NSW Police Exam exam-day guide
NSW Police Exam · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo ID matching your registration
Bring the original current photo ID you registered with (typically a passport or driver licence). Confirm with the provider which ID types are accepted and whether a digital licence is permitted, since some venues require a physical card.
Booking confirmation and candidate number
Have your confirmation email, booking reference and any candidate/registration number printed or saved offline on your phone. You may not have reliable signal or Wi-Fi at the venue.
Venue address, arrival time and travel plan
Re-check the address and report time on your confirmation the day before, as venues and session times can change. Plan to arrive with buffer for traffic, parking and security screening.
Confirmation of test format and duration
Confirm with the provider whether your sitting is computer-based or paper-based, the total seat time, and whether sections are timed separately. This determines your pacing strategy and whether you can revisit questions.
Confirmation of permitted and prohibited items
Ask the provider in advance about phones, smart watches, notes, bags and calculators. Assume personal items must be stored away from your desk; confirm where.
Confirmation of break and restroom policy
Ask whether breaks are scheduled, whether unscheduled breaks are allowed, and whether the clock stops during them. If unsure, plan hydration and restroom visits around the session rather than mid-test.
Confirmation of scoring and results timing
Confirm with the provider how the test is scored, whether there is a pass mark or banded result, and when and how results are released. Do not rely on forum claims about cut-offs.
Confirmation of accommodation or adjustment arrangements
If you requested extra time or other adjustments, confirm in writing that they have been approved and will be in place on the day. Bring the approval correspondence.
Water and a light snack for before or after
Check the venue rules on food and drink in the testing room; many centres allow water only outside the room. Eat a normal meal beforehand rather than trying something new.
A watch or timing plan if permitted
If the platform shows a clock, use it; if not, confirm whether a basic watch is allowed. Know your target pace per question or per section before you sit down.
Rest and a realistic sleep plan for the night before
Aim for normal sleep rather than last-minute cramming. Fatigue affects reading comprehension and attention, which matter more on this test than memorised facts.
A plan for the unexpected
Save the provider's contact number and know their policy for illness, lateness or technical failure on the day. Confirm with the provider whether a missed sitting can be rescheduled and at what cost.
Plan the day
Stop learning new content and switch to consolidation. Re-read your own summary notes, redo a small number of practice questions under timed conditions, and review your error log to identify recurring mistakes rather than isolated ones. Confirm your booking details, venue, report time and ID requirements, and resolve any open questions with the provider now rather than on the day.
Do one short timed practice set to check your pacing, then stop. Confirm your travel route and parking or public transport options, including any security screening time at the venue. Check the weather forecast and prepare clothing layers, since testing rooms are often cold. Gather your ID, confirmation and any approved adjustment paperwork in one place.
Do no heavy study. Lightly review your summary sheet for 20 to 30 minutes at most. Set out clothes, ID, confirmation and water the night before. Charge your phone but plan to store it as instructed. Set two alarms. Eat a normal dinner, avoid excess caffeine and alcohol, and go to bed at your usual time.
Eat a normal breakfast and hydrate moderately. Leave earlier than you think necessary. On arrival, follow staff instructions for check-in and ID verification, store personal items where directed, and locate restrooms before you are seated. Once at the desk, read any on-screen or printed instructions fully before starting, and note how to flag or review questions if the platform allows it.
Work at your planned pace and do not let one hard question consume extra time; mark it and move on if review is permitted. Read each question stem carefully for qualifiers such as 'most appropriate' or 'first action'. Answer every question even if you are unsure, unless the format penalises wrong answers, which you should confirm with the provider beforehand. If a technical problem occurs, stop and alert the invigilator immediately rather than trying to fix it yourself.
Note what felt difficult while it is fresh, in case you need to resit, but avoid immediately comparing answers with others, which is unreliable. Confirm with the provider when and how results will be released and what the next step in the process is.
Rules to check
Bring the original photo ID you registered with and present it at check-in. If your ID has expired, changed name or does not match your booking, contact the provider before the test date; do not assume you will be admitted.
Follow all invigilation instructions. Do not talk to other candidates once testing has begun, do not look at others' screens or papers, and raise your hand if you need assistance.
Do not bring unauthorised materials into the testing room. Phones, smart watches, notes and bags should be switched off and stored as directed; possession of unauthorised items at your desk can lead to invalidation, so confirm the permitted list with the provider in advance.
Attempt every question unless you have confirmed that incorrect answers are penalised. If negative marking applies, answer only where you can make a reasoned choice.
If you need to leave the room, follow the venue's policy exactly. Confirm with the provider whether unscheduled breaks are allowed, whether you are escorted, and whether the clock continues to run.
If you experience illness, a technical failure or another disruption, report it to staff at the time and ask for it to be recorded. Raising it later is harder to substantiate.
Do not discuss, reproduce or share test content afterwards. Most testing programmes treat question content as confidential, and sharing it can have consequences for your application.
Treat the result as one part of the process. Confirm with the provider what the scoring means, whether a resit is available and any waiting period, rather than relying on anecdotal cut-offs.