Free Prison Officer (UK) Exam Prep
HMPPS Prison Officer Online Assessment (Scenario-Based Test + Values-Based Assessment)
Pass your Prison Officer (UK) exam without spending hundreds on expensive prep courses. Free study guides, practice questions, flashcards, and related exam resources.
Quick Facts
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Prison UK Civil Service Assessments License: Complete Roadmap
Follow this path to maximize your chances of passing on the first try
Phase 1: Understand the ProcessYou are here
Map the HMPPS prison-officer journey: online SBT, then VBA, then the online assessment centre, then medical and fitness tests.
Phase 2: Situational Judgement
Practice choosing the most and least effective actions for prison scenarios, anchored in safety, decency, de-escalation, and integrity.
Phase 3: Numerical Test
Drill roll counts, money and accounts, percentages, 24-hour-clock times, ratios, and reading tables under the 15-minute limit.
Phase 4: Values-Based Assessment
Learn the HMPPS behaviours — Caring, Communicating and Influencing, Making Effective Decisions, Managing a Quality Service — and answer honestly and consistently.
Phase 5: Timed Mixed Review
Run timed mock sets across all three areas, review missed items, and confirm your equipment and quiet space for the online stages.
Can You Take the Prison Officer (UK) Exam?
Check if you meet the basic eligibility requirements
- •Right to work in the UK.
- •Pass a medical assessment (including eye test, hearing test, and blood-pressure check).
- •Pass a fitness test (including a bleep/endurance test and an upper-body strength test using a riot shield).
- •High-security prisons require at least three years' continuous UK residency.
Prison Officer (UK) Quick Facts
Time to Get Licensed
2-6 weeks for most candidates
From start to license in hand
Exam Provider
HMPPS / Ministry of Justice online recruitment system (Prison and Probation Jobs)
Retake Policy
Candidates who do not pass the online tests usually have to wait a period — commonly six months — before reapplying for any prison-officer role, after which they restart and retake the online stages.
Total Cost Breakdown
Free Prison Officer (UK) Prep That Actually Works
The official pass rate is HMPPS does not publish a first-time pass-rate percentage for the prison-officer online assessment stages.. Our students do better.
Covers Both Online Stages
Practice the Scenario-Based Test (situational judgement + numerical) and the Values-Based Assessment in one place.
Aligned to 2026 HMPPS Format
Reflects the current HMPPS prison-officer online assessment used for England and Wales recruitment.
Timed Practice
Drill items under realistic time pressure: 16 SJT in 20 minutes and 20 numerical in up to 15 minutes.
Free Access
Use all HMPPS prison-officer practice resources free of charge.
What You'll Study
5 chapters covering everything you need to pass
Chapter 1: Exam Structure & HMPPS Selection Framework
4 sections
Chapter 2: Situational Judgement Test (SJT) Scenarios & Judgment
4 sections
Chapter 3: Numerical Test Skills & Prison Arithmetic
4 sections
Chapter 4: Values-Based Assessment & HMPPS Behaviours
4 sections
Chapter 5: Next Selection Stages & Career Preparation
3 sections
Prison Officer (UK) Exam Details
HMPPS Prison Officer Online Assessment (Scenario-Based Test + Values-Based Assessment)
Administered by HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS), UK Ministry of Justice
Exam Content Breakdown
Based on the official HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS), UK Ministry of Justice content outline
Behavioural scenarios where you choose the most and least effective actions, covering de-escalation, safety, decency, integrity, and the HMPPS behaviours.
Basic prison-relevant maths: roll counts, money and prisoner accounts, percentages, 24-hour-clock times, ratios, and reading figures from tables (calculator allowed).
Varied-format items exploring your natural preferences and values, including caring, communicating, decision-making, and managing a quality service.
What's Included
5 Chapters
Complete exam coverage
Practice Quizzes
With detailed explanations
Free to Start
No credit card required
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What's Next After the Prison Officer (UK)?
After passing the Prison Officer (UK), you can pursue these career paths
Prison Officer (UK) Exam FAQ
Official HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS), UK Ministry of Justice Resources
Verify information with these official sources
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