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200+ Free MA Police Lieutenant Practice Questions

Pass your Massachusetts Statewide Police Lieutenant Promotional Exam exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.

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A lieutenant assigning officers to a high-priority detail must consider:

A
B
C
D
to track
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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: MA Police Lieutenant Exam

$150

MA HRD Application Fee

MA HRD 2026 examination announcement

Half day

Written Exam Length

MA HRD

Written + E&E

Scoring Components

MA HRD

70

Passing Score

MA HRD

2 years

Eligibility List Validity

Massachusetts civil service rules

2026

Current Statewide Exam Cycle

Mass.gov HRD

The MA Statewide Police Lieutenant Promotional Exam is administered by the MA Human Resources Division (HRD) to current civil service sergeants seeking promotion. The half-day proctored written exam costs $150 and is combined with a separately scored Education & Experience (E&E) component to produce a final promotional score. The 2026 cycle runs alongside the statewide sergeant and captain exams and produces an eligibility list typically valid for two years.

Sample MA Police Lieutenant Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your MA Police Lieutenant exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 200+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Under MGL c. 265 §1, the element distinguishing first-degree from second-degree murder is:
A.Deliberate premeditation, extreme atrocity or cruelty, or felony-murder
B.Use of a firearm in any homicide
C.The victim's age under 18
D.Killing during a domestic dispute
Explanation: Under MGL c. 265 §1, first-degree murder requires deliberate premeditation, extreme atrocity or cruelty, or commission during a punishable-by-life felony. Other homicides constitute second-degree murder.
2A subordinate officer's sworn report describes a multi-charge incident involving home invasion, ABDW, and witness intimidation. As lieutenant reviewing the charges, which statute pair correctly cites home invasion and witness intimidation?
A.MGL c. 265 §18C and MGL c. 268 §13B
B.MGL c. 266 §16 and MGL c. 268 §32
C.MGL c. 265 §15A and MGL c. 265 §43A
D.MGL c. 269 §10 and MGL c. 268 §6
Explanation: Home invasion is codified at MGL c. 265 §18C; witness intimidation appears at MGL c. 268 §13B. The lieutenant must verify correct statutory citations before approving the application for complaint.
3Under MGL c. 265 §15A, assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon (ABDW) becomes the aggravated felony version when:
A.The victim is over 60 or pregnant, or substantial bodily injury results
B.The weapon is loaded
C.The incident occurs in a public place
D.The defendant has any prior conviction
Explanation: MGL c. 265 §15A(c) lists aggravating factors including victim status (60+, pregnant, has 209A order) and substantial bodily injury, raising the penalty.
4MGL c. 269 §10(a) requires what to convict of unlawful firearm possession outside the home or business?
A.Possession of a firearm without a valid LTC and outside a residence or place of business
B.Visible possession only
C.Possession during the commission of any felony
D.Loaded condition only
Explanation: Under §10(a), the Commonwealth must prove knowing possession of a firearm outside a home or business without a valid license to carry. Compliance with the 2026 LTC amendments must also be considered.
5Reviewing an OUI-Liquor arrest under MGL c. 90 §24, a lieutenant notes the officer did not offer a breath test. The lieutenant should advise the officer that:
A.Failure to offer a breath test does not invalidate the arrest if probable cause from observations exists
B.The arrest must be voided
C.The breath test is mandatory at the scene
D.The officer must obtain a warrant before any test
Explanation: MGL c. 90 §24 supports OUI on observational PC alone (Cahill standards). Breath test is implied consent post-arrest, not a precondition to a lawful arrest.
6A subordinate seeks to charge larceny over $1,200 under MGL c. 266 §30. The single-larceny rule allows aggregation when:
A.Multiple takings result from a single scheme or continuous course of conduct
B.Any two thefts occur within 24 hours
C.The victim is the same person
D.The property is recovered together
Explanation: The single-larceny doctrine permits aggregating values from related takings forming part of one scheme, allowing felony charging when the cumulative value exceeds $1,200.
7Under MGL c. 209A, an abuse prevention order violation is a crime when the defendant:
A.Has been served (or has actual knowledge) and knowingly violates a term of the order
B.Is named in the order regardless of service
C.Lives with the protected party
D.Has a prior 209A history
Explanation: MGL c. 209A §7 requires service or actual knowledge plus a knowing violation. Lieutenants must ensure subordinates document service status before charging.
8Trafficking in cocaine under MGL c. 94C §32E(b)(1) requires knowing possession with intent to distribute of at least how many grams?
A.18 grams
B.14 grams
C.28 grams
D.100 grams
Explanation: MGL c. 94C §32E(b)(1) sets the threshold at 18 grams for trafficking cocaine; higher tiers (36, 100, 200 grams) carry increasing mandatory minimums.
9A lieutenant reviews a B&E charge package. To charge B&E daytime with intent to commit a felony under MGL c. 266 §18, the report must establish:
A.Breaking, entering, daytime, with specific intent to commit a felony therein
B.Forcible entry only
C.Nighttime entry
D.Use of a tool
Explanation: MGL c. 266 §18 requires breaking and entering during the day with intent to commit a felony. Nighttime B&E is §16; intent is the gravamen.
10Strangulation or suffocation under MGL c. 265 §15D is:
A.A standalone felony separate from ABDW
B.Punished only as misdemeanor assault
C.Only chargeable in domestic relationships
D.Charged only when injury is permanent
Explanation: MGL c. 265 §15D, enacted in 2014, criminalizes strangulation/suffocation as a felony regardless of relationship, with enhanced penalties for aggravators.

About the MA Police Lieutenant Exam

The Massachusetts Statewide Police Lieutenant Promotional Exam is the half-day proctored written exam used by the Massachusetts Human Resources Division (HRD) to establish promotional eligibility lists for the rank of lieutenant. The 2026 cycle is administered alongside the statewide sergeant and captain exams. Final scoring combines a multiple-choice written exam with a separately scored Education & Experience (E&E) component.

Questions

100 scored questions

Time Limit

Half day

Passing Score

70

Exam Fee

$150 (Massachusetts Human Resources Division (HRD), proctored at HRD testing sites)

MA Police Lieutenant Exam Content Outline

≈25%

MA Criminal Law & Procedure

M.G.L. Chapters 265, 266, 269, and 276; arrest, search, and seizure under MA and federal standards

≈20%

Supervision & Management

Mid-level command, discipline, internal affairs intake, performance management, and field supervision

≈15%

Motor Vehicle Law (M.G.L. c. 90)

OUI, traffic stops, citations, license actions, and motor vehicle homicide statutes

≈12%

Patrol Operations & Tactics

Incident command, critical incident response, use of force review, and shift operations oversight

≈10%

Constitutional Law

Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Amendment doctrine; Miranda, Terry, warrants, and the exclusionary rule

≈10%

Administration & Policy

Budgeting, scheduling, policy development, civil service rules, and collective bargaining considerations

≈8%

Community Policing & Ethics

POST Commission standards, bias-free policing, de-escalation, and community engagement principles

How to Pass the MA Police Lieutenant Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: 70
  • Exam length: 100 questions
  • Time limit: Half day
  • 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 Lieutenant Study Tips from Top Performers

1Build your study plan around M.G.L. Chapters 265, 266, 269, and 276 — Massachusetts criminal law dominates the written exam.
2Drill M.G.L. Chapter 90 (motor vehicle law), including OUI, traffic stops, citations, license actions, and motor vehicle homicide.
3Practice supervision scenarios at the lieutenant level — managing sergeants, handling internal affairs intake, and conducting use of force reviews.
4Review Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Amendment doctrine with MA case applications: Miranda, Terry stops, warrant requirements, and the exclusionary rule.
5Document your Education & Experience (E&E) packet early — degrees, coursework, in-service training, and prior service all factor into the final score.
6Memorize MA POST Commission standards on bias-free policing, de-escalation, and use of force.
7Run full timed half-day mock exams to build endurance and confirm HRD testing-day logistics before exam day.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the MA Statewide Police Lieutenant Promotional Exam?

It is the half-day proctored written exam administered by the Massachusetts Human Resources Division (HRD) to establish a statewide promotional eligibility list for the rank of police lieutenant. The 2026 cycle runs alongside the statewide sergeant and captain exams.

Who administers the exam?

The Massachusetts Human Resources Division (HRD) administers the statewide police lieutenant promotional exam under Massachusetts civil service rules.

How much does the exam cost?

The MA HRD application fee for the lieutenant promotional exam is $150. Candidates are responsible for their own travel to the HRD testing site.

How is the final score calculated?

The final promotional score combines the multiple-choice written exam with a separately scored Education & Experience (E&E) component. HRD publishes the weighting and scoring rules in the examination announcement for each cycle.

Who is eligible to sit for the lieutenant exam?

Candidates must be current Massachusetts civil service police sergeants (or hold the qualifying rank set by their appointing authority) with the required time-in-grade as of the statutory date listed in the HRD announcement.

How long is the eligibility list valid?

Eligibility lists established from the MA HRD lieutenant exam are typically valid for two years from establishment, per Massachusetts civil service rules.

Is the exam available remotely?

No. The MA Police Lieutenant Promotional Exam is administered in person at MA HRD testing sites.

Can I retake the exam if I do not pass?

Retakes occur on the next published MA HRD statewide police lieutenant promotional exam cycle. Candidates file again when HRD opens the next lieutenant exam window.