The Police Officer Suitability Test for Police Officer Exam Study Guide

The Police Officer Suitability Test

Directions

You will need about 20 minutes to answer the following 50 questions. It's a good idea to answer all of the questions in one sitting—scoring and interpretation can be done later. For each question, consider how often the attitude or behavior applies to you. You have a choice between Never, Rarely, Sometimes, Often, and Always; write the number for your answer in the space after each question. To score your answers, see the table below. How the numbers add up will be explained later. If you try to outsmart the test or figure out the "right" answers, you won't get an accurate picture at the end. So just be honest.

Don't read the scoring sections before you answer the questions, or you will defeat the whole purpose of the exercise!

How often do the following statements sound like you? Choose only one answer for each statement.

1. I like to know what's expected of me. _____
2. I am willing to admit my mistakes to other people. _____
3. Once I've made a decision, I stop thinking about it. _____
4. I can shrug off my fears about getting physically injured. _____
5. I like to know what to expect. _____
6. It takes a lot to get me really angry. _____
7. My first impressions of people tend to be accurate. _____
8. I am aware of my stress level. _____
9. I like to tell other people what to do. _____
10. I enjoy working with others. _____
11. I trust my instincts. _____
12. I enjoy being teased. _____
13. I will spend as much time as it takes to settle a disagreement. _____
14. I feel comfortable in new social situations. _____
15. When I disagree with a person, I let that person know about it. _____
16. I'm in a good mood. _____
17. I'm comfortable making quick decisions when necessary. _____
18. Rules must be obeyed, even if you don't agree with them. _____
19. I like to say exactly what I mean. _____
20. I enjoy being with people. _____
21. I stay away from doing exciting things that I know are dangerous. _____
22. I don't mind when a supervisor tells me what to do. _____
23. I enjoy solving puzzles. _____
24. The people I know consult me about their problems. _____
25. I am comfortable making my own decisions. _____
26. People know where I stand on things. _____
27. When I get stressed, I know how to make myself relax. _____
28. I have confidence in my own judgment. _____
29. I make my friends laugh. _____
30. When I make a promise, I keep it. _____
31. When I'm in a group, I tend to be the leader. _____
32. I can deal with sudden changes in my routine. _____
33. When I get into a fight, I can stop myself from losing control. _____
34. I am open to new facts that might change my mind. _____
35. I understand why I do the things I do. _____
36. I'm good at calming people down. _____
37. I can tell how a person is feeling even when he or she doesn't say anything. _____
38. I can take criticism without getting upset. _____
39. People follow my advice. _____
40. I pay attention to people's body language. _____
41. It's important for me to make a good impression. _____
42. I remember to show up on time.
43. When I meet new people, I try to understand them. _____
44. I avoid doing things on impulse. _____
45. Being respected is important to me. _____
46. People see me as a calm person. _____
47. It's more important for me to do a good job than to get praised for it. _____
48. I make my decisions based on common sense. _____
49. I prefer to keep my feelings to myself when I'm with strangers. _____
50. I take responsibility for my own actions rather than blaming others. _____

Scoring

Attitudes and behaviors can't be measured in units, like distance or weight. Besides, psychological categories tend to overlap. As a result, the numbers and dividing lines between score ranges are approximate, and numbers may vary about 20 points either way. If your score doesn't fall in the optimal range, it doesn't mean a failure—only that an area needs more focus.

It may help to share your test results with some of the people who are close to you. Very often, there are differences between how we see ourselves and how we actually come across to others.

Group 1—Risk Questions

Add up scores for questions 4, 6, 12, 15, 21, 27, 33, 38, 44, and 46.

TOTAL = _____

This group of questions evaluates your tendency to be assertive and take risks. The ideal is in the middle, somewhere between timid and reckless: You should be willing to take risks, but not seek them out just for excitement. Being nervous, impulsive, or afraid of physical injury is an undesirable trait for a police officer. This group also reflects how well you take teasing and criticism, both of which you may encounter every day as a police officer. And as you can imagine, it's also important for someone who carries a gun not to have a short fuse.

• A score between 360 and 400 is rather extreme, suggesting a short temper that could be dangerous in the field.
• If you score between 170 and 360, you are on the right track.
• If you score between 80 and 170, you may want to think about how comfortable you are with the idea of confrontation.
• A score between 0 and 80 indicates that the more dangerous and stressful aspects of the job might be difficult for you.

Group 2—Core Character Traits

Add up scores for questions 2, 8, 16, 19, 26, 30, 35, 42, 47, and 50.

TOTAL = _____

This group reflects such basic traits as stability, reliability, and self-awareness. Can your fellow officers count on you to back them up and do your part? Are you secure enough to do your job without needing praise? In the words of one police psychologist, "If you're hungry for praise, you will starve to death." The public will not always appreciate your efforts, and your supervisors and colleagues may be too busy or preoccupied to pat you on the back.

It is crucial to be able to admit your mistakes and take responsibility for your actions, to be confident without being arrogant or conceited, and to be straightforward and direct in your communication. In a job where lives are at stake, the facts must be clear. Having control of your moods is also very important. While we all have good and bad days, someone who is depressed much of the time is not encouraged to pursue police work; depression affects one's judgment, energy level, and the ability to respond and communicate.

• If you score between 180 and 360, you are in the ballpark. A score of over 360 may indicate that your answers were unrealistic.
• A score of 100–180 indicates that you should look at the questions again and evaluate your style of social interaction.
• Scores between 0 and 100 suggest you may not be ready for this job yet.

Group 3—Judgment Questions

Add up scores for questions 3, 7, 11, 17, 23, 28, 37, 40, 43, and 48.

TOTAL = _____

This group of questions evaluates how you make decisions. Successful police officers are sensitive to unspoken messages, can detect and respond to other people's feelings, and are able to make fair and accurate assessments of a situation, rather than being influenced by their own personal biases and needs. Once the decision to act is made, second-guessing can be dangerous. Police officers must make their best judgments in line with accepted practices, and then act upon these judgments without hesitancy or self-doubt. Finally, it's important to know and accept that you cannot change the world single-handedly. People who seek this career because they want to make a dramatic individual difference in human suffering are likely to be frustrated and disappointed.

• A score over 360 indicates you may be trying too hard.
• If you scored between 170 and 360, your style of making decisions, especially about people, fits with the desired police officer profile.
• Scores between 80 and 170 suggest that you think about how you make judgments and how much confidence you have in them.
• If you scored between 80 and 170, making judgments may be a problem area for you.

Group 4—Authority/Leadership Questions

Add scores for questions 1, 10, 13, 18, 22, 25, 31, 34, 39, and 45.

TOTAL = _____

This group assesses the essential attributes of respect for rules and authority—including the personal authority of self-reliance and leadership—and the ability to resolve conflict and work with a team. Once again, a good balance is the key. Police officers must accept and communicate the value of structure and control without being rigid. And even though most decisions are made independently in the field, the authority of the supervisor and the law must be obeyed at all times. Anyone on a personal mission for justice or vengeance will not make a good police officer and is unlikely to make it through the screening process.

• A score between 160 and 360 indicates you have the desired attitude toward authority—both your own and that of your superior officers. Any higher may indicate that you were trying too hard to give the "right" answers.
• If you scored between 100 and 160, you might think about whether a demanding leadership role is something you want every day.
• With scores between 0 and 100, ask yourself whether the required combination of structure and independence would be comfortable for you.

Group 5—Personal Style Attributes

Add up scores for questions 5, 9, 14, 20, 24, 29, 32, 36, 41, and 49.

TOTAL = _____

This is the personal style dimension, which describes how you come across to others. Moderation rules here as well: Police officers should be seen as strong and capable, but not dramatic or heavy-handed; friendly, but not overly concerned with whether they are liked; patient, but not to the point of losing control of a situation. A good sense of humor is essential, not only in the field, but also among one's fellow officers. Flexibility is another valuable trait—especially given all the changes that can happen in one shift—but too much flexibility can be perceived as weakness.

• A score between 160 and 360 is optimal. If you scored over 360, you may be trying too hard.
• Scores between 80 and 160 suggest that you compare your style with the preceding description and consider whether anything needs to be modified.
• If you scored between 0 and 80, you might think about the way you interact with others and whether you would be happy in a job where people are the main focus.

Summary

The Police Officer Suitability Test reflects the fact that being a successful police officer requires moderation rather than extremes. Attitudes that are desirable in reasonable amounts can become a real problem if they are too strong. For example, independence is a necessary trait, but too much of it could result in an officer taking the law into his or her own hands. Going outside accepted police procedure is a bad idea; worse, it can put other people's lives in jeopardy.

As one recruiter said, the ideal police officer is "low key and low maintenance." In fact, there's only one thing you can't have too much of, and that's common sense. With everything else, balance is the key. Keep this in mind as you look at your scores.