Written Expression and Report Writing
What the domain tests
Written Expression and Report Writing checks whether you can build clear, correct sentences and organize factual information into a readable incident report. Expect sentence-combining and revision items, paragraph-order questions, and questions about what belongs in a police narrative.
Core rules
- A factual report answers who, what, when, where, why, and how, then records actions taken, evidence, and disposition.
- Write in the first person, past tense, active voice: 'I saw the driver drop the item', not 'The item was observed to be dropped.'
- Report observations, not conclusions. 'Slurred speech, unsteady gait, odor of alcohol' is usable; 'the suspect was drunk' is an opinion.
- Use exact quotes and name the speaker: The tenant said, 'I heard glass break.'
- Keep sentences short and one-idea. Remove redundancy: 'at approximately about 9 p.m.' becomes 'at about 9 p.m.'
- Paragraphs need a topic sentence, chronological or logical order, and transitions such as 'then', 'after', 'while'.
- Keep tense and point of view consistent; make pronouns refer to a specific person or object.
Worked example
Original: 'Upon arrival at the scene, the suspect was observed by me fleeing on foot.' Best revision: 'When I arrived, I saw the suspect running away on foot.' Reasoning: the original is passive and hides the observer. The revision is active, uses plain words ('saw' instead of 'observed'), removes the redundant 'upon arrival at the scene' opening, and keeps the sequence clear. In a report, the reader must know who did what without re-reading.
Traps that cost marks
- Editorializing: 'the suspect was obviously nervous' instead of describing shaking hands or a shifting gaze.
- Passive voice that omits the officer's action.
- Mixing past and present tense in the narrative.
- Vague pronouns: 'He told him' when two men are present.
- Jumping backward and forward in time instead of using chronology.
- Leaving out time, location, names, or disposition.