Chicago Firefighter study plan

Diagnose baseline strengths by completing one timed 20-question written-ability set covering grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure, then log every miss by error type.

Review the eight most common written-ability error types (subject-verb agreement, pronoun reference, misplaced modifiers, comma splices, run-ons, tense shifts, parallel structure, apostrophes) and write a one-line rule and one original example for each.

Build a personal error log in a spreadsheet with columns for date, rule violated, and corrected sentence.

Practice 30 minutes of active proofreading daily on your own writing (emails, reports) to build error-spotting habits.

Write 10 original sentences that intentionally violate a rule, then rewrite each correctly and explain the fix in one sentence.

Complete 40 mixed written-ability practice questions under a 45-minute timer and record accuracy by error type.

Reduce your top two error types to under 20 percent of total misses on a follow-up 20-question set.

Draft and self-edit a 250-word incident-style narrative, checking for agreement, tense consistency, and punctuation.

Read three 400-600 word informational passages and write a one-sentence main-idea summary for each without looking back at the text.

Annotate passages for signal words (however, therefore, in contrast, for example) and classify each as contrast, cause-effect, or illustration.

Practice distinguishing stated facts from inferences by writing two explicit facts and one inference for each passage.

Answer 20 passage-based questions under a 25-minute timer and review every wrong answer to identify whether the error was detail, inference, or vocabulary-in-context.

Complete a combined 30-question written-ability and reading set under strict 35-minute timing to build pacing.

Identify and drill the two passage question types you miss most (for example, author's purpose or vocabulary-in-context) with 15 targeted questions each.

Rewrite five of your own sentences that were flagged as unclear during reading review, applying concision and clear pronoun reference.

Summarize a 600-word passage in exactly three sentences, preserving main idea and one supporting detail.

Identify and explain the six simple machines in your own words, giving one real-world fire-service example for each (for example, a prying tool as a lever).

Solve 15 lever and pulley problems using the principle that effort times effort distance equals load times load distance, and show your work.

Practice reading simple diagrams and schematics by describing in writing how a given system's parts interact, using only text you generate.

Complete 20 mechanical-reasoning practice questions under a 25-minute timer and log each miss by concept (leverage, gearing, fluid, electrical, tool use).

Explain gear ratios and how a smaller driving gear affects speed and torque, then compute ratios for five original gear-pair examples.

Describe basic fluid-pressure and electrical-circuit relationships (pressure, flow, resistance) and apply each to one practical scenario.

Analyze 10 tool-and-equipment scenarios (rope, pulley, nozzle, ladder placement) and predict the mechanical outcome, then verify your reasoning against first principles.

Reach at least 80 percent accuracy on a 25-question mixed mechanical set taken under time.

Apply a structured decision framework (identify the problem, list options, weigh consequences, choose, justify) to 10 written scenario prompts and record your reasoning.

Practice prioritizing competing demands by ranking five tasks in each of eight scenarios and justifying the top two choices.

Draft responses to five interpersonal prompts (conflict with a coworker, following an order you disagree with, reporting a safety concern) using a calm, respectful, chain-of-command tone.

Review each response against criteria: safety first, honesty, respect, teamwork, and appropriate escalation.

Take two full-length mixed practice exams under realistic timing and record section-by-section scores.

Review every missed question across all four domains and re-drill your three weakest concepts with 10 targeted questions each.

Rehearse concise written explanations for situational prompts to build speed without losing structure.

Finalize a one-page personal rule sheet summarizing your highest-frequency errors and the fix for each.