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200+ Free MA Police Sergeant Practice Questions

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

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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: MA Police Sergeant Exam

$150

HRD Application Fee

MA HRD 2026 exam announcement

Half day

Written Test Duration

MA HRD

Written + E&E

Scoring Components

MA HRD civil service rules

Agency cutoff

Passing Standard

MA HRD

3 years

Typical Time in Grade

MA civil service practice

Statewide

Eligibility List Scope

MA HRD

The MA Statewide Police Sergeant Promotional Examination is the HRD civil service test for sergeant promotion in participating MA municipal police departments. The half-day administration includes a multiple-choice written test on the HRD reading list plus an Education & Experience (E&E) rating, with each agency setting its own cutoff. Candidates pay a $150 application fee and must be permanent full-time officers in a participating civil service department. Cycles are scheduled statewide and used until the next administration.

Sample MA Police Sergeant Practice Questions

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

1Under MGL Chapter 265, §1, murder in the first degree in Massachusetts requires which mental state element in addition to the unlawful killing of a human being?
A.Mere negligence
B.Deliberately premeditated malice aforethought, extreme atrocity or cruelty, or felony-murder
C.Reckless conduct only
D.Heat of passion provoked by adequate provocation
Explanation: MGL c.265, §1 defines first-degree murder as committed with deliberately premeditated malice aforethought, with extreme atrocity or cruelty, or in the commission of a crime punishable by life. Mere negligence or heat of passion would reduce the offense.
2MGL c.265, §13A criminalizes assault and assault and battery. What is the key distinction between simple assault and assault and battery in Massachusetts?
A.Assault requires a weapon; battery does not
B.Assault is an attempted or threatened harmful or offensive touching; battery is the actual harmful or offensive touching
C.Battery is always a felony; assault is always a misdemeanor
D.There is no legal distinction in Massachusetts
Explanation: Under MA common law and c.265, §13A, assault is the attempt or threat (immediately apparent ability) to commit a battery; battery is the actual unconsented harmful or offensive touching. Both are misdemeanors absent aggravating factors.
3Under MGL c.265, §13M, strangulation or suffocation requires the Commonwealth to prove the defendant did which of the following?
A.Caused permanent disfigurement
B.Intentionally interfered with the normal breathing or circulation of blood of another by applying pressure on the throat or neck or by blocking the nose or mouth
C.Used a firearm
D.Caused death
Explanation: MGL c.265, §13M defines strangulation/suffocation as intentional interference with normal breathing or blood circulation by pressure on the throat or neck, or by blocking the nose or mouth. The offense does not require death or permanent injury.
4In Massachusetts, under MGL c.265, §15A, the offense of assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon (ABDW) requires proof that:
A.The victim suffered permanent injury
B.The defendant touched the victim, however slightly, and the touching was accomplished by use of an item that was either inherently dangerous or used in a dangerous fashion
C.The dangerous weapon was a firearm
D.The defendant intended to kill the victim
Explanation: ABDW under c.265, §15A requires an unconsented touching by means of an item that is inherently dangerous (gun, knife) or used in a manner capable of producing serious harm. Permanent injury or intent to kill is not required.
5Under MGL c.265, §13D, assault and battery on a police officer requires which additional element beyond simple assault and battery?
A.The victim must have been on duty and the defendant must have known the victim was a police officer engaged in the performance of duty
B.The officer must be in uniform
C.The officer must have been injured
D.The defendant must have used a weapon
Explanation: Under c.265, §13D, A&B on a police officer requires proof the officer was engaged in the performance of duty and the defendant knew or had reason to know that fact. Uniform and injury are not elements.
6MGL c.266, §30 (larceny) requires the Commonwealth to prove all of the following EXCEPT:
A.Unlawful taking and carrying away
B.Property of another
C.Intent to permanently deprive
D.Use of force or fear
Explanation: Larceny under c.266, §30 requires taking, carrying away, property of another, and intent to permanently deprive. Use of force or fear elevates the offense to robbery under c.265, §19.
7Under MGL c.265, §19, the offense of unarmed robbery requires the Commonwealth to prove the defendant took property from the person of another by:
A.Stealth alone
B.Force and violence, or assault and putting in fear
C.Breaking and entering
D.Fraud or false pretenses
Explanation: Unarmed robbery under c.265, §19 requires a taking from the person of another by force and violence, or by assault and putting in fear. Stealth would be larceny from the person; fraud would be larceny by false pretenses.
8Under MGL c.266, §16, burglary in Massachusetts requires proof of which combination of elements at common law (as codified)?
A.Breaking and entering a dwelling house of another in the nighttime with intent to commit a felony
B.Entering any building during the day with intent to steal
C.Breaking glass on any structure
D.Entering a vehicle without permission
Explanation: MA common-law burglary (c.266, §15-16) requires breaking and entering a dwelling house of another in the nighttime with intent to commit a felony therein. Daytime or non-dwelling entries fall under different statutes (e.g., c.266, §18).
9Under MGL c.266, §1, the offense of arson against a dwelling house requires the defendant to have:
A.Negligently allowed a fire to spread
B.Willfully and maliciously set fire to, burned, or caused to be burned a dwelling house
C.Started any fire on a public way
D.Failed to extinguish a campfire
Explanation: Arson under c.266, §1 requires the willful and malicious setting of fire to, or burning of, a dwelling house. Negligence or accidental fires do not satisfy the mens rea.
10MGL c.265, §22 defines rape in Massachusetts. The statute requires sexual intercourse or unnatural sexual intercourse compelled by which means?
A.Force and against the will of the victim, or by threat of bodily injury
B.Verbal persuasion alone
C.Promise of future marriage
D.Refusal to provide transportation
Explanation: Under c.265, §22, rape requires sexual intercourse compelled by force and against the will of the victim, or by threat of bodily injury, or where the victim is incapable of consent. Persuasion or promises do not meet the force element.

About the MA Police Sergeant Exam

The MA Statewide Police Sergeant Promotional Examination is the Human Resources Division (HRD) civil service test used to establish promotional eligibility lists for participating municipal police departments in Massachusetts. The half-day administration pairs a multiple-choice written test based on the HRD reading list (law, procedure, supervision, management) with a separate Education & Experience (E&E) rating. Final standing combines written, E&E, and statutory preferences, and each agency sets its own cutoff for offers.

Questions

100 scored questions

Time Limit

Half-day administration

Passing Score

Agency-set cutoff (typically 70)

Exam Fee

$150 application fee (Massachusetts Human Resources Division (HRD), proctored at HRD-designated test sites)

MA Police Sergeant Exam Content Outline

≈30%

MA Criminal Law & Procedure

MGL crimes, arrest authority, search and seizure, motor-vehicle law, and rules of criminal procedure

≈15%

Constitutional & Case Law

Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Fourteenth Amendments, Article 14, Miranda, and key SJC/SCOTUS rulings

≈15%

Patrol Procedure & Field Operations

Response priorities, scene management, use of force, vehicle stops, pursuits, and report review

≈15%

Supervision & Management

First-line supervision, discipline, evaluations, training, delegation, and leadership

≈10%

Community Policing & Ethics

Community engagement, bias-free policing, procedural justice, ethics, and POST standards

≈8%

Investigations & Evidence

Crime-scene management, interviews, evidence handling, and supervisory review of investigations

≈7%

Education & Experience (E&E)

Scored rating of education, prior experience, training, and time in grade per HRD rules

How to Pass the MA Police Sergeant Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: Agency-set cutoff (typically 70)
  • Exam length: 100 questions
  • Time limit: Half-day administration
  • Exam fee: $150 application fee

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 Sergeant Study Tips from Top Performers

1Build a daily MGL drill — chapters 90 (motor vehicle), 94C (controlled substances), 209A (domestic), 265 and 266 (crimes against persons and property) are heavy on the written test.
2Read every case on the HRD list with a one-paragraph rule statement, then practice applying it to a supervisor scenario.
3Master Article 14 of the MA Declaration of Rights alongside the Fourth Amendment — Massachusetts often provides broader protection than federal doctrine.
4Drill supervisory decisions: discipline, use-of-force review, scene command, and report review under timed multiple-choice conditions.
5Build the Education & Experience (E&E) claim early — gather transcripts, training certificates, and time-in-grade documentation well before the HRD deadline.
6Practice procedural justice and POST Commission standards — community policing and ethics items are predictable easy points.
7Confirm your HRD application window, $150 fee, ID requirements, and testing-center logistics well before exam day.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the MA Statewide Police Sergeant Promotional Examination?

It is the Massachusetts Human Resources Division (HRD) civil service test used to establish eligibility lists for promotion to sergeant in participating MA municipal police departments. The exam pairs a written multiple-choice test with an Education & Experience (E&E) rating, and each agency sets its own cutoff for offers from the list.

Who administers the exam?

The Massachusetts Human Resources Division (HRD) administers the statewide sergeant promotional exam under MA civil service law. HRD publishes the application window, reading list, test date, and scoring rules for each cycle.

How much does the exam cost?

The HRD application fee is $150 for the statewide police sergeant promotional examination. Candidates are also responsible for their own travel to and from the HRD testing site.

What score do I need to pass?

There is no single statewide pass mark — each appointing department sets its own cutoff from the eligibility list. Most candidates target a combined written and E&E score above 70 to be competitive for offers.

What is on the exam?

The written test is multiple-choice based on the HRD reading list and covers MA criminal law and procedure, constitutional and case law, patrol procedure, supervision and management, community policing and ethics, and investigations. A separate Education & Experience rating contributes to the final standing.

How long is the exam?

The written test is a half-day in-person administration at an HRD-designated test site. The Education & Experience rating is documented separately through the HRD claim and supporting paperwork.

Can I retake the exam?

Retakes occur on the next statewide MA police sergeant promotional cycle. Candidates who do not reach offers from the current list reapply when HRD opens the next administration.

Is the exam available remotely?

No. The MA Statewide Police Sergeant Promotional Examination is administered in person at HRD-designated test sites in Massachusetts.