About the State Trooper Exam
Overview
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The written test is nearly always the first step in the screening process for State Trooper candidates and is used to screen out unqualified candidates objectively - without accusation of favoritism or prejudice. A unique feature of entry-level exams such as these is that they do not presuppose any knowledge. You will not be expected to know police rules, regulations, or procedures, but rather to reason and think like a State Trooper.
Other elements of the application process include medical, physical, background, and psychological evaluations.
Test Dates
Most civil service exams are administered as needed. Check with your state for exam dates and application deadlines.
Test Locations
Check with your state for the location of your exam.
Test Structure
The State Trooper exams vary by state, but they are almost always made up of multiple-choice questions drawing from the following categories:
- Reading comprehension
- Practical judgment
- Observation and memory
- Visualization
- Written comprehension
- Reading maps and orientation
- Filling out forms
Miscellaneous questions, if included, tend not to comprise a significant part of the exam. These may include arithmetic, synonyms, verbal analogies, spelling, and various types of coding. In addition, there may be some questions that require deductive reasoning.
Scoring
Most civil service exams are scored on a scale of 100, with 70 as the usual passing mark. On most exams, you will get one point for each correct answer and no credit for a wrong answer, or for a question that you did not answer. This is not the case on all civil service exams. Make sure you check with the testing agency prior to taking the exam for complete details.
