Mathematics / Arithmetic
27%of exam
Word ProblemsPercentagesAveragesTime CalculationsNo Calculator
Reading Comprehension
33%of exam
Fact ExtractionTrue/FalseInferenceApplying RulesPassage-Only
Grammar and Spelling
27%of exam
Subject-Verb AgreementHomophonesSpellingPunctuationPronoun Case
Incident Report Writing
13%of exam
Complete SentencesFirst PersonChronologicalFacts Only
Quick Facts
- Exam
- NPOST / POST
- Owner
- Stanard & Associates
- Items
- 75 scored items
- Time
- 1 hr 15 min testing
- Pass
- 70% per section
- Sections
- 4 separately timed
- Level
- Entry-level, no LE experience
- Format
- MC/TF + written IRW
Four POST Sections
Math, Reading, Grammar, Incident Report Writing
M: 20 items, 20 minR: 25 items, 25 minG: 20 items, 15 minI: 10 items, 15 min
Total vs EXCEPT Problems
Total
- Add every listed item
- Answer equals full sum
EXCEPT
- Find total first
- Subtract the excluded item
Read for the word EXCEPT
Which Math Operation to Use
- Need combined total→Add all values
- See word EXCEPT→Subtract excluded item
- Need per-item value→Divide by count
- See rate times hours→Multiply rate by time
- Need percent of total→Multiply by decimal
- Need percent change→Divide change by original
- Running short on time→Guess and move on
Core Word-Problem Types
- Total value
- Add all items
- EXCEPT problems
- Total minus excluded item
- Average
- Sum divided by count
- Percentage of
- Part divided by whole
- Percent increase
- Change divided by original
- Rate x time
- Distance equals rate x time
- Elapsed time
- End time minus start
- Two-step problems
- Multiply then add fee
- Odometer difference
- End reading minus start
Math Section Facts
- Items
- 20 questions
- Time
- 20 minutes
- Calculator
- Not allowed
- Aid
- Scratch paper provided
- Pace
- 1 minute per item
- Format
- Word problems, multiple choice
Answer Every Question
No guessing penalty, blank counts wrong, always answer
Blank equals automatic missGuess still beats blankMove on if stuck
Reasonable Suspicion vs Probable Cause
Reasonable suspicion
- Specific articulable facts
- Permits brief stop only
Probable cause
- Higher evidentiary standard
- Required for arrest
Stop standard vs arrest standard
How to Answer Reading Items
- Question asks a fact→Scan for exact number
- Question is True/False→Match wording exactly
- Question asks meaning→Reread surrounding sentence
- Question asks conclusion→Pick passage-supported inference
- Question gives a scenario→Apply the stated rule
- Two answers seem close→Reject the unstated one
Reading Question Types
- Fact extraction
- Find the stated number
- True/False
- Match passage statement exactly
- Sentence completion
- Best fits passage meaning
- Inference
- Conclusion passage best supports
- Applying rules
- Match facts to policy
- Applying definitions
- Match scenario to term
- Sequence
- Order of listed steps
Misdemeanor vs Felony
Misdemeanor
- Up to one year jail
- County jail time
Felony
- More than one year
- State prison time
Length and location of time
Reading Section Facts
- Items
- 25 questions
- Time
- 25 minutes
- Pace
- 1 minute per item
- Source rule
- Passage only, no outside knowledge
- Distractors
- Numbers from other paragraphs
- Best strategy
- Reread exact wording twice
Common Spelling Demons
Separate has a rat, personnel one L, Wednesday silent D
Separate equals sep-a-ratePersonnel equals one LWednesday equals Wed+nesdayOccurred equals double C/R
Its vs It's
Its
- Possessive form
- No apostrophe ever
It's
- Contraction of it is
- Always has apostrophe
Test: does it expand?
Grammar Item Approach
- Blank needs a verb→Find the true subject
- Subject has each/every→Use singular verb
- Choice is who or whom→Test subject vs object
- Sentence has however→Use semicolon then comma
- Word looks misspelled→Check against spelling list
- Choice compares nouns→Match singular or plural
Agreement and Pronoun Rules
- Each/every/either
- Always singular verb
- Neither...nor
- Verb matches nearer subject
- Prepositional phrase
- Ignore for subject agreement
- Who
- Subject of clause
- Whom
- Object of clause
- Object of preposition
- Use me, not I
- Comparison pronoun
- Match singular or plural noun
Their vs There vs They're
Their/They're
- Their shows possession
- They're means they are
There
- Shows place or existence
- Never shows possession
Possession, contraction, or place
Punctuation and Homophone Rules
- Nonessential clause
- Comma before and after
- However mid-sentence
- Semicolon before, comma after
- Its
- Possessive, no apostrophe
- It's
- Contraction of it is
- Their
- Possessive of they
- There
- Place or existence
- They're
- Contraction of they are
Who vs Whom
Who
- Subject of the clause
- Does the action
Whom
- Object of the clause
- Receives the action
He equals who, him equals whom
Frequently Misspelled Words
- Received
- I before E after C
- Separate
- Has 'a' in middle
- Occurred
- Double C, double R
- Persistent
- Ends in -ent
- Personnel
- One L at end
- Wednesday
- Silent D after Wed
- Acknowledge
- Keep D before GE
- Influence
- Ends in -ence
- Definitely
- Contains the word finite
- Embarrass
- Double R, double S
Report Writing Formula
Chronological, factual, first-person, complete sentences, past tense
Order: what happened whenFacts: no opinions addedVoice: I not officerTense: past not present
Incident Report Writing Rules
- Voice
- First person, active voice
- Tense
- Past tense throughout
- Sentences
- Complete, subject plus verb
- Order
- Chronological, start to finish
- Content
- Facts only, no opinions
- Source
- Use only given facts
- Names
- Use names, not abbreviations
- Tone
- Objective, no blame
What Graders Score
- Grammar
- Correct grammar counts
- Spelling
- Correct spelling counts
- Accuracy
- Matches report form facts
- Completeness
- Answers every part asked
- No fragments
- Avoid incomplete sentences
- No invention
- Never add unstated details
Report Section Facts
- Items
- 10 questions
- Time
- 15 minutes
- Format
- Written, not multiple-choice
- Basis
- Sample incident report form
Common Traps
Section Fail Not Equal Overall Pass
One low section fails all ≠ Must hit 70% each section
Total Not Equal EXCEPT Answer
Total adds everything ≠ EXCEPT removes one item
Passage Facts Not Equal Outside Knowledge
Answer only from passage ≠ Ignore real-world assumptions
Blank Answer Not Equal Safe Choice
Blank counts as wrong ≠ Always guess and move on
Reasonable Suspicion Not Equal Probable Cause
Suspicion allows brief stop ≠ Cause required for arrest
Complete Sentence Not Equal Fragment
Fragment lacks subject or verb ≠ Report needs full sentences
Calculator Not Equal Allowed on Math
Math section is calculator-free ≠ Scratch paper only allowed
Last Minute
- 1.Score 70% in every section
- 2.One failed section fails all
- 3.Math: 20 items, 20 minutes
- 4.No calculator on math section
- 5.Reading: 25 items, 25 minutes
- 6.Answer only from the passage
- 7.Grammar: 20 items, 15 minutes
- 8.Watch for misspelled-word questions
- 9.Report writing: 10 items, 15 min
- 10.Write in first person, past tense
- 11.No guessing penalty; answer everything
- 12.Bring photo ID to testing site
Buy on AmazonSame family resources
Explore More Civil Service Exams
Continue into nearby exams from the same family. Each card keeps practice questions, study guides, flashcards, videos, and articles in one place.
More From This Family
Videos and articles for deeper review.
VideoFree POST Peace Officer Practice Test by State 2026: 5,200+ QuestionsThis examArticleFree POST Peace Officer Practice Test by State 2026: 5,200+ Questions25 min readArticleFREE NTN FrontLine Police Test Study Guide 2026: What It Actually Tests12 min readArticleNYPD Exam 2026–2027: Dates, $0 Fee, 24-Credit Rule & Free Prep13 min readArticleCivil Service Basic Skills Exam Guide 20269 min read