Real NPOST Sample Questions to Help You Pass

NPOST Sample Question Insights

The “Officer Math” Logic: Sample questions show that arithmetic is always contextual. You will be asked to calculate things like “total value of stolen goods” or “speeding fines based on a dollar amount per mile over the limit.” You must be able to perform these multi-step word problems (Subtraction then Multiplication) without a calculator, often with only 60 seconds per problem.

Grammar is About “Correction” Not Creation: The grammar section sample questions focus on two specific tasks: choosing the correct pronoun (e.g., “Officer Perez and I arrested…”) and spotting deliberate misspellings. Unlike the writing section, this part is entirely multiple-choice, testing your ability to proofread a report for errors before it’s submitted.

Avoid Personal Interpretation in Reading: The reading comprehension samples demonstrate that questions often ask about the evidentiary value of items vs. people. You must answer strictly based on the text provided, even if your personal intuition differs. For example, if the text says physical evidence doesn’t lie, you must choose that answer over “eyewitness testimony” even if you think a witness is more important.

There is a great variety of police written exams that are used by the various law enforcement agencies to select only the most suitable candidates for the positions they are offering. Some states like Florida, for example, have established a written test that is valid only for the agencies within the state and this test, the Florida Basic Ability Test, can only be taken in Florida. In general, however, most agencies use several popular tests to assess their candidates and the National Police Officer Selection Test (NPOST) is one of them.

Once you have chosen the agency or agencies that you want to apply with, you need to check which test they administer and prepare for it. If it is the NPOST, this article will be quite useful for you as it contains details about the NPOST, its section and sample questions so that you know what to expect on the day of the exam. There are also a few tips to help you prepare better and pass the NPOST with flying colors. Learn how to Pass the NPOST.

NPOST Practice Quiz #2

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What is the NPOST?

Despite the adjective National in its name, the NPOST is simply one of the many popular tests used by various law enforcement agencies at municipal, local, state or federal level to select those candidates who have the foundational knowledge and skills for becoming police officers. Note that there is no national standards for the police entry exam and state and agencies can choose which one to use.

The NPOST is currently the statewide entry-level test for the states of Iowa, Utah, and Wyoming, which means that the agencies within these states administer only the NPOST. In 25 other states, the State Associations of Chiefs of Police have also partnered with the test developer Stanard & Associates, Inc. to administer the test.

The NPOST is similar to the academic exams and checks basic knowledge and skills such as reading comprehension, writing abilities, spelling, grammar knowledge, and arithmetic. Even though the questions are related to the duties, rights, and obligations of police officers, no prior knowledge of or experience in law enforcement is required in order to pass the test. A good preparation, though, can be quite useful as it will give you an idea of the types of questions you will have to answer on the test.

The NPOST contains four sections: Arithmetic, Reading Comprehension, Grammar, and Incident Report Writing. Each section is timed and scored individually. The agency can choose whether to administer the self-scored version, which means that the agency will check the tests and score them, or to administer the version that will then be scored by Stanard & Associates, Inc.

In order to be objective, the NPOST is divided into four sections assessing the candidate’s basic skills. Each section is separately timed and assessed. You need at least 70% on each section in order to pass the test successfully. The first three sections contain multiple-choice and True/False questions, while the fourth one demands an answer in a complete sentence.

Each correct answer brings points and there is no penalty for a wrong answer, so make sure to give an answer to each question even if you are just guessing. Use a pencil to fill in the circle of the correct answer on the answer sheet. Always provide only one answer. If you want to change the answer, simply erase well the previous answer and mark the new one. Don’t make any marks on the answer sheet or in the booklet. You will be provided scratch paper if you need to write something down that can help you with the test.

The overall time for answering the questions of the test is 1 hour and 15 minutes but the overall duration is 1 hour and 45 minutes as it includes reading instructions, passing out and collecting the booklets.

What does the NPOST assess?

The NPOST is designed specifically to be used by law enforcement agencies to check basic intelligence, mental skills, and education level of the candidates. The test measures the main skills necessary for a person to perform the duties of a police officer at an entry-level position. NPOST gives departments the option to quickly and efficiently select the most suitable candidates who possess the fundamental skills for the job and are worth investing in their further training.

NPOST includes questions covering the basic skills of reading, writing, and arithmetic. While the topics are directly related to the job and duties of a police officer, no prior knowledge in the field is required.

To be successful, candidates need to know how to answer multiple-choice and True/False questions, should be quick in providing the correct answer as the test is timed, and should be good in writing, spelling, and grammar as one of the sections demands answers in complete sentences.

Knowing what to expect during the NPOST is critical for passing it successfully. Therefore, it is highly recommended to prepare for the test. There are various courses that you can choose from but one of the most recommended ones is the NPOST Practice Test & Study Guide by Sgt. Godoy. For a one-time fee, you will get access to hundreds of prep questions and several multi-media tutorials that can help you prepare properly for the test. You get unlimited access to the course along with 24/7 personalized support provided by Sgt. Godoy. In addition, you also receive some free tips on how to search for job openings and get your documentation ready for the law enforcement selection process.

Learn more about NPOST QuikPrep Course