100+ Free FENZ General Ability Screen Practice Questions

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Key Facts: FENZ General Ability Screen Exam

10 min

Test time limit

Fire and Emergency NZ

10-12

Assessment questions

Fire and Emergency NZ

SHL

Test provider

Fire and Emergency NZ

2 stages

Online + Supervised tests

Fire and Emergency NZ

Application & test fee

Fire and Emergency NZ

4 types

Numerical, Verbal, Deductive, Abstract

Fire and Emergency NZ

The FENZ General Ability Screen is a timed, 10-minute online cognitive test administered by SHL for career firefighter applicants in New Zealand. It measures verbal, numerical, deductive, and abstract reasoning. There is no fee to sit the test. Unsuccessful candidates must wait for the next recruitment cycle, and successful candidates must sit a second supervised GAS at a FENZ facility to verify results.

Sample FENZ General Ability Screen Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your FENZ General Ability Screen exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Passage: "Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) relies on both career and volunteer firefighters to protect communities. While career firefighters are stationed in major urban areas, volunteer brigades cover smaller towns and rural districts. Every station, regardless of type, must complete monthly equipment audits." Based ONLY on this passage, is the following statement True, False, or Cannot Say: "Only career stations are required to perform monthly equipment audits."

A.True

B.False

C.Cannot Say

D.Equipment audits are optional for volunteer brigades

Explanation: The passage states that 'Every station, regardless of type, must complete monthly equipment audits.' This includes volunteer stations, so the statement that ONLY career stations do so is False.

2Passage: "Standard operating procedures require that all personnel wear full personal protective equipment (PPE) before entering a structure fire. Under extreme risk conditions, the Incident Commander may authorise immediate defensive operations from the exterior before full PPE checks are completed." Based ONLY on this passage: "Exterior defensive operations can sometimes begin before all personnel have completed full PPE checks."

A.True

B.False

C.Cannot Say

D.Defensive operations do not require PPE checks

Explanation: The passage states that under extreme risk conditions, the Incident Commander may authorise exterior defensive operations before full PPE checks are completed. Therefore, the statement is True.

3Choose the word that is most opposite in meaning to "extinguish".

A.Smother

B.Ignite

C.Dampen

D.Suppress

Explanation: To extinguish means to put out a fire. The opposite is to ignite, which means to set on fire or start a burn.

4Choose the word that most nearly means "hazardous".

A.Precarious

B.Secure

C.Perilous

D.Tedious

Explanation: Hazardous means involving risk or danger. 'Perilous' is the closest synonym, as it also means full of danger or risk.

5Select the correctly spelled word referring to the gas breathing equipment worn by firefighters.

A.Aparatus

B.Apparatus

C.Apparattus

D.Aperatus

Explanation: The correct spelling is 'apparatus', referring to the technical equipment or machinery needed for a particular activity or purpose (e.g., self-contained breathing apparatus).

6Passage: "Water is the primary agent used for cooling structural fires due to its high latent heat of vaporisation. However, class B fires (flammable liquids) require the application of firefighting foam to smother the fuel and cut off oxygen." Based ONLY on this passage: "Class B fires cannot be cooled using water."

A.True

B.False

C.Cannot Say

D.Class B fires are only found in commercial buildings

Explanation: The passage states that Class B fires require foam to smother the fuel. It does not state that Class B fires *cannot* be cooled with water, or what happens if water is applied. Therefore, we Cannot Say based strictly on the text.

7Choose the word that best completes the analogy: Hose is to water as nozzle is to ___.

A.Pressure

B.Direction

C.Volume

D.Coupling

Explanation: A hose carries or conducts water; a nozzle controls and directs the spray (direction). It matches the item to its functional control property.

8Choose the sentence that is grammatically correct and uses standard New Zealand spelling.

A.The brigade prioritised the safety of the public during the rescue.

B.The brigade prioritized the safety of the public during the rescue.

C.The brigade prioritised the safety of the public during the rescue mission, and then they went back.

D.The brigade prioritised safety of the public during the rescue.

Explanation: New Zealand English uses British/NZ spelling rules, where verbs like 'prioritise' are spelled with an 's' instead of a 'z'. Option 0 is a grammatically complete and correctly spelled sentence.

9Passage: "Firefighters must complete a minimum of 100 hours of recruit training. Those who score below 80% on the final theory assessment must undergo remedial instruction before they are posted to a station." Based ONLY on this passage: "All firefighters posted to a station have scored 80% or above on their final theory assessment."

A.True

B.False

C.Cannot Say

D.Recruit training takes exactly four weeks to complete

Explanation: The passage states only that those who score below 80% must undergo remedial instruction before posting. It does NOT say that remedial instruction requires them to subsequently reach 80% or above; they may be posted after completing remedial instruction regardless of their score. Therefore, based strictly on the text, we Cannot Say whether all posted firefighters scored 80% or above.

10Choose the word that best completes the analogy: Hydrant is to intake as exhaust is to ___.

A.Engine

B.Output

C.Combustion

D.Fuel

Explanation: A hydrant acts as an intake of water; an exhaust acts as an output (or release) of gases. The relationship is intake/source to output/outlet.

About the FENZ General Ability Screen Exam

The Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) General Ability Screen (GAS) is the first cognitive hurdle in the career firefighter recruitment process. Administered online by SHL, the assessment evaluates basic cognitive aptitudes across numerical, verbal, deductive, and abstract reasoning under an intense 10-minute time limit for about 10 to 12 questions. Because the screen has a short duration, candidates must operate with high speed and accuracy. Those who pass the initial screening must complete a second, supervised version of the GAS under proctored conditions at a FENZ premises (usually prior to the Physical Pre-Entry Test) to verify their score. Our practice material also provides mechanical aptitude and situational judgment questions to prepare you for the broader expectations of the firefighter role.

Questions

12 scored questions

Time Limit

10 minutes

Passing Score

Cognitive threshold

Exam Fee

No application or test fee (Fire and Emergency New Zealand, delivered online with SHL)

FENZ General Ability Screen Exam Content Outline

25%

Numerical Reasoning

Data interpretation, flow rates, water volume, and percentage calculations under time constraints.

25%

Verbal Reasoning

Passage-based reading comprehension, logical deduction, analogies, vocabulary, and spelling/grammar.

25%

Deductive Reasoning

Logical syllogisms, coordinating rosters, and applying emergency guidelines.

25%

Abstract Reasoning

Identifying patterns, geometric sequences, spatial rotations, and shape reflections.

How to Pass the FENZ General Ability Screen Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: Cognitive threshold
Exam length: 12 questions
Time limit: 10 minutes
Exam fee: No application or test 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

FENZ General Ability Screen Study Tips from Top Performers

1Simulate the 10-minute pressure by practicing sets of 10 mixed questions and aiming to finish in under 10 minutes.

2For numerical reasoning, practice basic calculations (like speed, distance, volume, and percentages) using mental math to save valuable seconds.

3For verbal reasoning, rely ONLY on the information given in the text block — don't make assumptions or bring in outside knowledge.

4Train in abstract reasoning by learning to spot rotation angles (like 45, 90, 180 degrees) and reflection axes quickly.

5Be prepared for the supervised verification test; make sure your preparation is genuine so your supervised score matches your online score.

6Review basic mechanical principles such as gear directions, pulley systems, and levers to build confidence for later stages.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the FENZ General Ability Screen (GAS)?

It is an online cognitive assessment administered by SHL as the initial screening step for career firefighter recruits in New Zealand. It measures numerical, verbal, deductive, and abstract reasoning abilities required to successfully complete firefighter training.

How long is the FENZ General Ability Screen?

The test has a strict 10-minute time limit. Within this time, you will face approximately 10 to 12 multiple-choice questions. Because of the quick pace, you have less than a minute per question.

Is the FENZ GAS test proctored or supervised?

The initial screen is taken online at home in an unproctored environment. However, if you are successful, you are required to sit a second, supervised GAS at a Fire and Emergency premises under exam conditions to verify your score before proceeding further.

What happens if I fail the FENZ cognitive test?

FENZ does not publish an exact passing score; instead, candidates are compared against a norm benchmark. If you do not meet the cognitive benchmark, you will be unable to proceed in the current intake and must wait for the next recruitment intake cycle (typically 6-12 months) to reapply.

Are calculators allowed on the FENZ General Ability Screen?

Since it is an online, unsupervised test initially, calculators can physically be used, but you should practice mental math to save time, as the tight 10-minute limit leaves very little time to input numbers.

What is the cost of the FENZ recruitment tests?

There is no fee for the General Ability Screen or the broader stages of the Fire and Emergency New Zealand recruitment process. FENZ covers the administration costs for all applicants.