NPOST Practice: National Police Officer Selection Test Guide

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The National Police Officer Selection Test is an entry-level cognitive skills exam published by Stanard & Associates, Inc. Agencies and candidates often shorten the name to NPOST or POST. It is a vendor assessment used by some U.S. law-enforcement employers. It is not California POST’s PELLETB and not the NYC DCAS Police Officer exam.

Key takeaway: Confirm that your announcement names the National Police Officer Selection Test (Stanard & Associates) before you prepare for NPOST. Cut scores and delivery mode belong to the hiring agency.

Return to the Police and Dispatcher Tests hub. Distinguish this page from Police Written Exam, PELLETB, and NYPD Police Exam.

Vendor ownership and sections

Stanard & Associates materials describe four skill areas:

National Police Officer Selection Test skill areas described by Stanard & Associates

Section	Focus described by the publisher
Arithmetic	Basic math used in police-related tasks
Reading comprehension	Passage-based questions; prior law-enforcement knowledge is not required
Grammar	Written language conventions
Incident report writing	Written responses based on report information, in complete sentences

Publisher materials describe printed and online or remote options and agency-scored or vendor-scored workflows. Your invitation controls the mode you receive. Stanard materials note Iowa statewide use for entry-level police testing and endorsement relationships with state police chief associations; those facts do not mean every U.S. agency uses NPOST.

Scoring and retesting

There is no single national NPOST passing score published here for every agency. Hiring agencies set cut scores and retest rules. Ask the agency or testing center named in your announcement.

Optional third-party NPOST practice

After you confirm that your process uses the National Police Officer Selection Test, additional timed practice may help. NPOST police test practice from JobTestPrep is an independent commercial option. It is not published by Stanard & Associates and cannot promise your agency’s cut score.

NPOST Practice Test Instructions

This practice test includes 40 original NPOST-style questions.

Recommended timing:

40 questions
45 minutes

For a harder timed drill:

40 questions
35 minutes

Answer all questions before checking the answer key.

Section 1: NPOST Math

Question 1: Addition

An officer completes 14 reports in one week and 19 reports the next week. How many reports are completed total?

• A. 29
• B. 31
• C. 33
• D. 35

Answer and Explanation

Correct answer: C. 33

14 + 19 = 33

Question 2: Subtraction

A department has 85 traffic cones. Officers use 37 cones during a public event. How many cones remain?

• A. 42
• B. 46
• C. 48
• D. 52

Answer and Explanation

Correct answer: C. 48

85 - 37 = 48

Question 3: Multiplication

Each patrol vehicle carries 4 safety flares. There are 16 patrol vehicles. How many flares are carried total?

• A. 48
• B. 56
• C. 64
• D. 72

Answer and Explanation

Correct answer: C. 64

16 × 4 = 64

Question 4: Division

A training unit distributes 96 practice forms equally among 8 recruits. How many forms does each recruit receive?

• A. 10
• B. 11
• C. 12
• D. 14

Answer and Explanation

Correct answer: C. 12

96 ÷ 8 = 12

Question 5: Percentage

What is 25% of 160?

• A. 30
• B. 35
• C. 40
• D. 45

Answer and Explanation

Correct answer: C. 40

25% is one quarter.

160 ÷ 4 = 40

Question 6: Percentage Increase

A unit handled 80 calls last month and 100 calls this month. What was the percentage increase?

• A. 20%
• B. 25%
• C. 30%
• D. 40%

Answer and Explanation

Correct answer: B. 25%

Increase:

100 - 80 = 20

Percentage increase uses the original value:

20 ÷ 80 × 100 = 25%

Question 7: Average

An officer completes reports in 20, 25, 30 and 35 minutes. What is the average report completion time?

• A. 25 minutes
• B. 27.5 minutes
• C. 30 minutes
• D. 32.5 minutes

Answer and Explanation

Correct answer: B. 27.5 minutes

20 + 25 + 30 + 35 = 110
110 ÷ 4 = 27.5

Question 8: Time

A shift begins at 6:45 a.m. and ends at 3:15 p.m. How long is the shift?

• A. 7 hours 30 minutes
• B. 8 hours
• C. 8 hours 30 minutes
• D. 9 hours

Answer and Explanation

Correct answer: C. 8 hours 30 minutes

6:45 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. = 8 hours
2:45 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. = 30 minutes
Total = 8 hours 30 minutes

Question 9: Financial Math

A candidate pays a $55 testing fee and a $10 score reprint fee. How much does the candidate pay total?

• A. $60
• B. $65
• C. $70
• D. $75

Answer and Explanation

Correct answer: B. $65

55 + 10 = 65

Question 10: Ratio

A training group has 3 candidates for every 1 instructor. If there are 24 people total, how many are candidates?

• A. 18
• B. 20
• C. 21
• D. 22

Answer and Explanation

Correct answer: A. 18

The ratio has 4 total parts.

24 ÷ 4 = 6
3 × 6 = 18 candidates

Section 2: NPOST Reading Comprehension

Read the passage and answer Questions 11-16.

Police applicants must be able to read written instructions carefully and apply them accurately. Officers often rely on policies, procedures, witness statements and reports. When answering questions based on a passage, the correct response should be supported by the information provided rather than by personal assumptions or outside knowledge.

Question 11: Main Idea

What is the main idea of the passage?

• A. Police applicants should ignore written instructions
• B. Police applicants must read and apply written information accurately
• C. Personal assumptions are always better than written information
• D. Police work never involves reports

Answer and Explanation

Correct answer: B. Police applicants must read and apply written information accurately

The passage focuses on careful reading and accurate application of written information.

Question 12: Stated Detail

Which written source is specifically mentioned?

• A. Restaurant menu
• B. Witness statement
• C. Sports schedule
• D. Travel brochure

Answer and Explanation

Correct answer: B. Witness statement

The passage lists witness statements.

Question 13: Outside Knowledge

According to the passage, answers should be based on:

• A. Personal assumptions
• B. Information provided in the passage
• C. Random guesses
• D. Unrelated experience

Answer and Explanation

Correct answer: B. Information provided in the passage

The passage says answers should be supported by the information provided.

Question 14: Unsupported Statement

Which statement is not supported by the passage?

• A. Officers may rely on policies
• B. Officers may rely on reports
• C. Applicants should use assumptions instead of text
• D. Reading accuracy matters for applicants

Answer and Explanation

Correct answer: C. Applicants should use assumptions instead of text

The passage says the correct response should be supported by the information provided, not assumptions.

Question 15: Meaning in Context

In the passage, accurately most nearly means:

• A. Correctly
• B. Loudly
• C. Secretly
• D. Casually

Answer and Explanation

Correct answer: A. Correctly

“Accurately” means correctly or without error.

Question 16: Best Supported Conclusion

Which conclusion is best supported by the passage?

• A. Reading accuracy is important in police testing and police work
• B. Officers never read written instructions
• C. Reports are irrelevant to law enforcement
• D. Outside knowledge should override the passage

Answer and Explanation

Correct answer: A. Reading accuracy is important in police testing and police work

The passage explains that officers rely on written information and applicants must read accurately.

Read the second passage and answer Questions 17-20.

At approximately 8:40 p.m., Officer Rivera responded to 1250 East Cedar Road for a reported vehicle break-in. The reporting party, Luis Perez, stated that he parked his black Toyota Corolla in the apartment lot at 7:15 p.m. and returned at 8:30 p.m. to find the front passenger window broken. Perez stated that a gray backpack containing a laptop was missing from the front passenger seat. Officer Rivera observed broken glass on the ground near the passenger door. No suspect was located at the scene.

Question 17: Reporting Party

Who was the reporting party?

• A. Officer Rivera
• B. Luis Perez
• C. Marcus Hill
• D. Daniel Reed

Answer and Explanation

Correct answer: B. Luis Perez

Luis Perez was the reporting party.

Question 18: Vehicle

What vehicle was involved?

• A. Black Toyota Corolla
• B. Gray Toyota Camry
• C. Black Honda Civic
• D. White Toyota Corolla

Answer and Explanation

Correct answer: A. Black Toyota Corolla

The reporting party stated that the vehicle was a black Toyota Corolla.

Question 19: Officer Observation

What did Officer Rivera observe?

• A. The suspect running away
• B. Broken glass near the passenger door
• C. A weapon on the front seat
• D. The laptop inside the vehicle

Answer and Explanation

Correct answer: B. Broken glass near the passenger door

Officer Rivera observed broken glass near the passenger door.

Question 20: Unsupported Statement

Which statement is not supported by the passage?

• A. Perez stated that a gray backpack was missing
• B. The front passenger window was broken
• C. No suspect was located at the scene
• D. Officer Rivera identified the suspect at the scene

Answer and Explanation

Correct answer: D. Officer Rivera identified the suspect at the scene

The passage states that no suspect was located.

Section 3: NPOST Grammar

Question 21: Subject-Verb Agreement

Choose the correctly written sentence.

• A. The officers was reviewing the report.
• B. The officers were reviewing the report.
• C. The officers is reviewing the report.
• D. The officers be reviewing the report.

Answer and Explanation

Correct answer: B. The officers were reviewing the report.

“Officers” is plural, so the correct verb is “were.”

Question 22: Complete Sentence

Which option is a complete sentence?

• A. Because the witness left the scene.
• B. The officer arrived at 9:15 p.m.
• C. While the subject was walking away.
• D. After reviewing the statement.

Answer and Explanation

Correct answer: B. The officer arrived at 9:15 p.m.

This option contains a subject, a verb and a complete thought.

Question 23: Clear Pronoun Use

Which sentence is clearest?

• A. He told him that he saw it near his car.
• B. The witness told Officer Patel that he saw the backpack near the driver’s car.
• C. He said that he did it there.
• D. They told them about it.

Answer and Explanation

Correct answer: B.

This sentence identifies the witness, officer, backpack and car clearly.

Question 24: Best Word Choice

Which sentence uses the most professional wording?

• A. The suspect booked it down the street.
• B. The suspect fled eastbound on Oak Street.
• C. The suspect got out of there real fast.
• D. The suspect was super suspicious.

Answer and Explanation

Correct answer: B. The suspect fled eastbound on Oak Street.

This sentence is professional, specific and clear.

Question 25: Punctuation

Choose the correctly punctuated sentence.

• A. Officer Grant arrived at 8:20 p.m. and contacted the witness.
• B. Officer Grant arrived at 8:20 p.m., and contacted the witness.
• C. Officer Grant arrived, at 8:20 p.m. and contacted the witness.
• D. Officer Grant arrived at 8:20 p.m and contacted the witness

Answer and Explanation

Correct answer: A.

The sentence is clear and correctly punctuated.

Question 26: Verb Tense

Choose the sentence with consistent verb tense.

• A. The officer arrived at the scene and speaks with the witness.
• B. The officer arrives at the scene and spoke with the witness.
• C. The officer arrived at the scene and spoke with the witness.
• D. The officer arrive at the scene and spoke with the witness.

Answer and Explanation

Correct answer: C.

Both verbs are in the past tense: “arrived” and “spoke.”

Question 27: Spelling

Choose the correctly spelled word.

• A. Suspiscious
• B. Suspicious
• C. Suspicous
• D. Suspishous

Answer and Explanation

Correct answer: B. Suspicious

“Suspicious” is the correct spelling.

Question 28: Spelling

Choose the correctly spelled word.

• A. Separate
• B. Seperate
• C. Seperete
• D. Separete

Answer and Explanation

Correct answer: A. Separate

“Separate” is the correct spelling.

Question 29: Word Usage

Choose the sentence with the correct word.

• A. The officer excepted the report from the witness.
• B. The officer accepted the report from the witness.
• C. The officer acceptted the report from the witness.
• D. The officer accepting the report from the witness.

Answer and Explanation

Correct answer: B. The officer accepted the report from the witness.

“Accepted” means received or took.

Question 30: Sentence Clarity

Which sentence is clearest and most professional?

• A. The guy did something near the thing.
• B. Officer Harris observed the subject place a black bag under the passenger seat.
• C. It was weird and probably bad.
• D. Someone handled the situation somehow.

Answer and Explanation

Correct answer: B.

This sentence is clear, factual and specific.

Section 4: Incident Report Writing

Read the incident details and answer Questions 31-40.

At approximately 9:10 p.m., Officer Harris observed a male subject standing beside a blue Honda Civic in the parking lot of 400 West Pine Street. The subject placed a small black bag under the front passenger seat. Officer Harris approached and identified the subject as Daniel Reed. The vehicle license plate was 8LQZ319.

Question 31: Best Report Sentence

Which sentence is best for an incident report?

• A. The guy was obviously hiding something illegal.
• B. At approximately 9:10 p.m., Officer Harris observed a male subject place a small black bag under the front passenger seat.
• C. Daniel Reed was clearly guilty.
• D. The suspect was acting weird near a car.

Answer and Explanation

Correct answer: B.

This sentence is factual, specific and based on observed information.

Question 32: Unsupported Statement

Which statement is not supported by the incident details?

• A. Officer Harris observed the subject near a blue Honda Civic
• B. The subject placed a small black bag under the front passenger seat
• C. The subject was identified as Daniel Reed
• D. The bag contained stolen property

Answer and Explanation

Correct answer: D. The bag contained stolen property

The passage does not state what was inside the bag.

Question 33: Location

Where did the incident occur?

• A. 400 East Pine Street
• B. 400 West Pine Street
• C. 404 West Pine Street
• D. 400 West Oak Street

Answer and Explanation

Correct answer: B. 400 West Pine Street

The location was 400 West Pine Street.

Question 34: Vehicle

What vehicle was involved?

• A. Blue Honda Civic
• B. Black Honda Civic
• C. Blue Toyota Corolla
• D. White Honda Accord

Answer and Explanation

Correct answer: A. Blue Honda Civic

The subject was standing beside a blue Honda Civic.

Question 35: License Plate

What was the license plate?

• A. 8LQZ391
• B. 8LZQ319
• C. 8LQZ319
• D. 8LQX319

Answer and Explanation

Correct answer: C. 8LQZ319

The exact plate was 8LQZ319.

Question 36: Objective Writing

Which sentence should be avoided because it contains an unsupported opinion?

• A. The subject was standing beside a blue Honda Civic.
• B. The vehicle was in the parking lot.
• C. The subject was obviously planning a crime.
• D. Officer Harris identified the subject as Daniel Reed.

Answer and Explanation

Correct answer: C. The subject was obviously planning a crime.

This sentence contains an unsupported conclusion.

Question 37: Chronological Order

Arrange the events in the most logical order.

1. Officer Harris identified the subject as Daniel Reed.
2. Officer Harris observed the subject standing beside the vehicle.
3. The subject placed a small black bag under the seat.
4. Officer Harris approached the subject.

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

Answer and Explanation

Correct answer: A. 2, 3, 4, 1

The correct order is:

observed subject → subject placed bag → officer approached → officer identified subject

Question 38: Best Summary

Which is the best summary of the incident details?

• A. Daniel Reed was guilty because he hid something.
• B. Officer Harris observed a male subject beside a blue Honda Civic at 400 West Pine Street. The subject placed a small black bag under the front passenger seat, and Officer Harris later identified him as Daniel Reed.
• C. A guy did something near a car and it was suspicious.
• D. Officer Harris found stolen property inside a bag.

Answer and Explanation

Correct answer: B.

This summary is factual, chronological and supported by the details provided.

Question 39: Detail Accuracy

Which item did the subject place under the seat?

• A. Small black bag
• B. Gray backpack
• C. White envelope
• D. Red wallet

Answer and Explanation

Correct answer: A. Small black bag

The subject placed a small black bag under the seat.

Question 40: Observation vs Conclusion

Which statement is an observation rather than a conclusion?

• A. The subject was planning to commit a crime.
• B. The subject was clearly hiding stolen property.
• C. The subject placed a small black bag under the front passenger seat.
• D. The subject was guilty.

Answer and Explanation

Correct answer: C.

This statement describes an observed action, not an unsupported conclusion.

NPOST Practice Test Answer Key

Question	Section	Correct Answer
1	Math	C
2	Math	C
3	Math	C
4	Math	C
5	Math	C
6	Math	B
7	Math	B
8	Time calculation	C
9	Financial math	B
10	Ratio	A
11	Reading comprehension	B
12	Detail	B
13	Passage support	B
14	Unsupported statement	C
15	Vocabulary in context	A
16	Conclusion	A
17	Detail	B
18	Detail	A
19	Observation	B
20	Unsupported statement	D
21	Grammar	B
22	Complete sentence	B
23	Pronoun clarity	B
24	Word choice	B
25	Punctuation	A
26	Verb tense	C
27	Spelling	B
28	Spelling	A
29	Word usage	B
30	Sentence clarity	B
31	Report writing	B
32	Unsupported statement	D
33	Detail accuracy	B
34	Detail accuracy	A
35	Detail accuracy	C
36	Objective writing	C
37	Chronological order	A
38	Report summary	B
39	Detail accuracy	A
40	Observation vs conclusion	C

Official sources

• Stanard & Associates National Police Officer Selection Test product page
• Stanard & Associates entry-level public safety tests overview

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, police exam preparation may also be useful when you need extra drills under time pressure.

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