CDCR Correctional Officer Written Selection Exam study guide
CDCR Correctional Officer Written Selection Exam · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The CDCR Correctional Officer Written Selection Exam is the entry-level written assessment used by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to screen applicants for the Correctional Officer classification. It is intended for adults who have applied - or are preparing to apply - to become state correctional officers, and it measures the general aptitudes the job demands rather than corrections-specific knowledge. The CDCR Correctional Officer Written Selection Exam study guide has 5 sections and about 1,803 words.
01Reading Comprehension and Information Retention
Passages on this exam read like working documents: policy excerpts, post orders, incident narratives, and procedural memos. Questions fall into two families.
388 words, about 2 min02Written Communication: Grammar, Usage, and Clarity
Items test standard written English as used in correctional reports: grammar, punctuation, spelling, word choice, sentence structure, and clarity. You will often be asked to choose the best version of a sentence or to spot the error.
322 words, about 2 min03Mathematical Reasoning
Arithmetic with whole numbers, fractions, decimals, and percents; ratios and proportions; unit rates; averages; elapsed time; and short applied word problems set in a facility context (counts, schedules, supply costs, staffing ratios). Order of operations (parentheses, exponents, multiply/divide left to right, add/subtract left to right).
361 words, about 2 min04Analytical and Logical Reasoning
The ability to apply rules exactly, draw only the conclusions that are forced, and spot reasoning errors. Expect conditional rules drawn from regulations, ordering and scheduling puzzles, and short arguments where you identify an assumption or a flaw.
367 words, about 2 min05Interpersonal Skills and Situational Judgment
How you would act in realistic workplace situations: dealing with coworkers, supervisors, and inmates; following policy under pressure; maintaining integrity; and communicating professionally. Questions usually ask for the most effective or least effective response, or the first thing to do.
365 words, about 2 min