NPOST Exam Flashcards

Q: What is the NPOST (POST) exam?

The National Police Officer Selection Test, also called the POST, is an entry-level basic-skills test from Stanard & Associates used by more than 1,000 law enforcement agencies to screen police applicants. It has four separately timed sections — Mathematics, Reading Comprehension, Grammar, and Incident Report Writing — with 75 scored items completed in about 1 hour 15 minutes of testing time.

Q: What score do I need to pass the NPOST?

You must score 70% or higher in each of the four sections. Each section is graded separately, and failing any single section is a failing result for the entire test — a strong overall average cannot offset one weak section.

Q: Can I use a calculator on the NPOST Math section?

Calculator policy depends on the version and the administering agency. Some testing sites provide scratch paper and prohibit calculators, while others permit one — confirm the rule with your specific testing site before exam day, and practice mental math and estimation either way.

Q: Is there a penalty for guessing on the NPOST?

No. There is no penalty for guessing, and a blank answer is scored the same as a wrong answer. Always mark an answer for every item, even a quick estimate, rather than leaving anything blank.

Q: How long do I have to wait to retake the NPOST if I fail?

Stanard & Associates does not publish a single national retake policy — the wait period, if any, is set entirely by the hiring agency administering your test. Some agencies offer no retest option within a given hiring cycle, while others allow a retake at the next scheduled testing date. Always confirm the specific retake and score-transfer rules with the agency you are testing for.

Q: Do I need law enforcement experience or legal knowledge to pass the NPOST?

No. Although questions are set in a police context, no prior law enforcement experience or legal knowledge is required. The Reading Comprehension and Incident Report Writing sections give you every fact you need directly in the passage or sample report form.

Question 1

You're solving a POST math problem that lists five patrol assignments and asks for the combined total. What operation do you use?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 2

A word problem lists five values, then asks for the total EXCEPT one specific item. What's the fastest way to solve it?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 3

How do you calculate an average on the POST math section?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 4

A question asks "what percentage of the total calls were traffic stops?" How do you set up the calculation?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 5

A problem states patrol hours increased from 40 to 50 and asks for the percent increase. How do you find it?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 6

A patrol car travels at 60 mph for 2.5 hours. How far does it travel?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 7

An officer starts a shift at 10:15 PM and ends at 6:40 AM. How do you find the elapsed time?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 8

A patrol vehicle's odometer reads 42,180 at the start of shift and 42,255 at the end. How many miles were driven?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 9

A problem asks you to buy several items at a set price, then add a flat processing fee, all in one word problem. What's the two-step approach?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 10

You can't use a calculator during parts of the POST Math section. What's your best strategy for keeping pace?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 11

How many items are on the POST Mathematics section, and how much time do you get?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 12

A math item contains the word "EXCEPT" in the question stem. What's the trap if you just add up every item you see?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 13

You're running low on time on the Math section with word problems left unanswered. What should you do?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 14

A problem mixes units — for example, distance in miles but time given in minutes. What must you do before applying rate × time?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 15

A POST reading question asks you to identify a fact stated in the passage. Where should the answer come from?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 16

A True/False question restates a sentence from the passage as a claim. How do you decide?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 17

A question asks which sentence "best completes" a passage or paragraph. What should guide your choice?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 18

An inference question asks what conclusion the passage "best supports." What's the key rule?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 19

An "applying rules" question gives you a policy statement, then a scenario. How do you find the answer?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 20

An "applying definitions" question gives you a defined term, then a short scenario. What's the approach?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 21

A question asks about the correct order of steps described in a passage. How do you answer it?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 22

Two answer choices on a reading item both look plausible. What's the fastest way to eliminate one?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 23

Where do wrong answer choices ("distractors") on POST reading items usually come from?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 24

How many items are on the Reading Comprehension section, and how much time do you get?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 25

You've read a passage once, but the question is about one specific detail. What should you do before answering?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 26

Why doesn't the POST require any prior law enforcement knowledge for its reading section?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 27

A passage describes a rule using the word "must," plus one stated exception. What should you watch for in the question?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 28

A reading item repeats a number from the passage but changes it slightly. What kind of question is this testing?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 29

How should you allocate your time across a Reading Comprehension passage and its questions?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 30

A question describes a scenario and asks which stated rule from the passage "best applies." Two rules seem close. How do you decide?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 31

What's the single biggest mistake candidates make on Reading Comprehension items?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 32

The subject of a sentence is "each officer," "every recruit," or "either candidate." What verb form do you use?

Accepted Answer

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."

Question 33

A sentence uses "neither...nor" to join two subjects of different number, as in "neither the sergeant nor the officers." Which subject controls the verb?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 34

A sentence has a prepositional phrase between the subject and verb, like "the list of names WAS/WERE long." How do you find the true subject?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 35

How do you choose between "who" and "whom" in a sentence?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 36

Which is correct: "the report was given to my partner and I" or "...to my partner and me"?

Accepted Answer

"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."

Question 37

A sentence compares group sizes: "the department has more officers than the neighboring city ___." How do you choose the comparison pronoun?

Accepted Answer

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).

Question 38

A sentence has a nonessential clause, like "The officer, who had ten years of experience, filed the report." How is it punctuated?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 39

You want to join two independent clauses with the transition word "however" in the middle of a sentence. What punctuation is correct?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 40

How do you avoid writing a sentence fragment when completing a grammar item?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 41

A grammar item flags an incomplete comparison, like "the recruit's score was higher." What's missing?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 42

Its vs. it's — which one is possessive, and which is a contraction?

Accepted Answer

"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.

Question 43

Their vs. there vs. they're — how do you tell them apart on a POST grammar item?

Accepted Answer

"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"?

Question 44

Which commonly misspelled words appear on spelling-identification items — received, separate, occurred, personnel, Wednesday — and how do you remember them?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 45

What point of view and tense should you use when writing POST Incident Report Writing answers?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 46

What structure should your Incident Report Writing answers follow?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 47

The Incident Report Writing section asks you to answer questions using only facts. What should you leave out?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 48

What counts as a "complete sentence" when graders score your Incident Report Writing answers?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 49

Besides grammar and spelling, what else do graders check on Incident Report Writing answers?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 50

How many items are on the Incident Report Writing section, and how is its format different from the other three sections?

Accepted Answer

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.

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