NPOST

Basic academic skills at a level needed for academy coursework and report writing: arithmetic, careful reading, grammar and usage, and the ability to write a factual incident narrative. It does not test criminal law, tactics, or physical fitness.

It is a multiple-choice written test divided into the five skill areas listed above. Some sections present a short scenario or passage and ask several questions about it, so read the material before looking at the answer choices.

Question counts and time limits are set or published by the administering agency and the test publisher, and they can differ by jurisdiction or version. Confirm the current figures with the recruiting agency handling your application or on the publisher's official site.

The individual skills are at roughly high-school level, so the difficulty comes from speed and precision rather than advanced content. Candidates who have been out of school for years often lose points on careless arithmetic and punctuation, not on hard problems.

Passing standards are set by the agency or publisher, and some agencies use section minimums as well as an overall cut score. Ask your recruiting contact or check the official publisher's materials for the standard that applies to you.

Retake rules vary by agency, and many impose a waiting period before you may test again. There is no universal answer, so get the policy in writing from your recruiter before you sit for the exam.

Start with your weakest area, since all five are weighted similarly and a low section drags your total down. A practical sequence is arithmetic drills, then reading precision, then grammar rules, then report writing last, because it combines reading, ordering facts, and correct usage.

Usually by adding opinion, speculation, or conclusions the facts do not support, or by presenting events out of chronological order. Stick to what was observed or reported, keep the sequence clear, and write in plain past tense without editorializing.

Practice the arithmetic you will actually use - percentages, fractions, averages, unit rates, and word problems - without a calculator, and time yourself. Accuracy under mild time pressure matters more than tackling complex algebra.

No. This is independent study material and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the NPOST publisher or any police agency. Use it alongside the official candidate information your agency provides.