California POST Entry-Level Public Safety Dispatcher Selection Test Battery

The POST Entry-Level Dispatcher Selection Test Battery is organized around four broad ability areas. Which of the following is one of those four areas?

• APerceptual ability
• BPhysical agility
• CTyping speed certification
• DForeign language fluency

How many separately timed brief tests make up the POST Entry-Level Dispatcher Selection Test Battery?

• AEleven
• BFour
• CSeven
• DTwenty

On the POST Dispatcher Test, scores are reported as T-scores. What is the midpoint (average) and standard deviation of the T-score scale?

• AMean 50, standard deviation 10
• BMean 100, standard deviation 15
• CMean 70, standard deviation 5
• DMean 0, standard deviation 1

POST has not mandated a single passing score but recommends a range within which agencies should set their cut score based on the overall T-score. What is that recommended range?

• A48 to 57
• B60 to 70
• C70 to 80
• D40 to 45

On the POST Dispatcher Test there is a penalty for wrong answers. What is the best test-taking strategy regarding items you cannot answer?

• ALeave items blank rather than guessing at random, because a fraction of a point is subtra…
• BAlways guess on every item because every answer adds points
• CAnswer items in strict order and never skip
• DMark all remaining items with the same letter to save time

Approximately how long does the entire POST Dispatcher Test Battery take, including a short break?

• AAbout 2.5 to 3 hours
• BAbout 30 minutes
• CA full 8-hour day
• DExactly 60 minutes

After taking the POST Dispatcher Test, how long must an applicant wait before retaking it?

• A30 calendar days (one month)
• BOne year
• CNo waiting period; they can retest immediately
• DFive years

Why is the POST Entry-Level Dispatcher Selection Test Battery distinct from the PELLETB?

• AThe PELLETB is the entry-level test for peace officers, while the Dispatcher Battery meas…
• BThey are the same test with different names
• CThe PELLETB is only for federal agents
• DThe Dispatcher Battery is a physical fitness test

Five of the eleven subtests require the examinee to listen to audio and then answer questions. Which of the following is an audio-based subtest?

• ACall-Taking
• BReading Comprehension
• CSentence Clarity
• DSetting Priorities

How much does each of the eleven subtests count toward an examinee's total score on the POST Dispatcher Test?

• AEach test receives equal weight in the total score
• BThe audio tests count double
• CReading Comprehension counts the most
• DOnly the perceptual tests are scored

Read the passage, then answer the question. 'A dispatcher should obtain the location of the emergency first, even before the caller's name, because a disconnected call still allows responders to be sent if the address is known.' According to the passage, the FIRST piece of information a dispatcher should obtain is:

• AThe location of the emergency
• BThe caller's name
• CThe caller's phone number
• DA description of the suspect

Read the passage, then answer the question. 'Alzheimer's disease affects a person's short-term memory. The affected person may easily recall information from years past but may not recall current information such as his or her address.' According to the passage, a person with Alzheimer's disease will most likely:

• AHave trouble remembering recent events
• BBe likely to commit a crime
• CHave difficulty lifting heavy objects
• DHave trouble remembering events from years ago

Read the passage, then answer the question. 'A silent or open-line 911 call must be treated as a possible emergency. The dispatcher attempts to make contact, listens for background sounds, and dispatches officers to the location if any sign of distress is detected.' Based on the passage, when should officers be dispatched on a silent 911 call?

• AWhen any sign of distress is detected
• BOnly after the caller speaks clearly
• CNever, because silent calls are always accidental
• DOnly when a supervisor approves each one

Read the passage, then answer the question. 'When a caller reports a fire, the dispatcher should ask whether anyone is trapped inside, since rescue priorities change dramatically when lives are at risk compared with a structure fire with all occupants safely outside.' The passage implies that the presence of trapped occupants primarily affects:

• AThe priority and nature of the response
• BThe caller's phone number
• CThe color of the responding apparatus
• DThe time the fire started

Read the passage, then answer the question. 'A BOLO (Be On the Lookout) broadcast describes a person or vehicle officers should watch for. An effective BOLO includes a physical description, last-known direction of travel, and the reason the subject is wanted.' According to the passage, an effective BOLO does NOT necessarily include:

• AThe subject's home telephone number
• BA physical description
• CThe last-known direction of travel
• DThe reason the subject is wanted

Read the passage, then answer the question. 'Pre-arrival instructions are guidance a dispatcher gives a caller before responders arrive, such as how to perform CPR. These instructions can save lives but must never delay the dispatch of units.' The passage suggests that pre-arrival instructions should be given:

• AAfter units have already been dispatched
• BInstead of dispatching units
• COnly by a supervisor
• DOnly for non-medical calls

Read the passage, then answer the question. 'Interoperability lets agencies from different jurisdictions communicate on shared radio channels during large incidents. Without it, a police unit and a fire unit at the same scene might be unable to coordinate directly.' The main benefit of interoperability described is:

• ADirect communication between agencies at a shared scene
• BLower radio purchase costs
• CFaster typing of incident reports
• DReduced number of 911 calls

Read the passage, then answer the question. 'When transferring a wireless 911 call to the correct agency, the dispatcher stays on the line until the receiving agency confirms it has the caller and the location, preventing the caller from being lost during the transfer.' Why does the dispatcher stay on the line during the transfer?

• ATo prevent the caller from being lost during the transfer
• BTo record the caller's voice for evidence
• CTo bill the caller for the service
• DTo test the radio equipment

Read the passage, then answer the question. 'A welfare check is requested when someone fears for another person's safety, often because the person has not been heard from. Dispatchers gather the address, the reason for concern, and any medical or mental-health history before sending officers.' Based on the passage, which item would a dispatcher NOT routinely collect for a welfare check?

• AThe caller's vehicle insurance policy number
• BThe address to check
• CThe reason for concern
• DRelevant medical or mental-health history

Read the passage, then answer the question. 'During a pursuit, the primary unit calls the chase while a secondary unit handles radio traffic so the primary officer can focus on driving. The dispatcher clears the channel of routine traffic to keep it open for the pursuit.' Why does the dispatcher clear the channel of routine traffic?

• ATo keep the channel open for pursuit communications
• BTo save battery power on the radios
• CTo allow officers to take a break
• DTo reduce the agency's phone bill

Sentence Clarity items ask you to choose the clearer of two sentences. Which sentence is more clearly written?

• AThe victim said that he was riding a bicycle when he was attacked by a man.
• BThe victim said that he was attacked by a man. He was riding a bicycle.
• CRiding a bicycle, a man attacked the victim, he said.
• DThe victim, a man attacked, riding a bicycle, said.

Which sentence is more clearly written for a dispatcher's incident note?

• AThe caller reported that her neighbor's dog bit a child on the sidewalk.
• BA child was bitten, the neighbor's dog, on the sidewalk, the caller reported.
• COn the sidewalk a child the dog of the neighbor bit, reported the caller.
• DThe caller reported a child bit the neighbor's dog on the sidewalk.

Which sentence is the clearer, more grammatically correct version?

• AAfter the officer arrived, the suspect fled on foot toward the park.
• BThe suspect fled on foot toward the park, the officer arriving.
• CFleeing on foot, the park was where the suspect went after the officer.
• DToward the park the suspect, the officer arrived, fled on foot.

Which sentence avoids ambiguity about who was injured?

• AThe driver of the truck was injured when it struck the parked car.
• BWhen it struck the parked car, he was injured, the truck.
• CThe truck struck the parked car and was injured, the driver.
• DInjured the driver was, the parked car the truck struck.

Which sentence is written most clearly for a dispatch log entry?

• AThe caller heard glass breaking and then saw a man climbing through the window.
• BGlass breaking the caller heard, a man through the window climbing was seen.
• CA man climbing, glass breaking, the caller heard and saw through the window.
• DThe caller, glass breaking, a man climbing through the window, heard and saw.

Evaluating Facts. FACTS: All crimes are recorded in the criminal activity log. Some vehicle accidents are crimes. Supervisors are notified of all crimes. CONCLUSION: 'Some vehicle accidents are recorded in the criminal activity log.' This conclusion is:

• ATrue
• BFalse
• CCannot be determined from the facts
• DTrue only on weekends