Free Practice Questions for PACT
Exam-style questions and explanations by OpenExamPrep.
Loading practice questions...
Explore More Civil Service Exams
Continue into nearby exams from the same family. Each card keeps practice questions, study guides, flashcards, videos, and articles in one place.
1 Job WikiMore From This Family
Videos and articles for deeper review.
Sample PACT Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to review concepts for the PACT exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1Department policy reads: "An officer shall complete an incident report before the end of the shift on which the incident occurred, unless relieved of that duty by a supervisor." Officer Reyes responds to a burglary near the end of her shift and her supervisor tells her to go home and finish the report tomorrow. According to the policy, which statement is correct?
2Read the passage: "Community policing relies on building trust between officers and residents. Officers who walk regular foot patrols become familiar faces, and familiarity makes residents more willing to report concerns. Over time, this exchange of information helps officers solve problems before they escalate." What is the main idea of this passage?
3A traffic policy states: "A vehicle may be towed if it is parked in a marked fire lane, blocks a driveway, or remains in a two-hour zone for more than two hours." Officer Patel finds a car parked legally in a metered space with time remaining on the meter. Based only on the policy, may the car be towed?
4Read the passage: "Dispatch logs showed that calls for service peaked between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. on weekends. In response, the department shifted two patrol units to overlap those hours. Within three months, response times during that window dropped by 18 percent." Which conclusion is best supported by the passage?
5A report states: "The witness said the suspect fled north on Elm Street, then turned right onto Oak Avenue." If the witness is correct, in which direction did the suspect travel on Oak Avenue?
6Read the passage: "Body-worn cameras record interactions between officers and the public. Supporters argue the footage increases accountability and can resolve disputes about what occurred. Critics note that storage and review of the footage are costly and that privacy concerns arise when cameras record inside private homes." According to the passage, which is a concern raised by critics?
7A policy reads: "Officers must read suspects their rights before any custodial interrogation. A voluntary statement made by a person who is not in custody and not being questioned does not require a prior rights advisement." A man walks up to an officer on the street and, without being asked anything, says, "I did it, I took the bike." Under the policy, was a rights advisement required before this statement?
8Read the passage: "The new records system was introduced to reduce paperwork. However, officers reported spending more time at their computers than before because the system required entering the same information on several screens. Administrators promised an update to eliminate the duplicate entries." What problem does the passage identify with the new system?
9A use-of-force policy states: "Officers shall use only the amount of force that is objectively reasonable given the totality of the circumstances. When feasible, officers should attempt de-escalation before using force." The phrase "when feasible" most likely means:
10Read the passage: "At 3:15 p.m., Officer Lang received a call about a lost child at the mall. She arrived at 3:22 p.m., located the child by 3:40 p.m., and reunited the child with a parent at 3:48 p.m." How long did it take from Officer Lang's arrival to reuniting the child with a parent?
About the PACT Exam
The FPSI Police Aptitude and Character Test (PACT) is a 100-item entry-level police selection test with five sections: Reading Ability, Mathematical Reasoning, Reasoning/Analyzing, Writing Ability, and Situational Judgment/Human Relations. No prior law-enforcement knowledge is required.
Exam sponsor: Fire and Police Selection, Inc. (FPSI). The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.
Questions
100 questions
Time Limit
3 hours (2.5 or 3 hours in some proctored online sessions)
Passing Score
Set by each hiring agency
Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.
Our practice resources: topics covered
We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.
Reading Ability
Reading and retaining written information from policies and charts
Mathematical Reasoning
Basic arithmetic word problems without a calculator
Reasoning/Analyzing
Sequential ordering, logical thinking, duplicate comparison, and witness descriptions
Writing Ability
Word choice, grammar, spelling, punctuation, and ease of understanding
Situational Judgment/Human Relations
28 situations, each asking for the most and least appropriate response
Preparing for the PACT Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: Set by each hiring agency
- Exam length: 100 questions
- Time limit: 3 hours (2.5 or 3 hours in some proctored online sessions)
- Exam / certification fees: Set by the hiring agency Official sources
Using Our Practice Resources
- Work through all 100 available questions
- Review every answer and explanation
- Track weak areas and revisit them
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Police Aptitude and Character Test (PACT)?
The Police Aptitude and Character Test (PACT) is an entry-level police written test from Fire & Police Selection, Inc. (FPSI). Agencies use it to screen police officer and deputy sheriff candidates on reading, math, reasoning, writing, and human relations judgment.
How many questions are on the PACT, and how is it divided?
FPSI's candidate guide describes a 100-item test: Reading Ability 10 items, Mathematical Reasoning 10, Reasoning/Analyzing 9, Writing Ability 15, and Situational Judgment/Human Relations 56.
How long is the PACT?
FPSI's PACT candidate guide allows 3 hours for the written test. FPSI's proctored online test instructions say sessions run 2.5 or 3 hours depending on the department, so check your agency's notice.
How does the PACT situational judgment section work?
The Situational Judgment/Human Relations section presents 28 short police-related situations. For each one, candidates choose the most appropriate and the least appropriate of four responses, for 56 scored items.
What is a passing score on the PACT?
Each hiring agency sets its own passing standard. FPSI scores every item as one point, with a highest possible raw score of 100, and does not publish one universal cut score.
Can I use a calculator on the PACT?
No. FPSI's proctored online test rules do not allow calculators, phones, notes, or study materials, and FPSI describes the PACT math items as basic addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
Does the PACT require prior police knowledge?
No. FPSI states that you do not need previous police experience to pass the PACT; every item is answered from the information provided and basic skills.