IA POST study plan

IA POST · Give each week a clear focus.

8 weeks · About 7 hours per week

Week 1

Basic Academy

Map the Domain 1 blueprint into a one-page topic inventory and rank each topic by your current confidence (1-5)
Define the academy's core vocabulary (chain of command, use-of-force continuum, report writing standards, officer safety fundamentals) in your own words in a glossary
Build a weekly study calendar that reserves two 90-minute blocks and three 45-minute blocks
Complete a 30-question diagnostic across all three domains and log every miss with a one-line reason

A one-page Domain 1 topic inventory with confidence ratings plus a scored 30-question diagnostic log

Week 2

Explain the use-of-force continuum and articulate at least three decision points that escalate or de-escalate
Summarize the elements of a legally sufficient incident report and identify four common documentation failures
Describe officer safety and tactical fundamentals in writing without notes
Practice 40 scenario-style questions on Domain 1 and re-teach every missed concept aloud in under two minutes

A written two-page summary of Domain 1 core concepts plus a corrected 40-question practice set with explanations

Week 3

Outline the academy's physical, academic, and conduct standards and state the consequence for each failure
Create 25 flashcards for Domain 1 facts that require recall (definitions, procedures, legal thresholds)
Complete a timed 50-question Domain 1 set and target 75% or higher
Identify your three weakest Domain 1 subtopics and schedule focused review for each

A timed 50-question Domain 1 practice score with a written remediation plan for the three weakest subtopics

Week 4

Re-test all previously missed Domain 1 items and confirm at least 85% retention
Map the Domain 2 blueprint into a topic inventory covering reserve officer roles, authority, and expectations
Compare reserve officer authority and responsibilities against full-time sworn duties in a written comparison table
Define key reserve program terms (activation, scheduling obligations, chain of command, liability) in your glossary

A Domain 1 retention score of 85% or higher plus a completed Domain 2 topic inventory and reserve-versus-full-time comparison table

Week 5

Explain reserve officer legal authority and limits, including when a reserve may and may not act
Describe the reserve scheduling, training, and performance expectations that affect continued status
Work through 40 Domain 2 practice questions and write a one-sentence rationale for each correct answer
Draft five scenario responses describing how a reserve officer should handle ambiguous authority situations

A 40-question Domain 2 practice set with written rationales and five scenario responses

Week 6

Re-test missed Domain 2 items and reach 85% retention
Map the Domain 3 blueprint into a topic inventory covering call handling, radio procedure, and dispatch priorities
Define public safety telecommunicator terminology (call prioritization, NCIC-style queries, unit status, radio codes) in your glossary
Practice 30 Domain 3 questions and log every term you could not define from memory

A Domain 2 retention score of 85% or higher plus a Domain 3 topic inventory and terminology gap list

Week 7

Describe the sequence of a typical emergency call from answer to dispatch and identify the information captured at each step
Explain radio discipline and unit status management, then write a sample dispatch script
Complete a timed 60-question Domain 3 set and target 80% or higher
Re-teach the five most-missed Domain 3 concepts in writing, one paragraph each

A timed 60-question Domain 3 score of 80% or higher plus five written concept explanations and a sample dispatch script

Week 8

Take two full-length mixed practice exams under timed conditions and record section-level scores
Re-teach every remaining missed item across all three domains until you can explain it without notes
Review your glossary end to end and flag any term you still cannot define
Simulate exam-day logistics: confirm timing, breaks, materials, and a pacing plan for each domain

Two timed full-length practice scores at 80% or higher with a final one-page review sheet of remaining weak points

Week 2: Domain 1 practice accuracy at 70% or higher with a written summary of core concepts completed

Week 4: Domain 1 retention at 85% or higher on re-tested missed items, and Domain 2 topic inventory finished

Week 6: Domain 2 retention at 85% or higher and Domain 3 terminology gap list reduced to five items or fewer

Week 8: Two timed full-length practice exams scored at 80% or higher across all three domains