200+ Free SC State Trooper Practice Questions
Pass your South Carolina Highway Patrol Trooper Written Test (Nelson-Denny Reading Test) exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.
Read the passage and answer the question. 'Public records requests must be answered within 20 business days of receipt. If an agency cannot meet this deadline, it must notify the requester in writing and provide an estimated completion date. Failure to respond may result in the request being treated as denied, allowing the requester to appeal.' If an agency cannot meet the 20-day deadline, what must it do?
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Key Facts: SC State Trooper Exam
80 items / 15 min
Vocabulary Section
Nelson-Denny Reading Test (Riverside Insights)
~38 items / 20 min
Reading Comprehension Section
Nelson-Denny Reading Test
35 min
Total Timed Testing
Nelson-Denny Reading Test
Exempt
Certified SC Class 1 Officers
SC Highway Patrol Employment Process
$60,761
Non-Certified Trooper Trainee Base Salary
SCDPS SCHP Salary
21 yrs
Minimum Age to Apply
SC Highway Patrol
The SC Highway Patrol uses the Nelson-Denny Reading Test to screen non-certified trooper applicants. It has two timed parts: 80 vocabulary items in 15 minutes and about 38 reading comprehension questions in 20 minutes, roughly 118 items in 35 minutes. There is no universal passing score; results are grade-equivalent reading levels and SCHP sets the minimum. Certified SC Class 1 officers are exempt.
Sample SC State Trooper Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to test your SC State Trooper exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 200+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1On the Nelson-Denny vocabulary section, the word "belligerent" most nearly means:
2Choose the word that most nearly means the same as "inundate":
3A "calamity" is a:
4"Dependable" most nearly means:
5A "rigorous" training program is best described as:
6"Tactics" are best defined as:
7To "preclude" something is to:
8"Terse" most nearly means:
9A "plethora" of evidence means:
10To "negate" a statement is to:
About the SC State Trooper Exam
The South Carolina Highway Patrol requires non-certified trooper applicants to take the Nelson-Denny Reading Test as part of the selection process. The Nelson-Denny is a standardized, two-part reading assessment: Part I is an 80-item vocabulary subtest completed in 15 minutes, and Part II is a reading comprehension subtest of about 38 questions based on several short passages, completed in 20 minutes, for roughly 35 minutes of timed testing. Scores are reported as grade-equivalent reading levels rather than a single pass-or-fail mark, and SCHP sets the minimum reading level it requires. Certified South Carolina Class 1 law enforcement officers follow a separate pre-certified track and are exempt from the Nelson-Denny. The reading test is one early step in a multi-stage hiring process that also includes a physical fitness test, background investigation, polygraph, psychological evaluation, and medical examination.
Questions
118 scored questions
Time Limit
35 minutes timed (about 45 minutes total administration)
Passing Score
No universal cutoff; SCHP sets a minimum reading level (grade-equivalent score)
Exam Fee
No separate candidate fee (South Carolina Highway Patrol (SCDPS), using the Nelson-Denny Reading Test from Riverside Insights)
SC State Trooper Exam Content Outline
Vocabulary
Part I of the Nelson-Denny: 80 multiple-choice items in 15 minutes; select the closest meaning of each word
Reading Comprehension
Part II of the Nelson-Denny: about 38 questions on short passages in 20 minutes, testing literal recall and inference
Reading Rate & Test Strategy
Pacing, the optional reading-rate measure, grade-equivalent scoring, and the SCHP hiring context for non-certified applicants
How to Pass the SC State Trooper Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: No universal cutoff; SCHP sets a minimum reading level (grade-equivalent score)
- Exam length: 118 questions
- Time limit: 35 minutes timed (about 45 minutes total administration)
- Exam fee: No separate candidate 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
SC State Trooper Study Tips from Top Performers
Frequently Asked Questions
What written test does the South Carolina Highway Patrol require?
Non-certified SC Highway Patrol trooper applicants take the Nelson-Denny Reading Test, a standardized two-part assessment of vocabulary and reading comprehension. Certified SC Class 1 law enforcement officers are exempt from this test.
How is the Nelson-Denny Reading Test structured?
It has two timed parts: a vocabulary section of 80 multiple-choice items in 15 minutes, and a reading comprehension section of about 38 questions based on several short passages in 20 minutes. Total timed testing is roughly 35 minutes.
Is there a passing score on the Nelson-Denny?
The Nelson-Denny has no universal pass-or-fail cutoff. Scores are reported as grade-equivalent reading levels, and the South Carolina Highway Patrol sets the minimum reading level it requires for applicants.
Who is exempt from the Nelson-Denny Reading Test?
Certified South Carolina Class 1 law enforcement officers are exempt. They follow a separate pre-certified hiring track because their certification already demonstrates the required reading and academy-level skills.
How much does the test cost the applicant?
There is no separate candidate fee for the Nelson-Denny; the South Carolina Highway Patrol administers it as part of the application process. Applicants are responsible for travel to the testing site.
What are the basic requirements to apply as a non-certified trooper?
Applicants must be at least 21 years old, a U.S. citizen, a South Carolina resident with a valid SC driver's license, and hold a high-school diploma or GED. A non-certified trooper trainee base salary is about $60,761 per year.
Who publishes the Nelson-Denny Reading Test?
The Nelson-Denny Reading Test is published by Riverside Insights and scored through NCS Pearson. The South Carolina Highway Patrol administers it as part of its trooper selection process.
What happens after the reading test?
Meeting the SCHP reading standard is one early step. The hiring process continues with a physical fitness test, background investigation, polygraph, psychological evaluation, medical examination, and training at the SC Criminal Justice Academy (about 23 weeks for non-certified recruits).