Free NPOST Exam Flashcards

Add all the given values together. "Combined total" or "altogether" problems require simple addition of every item listed — don't skip any value or you'll undercount.

Find the total of all items first, then subtract the excluded item. Don't recalculate by adding only the remaining items — that wastes time under the clock.

Add all the values together, then divide by the number of items. Example: daily arrest counts of 3, 5, 4, 4, 4 sum to 20; divided by 5 items, the average is 4.

Divide the part (traffic-stop calls) by the whole (total calls), then convert to a percentage. Make sure you divide the specific category by the grand total, not by a subtotal.

Divide the change (10) by the ORIGINAL value (40), not the new value: 10 ÷ 40 = 25% increase. Using the new value as the denominator is the most common trap on percent-change items.

Multiply rate by time: distance = rate × time, so 60 mph × 2.5 hours = 150 miles. Watch for time given in minutes — convert it to hours first if the rate is in mph.

Subtract the start time from the end time in stages through midnight: 10:15 PM to midnight is 1 hour 45 minutes, and midnight to 6:40 AM is 6 hours 40 minutes, for a total of 8 hours 25 minutes.

Subtract the starting odometer reading from the ending reading: 42,255 − 42,180 = 75 miles. These "odometer difference" problems are simple subtraction dressed up in a police scenario.

First multiply price by quantity, then add the flat fee (or apply the operations in whatever order the wording requires). Two-step problems combine two operations — read carefully to see which happens first.

Use the provided scratch paper to work vertically, round numbers to estimate first, and eliminate obviously wrong answer choices before computing exactly. Budget about 1 minute per item across the section.

20 word-problem items in 20 minutes — a 1-minute-per-item pace. It's the first of four separately timed sections, and you cannot return to it once time expires.

The trap is forgetting the word EXCEPT and adding everything, including the excluded item. Always find the full total first, then subtract only the one item the question tells you to exclude.

Guess and move on rather than leaving it blank. There's no penalty for guessing, but a blank answer is scored as wrong, so a quick estimate-based guess still gives you a chance at credit.

Convert all values to matching units first (for example, minutes to hours) before multiplying. Mismatched units are a common way answer-choice distractors are built into POST math items.

Only from the passage itself — scan for the exact number, name, or detail as stated. Never rely on outside knowledge or a reasonable-sounding assumption, even if it seems obviously true.

Compare the statement word-for-word against the passage. If it matches the passage's meaning exactly, mark True; if it changes a number, name, or condition, mark False — even a small change counts.

Pick the option that fits the passage's stated meaning and tone, not just grammatical correctness. Reread the surrounding sentences to confirm which choice logically continues the same idea.

Choose the conclusion that follows directly from stated facts — not one that requires added outside knowledge. Reject any answer that goes beyond what the passage actually says, even if it sounds plausible.

Match the specific facts of the scenario against every condition in the stated rule or policy. The correct answer is the one where all of the rule's conditions are satisfied by the scenario's facts.

Check whether the scenario meets every element of the given definition. If even one element is missing or unmet, the term does not apply — treat the definition as a checklist, not a general impression.

Track the sequence exactly as the passage lists it — first, second, then, after, finally. Don't reorder events based on what seems logical; use only the order stated in the text.

Reject the choice that adds information not stated in the passage. The correct answer never requires assuming a fact the passage doesn't provide.

Distractors are often real numbers or facts pulled from a DIFFERENT paragraph of the same passage. Always verify the number belongs to the specific detail the question is asking about, not just that it appears somewhere in the passage.

25 items in 25 minutes — a 1-minute-per-item pace, making it the largest and longest of the four POST sections.

Reread the exact sentence or phrase containing that detail a second time. A quick first read catches the general idea, but reading comprehension items are graded on exact wording, not general impression.

Because every fact needed to answer the questions is provided directly in the passage or report form. The section tests reading skill, not job knowledge, so outside expertise gives no advantage.

Watch for whether the scenario falls under the exception, not just the main rule. Many reading traps hinge on whether a stated exception applies to the specific facts given.

It's testing careful fact-matching in the True/False or fact-extraction format. Treat any changed number, date, or name as an automatic mismatch with the passage.

Read the passage carefully once, then answer each question by rereading only the relevant part. Don't reread the whole passage for every question, or you'll run out of time at 1 minute per item.

Pick the rule whose specific conditions are ALL met by the scenario. If a rule has three listed conditions and the scenario only satisfies two, it doesn't apply — look for the rule that fits completely.

Answering from memory or general knowledge instead of the passage. Even accurate real-world knowledge is wrong if it isn't what the passage actually states — always point back to the text.

Always use a singular verb. Words like each, every, and either are singular indefinite pronouns, even when followed by a plural-sounding phrase like "each of the officers."

The verb agrees with the subject CLOSER to it — here, "officers," so you'd use a plural verb. This is the nearer-subject rule for neither/nor and either/or constructions.

Ignore the prepositional phrase ("of names") when checking agreement — the true subject is "list," which is singular, so the verb is "was." Prepositional phrases never contain the subject.

Use "who" when it's the SUBJECT of the clause (performs the action) and "whom" when it's the OBJECT (receives the action). Test by substituting "he" (who) or "him" (whom) — if "him" fits, use whom.

"Me" is correct — as the object of the preposition "to," the pronoun must be in the object case. Test by removing "my partner and": you'd never say "given to I."

Match the pronoun to the noun it's replacing in number — a comparison pronoun must agree with whatever it stands in for (a singular noun takes a singular pronoun, a plural noun takes a plural one).

Use a comma BEFORE and AFTER the nonessential clause. Nonessential clauses add extra detail that could be removed without changing the sentence's core meaning.

Use a semicolon before "however" and a comma after it: "The suspect fled; however, officers apprehended him nearby." A comma alone before "however" creates a comma splice.

Make sure the sentence has both a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought. A fragment is missing one of these — for example, a phrase punctuated as if it were a full sentence.

A clear comparison needs both sides stated: higher THAN WHAT (for example, "higher than the average score"). An incomplete comparison leaves the reader unsure what's being compared.

"Its" (no apostrophe) is possessive, meaning belonging to it. "It's" (with apostrophe) is a contraction of "it is" or "it has." Test: if you can expand it to "it is," use the apostrophe.

"Their" shows possession (their vehicle), "there" shows place or existence (over there / there is), and "they're" is a contraction of "they are." Test each by asking: possession, location, or "they are"?

Received follows "i before e except after c"; separate has "a rat" in the middle; occurred doubles both the C and R; personnel has one L at the end; Wednesday keeps a silent D after "Wed." Memorizing these patterns helps you catch misspelled-word items quickly.

First person ("I responded...") and past tense throughout, since you're describing events that already happened. Avoid switching to present tense or third-person "the officer" phrasing.

Chronological order — describe events in the sequence they occurred, from start to finish. Don't jump around in time or lead with the outcome before the events that caused it.

Leave out opinions, guesses, or conclusions not explicitly stated on the sample incident report form. Stick strictly to the given facts — inventing details, even plausible ones, costs you accuracy points.

A complete sentence needs both a subject and a verb and expresses a full thought. Sentence fragments — phrases missing a subject or verb — are marked down even if the content is accurate.

Graders also check accuracy against the sample report form's facts, completeness (did you answer every part of the question asked), and that you used names rather than vague pronouns or abbreviations.

10 items in 15 minutes, and unlike the multiple-choice/True-False format of the first three sections, Incident Report Writing requires written answers in complete sentences based on a sample incident report form.