The National Police Officer SelectionNational Police Officer Selection Test (POST) Study Guide Table of Contents introduction 2 Preparing For The Test 3 3 Examination Hints 3 Time Limits 4 Marking Your Answers 4 Taking The Test 6 ‘are The Test Begins § Listen Carefully 6 Test Timing 6 Pi Yoursatf Physically The Test 7 Sample Test tems 8 Section | 8 Section I 10 Seation Il 14 Section W. 16 19 Sample Test Answer Key Dat lr DeisIntroduction This study guide is designed to help you obtain your maximum potential score on the National Police Officer Selaction Test (POST), It is divided into four parts which provide useful information on preparing to take the tes. Preparing For The Test Taking The Test Sample Test Items Sample Test Answer Key 199, Stanard & Associates, ne. Al ighs Reserved.Preparing For The Test You will increase your chances of obtaining your best possible sear if you spend a fair amount of time preparing for the tes. ‘This includes finding out as much as possible about the test ahead of time, paying proper attention to your physical well- being before the test, taking care to avoid becoming overly ancious about the test and using a good testaaking strategy Preparation in these areas can help you achieve your best possible score on the test For optima! test results, read this study guide thoroughly and answar the semple test items beginning on page B. Make s ‘you read all directions carefully and each tas. question completely before answering, Test Format POST is made up of four separately timed test soctions, The first the sections, Mathematics, Reading Comprehension and Grammar utilize the multiple-choice and True/False formats, ‘The fourth section, Incident Report Writing, requires you to write your answers in complete sentences in the spaces provided in the test booklet. Some departments may choose to administer all four sections, while others will administer Sections HII only. Reviewing and answaring all four sections will prepare you for ether format your department has selected ‘Though most ofthe questions inthis test battery relete to police duty, no prior knowledge of law or law enforcement will be needed to answer the questioas. Examination Hints ‘Attempt to answer every question in the test. There is no penalty for guessing since your score is based on the total number of correct answers, This means you should respond to every question, even when you are not certain ofthe correct answer. When you are uncertain, your answer should be your best guess, and you should then move on to the next question. You will need to balance the amount of ime you spend on each question with the total amount of time allotted to take the test. You will be told when to start and stop each section. If you have extra time, you are allowed to check your work on that section of the test onlyTime Limits tis important to know the amount oftime allowed for each section s0 you can pace yourself and not spend too auch time on questions causing you problems. Remember, there is no penalty for guessing ifyou find you are spending too much time on a question, you should guess end move on. Ifyou finish before time is called, you can go back and check your answers in the section you are working on, The number of test items and time limits for each ofthe sections ofthe test are listed below. Number OF tems Test Time Section Test I Mathematics 20 20 min. 1 Reading Comprehension 25 25 min, mM = Grammar 20 15 mia. IV Incident Report Writing 20 15 min, Marking Your Answers ‘The test will be computer scored. Therefore, itis important to follow the instructions below to insure your answers are read correctly. Use a #2 or softer lead pencil, Do not use ink, Make heavy black marks that completely fill the oval Erase completely any marks you wish to change. Make na stray marks onthe test booklet, Scratch paper will be provided in the math section to do your figuring 1 Be sure that you blacken oaly one oval for ezch question. Ifyou blacken more than one oval, it wil be counted as incorect, even if one of the answers is correct. ‘The firs thrae sections of the test are in a multiple-choice format, ‘The ovals appear next to the test questions as shown below. @ >) @o @Notice that for each number there are five ovals labeled A, B,C, D, and E, You will blacksn the oval that corresponds to the answer you think is cocrect For example, assume that for test question number 1, you feel that B is the correct answer. You would blacken the oval labeled B on your answer sheat as shown below. Ifthe correct answer for question number 2 is D, ‘you would blacken the aval corresponding to D as shown below. .@ 20M 10M +-@O@ 1@® e @o @ ‘The fourth section ofthe test requires the test taker to answer questions in complete sentences. The sentences must contain the right information, be grammatically correct and all words ould be correctly spelled. Pages 8-19 ofthis guide give vasious sample test itoms and answersTaking The Test ‘This part of the POST Study Guide provides some common sense advice for the day you take the test. Although these paints may seem obvious, itis attention to details such as these that will increase your probability of obtaining your maximum potential score Before The Test Begins Arrive early, You may be assigned a seat or you may be able to pick your own, Either way, setle in and put your things away. ‘Try to relax, but concentrate on the test you are about to take, Put outside distractions out of your mind. Give the test you are about to take your complete attention, Listen Carefully ‘The test administrator will provide you with complete and detailed instructions for taking each section, Be sure that you ‘pay close attention to what this person has to say. Do not read ahead because you may miss something very important. do not hear or do nat understand the directions, ask the test. administrator to repeat them. It is extremely important that you completely understand the directions befare the test begins. Test Timing Just before the signal to begin each section is given, make a mental note of what time It will be when the time limit forthe section is up. For example, ifthe time lim is 15 minutes end it is currently 4:15, make « mental note thet time will be up at 4:20. This will allow you to pace yourself while working through the test. Remember, your scare an the test will be the total number correct. Therefore, you will want to work both quickly and accurately. You should balance the amount of time you spend on each question. You should devote enough time to work through the question, but you should not spend too much time on any one question that is giving you difficulty, When this occurs, make your best guess and move on to the next question. If you finish before time is up, you can always go back and check the questions where you guessedPreparing Yourself Physically For The Test ‘Avoid junk food and concentrate on a well balanced diet for atleast several days before the test. Avold tranquilizers and stimulants, such as coffee, especially an the day ofthe test. Get a good night's sleep before the test Do not deink a lot of liquids or eat a big meal before the test. ‘Avoid aloohel several days prior to and especially on the day of the testSample Test Items Section | In this section of the exam you willbe provided with situations that require the use of basi arithmetic, You will read each situation and solve the problem. You are not allowed ta use a calculator inthis ssction; scratch paper willbe provided in the tst booklet to do all figuring, 1. On Tuesday, Offcer Jones worked the pm-1! am. shit. At 105 pm. he was called tthe scene of an accidentwhere he remained unt 1130 arm. How long pasts regular suit did Officer Jones work? ® Srinutes B® 1 hour, 50 minutes 2hours D Z hours, 30 minutes @® Shours, § minutes (Questions 2 and 3 are based an the fllowing information. In preparing har reparcon a home burglary, a police officer listed the following stolen tzms ane their values: televisionset $40.00 ratio. $40.00, starac equipment $1800.00 gold chain $100.00 2, What was the toa valve ofthe stolen goods? @® 200 @ nou © sie00 @ sue00 ® 83000 3, Whats the vale of all the stolen goods EXCEPT the gold chain? Ds @ ss @ $1,900 sisi @ s2640ee 4. Apolice oficar is called to an accident scene across town from his present location. Fhe has t travel two meson Grant Roed, three miles on route 47, and 12 miles on interstata 70, how many mila daag he have to travel to gat tothe accident scene? ® miles @ i9mites S2rniles @® s9miles @® wamites [An appliance store is burglarized and 21 clock ratios with» total value of $1050 are stolen. What's the average value afta radios? @ $1050 @ $000 @ $35.00 @ si05.50 @ sno jetions lite thes inthis section ofthe testand you don the There are 204 vill nave 20 mieutes to answer them. Your score wil be ba: umber of questions you answar corractly. Tare iso panty for suassing 50 you should ry to ansSection Il 10 This section mes sures reading comprehension, You will ead passages ‘lating to police duty and then answer questions basad on passages. NO PRIOR KNOWLEDGE OF LAW OR LAW ENFORCEMENT WILL BE NEEDED TD ANSWER THE QUESTIONS. Alte information needed to answer the questions will be provided in the passage. THE PASSAGES IN THIS SECTION ARE NOT INTENDED TO REPRESENT [ACTUAL LAW OF ANY PARTICULAR STATE. THE PASSAGES PRESENT POTENTIAL RULES AND LAWS RELATING TO POLICE WORK. ‘Theeediffecent types of questions will be asked inthis section (U] Truetfalse questions in which a statement willbe given concerning a passage ora sample raport form. The statement will be either accurate and true based on the passage or form, or the statement will, be inaccurate and false according tothe passage or form. (2) Questiansin which you willbe asked to choose the correct answer according to te information presented in the gassage or on @ sample reportform, (3] Questions in which you willbe asked to choase the elternative that bestcamplates the sentence. Again, answars should be based on the information in the passage or on the report form. (uestions 6-10 are based on the following passage Young people probably dan’ think of "permanent borrawing* a litrary book as a crime, butitis. Thousands, posialy mlios, of books and other materials re vandalized or siolen each year from irarias across the Unied States. These institutions must obtain repayment or close down, ‘The state criminal code contains 2 section that deals specifically with crimes involving israry matarials, defining such terms as “library facility,” “ibrary material “premises ofa ibrary facili,” and “library card," The section particularly describes two general offenses: “library thaft” and “criminal mulation or vandalism of inary materials,” Sentences forthe offenses vary. Examples follow. A person who borrows ‘ane fails, ater notification, to return books and materials valued at $75 ‘may be fined up to $500 and ordered to pay the replacement costs of the books and materials; tis is considered a petty offense. Any library thet af books and materials worth mare than $300 is a class 3 felony, Mutilation or vandalism of rary books and materials valued at less than '$200(s a class A misdemeanor, while the same offense is a class 3 felony ifthe books and matarials are valued at more then $3008, According tthe passage, itraries in the United States do not ‘xparience very much tft or vandalism. Dine @® Fase 7. According tothe passage, @ person whe borrows an fails to return library books and mazerials valued at $75 has committed class A misdemeanor. D tne False 4 Accordinga tha passage, apety offense involving library books and rmatarals could rasut:in payment f both a fine and replacement costs. @ tne @ Fase 4 According tthe passage, mutlating and vandalizing library books and materials worth more than $200 is @ ® pety offense @ cles A misdemeanor ©@ class 3 alony 10. The passage is mainly about the extent of brary hat arong young peaale D the prevelence of brary theft across the United States © the way in which the criminal code handles library theft D the effect that thatt hes on litraries @ the “criminal mutilation or vandalism of ltrary materials” "2 ‘Question 11 is based on the definitions below. Oa nat assume enything to be true thal is not stated in the passage or in the question. An individual who intemtionaly ils someane without lawful |ustification commits murder in the first degree. 4 person who commits the offense of murder inthe first degree, as ‘described above, commits murder inthe second degree ihe was provoked into a state of uncontllable passion, ‘An individual iho unintentionally kil someone without lawful justification commits involuntary manslaughter it he performs the act which causad the death recklessly, whether the actbe lawful or unlawful ‘A person who unintentional kis someone as the result ofthe racklass driving of a mator vehicle commits reckless homicide 11, Two men ina tavar gotinta a shouting match and steppad autside to sete the problem. According to witnesses, the first man continued yeling obscenities atthe second daspito the second ‘man's loud and frm requests thathe ston. After 10 minutes of being ‘taunted, the secand man attacked the frst with eknife and kiled im before winesses could intervene. According to the definitions, the second man should te charged with CB] mrurdor in ta ist ogre ® murdarin the second dagres @® invalurcary manslaughter less homicide{uestions 12 and 13 are based on the inciéent eeport form and the incident description below. Wain ja0aves yi -awiaicas baScaTpaton of Quick Food convenience stare at 208. Locust Averue, Elletsvil, called police headquarters at7:00 a.m., Tuesday, May 10, to rapertthat her establishment had been broken into during the night. Officers Jane Wright and Alan Webber erived at the store at 7.10 am, to investigate the incident Mrs, Olson was able to report immediately that a 10-inch parable color TV and $76.50 from the cash cegistar ware missing Susan Dison o 12 The incident report can be fully completed based on the information in she paragraph Dine Dhase 13, The incident was reported to police on May 10. Dine DD false ‘There are 25 questions lite these in this section of the test and you will have 25 minutes to answer them. There isno penalty far guessing. Your score wil be the percentage of problams you answer corractiy Therefore, you should try to answer each problem, aSection Ill “4 ‘This section of te exam requires you to idently erorsin grammar, punctuation, or speling. There are two types of questions presented in this section. The first type presents incomplete sentences and yau are to choose the alemative that best completes the sentence. For these tems, be sure ta read caretully any material appearing before or ater the tem. ‘The right answer may be dependant on this material The second type of {ueston prasemts sentences that contain a spelling error and yau are to choose the alternative that contains the misspelled word 14, Mr. Smith always kept his cooking utensils in goad warking condition, Allthe kitchen ware very sharp ® kite krivas knifes and the pots and pans were scrubbed clean. During ___ existance from 1964-86, the courthouse its @its Dis received 450,00 cals of complain: Each complaintwas acted upon, working ovarime last nigh 6, The oficer @D was @® were smatile while under the influance af alcohol or drugs is bylaw. sl Oriving en prohibit Which word in the sentence above is misspelled? D awtometie @® intuence alcohol D protitited © None ofthe above18. The clerk tthe motor vahicles ofce confmed Wedesday, that Wiliam Gray casidas at 1201 Oak Avenue, Anytown, Georgia Which word in the sentence above is misspalled? vehi confirmed @ Wedesday D resides @ None af the above ‘There are 20 questions lke thase inthis section of the test You wil have 1S minutes answer ther, Thera is no penalty far guessing. Your scare is hased on the aumber of questions angwered correct, so ty to answer each question, 5Section IV 16 Section IV tests your writing skis. On the following page is « completed sample incident report frm. Use the information contained onthe forma answer the quastions that fallow. You should write your answers inthe spaces provide. ‘All your answers must contain the carrectinfermation and be writen in complete sentences. The sentences must be grammatically corre all words should ba correctly spelled, Read the example question and answer below. EXAMPLE QUESTION (On what date cid the incident take place? EXAMPLE OF CORRECT ANSWER Tue invident: took, olnoe Jan a (7. Nota thatthe answer above contains the correct information, is @ ‘camplare sentence and the grammar and spelling are correct. EXAMPLES OF INCORRECT ANSWERS \wn ue 1 ‘The above answeris not @ complete sentence and does not contain the corractinformetin, Widens tole plore \unuary The answer above isnot grammatically correct. The word “the” is missing Te inner tole ple Joy Inthe above answer, incidentis spelled incorrect(esti 18-23 are based on the incident report form below. il | TREE Se 7 Rava Sasa 7 aa | [tM Genwi Me Maree Robie! AR=/06 | [Sinise oF viceons sazvroune | chooness i arate | |---esa Cocks. | | Fkssicnt0 orrres | | Mest Braold ¥a.ip al.O Gite, Unbae iivage (a4. race 78 Hh! Wbcke. spain yao.nies 31 RivSi0hL baseateaion baci es tics 0d Set B/25.00 W390 0) ise wonaER 30 vaLuE i 18, Whatitems were stolen fram the victim? 20, Where does the victim reside? 21, What ara the name and address ofthe suspect? 22, Whatwas the suspect wearing? a18 2B. Who were the officers assigned tothe complaint? 34 10 questions in this section of te test and you will have 15 minutes to work an them, To receive maximum credit, answers must information, bein complete sentences, cont misspeliad words, and be grammatically correct,Sample Test Answer Key Section! Section || 6.8- False 7.8- False BA-True 8.C- class felony 101 C- the way inwhich the cririnal code handles library theft 11. B- murderin the second dagres 12.B- False 1A-Tue Section Ill 14.8 knives: 16.A- was 17.8 infuance - the correct spalling is influence 18 C- Wedasday -the corractspaling is Wednesday 18, Cash gnd jewelry were stolen trom the victim, 20. The victim lvas at 15 W. Grenwil 21, The name and address ofthe suspact are unknown, ‘The suspactwas wearing blue jeans and a red sweatshirt. 2 Oificars Matt Arnold and Carol Q'Srien ware assigned tothe complaint Section IV [Note:The correct answers in Section IV may be writton in several formats, 19PHYSICAL AGILITY COURSE Participants should wear loose fitting, comfortable clothing, consisting of long pants, a long sleeve shirt, and tennis shoes or boots (Hi-Tech or Rocky type). Be prepared to engage iri moderate to strenuous physical activity for a short period of time. The course will consist of running and obstacles that require jumping, climbing, crawling, pushing, pulling, dragging objects, maneuvering, and identifying suspects. You may bring a drink and snack for after the course.onan ‘Training Academy. ‘Academy Drive ey 0 a Hr owtamn 4, Gravt Under Taio | DETENTION OFFICERS Around Gf Wall Over R Wall Soapet Ofbcer move 30 8 END + Total Distance Approximately 200 yards Not to SealeMontgomery County Sheriff’s Office Recruiting Division TEST PREPARATION The following suggestions should help you prepare yourself physically for the test: Avoid junk food and concentrate on a well-balanced diet for several days prior to testing. Avoid tranquilizers and stimulants such as beverages containing caffeine, especially on the day of testing. Get a good nights sleep before the test. Do not drink a lot of liquids or eat a big meal before the test. It is important to stay hydrated, especially during the hot months. Be sure to drink plenty of water for several days prior to testing, and in moderation on the day of testing. It is suggested you bring a bottle of water on test day. Avoid alcoholic beverages several days prior to testing. Note: A lunch break will be given to Deputy applicants who pass both the physical agility and written tests prior to proceeding to the range. Good Luck If you have any questions, call recruiting at 936-538-7733MONTGOMERY COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE 21 CRIMINAL JUSTICE DR. # CONROE. TX 77301 SHERIFF RAND HENDERSON CONROE: 936% 760% 587 | Dear Applicant, In an effort to help you prepare for the physical and written tests, please go to our website www.mctxsheriff.com. When you get to the website click on Divisions, then tab over to Recruiting, and click on Recruiting scroll down the page and clock on Job Task Simulation Packet. This is a large document, so it may take a while to download. You may print it out. Good luck and we hope you are successful in becoming a part of the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office. Sincerely, fll Lee— Lt. Keith Funderburk