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California POST explains that its Entry-Level Dispatcher Selection Test Battery measures verbal, reasoning, memory, and perceptual abilities. Agencies may use the POST battery or another job-related assessment. CritiCall and agency typing tests are separate possibilities. Always confirm the test named in your invitation.

These are original dispatcher-style exercises. They are not California POST, CritiCall, agency, or PELLET-B questions.

For additional timed practice after you review the official invitation and format notes below, Review JobTestPrep’s US California Dispatcher Test preparation.

JobTestPrep is an independent third-party preparation provider. Confirm the current USD price, access period and included modules on the live product page before purchase.

What to distinguish

California POST describes the Entry-Level Dispatcher Selection Test Battery as a measure of verbal, reasoning, memory, and perceptual abilities. Its official examinee guide explains that the battery contains multiple separately timed tests and that the final marked answers, rather than notes, are scored. It is designed to assess general abilities, not a candidate’s prior dispatcher job knowledge.

The POST dispatcher battery is not CritiCall, which an agency may use as an alternative job-related assessment or configure separately. It is also not a local typing test. A typing exercise may measure keyboard speed and accuracy, while CritiCall can use computer-based modules such as data entry, multitasking, and dispatch decision-making. PELLET-B is a separate California law-enforcement written battery.

POST permits departments to use alternative job-related tests of the required abilities, and departments set their own process details and may set a passing standard. Contact the hiring agency or communications center to determine what it administers. Do not assume a universal score, retest rule, typing requirement, or test length.

How to practice the relevant abilities

For data entry, compare names, digits, directions, and street numbers one character at a time. For memory questions, record or retain the details the prompt says to remember, not every word. For prioritization, apply only the supplied rule and do not substitute local emergency protocols. For reading and logic, choose the answer supported by the text without adding assumptions.

25 original scored exercises

  1. Record given: Caller: Ana Ruiz, 415 Pine St, blue sedan. Which entry matches? A. Ana Ruiz, 415 Pine St, blue sedan B. Anna Ruiz, 415 Pine St, blue sedan C. Ana Ruiz, 451 Pine St, blue sedan D. Ana Ruiz, 415 Pine St, black sedan. Correct answer: A. Explanation: It exactly matches every detail.
  2. Rule: Dispatch EMS for a reported severe injury. A caller reports severe injury. Send: A. EMS B. utility C. no unit D. animal control. Correct answer: A. Explanation: Apply the stated rule.
  3. 9, 12, 15, ? A. 16 B. 17 C. 18 D. 21. Correct answer: C. Explanation: Add three.
  4. Read once: Unit 4 is at Oak and 2nd. Unit 7 is at Pine and 5th. Which is at Oak and 2nd? A. 4 B. 5 C. 7 D. none. Correct answer: A. Explanation: Recall the stated location.
  5. Which string matches K4M-827? A. K4M-827 B. K4N-827 C. K4M-872 D. K4M-8277. Correct answer: A. Explanation: Compare character by character.
  6. A caller says smoke is visible in a building. Under a rule to dispatch Fire for smoke, send: A. Fire B. Police only C. utility only D. no one. Correct answer: A. Explanation: Apply the rule.
  7. North-to-south street order: Oak, Pine, Maple. From Oak to Maple is: A. north B. south C. east D. west. Correct answer: B. Explanation: Maple is south of Oak.
  8. “Only dispatchers may enter the record.” Sam enters the record. Must be true: A. Sam is dispatcher B. Sam is supervisor C. everyone may enter D. unknown. Correct answer: A. Explanation: Apply the “only” condition.
  9. Original phone: 619-428-1730. Entered: 619-428-1370. Which part is wrong? A. area code B. middle three C. last four D. none. Correct answer: C. Explanation: 1730 was reversed to 1370.
  10. A priority rule says active threat is Priority 1. A call describes an active threat. Priority: A. 1 B. 2 C. 3 D. no response. Correct answer: A. Explanation: Follow the rule.
  11. Read once: Vehicle: white pickup, plate 6ABX912. What color? A. white B. blue C. black D. red. Correct answer: A. Explanation: Recall the provided detail.
  12. 36 calls divided equally across 4 operators is: A. 8 B. 9 C. 10 D. 12. Correct answer: B. Explanation: 36 / 4 = 9.
  13. Which is identical to EAST 17B? A. EAST 17B B. EAST 71B C. EATS 17B D. EAST 17D. Correct answer: A. Explanation: It is an exact match.
  14. Policy: document a correction after identifying it. Correct order? A. identify, document B. document, identify C. ignore, document D. report, guess. Correct answer: A. Explanation: Follow the sequence.
  15. A person reports chest pain with no other facts. Under a rule to send EMS for medical emergency, send: A. EMS B. Fire only C. utility D. none. Correct answer: A. Explanation: Apply the defined medical rule.
  16. All urgent calls are logged. Call X was not logged. Best conclusion: A. X was not urgent under the rule B. X was urgent C. all calls logged D. unknown. Correct answer: A. Explanation: Use contrapositive reasoning.
  17. Read once: Incident at 72 Cedar Lane at 9:10 p.m. What address? A. 27 Cedar Lane B. 72 Cedar Lane C. 72 Cedar Road D. 92 Cedar Lane. Correct answer: B. Explanation: Recall the exact address.
  18. A map route goes 2 blocks east then 3 blocks south. Total blocks: A. 1 B. 3 C. 5 D. 6. Correct answer: C. Explanation: 2 + 3 = 5.
  19. Which number differs? A. 80391 B. 80391 C. 80319 D. 80391. Correct answer: C. Explanation: The final digits are transposed.
  20. A delayed noise complaint is assigned Priority 3 by the stated scale. Priority? A. 1 B. 2 C. 3 D. 4. Correct answer: C. Explanation: Apply the supplied scale, not outside assumptions.
  21. 25% of 48 is: A. 10 B. 12 C. 14 D. 16. Correct answer: B. Explanation: One quarter of 48 is 12.
  22. Read once: Suspect traveled west toward River Road. Direction? A. east B. north C. south D. west. Correct answer: D. Explanation: Recall the direction.
  23. Which name exactly matches Marisol Chen? A. Marisol Chen B. Marisol Chan C. Marisol Cheen D. Marisol Chenh. Correct answer: A. Explanation: It preserves all letters.
  24. The instructions state “take notes if needed, then mark final answers.” What is scored? A. notes B. final answers C. handwriting style D. page color. Correct answer: B. Explanation: The instruction identifies final answers.
  25. Best source for whether your agency uses POST, CritiCall, or typing testing? A. official agency invitation B. generic score chart C. social post D. unrelated police exam. Correct answer: A. Explanation: Agency instructions control the process.

When your invitation covers several skill areas, broader Assessment test preparation can support mixed review before test day.

For ranked-response or work-style sections, situational judgment preparation may also be useful when you need extra drills under time pressure.