41Mathematics and Numerical Reasoning

A police officer records 47 traffic offences on Monday and 38 on Tuesday. How many offences were recorded in total over the two days?

  1. 84
  2. 75
  3. 95
  4. 85 Correct answer.

Explanation

To find a total, add the two amounts together. Adding the units column gives 7 + 8 = 15, so write 5 and carry 1; adding the tens gives 4 + 3 + 1 = 8. The combined total is therefore 85 offences.

Question 42Mathematics and Numerical Reasoning

A patrol car travels 240 kilometres on 16 litres of fuel. What is its fuel consumption in kilometres per litre?

  1. 15 Correct answer.
  2. 12
  3. 20
  4. 18

Explanation

Fuel consumption in kilometres per litre is found by dividing the distance travelled by the litres used. Dividing 240 by 16 gives 15, meaning the car covers 15 kilometres for each litre. Checking by multiplication, 16 × 15 = 240 confirms the answer.

Question 43Mathematics and Numerical Reasoning

Which of the following numbers is divisible by 3?

  1. 412
  2. 741 Correct answer.
  3. 634
  4. 521

Explanation

A number is divisible by 3 when the sum of its digits is a multiple of 3. The digits of 741 add to 7 + 4 + 1 = 12, and 12 is a multiple of 3, so 741 divides exactly by 3. Testing the others gives digit sums of 7, 8 and 13, none of which is a multiple of 3.

Question 44Mathematics and Numerical Reasoning

A police store holds 3,600 uniforms to be shared equally among 24 stations. How many uniforms does each station receive?

  1. 180
  2. 120
  3. 140
  4. 150 Correct answer.

Explanation

Equal sharing means dividing the total number of uniforms by the number of stations. Dividing 3,600 by 24 gives 150, since 24 × 150 = 3,600. Each station therefore receives 150 uniforms.

Question 45Mathematics and Numerical Reasoning

Convert the fraction 3/8 to a decimal.

  1. 0.375 Correct answer.
  2. 0.38
  3. 0.3
  4. 0.83

Explanation

To convert a fraction to a decimal, divide the numerator by the denominator. Dividing 3 by 8 gives 0.375 exactly, because 8 × 0.375 = 3. The decimal therefore terminates after three places.

Question 46Mathematics and Numerical Reasoning

A constable's monthly salary is $2,400. If 15% is deducted for contributions, how much is deducted each month?

  1. $360 Correct answer.
  2. $420
  3. $240
  4. $300

Explanation

To find 15% of an amount, multiply by 0.15, or find 10% and 5% and add them. Here 10% of $2,400 is $240 and 5% is $120, giving $360 in total. The monthly deduction is therefore $360.

Question 47Mathematics and Numerical Reasoning

What is the next number in the sequence 2, 6, 12, 20, 30, ...?

  1. 44
  2. 40
  3. 42 Correct answer.
  4. 36

Explanation

Look at the differences between consecutive terms: 4, 6, 8 and 10, which increase by 2 each time. The next difference should therefore be 12, and 30 + 12 = 42. Alternatively, each term is one more than a square number: 1+1, 4+2, 9+3, 16+4, 25+5, so the next is 36+6 = 42.

Question 48Mathematics and Numerical Reasoning

A rectangular car park measures 45 metres by 28 metres. What is its area?

  1. 1,360 m²
  2. 146 m²
  3. 1,260 m² Correct answer.
  4. 1,160 m²

Explanation

The area of a rectangle is length multiplied by width. Multiplying 45 by 28 gives 45 × 20 = 900 plus 45 × 8 = 360, a total of 1,260 square metres. Area is always expressed in square units.

Question 49Mathematics and Numerical Reasoning

A suspect's vehicle travelled 150 kilometres in 2 hours 30 minutes. What was its average speed in kilometres per hour?

  1. 65
  2. 60 Correct answer.
  3. 75
  4. 50

Explanation

Average speed equals distance divided by time, and the time must be in hours. Two hours 30 minutes is 2.5 hours, and 150 ÷ 2.5 = 60. The vehicle averaged 60 kilometres per hour.

Question 50Mathematics and Numerical Reasoning

A police officer spends 2/5 of a patrol shift on foot patrol and 1/4 of the shift on traffic duty. What fraction of the shift remains for other duties?

  1. 3/20 Correct answer.
  2. 13/20
  3. 9/20
  4. 7/20

Explanation

First add the two given fractions using a common denominator of 20: 2/5 = 8/20 and 1/4 = 5/20, giving 13/20. The remaining fraction is 20/20 − 13/20 = 7/20 of the shift. Note that the fraction remaining is 7/20, so the correct choice is the complement of that sum.