All Practice Exams

200+ Free NC State Trooper Practice Questions

Prepare for the North Carolina State Highway Patrol Trooper Reading Comprehension Test exam with instant access — no signup required.

✓ No registration✓ No credit card✓ No hidden fees✓ Start practicing immediately
Not published Pass Rate
200+ Questions
100% Free

Loading practice questions...

2026 Statistics

Key Facts: NC State Trooper Exam

10th grade

Required Reading Level

North Carolina State Highway Patrol

Pass/Fail

How It Is Scored

North Carolina State Highway Patrol

21-39

Applicant Age Range at Basic School

North Carolina State Highway Patrol

60%

Minimum COOPER Fitness Score

NC Highway Patrol job posting

20/30

Corrected Vision Standard

NC Highway Patrol job posting

$0

Separate Reading-Test Fee

North Carolina State Highway Patrol

The North Carolina State Highway Patrol Trooper Reading Comprehension Test is a standardized multiple-choice reading assessment that applicants must pass to continue toward becoming a trooper. Candidates must read at or above the tenth-grade level, answering detail, inference, and vocabulary questions; the result is pass/fail and is not added to the ranking score. There is no separate fee, and it is one of the earliest cognitive steps before the COOPER fitness test, polygraph, background, medical, and psychological evaluations.

Sample NC State Trooper Practice Questions

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

1Passage: "Trooper Davis arrived at the collision on US-70 at 4:12 p.m. The eastbound lane was blocked by a disabled tractor-trailer. Two passenger vehicles had stopped behind it. No injuries were reported, but a fuel leak was visible beneath the truck." According to the passage, what time did Trooper Davis arrive at the scene?
A.4:12 p.m.
B.4:20 p.m.
C.4:02 p.m.
D.The passage does not state a time
Explanation: Detail questions require you to locate a specific fact stated directly in the passage. The passage explicitly states Trooper Davis arrived at 4:12 p.m. Always scan back to the exact sentence rather than relying on memory.
2Passage: "Trooper Davis arrived at the collision on US-70 at 4:12 p.m. The eastbound lane was blocked by a disabled tractor-trailer. Two passenger vehicles had stopped behind it. No injuries were reported, but a fuel leak was visible beneath the truck." Which detail is true according to the passage?
A.A fuel leak was visible beneath the truck
B.Three passenger vehicles were involved
C.Two people were injured
D.The westbound lane was blocked
Explanation: The passage states a fuel leak was visible beneath the truck. Detail questions reward precise reading: confirm each answer against the exact wording before choosing.
3Passage: "The North Carolina State Highway Patrol divides the state into eight troops, each commanded by a captain. Troops are further divided into districts supervised by first sergeants." Based on the passage, who supervises a district?
A.A first sergeant
B.A captain
C.A trooper
D.A lieutenant colonel
Explanation: The passage directly states that districts are supervised by first sergeants. For detail questions, match the precise role named with the precise unit it manages.
4Passage: "All applicants must take a reading comprehension test and score at or above the tenth-grade level. The result is recorded as pass or fail and is not added to the applicant's ranking score." How is the reading comprehension result recorded?
A.As pass or fail
B.As a percentile rank
C.As a letter grade
D.As a numeric score added to the ranking
Explanation: The passage states the result is recorded as pass or fail. Carefully distinguish how a result is scored from how it is used; here it is pass/fail and is not added to the ranking.
5Passage: "A motorist reported a deer in the roadway near mile marker 142 on I-40. The dispatcher logged the call at 9:48 p.m. and notified the nearest available unit, which was Unit 7." Which unit was notified?
A.Unit 7
B.Unit 4
C.Unit 142
D.The passage does not say
Explanation: The passage states the dispatcher notified Unit 7. Detail questions often plant numbers from the scene (mile marker, time) as distractors; choose only the figure tied to the question.
6Passage: "During a traffic stop, the trooper requested the driver's license, registration, and proof of insurance. The driver provided the license and registration but stated the insurance card was at home." Which document did the driver NOT provide at the stop?
A.Proof of insurance
B.Driver's license
C.Registration
D.Vehicle title
Explanation: The passage says the driver provided the license and registration but said the insurance card was at home, so proof of insurance was not provided. Read negative-phrasing questions ('NOT provide') carefully.
7Passage: "The patrol vehicle's dashboard camera records continuously while the engine is running and saves a clip automatically whenever the emergency lights are activated." When does the camera automatically save a clip?
A.When the emergency lights are activated
B.When the engine is turned off
C.Only when the trooper presses a button
D.Every thirty minutes
Explanation: The passage states a clip is saved automatically when the emergency lights are activated. Match the triggering condition to the action exactly as written.
8Passage: "Cadets at the academy in Raleigh attend classes on state law, defensive driving, firearms safety, and report writing. Physical training is held each morning before classroom instruction begins." When is physical training held?
A.Each morning before classroom instruction
B.Each evening after classes
C.Only on weekends
D.After firearms training
Explanation: The passage states physical training is held each morning before classroom instruction begins. Pay attention to time-order words such as 'before' that fix the sequence.
9Passage: "The witness described the suspect vehicle as a dark blue sedan with a dented rear bumper and a temporary paper tag in the rear window." Which feature did the witness describe?
A.A temporary paper tag in the rear window
B.A cracked windshield
C.A roof rack
D.A missing front bumper
Explanation: The passage lists a dark blue sedan, a dented rear bumper, and a temporary paper tag in the rear window. Choose only features explicitly stated, not ones that merely sound plausible.
10Passage: "Applicants must be at least 21 years old and no more than 39 years old on the first day of Basic School. They must also hold a high school diploma or its equivalent." What is the maximum age on the first day of Basic School?
A.39 years old
B.40 years old
C.21 years old
D.There is no maximum age
Explanation: The passage states applicants must be no more than 39 years old on the first day of Basic School. Read age ranges carefully to separate the minimum from the maximum.

About the NC State Trooper Exam

The North Carolina State Highway Patrol Trooper Reading Comprehension Test is a standardized multiple-choice reading assessment used in the trooper selection process. Applicants must demonstrate reading ability at or above the tenth-grade level by answering passage-based questions involving detail, inference, and vocabulary in context. The result is recorded as pass/fail and is not added to the applicant's ranking score. It is one of the earliest cognitive steps in a multi-stage hiring process that also includes the COOPER physical fitness test, polygraph, background investigation, and medical and psychological evaluations. Applicants must be 21 to 39 years old on the first day of Basic School, be U.S. citizens, and hold a high school diploma or GED.

Assessment

Question count not published by the exam provider

Time Limit

Timed standardized reading test (provider-set)

Passing Score

At or above the tenth-grade reading level (pass/fail)

Exam Fee

No separate fee for the reading comprehension test (North Carolina State Highway Patrol, proctored as part of the trooper selection process)

NC State Trooper Exam Content Outline

~29%

Detail / Fact Extraction

Locating specific facts stated directly in passages, including times, names, numbers, locations, and procedural steps

~21%

Inference

Drawing logical conclusions and identifying cause and effect from clues a passage implies

~21%

Vocabulary in Context

Determining the meaning of a word based on how it is used in the sentence or passage

~16%

Main Idea, Purpose & Tone

Identifying the central point, the author's purpose, and the overall tone of a passage

~13%

Sequence & Logic

Ordering events, following step-by-step procedures, and applying conditional rules stated in a passage

How to Pass the NC State Trooper Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: At or above the tenth-grade reading level (pass/fail)
  • Assessment: Question count not published by the exam provider
  • Time limit: Timed standardized reading test (provider-set)
  • Exam fee: No separate fee for the reading comprehension test

Keys to Passing

  • Work through all 200 available questions
  • Review every answer and explanation
  • Track weak areas and revisit them
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

NC State Trooper Study Tips from Top Performers

1Read each passage carefully before the questions, then scan back to the exact sentence to confirm detail answers rather than relying on memory.
2For inference items, choose the conclusion the passage supports with evidence; avoid answers that add facts the text never states.
3Use context clues, surrounding words, and contrast cues like 'but' or 'despite' to determine a word's meaning in vocabulary questions.
4Find the main idea by asking what point every sentence in the passage supports; the first or last sentence often states it directly.
5Watch for negative-phrasing questions such as 'which is NOT' and for transition and time-order words that fix sequence.
6Practice under a timer to build the at-or-above tenth-grade reading speed and accuracy the Highway Patrol requires.
7Begin COOPER physical fitness preparation early — passing the reading test is only one of the earliest steps in the NCSHP hiring process.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the NC State Highway Patrol reading comprehension test?

It is a standardized multiple-choice reading test that trooper applicants must take during the North Carolina State Highway Patrol selection process. Applicants read passages and answer detail, inference, and vocabulary questions, and must score at or above the tenth-grade reading level.

What score do I need to pass?

Applicants must demonstrate reading ability at or above the tenth-grade level. The result is recorded as pass/fail and is not added to the applicant's ranking score, so it functions as a qualifying requirement rather than a ranked score.

How much does the reading comprehension test cost?

There is no separate fee for the reading comprehension test. Applicants are responsible for travel to the testing site and for preparation for the COOPER physical fitness test later in the process.

Who administers the test?

The North Carolina State Highway Patrol administers the reading comprehension test as part of its trooper selection process. Applicants apply through the Highway Patrol careers site and state job postings.

What kinds of questions are on the reading test?

All questions are multiple-choice and passage-based. They include detail (fact-extraction) questions, inference questions, vocabulary-in-context questions, and main-idea, purpose, tone, and sequencing questions.

Where does the reading test fall in the hiring process?

It is one of the earliest cognitive steps. Applicants must meet the reading requirement before continuing to later stages such as the COOPER physical fitness test, polygraph, background investigation, and medical and psychological evaluations.

What are the basic eligibility requirements?

Applicants must be 21 to 39 years old on the first day of Basic School, be a U.S. citizen or naturalized citizen, hold a high school diploma or GED, possess a valid driver's license, and meet vision and fitness standards.

Can I retake the reading comprehension test?

Applicants who do not meet the tenth-grade reading requirement, or who are not selected on the current cycle, reapply when the North Carolina State Highway Patrol opens the next Basic School recruitment window.