How To Pass Police Promotional Exams

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By Stacey Burt


Passing the police promotional test offers a perfect opportunity to advance your career in the force. The challenge lies in adequately preparing for the oral and written test while still at work. The tips below are shared by officers who have successfully completed their police promotional exams.

How does one prepare for captain, lieutenant, sergeant and such ranks? Each county or city has a different criterion for administering the exam and promoting their officers. This means that a straight forward answer does not exist for this question. The common feature with tests in most departments is the use of multiple choices in their questions. The departments provide a detailed reading list for officers to prepare. Some have incorporated essay components in their tests.

The minimum passing score depends on factors such as past practice, contractual language and personnel rules in a town or city, among others. It is mandatory to pass the written examination before you advance to the oral test. Sixty percent of the final score is from the written exam while forty percent is from the oral exam.

The materials provided in the reading list must be exhausted if you are to pass these test. This includes books and specific documents and procedural manuals. Higher ranks demand thorough understanding of policies and procedures as well as departmental rules and regulations. It is mandatory to extensively read the materials provided.

Where should you concentrate in order to pass the oral test after clearing the written exam? Oral tests are designed to evaluate both verbal and non-verbal skills. Preparation for oral tests requires a bit of coaching and a lot of practice for presentation. The assistance of a former officer would help you score highly. It also helps to practice in front of friends, colleague and relatives who will listen to your presentation and provide feedback. In their absence, record your presentation and review it on your own.

When preparing for your examinations, focus on the topics and content you will be tested on. Provide as much details as possible in your answers. There will be questions on case scenarios for you to solve. Think widely and creatively but do not go beyond the legal framework provided in law enforcement.

What is expected of you during the in-basket session? This segment provides job related, systematic and real life situations that test your action and creation. The tests are supervised by administrators, supervisors and managers. It is by your response that they judge your readiness to be promoted.

The issues presented at the in-basket stage are those that administrators, supervisors and managers face on daily basis. You will be required to deal with phone calls, written documents, memorandums, verbal confessions and investigative reports. It is your performance at this level that will be used to judge whether you deserve a promotion or not.

Adequate preparation gives you an upper hand when sitting for your test. The best way to prepare for the exam is to understand the role of the position you wish to be promoted into. With the materials provided in your reading list, you are better placed to successfully handle any question.




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