NYPD Police Officer Exam Flashcards

Q: What is the NYPD Police Officer exam?

The NYPD Police Officer exam is the civil service entrance test administered by NYC DCAS for entry-level NYPD officer hiring. It contains approximately 55 multiple-choice questions measuring nine job-related cognitive abilities including memory, spatial orientation, written comprehension, information ordering, problem sensitivity, and inductive/deductive reasoning over 1-2 hours.

Q: What score do I need to pass the NYPD exam?

A score of 70% is required to pass. Candidates who pass are placed on an eligibility list ranked by score, with higher scores generally called for Police Academy classes earlier during the list's active period.

Q: What exam number should I file for in 2026?

DCAS rotates exam numbers each filing period. The 2026 cycle uses the 6312-6322 series; the historical exam number was 4319. Always confirm the active exam number on the DCAS exam schedule at nyc.gov/dcas before paying the $54 filing fee.

Q: What cognitive abilities does the NYPD exam test?

Nine abilities: Memory and Observation (~22%), Spatial Orientation (~18%), Written Comprehension (~16%), Information Ordering (~16%), Problem Sensitivity (~14%), Inductive Reasoning (~8%), Deductive Reasoning (~6%), plus Written Expression. The exam is computer-based or paper-and-pencil at DCAS testing centers.

Q: What are the NYPD hiring eligibility requirements?

Candidates must be 21-35 at appointment, hold U.S. citizenship, possess a valid NYS driver's license, have 60 college credits with 2.0 GPA or two years of honorable active military service, and reside in NYC or six surrounding counties. A $54 DCAS filing fee applies.

Q: How long is the NYPD eligibility list valid?

DCAS eligibility lists for the NYPD Police Officer title are typically valid for up to four years from list establishment. Candidates are called for academy classes from the active list during that period. You may file again in a future exam cycle if not called.

Question 1

Memory & Observation (DCAS)

Accepted Answer

Cognitive ability testing recall of faces, scenes, license plates, clothing descriptions, and narrative facts after reading or viewing briefing material. Largest weighted section (~22%). Strategy: focus on distinctive details (colors, direction, time, identifiers) during the study period.

Question 2

Scene recall strategy

Accepted Answer

When studying a DCAS briefing passage, anchor on: time, location (cross-streets), suspect clothing colors, direction of flight, vehicle make/color/plate, and weapon type. Answer only from what was presented — do not infer beyond the passage.

Question 3

License plate memorization tip

Accepted Answer

Break plates into chunks (e.g., GLT-4729 = three letters, four digits). Watch for transposed digits and similar letters (G vs 6, O vs 0) in answer choices — DCAS deliberately uses near-miss distractors.

Question 4

Face and clothing description recall

Accepted Answer

Prioritize immutable features: scars, tattoos, missing digits, height/weight/build, then clothing layers and colors. Distinctive accessories (jersey numbers, caps, eyewear) are frequently tested because they differentiate suspects in lineups.

Question 5

Narrative fact retention

Accepted Answer

Roll-call and incident narratives test exact times, dates, precinct numbers, street names, and property types (commercial vs residential). Read once for the main event, then re-scan specifically for numbers and proper nouns.

Question 6

Visualization items

Accepted Answer

Test mental rotation and appearance-change tracking: suspects who alter hair, clothing, or accessories between description and updated bulletin. Identify which features changed and which remained constant — unchanged features are common correct-answer anchors.

Question 7

Manhattan street numbering

Accepted Answer

Street numbers increase heading north (uptown) and decrease heading south (downtown). Example: standing at 42nd Street facing north, 34th Street (Empire State Building) is behind you to the south. Foundation for all NYC spatial items.

Question 8

Manhattan avenue numbering

Accepted Answer

Avenue numbers increase from east to west: 1st Avenue is on the east side, higher numbers (10th, 11th) are on the west side. Walking from 3rd Avenue to 8th Avenue on a cross-street means traveling west.

Question 9

Facing direction and relative position

Accepted Answer

When facing north, east is to your right and west is to your left. When facing south, east is to your left and west is to your right. Suspect movement 'east on 95th Street' while you face south means the suspect is ahead and to your left.

Question 10

'Going to a Specific Address' tasks

Accepted Answer

DCAS route problems: start from your facing direction, count blocks along avenues or streets, then turn left or right at the correct intersection. Always use the shortest direct path — no unnecessary turns.

Question 11

Lexington Avenue line (4/5/6)

Accepted Answer

Runs north-south on the East Side of Manhattan. Connects major hubs: 14th Street–Union Square, Grand Central–42nd Street, 125th Street. Direct route between Union Square and Grand Central with no transfer.

Question 12

E train (Queens–Manhattan)

Accepted Answer

Express line connecting Jamaica Center (Queens) directly to Times Square–42nd Street (Manhattan). Fastest single-line route for east Queens to Midtown — common DCAS subway navigation answer.

Question 13

Atlantic Avenue–Barclays Center hub

Accepted Answer

Major Brooklyn transit hub served by A, C, F, and R lines connecting to Jay Street–MetroTech and Manhattan. Know which lines provide direct connections without transfer for Brooklyn spatial items.

Question 14

NYC borough geography

Accepted Answer

Five boroughs: Manhattan (island), Brooklyn (southwest), Queens (east), Bronx (northeast, only mainland borough attached to upstate), Staten Island (southwest across harbor). Landmarks anchor borough identification: Grand Concourse = Bronx, Coney Island = southern Brooklyn.

Question 15

Williamsburg Bridge orientation

Accepted Answer

Crosses the East River connecting Williamsburg (Brooklyn) to Lower East Side (Manhattan). From the 90th Precinct in Williamsburg, head west toward the East River to reach the bridge.

Question 16

Queens grid (east-west avenues)

Accepted Answer

Many Queens neighborhoods use numbered avenues running east-west and numbered streets running north-south (e.g., 30th Avenue and 31st Street in Astoria). Facing east on an east-west avenue, turn left (north) to reach destinations above your route.

Question 17

Written Comprehension (DCAS)

Accepted Answer

Ability to read NYPD Patrol Guide procedures, NY Penal Law excerpts, and incident report passages, then answer questions using only information stated in the passage. Prior knowledge can mislead — the passage is the sole authority.

Question 18

Passage-only rule

Accepted Answer

On written comprehension items, the correct answer must be supported by the passage text. If your real-world knowledge conflicts with the passage, choose what the passage says. DCAS rewards careful reading, not outside expertise.

Question 19

Aided case (Patrol Guide concept)

Accepted Answer

Any person other than a prisoner who is sick, injured, mentally ill, or dead and comes to police attention. A bystander collapsing on the sidewalk is an aided case, not merely a complainant.

Question 20

Burglary in the third degree (PL 140.20)

Accepted Answer

Knowingly entering or remaining unlawfully in a building with intent to commit a crime therein. Entering an unlocked office at night to commit larceny meets this definition — trespass alone requires no intent to commit a crime inside.

Question 21

Grand larceny fourth degree (PL 155.30)

Accepted Answer

Stealing property valued over $1,000 but not exceeding $3,000. A theft of $2,500 falls in this range. Petit larceny covers property under $1,000.

Question 22

Assault in the third degree (PL 120.00)

Accepted Answer

Intentionally causing physical injury to another person — a class A misdemeanor. A push causing bruising likely meets this standard. Distinguish from harassment (no physical injury) and higher-degree assault (serious injury or weapon).

Question 23

Information Ordering (DCAS)

Accepted Answer

Ability to sequence events chronologically and order procedural steps for arrests, vehicle stops, crime scene response, and aided cases. Find the earliest triggering event first (usually observation or 911 call), then build forward.

Question 24

Chronological sequencing method

Accepted Answer

For 'place in order' items: identify the trigger event (911 call, observation, violation), then follow the natural response chain (arrival → action → documentation → clearance). Eliminate answers where a later step precedes an earlier one.

Question 25

Vehicle stop procedure order

Accepted Answer

Standard sequence: observe violation → run plate through dispatch → activate emergency lights → approach driver's window. Running the plate before initiating the stop provides safety information about the vehicle and occupants.

Question 26

Crime scene response order

Accepted Answer

Scene safety first → render aid to injured → establish perimeter to protect evidence → canvass for witnesses. Safety and preservation of life always precede evidence collection on ordering items.

Question 27

Arrest processing sequence

Accepted Answer

Confirm probable cause → place in handcuffs → transport to precinct → read Miranda warnings before custodial interrogation. Miranda is not required at the moment of arrest — only before questioning in custody.

Question 28

Problem Sensitivity (DCAS)

Accepted Answer

Ability to recognize safety problems, threats, and suspicious patterns in NYC scenarios before they escalate. Look for combinations of cues (surveillance + target scanning + out-of-season clothing) rather than isolated behaviors.

Question 29

Pre-attack indicators

Accepted Answer

Behavioral cues suggesting imminent violence: target glancing, clothing inappropriate for weather (concealing weapons), repeated waistband checks, pacing near exits, and sustained surveillance of a victim. Multiple indicators together outweigh any single benign explanation.

Question 30

Casing / diversion pattern

Accepted Answer

A group splits up with one person distracting staff while others access restricted areas. Repeated daily visits with the same pattern at a bodega or store signals planned shoplifting or robbery, not casual loitering.

Question 31

Intimate partner violence cues

Accepted Answer

Visible injury with a scripted explanation ('I fell'), partner answering all questions for the victim, and partner positioning between victim and officer suggest coercion. The underlying issue is safety, not a routine domestic disagreement.

Question 32

Opioid overdose signs

Accepted Answer

Pinpoint pupils, shallow or absent breathing, unresponsiveness to verbal stimuli, and pale or bluish skin. Requires immediate naloxone administration and EMS — not merely waiting for the subject to 'sleep it off.'

Question 33

Elder financial exploitation indicators

Accepted Answer

Isolation from family, new 'friend' who calls daily, and large unexplained financial transfers. Pattern suggests fraud, not routine estate planning or a banking error.

Question 34

Subway platform safety concern

Accepted Answer

A person pacing the yellow line with disordered behavior as a train approaches signals potential suicide-by-train risk requiring immediate intervention — not merely public intoxication or loitering.

Question 35

Inductive Reasoning (DCAS)

Accepted Answer

Drawing general conclusions from multiple specific facts or data points. When several incidents share method, timing, location, or suspect description, conclude a coordinated pattern or single offender rather than random coincidence.

Question 36

Pattern recognition from multiple reports

Accepted Answer

Three similar scam calls in two weeks with identical scripts = coordinated phone scam ring. Same MO across time, location, and method = single offender or crew. DCAS rewards connecting data points into a logical conclusion.

Question 37

Crime trend conclusion

Accepted Answer

A 200% increase in catalytic converter thefts targeting specific vehicle models overnight suggests a market-driven theft surge exploiting known vulnerabilities — not random mechanical failure or owner negligence.

Question 38

Deductive Reasoning (DCAS)

Accepted Answer

Applying a stated rule, policy, or statute to a specific factual scenario to determine compliance or violation. Read the rule carefully, then match each condition to the facts — partial compliance is still a violation if any required element is missing.

Question 39

Rule application method

Accepted Answer

For deductive items: (1) identify the rule's conditions, (2) check each condition against the scenario, (3) determine if all conditions are met or any are violated. Time calculations (24-hour deadlines) require precise hour counting.

Question 40

DAT eligibility rule

Accepted Answer

Desk Appearance Tickets may be issued for qualifying misdemeanors when the subject has valid ID and no active warrants. An active warrant disqualifies DAT eligibility regardless of charge level or ID validity.

Question 41

Written Expression (DCAS)

Accepted Answer

Tests ability to write clear, objective, professional police documentation. Preferred entries are specific (time, location, action), use proper terminology, avoid slang, and maintain objectivity — consistent with NYPD memo book and report standards.

Question 42

Memo book standards

Accepted Answer

Entries must be chronological, in black or blue ink, with no skipped lines and no erasures. Errors are corrected with a single line through the mistake and the officer's initials — erasing or using pencil violates procedure.

Question 43

Radio run description format

Accepted Answer

Standard subject description includes: sex, race, approximate height, weight, clothing, direction of flight, location, and time. Example: 'M/Black, approx 6'0", 180 lbs, black hoodie, fled southbound on Amsterdam Ave at 21:10.'

Question 44

DCAS filing fee and exam cycle

Accepted Answer

DCAS charges a $54 filing fee per exam application. The 2026 cycle uses exam numbers in the 6312-6322 series (historical: 4319). Confirm the active exam number on nyc.gov/dcas before filing — numbers rotate each period.

Question 45

NYPD age requirement at appointment

Accepted Answer

Candidates must be at least 21 and not more than 35 years old at the date of appointment, with allowable extensions for qualifying military service. Age is measured at appointment, not at the time you take the exam.

Question 46

Education or military substitute

Accepted Answer

60 college credits with minimum 2.0 GPA from an accredited institution OR two years of active U.S. military service with honorable discharge satisfies the education requirement. No prior law enforcement experience is required.

Question 47

Residency requirement

Accepted Answer

By appointment, candidates must reside in NYC or one of six surrounding counties: Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Orange, Rockland, or Putnam. Must be within a commutable distance for NYPD duty.

Question 48

Eligibility list and academy call

Accepted Answer

Passing candidates are ranked on an eligibility list typically valid up to four years. Higher exam scores generally result in earlier academy class invitations. The list — not the exam date alone — determines hiring timeline.

Question 49

Terry frisk scope

Accepted Answer

A pat-down of outer clothing only to detect weapons based on reasonable suspicion. Reaching into pockets without feeling a weapon-like object exceeds the scope of a Terry frisk — a common deductive and comprehension concept.

Question 50

911 dispatcher response order

Accepted Answer

Answer the call → verify caller location → dispatch units → relay suspect description to responding officers. Location verification before dispatch prevents units from being sent to the wrong address.

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