200+ Free MA Police Civil Service Practice Questions
Pass your Massachusetts Civil Service Municipal Police Officer Exam (LEAB) exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.
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Key Facts: MA Police Civil Service Exam
240
LEAB Items
MA HRD
2.5 hr
Total Test Time
MA HRD
$150
Application Fee
MA HRD
March 2026
Next Administration
MA HRD
Chapter 31
Civil Service Law
Massachusetts General Laws
Chapter 6E
MA POST Commission Authority
Massachusetts General Laws
The MA Police Civil Service exam is a 240-item, 2.5-hour Law Enforcement Aptitude Battery (LEAB) administered by MA HRD in March 2026 for municipal police and MBTA Transit Police candidates. Candidates must pass the Cognitive Ability Test (CAT) and complete the Work Styles Questionnaire (WSQ) and Life Experience Survey (LES). The exam fee is $150. Scores establish a 2-year eligibility list ranked under MGL Chapter 31, with statutory veteran and residency preferences. Passing the exam alone does not guarantee appointment - candidates must also complete background, medical, psychological screening, an MPTC-approved academy (e.g., Bridgewater), and MA POST Commission certification under Chapter 6E.
Sample MA Police Civil Service Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to test your MA Police Civil Service exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 200+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1On the MA HRD LEAB Cognitive Ability Test, an officer must compare two patrol logs. Log A shows Unit 12 cleared 8 calls in 6 hours; Log B shows Unit 12 cleared 12 calls in 9 hours. What is true of the clearance rates?
2A Boston Police cruiser logs 132 miles on an 11-gallon tank. What is fuel efficiency in miles per gallon?
3An incident occurred at 23:47 and the officer arrived at 00:09. What is the response time?
4A foot pursuit covers 0.6 miles in 4 minutes. What is the pace in miles per hour?
5A patrol district of 36 square miles is divided equally among 9 sectors. How large is each sector?
6Passage: 'Officers responding to a domestic call shall separate involved parties before interviewing.' If two parties remain together throughout the interview, the officer has:
7Passage: 'A traffic stop may not be prolonged beyond the time reasonably necessary to address the violation, absent independent reasonable suspicion.' Prolonging a stop 25 minutes with no new suspicion is:
8In context, 'corroborated' most nearly means:
9In context, 'impartial' most nearly means:
10In context, 'extraneous' most nearly means:
About the MA Police Civil Service Exam
The Massachusetts Civil Service Municipal Police Officer Exam is the Law Enforcement Aptitude Battery (LEAB) administered statewide by MA HRD. The March 2026 administration is the entrance test for participating municipal police departments and the MBTA Transit Police. The LEAB measures cognitive ability, work styles, and life experience, and applicants must also understand MGL Chapter 31 Civil Service, MGL Chapter 41 municipal officer law, and MA POST Commission certification standards under Chapter 6E.
Questions
240 scored questions
Time Limit
2.5 hours
Passing Score
Pass CAT
Exam Fee
$150 (Massachusetts Human Resources Division (HRD))
MA Police Civil Service Exam Content Outline
Cognitive Ability Test (CAT)
Arithmetic reasoning, reading comprehension, grammar, vocabulary, information ordering, problem sensitivity, spatial orientation, and inductive/deductive reasoning under timed conditions
Work Styles Questionnaire (WSQ)
Situational-judgment items on teamwork, integrity, emotional control, stress tolerance, dependability, and community orientation
Life Experience Survey (LES)
Biographical-history items with validity scales, measuring reliability, integrity, employment stability, and community involvement
MA Municipal Police Knowledge
MGL Chapter 31 Civil Service, MGL Chapter 41 municipal officers, MGL Chapter 265 Crimes Against the Person, MA POST Chapter 6E, and MPTC/Bridgewater academy training
How to Pass the MA Police Civil Service Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: Pass CAT
- Exam length: 240 questions
- Time limit: 2.5 hours
- Exam fee: $150
Keys to Passing
- Complete 500+ practice questions
- Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
- Focus on highest-weighted sections
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
MA Police Civil Service Study Tips from Top Performers
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MA Police Civil Service exam?
It is the Law Enforcement Aptitude Battery (LEAB) administered by the Massachusetts Human Resources Division (HRD) as the entrance exam for municipal police and MBTA Transit Police hiring. The March 2026 administration establishes a statewide eligibility list under MGL Chapter 31.
How long is the exam and how many items?
The LEAB consists of 240 items split across the Cognitive Ability Test (CAT), Work Styles Questionnaire (WSQ), and Life Experience Survey (LES), with a total administration time of approximately 2.5 hours.
How much does the MA HRD police exam cost?
MA HRD charges a $150 application fee for the municipal police and MBTA Transit Police examination. Fee waivers may be available for qualifying low-income candidates - check the HRD application portal.
What is the passing score?
Candidates must pass the Cognitive Ability Test (CAT) portion to be placed on the eligibility list. The WSQ and LES contribute to scoring and validity review but do not have a separate pass/fail percentage. HRD does not publish a fixed CAT passing percentage; competitive ranking depends on the appointing city/town.
Is the MA municipal police exam the same as the State Police exam?
No. The Massachusetts State Police (MSP) trooper exam is administered separately by MSP. The March 2026 HRD LEAB covers municipal police and MBTA Transit Police only.
Does veteran preference apply?
Yes. MGL Chapter 31 grants Massachusetts veterans statutory preference - in many cases absolute preference - on the civil service eligibility list, which can significantly affect ranking.
Does residency preference apply?
Yes. MGL Chapter 31 allows participating municipalities to grant preference to residents of the appointing city or town when ranking eligible candidates for hiring.
What happens after I pass the LEAB?
Passing places you on a 2-year HRD eligibility list. Appointing authorities select candidates from the certified list, then candidates must pass a background investigation, medical and psychological screening, attend an MPTC-approved recruit academy (such as Bridgewater), and become certified by the MA POST Commission under Chapter 6E.