CritiCall Dispatcher Test: Modules, Agency Setup, and Practice

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CritiCall is a modular pre-employment assessment used by some public-safety agencies for dispatcher, call-taker, and emergency-communications hiring. It is published by Biddle Consulting Group as part of the TestGenius suite. Agencies choose which modules to run, set their own cut scores when they use them, and may deliver the battery remotely or onsite.

Key takeaway: CritiCall is configurable. Not every dispatcher agency uses it, and no single national CritiCall module list, duration, typing threshold, or passing score applies to every invitation.

This page explains vendor versus agency roles, possible skill areas supported by current CritiCall and Biddle materials, and how CritiCall differs from a full dispatcher hiring process. For broader emergency-communications pathways, see the 911 Dispatcher Test. Return to the Police and Dispatcher Tests hub. Extra free drills live on the separate CritiCall Practice Test page.

Vendor versus hiring agency

What CritiCall controls versus what your hiring agency controls

Topic	Usually controlled by
Assessment platform	Biddle Consulting Group / CritiCall (TestGenius)
Which modules appear	Hiring agency configuration
Cut scores and retest rules	Hiring agency policy and invitation
Remote versus onsite delivery	Hiring agency and invitation instructions
Later hiring stages	Hiring agency (interview, background, medical, training, and related steps)

CritiCall is one early screening tool when an agency selects it. It is not the entire public-safety telecommunicator hiring process.

Current product naming

Official CritiCall and Biddle materials describe CritiCall as part of TestGenius and market CritiCall 3D as a version that can combine operational hard-skill modules with behavioral and situational components. Classic CritiCall-style operational modules remain relevant. Your invitation controls whether you encounter classic operational modules, CritiCall 3D dimensions, or another agency-configured mix. Do not assume every agency has upgraded to the same package.

Official applicant pages state that CritiCall software is built for agencies. Biddle does not sell applicants a full consumer copy of the live testing platform. Use the agency invitation, the CritiCall applicant resources, and the CritiCall Candidate Test Preparation Guide (2023) for current testing conditions.

Possible modules, not a universal battery

Biddle’s CritiCall dispatcher materials list skill areas agencies may select. Treat the following as a menu of possibilities, not a promise that your session includes every item:

Possible CritiCall skill areas described in vendor materials

Skill area	Candidate focus
Data entry	Transfer names, addresses, phones, plates, and similar fields accurately
Decision making	Apply only the on-screen emergency-message rules within the stated time
Call summarization	Capture essential details without inventing facts
Cross-referencing and character comparison	Match or spot differences across directory-style records
Memory recall	Retain short details after a brief delay
Prioritization	Rank urgency using the information shown
Map reading and position locating	Use grid directions and nearby-location logic
Reading, spelling, proofreading, sentence clarity	Apply written rules and clear workplace wording
Mathematics and probability	Complete basic arithmetic or simple probability items if assigned
Multitasking and audio tasks	Combine listening or interruptions with active computer work when the agency assigns them
Typing or keyboarding	Meet the agency's stated speed and accuracy rules if typing is selected
Behavioral or situational components	May appear under CritiCall 3D or related agency setups; follow invitation wording

Delivery may be timed. Official candidate materials describe emergency-message decision items with a short response window and note that skipped questions may be penalized unless that portion says otherwise. Case-entry and navigation rules, including UPPERCASE entry when stated, belong to the on-screen instructions for your session.

Scoring, typing, and retesting

There is no universal CritiCall passing score, WPM or KPH threshold, session length, or retest waiting period published here. Agencies configure modules and standards. If your invitation or personnel contact publishes a typing measure, cut score, or retest rule, use that official figure only for that process.

Biddle materials state that specialized dispatcher training is not required to understand the assessed work skills. That does not mean every agency uses CritiCall, and it does not replace later agency hiring stages.

How CritiCall differs from other dispatcher testing

Other agencies may use California POST dispatcher batteries, National Testing Network or related emergency-communications exams, civil-service clerical or communications exams, Public Safety Testing products, or agency-built tools. Those formats are not interchangeable with CritiCall. Confirm the named assessment in your announcement or invitation before you practise.

How to prepare

Confirm that your invitation names CritiCall, TestGenius CritiCall, or a clearly related CritiCall package. Read the official candidate preparation guide and any agency packet. Practise accuracy-first data entry, cross-referencing, map grids, concise summarization, and keyboard accuracy if typing is assigned. For decision items, use only the rules shown on screen. Do not seek leaked CritiCall software content, bots, or another person to take the test for you.

Before test day, check whether the invitation specifies remote or onsite delivery, headset requirements, a typing requirement, practice portions, identity or browser rules, retest conditions, and accessibility instructions.

Optional third-party CritiCall practice

After you confirm the modules named in your invitation, additional timed practice for related dispatcher skills may help with pacing and format familiarity. JobTestPrep offers a free CritiCall practice resource and may also present optional paid preparation on the same page. It is an independent commercial provider, not official CritiCall software, and cannot reproduce every agency configuration or promise your modules or cut scores. Compare the free sample and any paid coverage with your agency invitation before relying on either.

45 original CritiCall-style practice questions

The exercises below practise related dispatcher skills and assessment literacy. They do not reproduce CritiCall’s proprietary interface, live audio multitasking, agency scoring, typing speed measurement, or emergency-message interruptions.

These original questions are for skill practice only. They are not official CritiCall questions and do not predict the modules chosen by your agency. Choose one answer for each question. Each scored item shows the correct answer and an explanation. Use the answer key after Question 45 as a second check.

Data entry and checking

1. Source: MAYA ORTIZ | 84 WILLOW LN APT 3B | 555-0194 Which entry matches exactly?

• A. MAYA ORTIZ | 84 WILLOW LN APT 3B | 555-0194
• B. MAYA ORTIZ | 84 WILLOW LN APT 3D | 555-0194
• C. MAYA ORTIZ | 48 WILLOW LN APT 3B | 555-0194
• D. MIA ORTIZ | 84 WILLOW LN APT 3B | 555-0194

Correct answer: A. MAYA ORTIZ | 84 WILLOW LN APT 3B | 555-0194

Option A matches every character of the source. The other options change the apartment, street number, or first name.

2. Source plate: 7KJ-482. Entered plate: 7KJ-428. What happened?

• A. The letters were transposed.
• B. The final two digits were transposed.
• C. The first digit was omitted.
• D. There is no error.

Correct answer: B. The final two digits were transposed.

In 7KJ-482 versus 7KJ-428, only the final two digits are transposed.

3. Source: LAST: NGUYEN | FIRST: LINH | CITY: FAIRVIEW | ZIP: 20814 Which record is correct?

• A. NGUYEN | LIN | FAIRVIEW | 20814
• B. NGUYEN | LINH | FAIRVIEW | 20184
• C. NGUYEN | LINH | FAIRVIEW | 20814
• D. NGUYEN | LINH | FAIRVIEW | 20841

Correct answer: C. NGUYEN | LINH | FAIRVIEW | 20814

Option C keeps NGUYEN, LINH, FAIRVIEW, and ZIP 20814 without truncating or transposing characters.

4. The official guide’s tab order begins at Last Name. After entering First Name, which field comes next?

• A. Address
• B. City
• C. Zip
• D. Telephone

Correct answer: D. Telephone

The official candidate guide’s tab order places Telephone after First Name.

5. Source phone: 555-2718. Which entry is exact when no hyphen is requested?

• A. 5552718
• B. 555-2718
• C. 5552178
• D. 555271

Correct answer: A. 5552718

When no hyphen is requested, 5552718 is the exact digit string.

6. Source: VIN 1FTRX18W2XKA44731. Which entry contains an error?

• A. 1FTRX18W2XKA44731
• B. 1FTRX18W2XKA44713
• C. 1FTRX18WX2KA44731
• D. 1FTRX18W2XKA4473

Correct answer: B. 1FTRX18W2XKA44713

Option B ends in 44713 instead of 44731. A matches the source; C and D alter other characters.

7. Source address: 1600 E OAK ST. Which field should be checked most carefully because a direction change would alter the location?

• A. Street number
• B. Street direction
• C. Street suffix
• D. Spacing

Correct answer: B. Street direction

A changed street direction can send responders to the wrong side of the street even if the number looks right.

8. Source: DRIVER LICENSE: M482-771-90. Entered: M482-771-09. Which statement is accurate?

• A. The first three characters are wrong.
• B. A hyphen is missing.
• C. The last two digits are reversed.
• D. The license matches.

Correct answer: C. The last two digits are reversed.

M482-771-90 versus M482-771-09 reverses only the final two digits.

Cross-referencing

Use this mini-directory for Questions 9-14.

Record	Name	Address	Phone
1	LENA PARK	71 PINE RD	555-1048
2	LENA PARR	71 PINE RD	555-1048
3	LENA PARK	17 PINE RD	555-1048
4	LENA PARK	71 PINE RD	555-1084

9. Which record matches LENA PARK, 71 PINE RD, 555-1048?

• A. Record 1
• B. Record 2
• C. Record 3
• D. Record 4

Correct answer: A. Record 1

Record 1 is the only exact match for LENA PARK, 71 PINE RD, and 555-1048.

10. Which record has the correct name and address but a different phone number?

• A. Record 1
• B. Record 4
• C. Record 2
• D. Record 3

Correct answer: B. Record 4

Record 4 keeps the correct name and address but changes the phone to 555-1084.

11. Which record has the correct name and phone number but a different street number?

• A. Record 1
• B. Record 2
• C. Record 3
• D. Record 4

Correct answer: C. Record 3

Record 3 keeps the name and phone but changes the street number from 71 to 17.

12. Which record differs only in the final letter of the surname?

• A. Record 1
• B. Record 3
• C. Record 4
• D. Record 2

Correct answer: D. Record 2

Record 2 changes PARK to PARR while keeping the same address and phone.

13. A caller gives 71 PINE RD and phone 555-1048, but spells the surname PARR. Which record matches all three details?

• A. Record 2
• B. Record 1
• C. Record 3
• D. Record 4

Correct answer: A. Record 2

Only Record 2 combines PARR with 71 PINE RD and 555-1048.

14. Which record should be rejected because its phone ends in 84, not 48?

• A. Record 2
• B. Record 4
• C. Record 3
• D. Record 1

Correct answer: B. Record 4

Record 4 ends in 1084 rather than 1048.

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

Decision making

Use only the four official-style rules summarized above for Questions 15-20.

15. A person is threatening to strike a neighbor with a metal bar. Which agency should be dispatched?

• A. Fire
• B. EMS
• C. Police
• D. Utility

Correct answer: C. Police

Under the paraphrased Police rule, a threat of physical harm requires Police.

16. Smoke is coming from a trash bin behind a store. Which agency should be dispatched?

• A. Police
• B. EMS
• C. Utility
• D. Fire

Correct answer: D. Fire

Smoke from a trash bin shows immediate signs of fire under the paraphrased Fire rule.

17. A caller reports an unconscious person who needs medical help. Which agency should be dispatched?

• A. EMS
• B. Police
• C. Fire
• D. Utility

Correct answer: A. EMS

An unconscious person needing medical help maps to EMS under the paraphrased EMS rule.

18. A broken water main is flooding a sidewalk. Which agency should be dispatched?

• A. Fire
• B. Utility
• C. Police
• D. EMS

Correct answer: B. Utility

A broken water main is a public water-system malfunction under the paraphrased Utility rule.

19. Someone has smashed the windows of a parked vehicle. Which agency should be dispatched?

• A. Fire
• B. EMS
• C. Police
• D. Utility

Correct answer: C. Police

Smashed vehicle windows are harm to property under the paraphrased Police rule.

20. A fire alarm is sounding in an apartment building. Which agency should be dispatched?

• A. Utility
• B. Police
• C. EMS
• D. Fire

Correct answer: D. Fire

A sounding fire alarm is an immediate Fire dispatch under the paraphrased Fire rule.

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

Map reading and routes

For Questions 21-25, north is up. Avenues run north-south and increase from west to east. Streets run east-west and are ordered from north to south: OAK, PINE, MAPLE, CEDAR, ELM.

21. A unit travels from 2ND AVE and PINE ST to 5TH AVE and CEDAR ST. What is the general direction?

• A. East and south
• B. West and north
• C. East and north
• D. West and south

Correct answer: A. East and south

Avenues increase west to east, so 2ND to 5TH is east. Streets run OAK, PINE, MAPLE, CEDAR, ELM from north to south, so PINE to CEDAR is south.

22. From 4TH AVE and ELM ST, which location is directly north?

• A. 3RD AVE and ELM ST
• B. 4TH AVE and CEDAR ST
• C. 5TH AVE and ELM ST
• D. 4TH AVE and MAPLE ST

Correct answer: B. 4TH AVE and CEDAR ST

Streets move north from ELM to CEDAR on the same avenue. 4TH AVE and CEDAR ST is directly north of 4TH AVE and ELM ST.

23. A unit at 1ST AVE and OAK ST must reach 3RD AVE and MAPLE ST. Which route is shortest in blocks?

• A. 1 east and 1 south
• B. 3 east and 2 south
• C. 2 west and 2 north
• D. 2 east and 2 south

Correct answer: D. 2 east and 2 south

1ST to 3RD is two blocks east. OAK to MAPLE is two blocks south. Option D is the matching shortest route.

24. A caller says they are at 6TH AVE and PINE ST. A unit is at 6TH AVE and ELM ST. Which direction should the unit travel?

• A. West
• B. East
• C. North
• D. South

Correct answer: C. North

On the stated north-south street order, PINE is north of ELM, so the unit travels north on 6TH AVE.

25. Which intersection is southeast of 2ND AVE and MAPLE ST?

• A. 4TH AVE and CEDAR ST
• B. 1ST AVE and CEDAR ST
• C. 4TH AVE and PINE ST
• D. 1ST AVE and PINE ST

Correct answer: A. 4TH AVE and CEDAR ST

Southeast means farther east and farther south. 4TH AVE and CEDAR ST is east and south of 2ND AVE and MAPLE ST.

Call summarization

For Questions 26-30, select the best concise dispatch note based only on the transcript.

26. Transcript: “My name is Noah Bell. I am at 19 Harbor Drive. A blue sedan just hit a mailbox and drove east on Harbor. I did not see any injuries.” Which summary is best?

• A. Caller reports an emergency at Harbor Drive.
• B. NOAH BELL RPTS BLUE SEDAN HIT MAILBOX AT 19 HARBOR DR, E/B ON HARBOR, NO INJURIES SEEN.
• C. Blue vehicle involved in a serious crash.
• D. Mailbox damaged; caller did not provide a location.

Correct answer: B. NOAH BELL RPTS BLUE SEDAN HIT MAILBOX AT 19 HARBOR DR, E/B ON HARBOR, NO INJURIES SEEN.

Option B keeps caller name, address, vehicle color, direction, and injury status without inventing extra facts.

27. Transcript: “This is Rina. At 402 Lake Street, I smell smoke in the hallway. I cannot see flames. Everyone in my apartment is outside.” Which summary is best?

• A. RINA RPTS FIRE AT 402 LAKE ST; PEOPLE TRAPPED.
• B. Smoke smell reported; no address available.
• C. RINA RPTS SMOKE ODOR IN HALLWAY AT 402 LAKE ST, NO FLAMES SEEN, OCCUPANTS OUTSIDE.
• D. Caller reports a gas leak at Lake Street.

Correct answer: C. RINA RPTS SMOKE ODOR IN HALLWAY AT 402 LAKE ST, NO FLAMES SEEN, OCCUPANTS OUTSIDE.

Option C reports smoke odor, address, no flames seen, and occupants outside without claiming a confirmed fire or trapped people.

28. Transcript: “I am Andre Cole at 88 West Ridge Road. My mother is awake but having trouble breathing. Her name is Vera Cole, age 72.” Which summary is best?

• A. ANDRE COLE RPTS VERA COLE, 72, UNCONSCIOUS AT WEST RIDGE.
• B. Medical call for an unknown person.
• C. Caller needs assistance at 88 Ridge Road.
• D. ANDRE COLE RPTS VERA COLE, 72, AWAKE WITH BREATHING DIFFICULTY AT 88 W RIDGE RD.

Correct answer: D. ANDRE COLE RPTS VERA COLE, 72, AWAKE WITH BREATHING DIFFICULTY AT 88 W RIDGE RD.

Option D keeps the patient’s name, age, breathing difficulty, and address, and does not invent unconsciousness.

29. Transcript: “At 7 Juniper Court, a man in a green jacket is pulling car door handles. He walked toward Birch Avenue.” Which summary preserves the key details?

• A. RPTS MALE IN GREEN JACKET TRYING CAR DOORS AT 7 JUNIPER CT, W/B TOWARD BIRCH AVE.
• B. Suspect at Birch Avenue.
• C. Car theft confirmed at Juniper Court.
• D. A man in a jacket is walking.

Correct answer: A. RPTS MALE IN GREEN JACKET TRYING CAR DOORS AT 7 JUNIPER CT, W/B TOWARD BIRCH AVE.

Option A preserves location, clothing, behavior, and direction of travel without claiming a completed theft.

30. Transcript: “My callback is 555-6631. I am at 2400 North Park. There is water coming from a broken pipe in the street.” Which summary is best?

• A. Water issue; callback unavailable.
• B. RPTS WATER FROM BROKEN STREET PIPE AT 2400 N PARK, CB 555-6631.
• C. Fire hydrant emergency at South Park.
• D. Caller reports an electrical outage.

Correct answer: B. RPTS WATER FROM BROKEN STREET PIPE AT 2400 N PARK, CB 555-6631.

Option B keeps the water-from-broken-pipe report, location, and callback number without inventing other utilities.

Memory

Read each prompt once, then answer without returning to it.

31. Remember: Caller TESSA MOORE, 16 GLEN CT, SILVER SUV, plate JVR-319. What was the plate?

• A. JVR-391
• B. JRV-319
• C. JVR-319
• D. JVR-318

Correct answer: C. JVR-319

The plate in the prompt is JVR-319. The other options transpose or change digits or letters.

32. Remember: ALEX KIM saw a RED PICKUP turn NORTH onto LINDEN ST. What was the vehicle color?

• A. Blue
• B. Black
• C. Silver
• D. Red

Correct answer: D. Red

The prompt states a RED pickup. Color is stated directly.

33. Remember: At 53 ORCHARD WAY, MARCUS REED reported a TAN DOG with a BLUE COLLAR. Who reported the dog?

• A. MARCUS REED
• B. ALEX KIM
• C. TESSA MOORE
• D. VERA COLE

Correct answer: A. MARCUS REED

The prompt names MARCUS REED as the person who reported the dog.

34. Remember: Callback 555-2846; incident at 9 HILL ST; vehicle was a WHITE VAN. Which was the callback number?

• A. 555-2486
• B. 555-2846
• C. 555-2864
• D. 555-8246

Correct answer: B. 555-2846

The callback in the prompt is 555-2846.

Reading and sentence clarity

35. Instruction: “If the caller gives a callback number, enter it before moving to the next record.” What should you do first after receiving a callback number?

• A. Open a new record
• B. Enter the location
• C. Enter the callback number
• D. Skip to the next question

Correct answer: C. Enter the callback number

The instruction says to enter the callback number before moving to the next record.

36. Which sentence is clearest for a dispatch note?

• A. He did a thing by the place.
• B. There was a situation that was handled.
• C. The caller said something about a vehicle.
• D. CALLER RPTS WHITE VAN LEFT 9 HILL ST E/B ON PINE AVE.

Correct answer: D. CALLER RPTS WHITE VAN LEFT 9 HILL ST E/B ON PINE AVE.

Option D states who reported what, where, and the direction of travel without vague wording.

37. Passage: “The caller heard an alarm but saw no smoke or flames. Do not add facts that the caller did not provide.” Which note follows the passage?

• A. CALLER HEARD ALARM; NO SMOKE OR FLAMES SEEN.
• B. Building fire confirmed.
• C. Caller reports people trapped.
• D. Gas leak confirmed.

Correct answer: A. CALLER HEARD ALARM; NO SMOKE OR FLAMES SEEN.

The passage allows an alarm with no smoke or flames seen. It does not support adding a fire or trapped occupants.

38. Which revision removes ambiguity?

• A. The officer spoke to the person about it.
• B. The person handled the incident.
• C. The vehicle went there quickly.
• D. OFFICER LEE SPOKE WITH THE CALLER ABOUT THE STOLEN BICYCLE AT 2:10 PM.

Correct answer: D. OFFICER LEE SPOKE WITH THE CALLER ABOUT THE STOLEN BICYCLE AT 2:10 PM.

Option D names the officer, caller, subject, and time, which removes the ambiguity in the other options.

Spelling

39. Which word is spelled correctly?

• A. aknowledge
• B. acknowlege
• C. acknowledge
• D. acknowldge

Correct answer: C. acknowledge

Acknowledge is the standard spelling.

40. Which word is spelled correctly?

• A. ocurred
• B. occureed
• C. occurrred
• D. occurred

Correct answer: D. occurred

Occurred is the standard spelling with double c and double r.

41. Which word is spelled correctly?

• A. necessary
• B. neccessary
• C. necesarry
• D. neccesary

Correct answer: A. necessary

Necessary is the standard spelling.

Prioritization, math, and probability

42. Which call has the most immediate life-safety concern?

• A. A report of a bicycle stolen yesterday
• B. A person who is not breathing
• C. A request for a report number
• D. A noise complaint from last night

Correct answer: B. A person who is not breathing

A person who is not breathing is the clearest immediate life-safety priority among the options.

43. A call begins at 14:08 and ends at 14:15. How many minutes elapsed?

• A. 5
• B. 6
• C. 7
• D. 8

Correct answer: C. 7

From 14:08 to 14:15 is seven elapsed minutes.

44. A list has 20 records. Four contain an address mismatch. What percentage contain an address mismatch?

• A. 10%
• B. 15%
• C. 25%
• D. 20%

Correct answer: D. 20%

Four of twenty records is 4/20 = 20%.

45. A bag contains 3 red, 2 blue, and 5 green markers. What is the probability of choosing a blue marker on one random draw?

• A. 2 out of 10
• B. 3 out of 10
• C. 5 out of 10
• D. 8 out of 10

Correct answer: A. 2 out of 10

There are 2 blue markers out of 10 total markers, so the probability is 2 out of 10.

Answer key

Question	Answer	Question	Answer	Question	Answer
1	A	16	D	31	C
2	B	17	A	32	D
3	C	18	B	33	A
4	D	19	C	34	B
5	A	20	D	35	C
6	B	21	A	36	D
7	B	22	B	37	A
8	C	23	D	38	D
9	A	24	C	39	C
10	B	25	A	40	D
11	C	26	B	41	A
12	D	27	C	42	B
13	A	28	D	43	C
14	B	29	A	44	D
15	C	30	B	45	A

The answer letters are balanced across the set: A appears 12 times, and B, C, and D appear 11, 11, and 11 times respectively. No same-letter run exceeds three.

Unscored drills for typing, audio, and multitasking

A static page cannot reproduce headset timing, active fields, or an interactive multitasking environment. Use these drills without treating them as scored CritiCall modules.

Typing and KPH drill

Set a timer for five minutes. Type this line repeatedly, preserving every number and direction:

JAMIE ROSS 418 E MAPLE ST APT 7 5552718 PLATE KLM482

Count only correct entries. Do not convert the result into an assumed agency KPH target. If your agency has a typing standard, use its stated measure and rules.

Audio and memory drill

Ask someone to read a name, address, and seven-digit number once, then type the information after a five-second pause. The official guide suggests practicing this kind of delayed number entry without a hyphen. Increase speed only when accuracy is reliable.

Multitasking drill

On paper, write a simple route problem. While another person reads short caller details, mark the route direction and record the name, address, and phone number. Check both tasks afterward. This builds attention switching but does not simulate the agency’s software.

Test-day strategy

Read the instructions and complete available practice items when they help you understand the response method. Use only a single left mouse click when instructed to select an answer. Confirm whether the testing screen uses UPPERCASE entry. For emergency-message tasks, apply only the supplied decision rules and respond within the stated time. Use Tab and Shift+Tab deliberately when navigating data-entry fields. Do not skip an item unless its instructions say skipping is allowed without penalty. Protect accuracy: a fast but incorrect entry is still incorrect.

Official resources

Use current vendor and agency materials, not third-party summaries, as the controlling source for your session:

• CritiCall Candidate Test Preparation Guide (2023)
• CritiCall TestGenius applicant resources
• CritiCall TestGenius agency information
• Biddle Consulting Group CritiCall dispatcher testing overview
• Biddle CritiCall 3D product page

FAQ