- On the POST Public Safety Bulletin subtest, what are candidates required to do after the bulletin is displayed and the study period ends?
- Type the bulletin word-for-word from memory into a text field
- Answer questions about the bulletin's facts and details from memory, without referring back to it
- Rank the bulletin's incidents in order of priority
- Compare the bulletin against a separate code sheet for discrepancies
Correct answer: Answer questions about the bulletin's facts and details from memory, without referring back to it
Answering questions about the bulletin's facts and details from memory, with no access to the bulletin once the study period ends, is exactly what the Public Safety Bulletin subtest measures. The official POST Examinee Guide confirms the format: candidates have 3 minutes to study a shift bulletin, then must answer 15 recall questions in 6 minutes with the bulletin removed. The ability being tested is short-term retention of briefing information rather than typing, prioritizing, or cross-checking against a code sheet.
- A shift bulletin lists a wanted subject as a male, approximately 5 feet 10 inches tall, around 180 pounds, with a shaved head and a scar above the left eyebrow, last seen wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt. After the study period closes, a recall question asks for the subject's identifying facial feature. Based only on the bulletin, what should the candidate select?
- A tattoo on the right hand
- A scar above the left eyebrow
- A full beard
- A bandage over the right eye
Correct answer: A scar above the left eyebrow
A scar above the left eyebrow is the only identifying facial feature stated in the bulletin, so it is the correct recall answer. The Public Safety Bulletin subtest rewards retaining precise descriptors such as scars, marks, height, and clothing exactly as briefed; the other options introduce details the bulletin never listed, which is how distractors are built on this memory task. Selecting any option not explicitly stated in the bulletin would be incorrect regardless of plausibility.
- A candidate has only the timed study period to absorb a shift bulletin containing several suspect descriptions, two vehicle plates, and a BOLO before answering recall questions with the bulletin removed. Which study approach is most effective for this subtest?
- Skim the bulletin once quickly and rely on guessing the recall answers
- Focus only on memorizing the BOLO and ignore the suspect descriptions and plates
- Actively rehearse the specific details such as names, plate characters, and descriptors during the study window
- Wait until the recall questions appear and reread the bulletin then
Correct answer: Actively rehearse the specific details such as names, plate characters, and descriptors during the study window
Actively rehearsing the specific details such as names, plate characters, and physical descriptors during the study window is the most effective approach because the bulletin is removed before any recall questions appear. Since the subtest tests memory of exact facts across all bulletin content types, deliberate rehearsal of each detail outperforms a single skim. Selectively ignoring categories such as suspect descriptions or plates is risky because any detail type can be questioned, and waiting to reread the bulletin during the question phase is impossible since the bulletin is no longer available.
- On the POST Checking Coded Information subtest, a candidate hears a short letter-number code read aloud and must respond using a printed list of five codes. What does the candidate have to do to answer each item correctly?
- Decide whether the spoken code makes a statement true, false, or cannot be determined
- Find the one printed code among the five options that exactly matches the code that was spoken
- Rank three spoken codes in first, second, and third priority order
- Recall the spoken code from memory after the printed options are removed
Correct answer: Find the one printed code among the five options that exactly matches the code that was spoken
Finding the single printed code among the five options that exactly matches the spoken code is precisely what the Checking Coded Information subtest requires. The task plays a letter-number code and supplies a code sheet of five candidate codes, and the candidate must spot the exact match quickly, which measures Perceptual Speed and accuracy. Judging true/false/cannot-be-determined belongs to the Evaluating Facts subtest, ranking items by priority belongs to the Setting Priorities subtest, and recalling a code from memory after options are removed describes a memory subtest, not this side-by-side matching task.
- A test-prep candidate notices that on the Checking Coded Information subtest the codes are presented slowly at first and then come faster and faster as the section continues, with about 60 items to clear in roughly fourteen minutes. Why is the subtest deliberately built to speed up this way?
- To give the candidate extra time to write detailed notes about each code
- To let the candidate choose the more clearly written of two versions of each code
- To test whether the candidate can recall earlier codes once the section is over
- To measure how accurately the candidate can keep matching codes as the pace increases, since dispatchers must stay correct under rising workload
Correct answer: To measure how accurately the candidate can keep matching codes as the pace increases, since dispatchers must stay correct under rising workload
The accelerating pace is built in to measure how accurately the candidate keeps matching codes as speed increases, because the subtest is a speeded Perceptual Speed measure that mirrors a dispatcher's need to stay correct as the workload rises. Starting slow and then speeding up across 60 items in fourteen minutes pressures both accuracy and rate at once; the format is not designed for note-taking, has nothing to do with choosing the clearer of two written codes, and does not ask the candidate to recall codes after the section ends, which would be a memory task instead.
- In the POST Checking & Listening subtest, a candidate is given a printed HOT SHEET of stolen-vehicle plates and wanted persons, then works through a separate list of names, addresses, and license numbers. What is the candidate required to do with each entry on that separate list?
- Rank the entries in first, second, and third priority order for dispatch
- Choose the more clearly written of two versions of each entry
- Compare each entry against the HOT SHEET and flag the ones that match an item on it
- Recall each entry from memory after the HOT SHEET is taken away
Correct answer: Compare each entry against the HOT SHEET and flag the ones that match an item on it
Comparing each entry against the HOT SHEET and flagging matches is exactly what the checking task within the Checking & Listening subtest requires. The candidate cross-checks names, addresses, and license numbers on a working list against the entries on the HOT SHEET and marks any that appear on it, measuring Perceptual Speed and accuracy. Critically, this checking task is performed simultaneously with keeping a RADIO LOG of incoming unit-status broadcasts - the two tasks run concurrently throughout the subtest to measure Perceptual Time-Sharing. Ranking entries by priority belongs to Setting Priorities, picking the clearer of two sentence versions belongs to Sentence Clarity, and recalling entries after the sheet is removed describes a memory subtest rather than this side-by-side checking task.
- In the Checking & Listening subtest, a candidate keeps a written RADIO LOG of each unit's status as broadcasts come in, while at the same time performing a checking task against a HOT SHEET. What ability is this dual-task design built to measure?
- Time-sharing, or doing two tasks at once by updating the radio log while handling another task without losing accuracy on either
- Recalling the full content of a recorded service call after notes are removed
- Selecting which of five field units should respond to a written incident
- Drawing logical conclusions about whether a statement is true, false, or cannot be determined
Correct answer: Time-sharing, or doing two tasks at once by updating the radio log while handling another task without losing accuracy on either
Time-sharing - doing two tasks at once by updating the radio log while simultaneously handling the HOT SHEET checking task without losing accuracy on either - is precisely what this subtest measures. Per official POST documentation, both tasks (HOT SHEET comparison and RADIO LOG recording) run concurrently throughout the Checking & Listening subtest, creating a Perceptual Time-Sharing demand that mirrors the real dispatcher job, where a dispatcher tracks unit status while still attending to other incoming work. Recalling a recorded call from memory belongs to the auditory-memory subtests, assigning units to incidents belongs to Assigning Field Units, and judging statements true/false/cannot-be-determined belongs to Evaluating Facts.
- A candidate preparing for the Checking & Listening subtest of the POST dispatcher exam notices the section requires writing down each broadcast unit's changing status as she hears it AND simultaneously comparing another list against a HOT SHEET. Why does this combined listening-and-checking design make the section harder than a subtest that only plays audio?
- Because the broadcasts are played in a foreign language the candidate must translate first
- Because the candidate is graded only on speed, so accuracy on the radio log does not count
- Because she must split attention between continuously logging incoming status updates and the separate checking task, so a lapse on either one lowers her score
- Because the radio log is provided already filled in, removing any need to listen carefully
Correct answer: Because she must split attention between continuously logging incoming status updates and the separate checking task, so a lapse on either one lowers her score
The section is harder because the candidate must split attention between continuously logging incoming status updates and the simultaneous HOT SHEET checking task, so a lapse on either lowers the score. This Perceptual Time-Sharing design - confirmed by official POST documentation - layers active listening and writing on top of a simultaneous checking demand, unlike a pure audio subtest where the candidate only listens and answers afterward. The broadcasts are in plain English, the radio log must be accurate rather than merely fast, and the log is blank for the candidate to fill in, so careful listening is essential throughout.
- On the POST Assigning Field Units subtest, candidates are given a written set of dispatch rules and a list of incidents. What is the candidate required to produce for each incident?
- A ranking of the incident from first to third priority
- The single fastest route the responding unit should take
- The determination of which units, if any, should be assigned to that incident under the rules
- A judgment of whether the incident report is true, false, or cannot be determined
Correct answer: The determination of which units, if any, should be assigned to that incident under the rules
Determining which units, if any, should be assigned to each incident under the given rules is exactly what the Assigning Field Units subtest measures. Candidates read a novel rule set, then apply it deductively to decide unit assignments incident by incident; ranking events by priority belongs to Setting Priorities, route selection is not part of this subtest, and judging statements true/false/undetermined belongs to Evaluating Facts.
- A dispatch rule set states: Unit 1 handles only emergency incidents in the North region; Unit 2 handles non-emergency incidents in the North region; medical emergencies always require two units. A report comes in of a possible heart attack at a residence in the North region. Under these rules, which unit or units should be assigned?
- Unit 1 and Unit 2
- Unit 1 only
- Unit 2 only
- No unit, because the rules do not cover this incident
Correct answer: Unit 1 and Unit 2
Unit 1 and Unit 2 should both be assigned, because the rule that medical emergencies always require two units forces a two-unit response, and Unit 1 is the only North-region emergency unit while Unit 2 is the only other North-region unit available to make up the pair. A possible heart attack is an emergency, so the non-emergency-only restriction on Unit 2 is overridden by the explicit two-unit medical rule; assigning Unit 1 alone or Unit 2 alone fails the requirement, and the incident is plainly covered, so a no-unit answer is wrong.
- A dispatch rule set designates a parking complaint and a barking-dog report as non-emergency incidents, and a structure fire and an armed robbery in progress as emergency incidents. It then states that only emergency incidents may be assigned a field unit during a regionwide unit shortage. During a declared unit shortage, a caller reports a car parked across a private driveway. Under the rules, what is the correct action for this incident?
- Assign the nearest available unit immediately
- Assign two units because driveway complaints can escalate
- Assign no unit, because a parking complaint is non-emergency and only emergencies are assigned during the shortage
- Reclassify the parking complaint as an emergency so a unit can respond
Correct answer: Assign no unit, because a parking complaint is non-emergency and only emergencies are assigned during the shortage
Assigning no unit is correct, because the rules classify a parking complaint as non-emergency and explicitly permit only emergency incidents to receive a field unit during the declared shortage. The Assigning Field Units subtest requires applying the emergency/non-emergency designation strictly as written, which sometimes means the correct response is to assign zero units; dispatching one or two units violates the shortage rule, and a candidate has no authority under this task to reclassify a non-emergency as an emergency.
- On the POST Evaluating Facts subtest, candidates read a set of public-safety facts and then judge a series of follow-on statements. What are the three response choices available for each statement?
- True, false, or cannot be determined from the given facts
- Emergency, non-emergency, or not applicable
- First priority, second priority, or third priority
- Assign one unit, assign multiple units, or assign no unit
Correct answer: True, false, or cannot be determined from the given facts
True, false, or cannot be determined from the given facts is the exact three-way response format of the Evaluating Facts subtest. The task gives candidates a block of facts and asks them to apply deductive logic to each statement, labeling it true if the facts support it, false if the facts contradict it, and cannot be determined when the facts neither prove nor disprove it; the emergency/non-emergency labels belong to Assigning Field Units, priority ranking belongs to Setting Priorities, and unit-count choices belong to the field-unit task.
- Given facts: Officer Ramirez was on patrol the entire night shift. Every burglary reported during the night shift occurred in the West district. Officer Ramirez was assigned only to the East district that night. A statement reads: "Officer Ramirez personally responded to at least one burglary during the night shift." Based only on these facts, how should the statement be judged?
- True
- Cannot be determined
- False
- Partly true
Correct answer: False
The statement should be judged false, because the facts establish that every burglary during the night shift occurred in the West district while Officer Ramirez was assigned only to the East district, making it impossible for him to have responded to a burglary that night. The Evaluating Facts subtest rewards chaining the given facts together: the West-district location of all burglaries combined with Ramirez's East-only assignment logically contradicts the statement, so it is false rather than merely unsupported or partly true.
- Given facts: A silent alarm was triggered at the First Avenue bank at 2:15 p.m. The first unit arrived at the bank at 2:21 p.m. The bank's manager later told dispatch that the alarm had been set off accidentally by a teller. A statement reads: "The teller who set off the alarm was a new employee." Based only on these facts, how should the statement be judged?
- True
- False
- Cannot be determined
- False, because experienced tellers do not make such errors
Correct answer: Cannot be determined
The statement cannot be determined, because nothing in the given facts says anything about how long the teller had been employed; the facts cover the alarm time, the arrival time, and that a teller triggered it accidentally, but never the teller's tenure. The Evaluating Facts subtest specifically tests recognizing when the supplied facts are insufficient to confirm or deny a statement, so candidates must resist filling gaps with assumptions and avoid both an unsupported true and a false conclusion that relies on outside reasoning rather than the stated facts.
- On the POST Setting Priorities subtest, how are events presented to the candidate and what must the candidate do with each set?
- Events are given one at a time and judged true, false, or cannot be determined
- Events are listed on a code sheet and matched to alphanumeric codes for speed
- Events are grouped in sets of three and ranked first, second, and third priority using a given rule set
- Events are described on an audiotape and recalled from memory without notes
Correct answer: Events are grouped in sets of three and ranked first, second, and third priority using a given rule set
Grouping events in sets of three and ranking them first, second, and third priority under a given rule set is exactly what the Setting Priorities subtest measures. The task supplies a written priority rule set and a triad of events, and the candidate must order the three by urgency; judging statements true/false/undetermined belongs to Evaluating Facts, code-sheet matching belongs to Checking Coded Information, and audiotape recall belongs to the listening memory subtests.
- A priority rule set states: any call involving an immediate threat to a person's life is first priority; a crime in progress with no reported injuries is second priority; and a report of a crime that already occurred and has ended is third priority. A dispatcher receives these three calls at once: a reported drowning at a community pool, a shoplifter currently being chased inside a store, and a garage broken into sometime last night. Under the rules, which call is first priority?
- The reported drowning at the community pool
- The shoplifter currently being chased inside a store
- The garage broken into sometime last night
- All three share equal priority and may be handled in any order
Correct answer: The reported drowning at the community pool
The reported drowning at the community pool is first priority, because the rule set assigns top priority to any call involving an immediate threat to a person's life, and a drowning in progress is a direct life threat. The Setting Priorities subtest requires matching each event to its rule category: the shoplifter chase is a crime in progress without reported injuries and ranks second, the past garage burglary is a completed crime and ranks third, and the rules establish a clear order, so treating the calls as equal is incorrect.
- A priority rule set ranks calls by these codes: a Code 1 (highest) is a life-threatening medical or violent emergency in progress; a Code 2 is an active hazard that threatens property but not life, such as a structure fire with all occupants already outside; and a Code 3 (lowest) is a non-urgent service request. A dispatcher must order three simultaneous calls: a stabbing victim who is conscious and bleeding heavily, a vacant warehouse on fire with no one inside, and a resident requesting a copy of an old accident report. Which sequence correctly assigns first, second, and third priority?
- Warehouse fire first, stabbing victim second, accident report request third
- Accident report request first, warehouse fire second, stabbing victim third
- Stabbing victim second, warehouse fire first, accident report request third
- Stabbing victim first, warehouse fire second, accident report request third
Correct answer: Stabbing victim first, warehouse fire second, accident report request third
Ranking the stabbing victim first, the warehouse fire second, and the accident report request third is correct, because the rules place a life-threatening violent emergency in progress (the bleeding stabbing victim) at Code 1, an active hazard threatening property but not life (the vacant warehouse fire with no one inside) at Code 2, and a non-urgent service request (the old accident report copy) at Code 3. The Setting Priorities subtest tests applying the full code hierarchy to a triad in order, so any sequence that elevates the property-only fire or the routine paperwork above the imminent threat to a person's life misorders the calls.
- On the POST Reading Comprehension subtest, a candidate is given a brief written passage that remains visible while the questions are answered. What kind of questions follow the passage?
- Questions asking the candidate to type the passage back word-for-word from memory
- Questions about the passage's facts, its interpretation, and the conclusions it supports
- Questions asking which field units should respond to the incidents in the passage
- Questions asking the candidate to choose the more clearly written of two versions of a sentence
Correct answer: Questions about the passage's facts, its interpretation, and the conclusions it supports
Answering questions about the passage's facts, its interpretation, and the conclusions it supports is exactly what the Reading Comprehension subtest measures. The passage stays available while the candidate works, so this is a written-comprehension task rather than a memory task; typing the passage from memory belongs to the recall-style memory subtests, assigning field units belongs to a separate reasoning subtest, and picking the clearer of two sentence versions belongs to the Sentence Clarity subtest.
- Passage: "The communications center logs every incoming call by the time it is received. On the night in question, a residential burglary alarm was logged at 11:42 p.m. A patrol unit was dispatched two minutes after the alarm was logged and reported arriving on scene at 11:51 p.m. The homeowner, who was out of town, was notified by phone after the unit confirmed forced entry at the rear door." Based on the passage, at what time was the patrol unit dispatched?
- 11:42 p.m.
- 11:51 p.m.
- 11:44 p.m.
- The passage does not give a dispatch time
Correct answer: 11:44 p.m.
The patrol unit was dispatched at 11:44 p.m., which the passage supports by stating the alarm was logged at 11:42 p.m. and the unit was dispatched two minutes later. The Reading Comprehension subtest rewards locating and combining stated details, so 11:42 is the alarm-log time rather than the dispatch time, 11:51 is the on-scene arrival time, and the dispatch time is in fact derivable from the passage rather than absent.
- Passage: "Dispatch policy requires that any caller who reports hearing gunshots be kept on the line until officers arrive, regardless of whether the caller can see the source. Callers who report only a loud, unexplained noise are advised to call back if they observe anything further, and the call is closed. On Tuesday, a caller stated she heard several sharp bangs and then saw a man running from a parked car carrying what looked like a rifle." Based on the passage, what should the dispatcher most reasonably conclude about how this Tuesday call should be handled?
- The call should be closed with advice to call back, since the caller only heard a noise
- The caller should be transferred to a non-emergency line because no shots were confirmed
- The dispatcher cannot act because the caller did not actually see a gun being fired
- The caller should be kept on the line until officers arrive, because the report fits a gunshot call
Correct answer: The caller should be kept on the line until officers arrive, because the report fits a gunshot call
The caller should be kept on the line until officers arrive, because the report fits the passage's gunshot category. The Reading Comprehension subtest tests drawing a conclusion supported by the passage: the woman heard several sharp bangs and saw a man fleeing with what looked like a rifle, which the policy treats as a gunshot report to be kept on the line regardless of whether the caller sees the source, so it is not a mere unexplained-noise call to be closed, and the policy does not require a confirmed sighting of a weapon being fired.
- On the POST Sentence Clarity subtest, candidates are shown two versions of the same sentence. What is the candidate asked to do?
- Rank the sentence's events in order of first, second, and third priority
- Type the sentence back from memory after it is removed from the screen
- Choose the version that is more clearly and correctly written
- Decide whether the sentence is true, false, or cannot be determined
Correct answer: Choose the version that is more clearly and correctly written
Choosing the version that is more clearly and correctly written is exactly what the Sentence Clarity subtest measures. The task presents two wordings of the same idea and asks which one communicates it more clearly, with proper grammar and no ambiguity, because dispatchers must write logs and reports that other personnel can read without confusion; ranking events by priority belongs to Setting Priorities, recalling a removed sentence belongs to a memory subtest, and judging a statement true/false/undetermined belongs to Evaluating Facts.
- A Sentence Clarity item asks a candidate to pick the clearer of two versions of the same dispatch log entry. Version A reads: "After interviewing the witness, the stolen vehicle was located by the responding officer." Version B reads: "After interviewing the witness, the responding officer located the stolen vehicle." Which version is clearer and correctly written?
- Version B, because the officer is the one who did the interviewing and the locating, so the sentence is unambiguous
- Version A, because naming the stolen vehicle first emphasizes the most important fact
- Both are equally clear, so either may be selected
- Version A, because it uses fewer action words
Correct answer: Version B, because the officer is the one who did the interviewing and the locating, so the sentence is unambiguous
Version B is clearer and correctly written, because the officer is the one who interviewed the witness and located the vehicle, so placing "the responding officer" right after the opening phrase keeps the doer of both actions consistent and unambiguous. The Sentence Clarity subtest rewards spotting a dangling or misplaced modifier: Version A's opening phrase "After interviewing the witness" wrongly attaches to "the stolen vehicle," implying the vehicle did the interviewing, which is exactly the kind of confusing construction the subtest asks candidates to reject.
- On a Sentence Clarity item, a candidate compares two versions of a report sentence and notices that one of them can be read to mean two different things. Why does that ambiguity make it the weaker choice on this subtest?
- Because shorter sentences are always scored higher than longer ones
- Because the subtest only accepts sentences written in the past tense
- Because using any pronoun automatically makes a sentence incorrect
- Because a sentence that can be understood in more than one way fails the goal of clear, unambiguous communication
Correct answer: Because a sentence that can be understood in more than one way fails the goal of clear, unambiguous communication
A sentence that can be understood in more than one way is the weaker choice because it fails the goal of clear, unambiguous communication that the Sentence Clarity subtest is built to measure. Dispatch logs and reports must convey a single, unmistakable meaning so that officers and other staff act on accurate information, so the subtest favors the version with one obvious reading; sentence length, a required tense, and pronoun use are not the deciding factors, since a longer sentence or one with a pronoun can still be perfectly clear.
- On the POST Recalling Facts & Details subtest, candidates listen to an audiotape of a simulated service call and then answer recall questions. What restriction applies while the recording is playing?
- Candidates may not take any written notes and must answer from memory after the recording ends
- Candidates may pause and replay the recording as often as needed before answering
- Candidates may jot down only names and addresses but no other details
- Candidates may read along with a printed transcript of the call
Correct answer: Candidates may not take any written notes and must answer from memory after the recording ends
Answering from memory with no notes allowed is correct. The Recalling Facts & Details subtest plays a single audiotape of a simulated call and prohibits note-taking entirely, then presents 18 recall items measuring pure auditory memory once the recording stops. There is no replay, no partial note-taking, and no printed transcript; that note-and-listen format belongs to the separate Call-Taking subtest, not this one.
- While taking the Recalling Facts & Details subtest, a candidate hears a recorded caller report that a hit-and-run happened at the corner of Elm Street and Third Avenue, that the fleeing car was a green sedan, and that it last headed north toward the freeway. No notes are permitted. After the recording ends, a recall item asks for the direction the suspect vehicle was traveling. What should the candidate select?
- South, away from the freeway
- North, toward the freeway
- East, onto Third Avenue
- West, onto Elm Street
Correct answer: North, toward the freeway
Traveling north toward the freeway is correct because the recorded caller specifically stated the green sedan last headed north toward the freeway. This subtest tests auditory recall with no notes, so the candidate must retain the spoken direction exactly as heard; the other directions blend in the mentioned street names and a reversed bearing to mimic the memory traps built into the audiotape.
- A candidate preparing for the Recalling Facts & Details subtest knows the recording is a single simulated call played once with no notes allowed and is followed by 18 recall questions. Which listening strategy is most effective for this format?
- Try to write the details down quickly in shorthand as the call plays
- Focus on memorizing the very first sentence and ignore the rest of the call
- Actively listen for and mentally rehearse key facts such as who, what, where, and when as the call unfolds
- Wait until the recall questions appear and then ask to hear the recording again
Correct answer: Actively listen for and mentally rehearse key facts such as who, what, where, and when as the call unfolds
Mentally rehearsing the key who, what, where, and when facts as the call plays is the most effective approach. Because the subtest forbids notes, plays the call only once, and then asks 18 recall items, success depends on active listening and memory rehearsal across the whole call. Writing in shorthand is not allowed, fixating on only the first sentence ignores most of the recall items, and the recording cannot be replayed on request.
- On the POST Call-Taking subtest, candidates listen to three simulated emergency calls and then answer roughly 25 questions. How does the allowed procedure for this subtest differ from the audiotape memory subtest?
- Candidates may replay each call as many times as they wish before answering
- Candidates are permitted to take written notes during the calls and then answer fact and interpretation questions about them
- Candidates must rank the three calls in order of first, second, and third priority
- Candidates may answer using only true, false, or cannot be determined
Correct answer: Candidates are permitted to take written notes during the calls and then answer fact and interpretation questions about them
Taking written notes during the calls and then answering fact and interpretation questions is exactly what sets the Call-Taking subtest apart. This subtest plays three simulated calls and expressly allows note-taking, then asks about 25 items covering both stated facts and interpretations or conclusions, which is the opposite of the no-notes memory subtest; replaying calls at will is not offered, ranking three events belongs to Setting Priorities, and the true/false/cannot-be-determined format belongs to Evaluating Facts.
- During the Call-Taking subtest, a candidate takes notes on a call in which the caller says a man collapsed at a bus stop on Cedar Street, is breathing but unresponsive, and that the caller does not know the man and just happened to be walking past. A later question asks what the candidate can reasonably conclude about the relationship between the caller and the collapsed man. Based on the call, what is the best answer?
- The caller is a relative of the collapsed man
- The caller is the man's coworker
- The caller works as a paramedic
- The caller is a bystander with no prior connection to the man
Correct answer: The caller is a bystander with no prior connection to the man
The best conclusion is that the caller is a bystander with no prior connection to the man, because the caller stated she does not know him and just happened to be walking past. The Call-Taking subtest mixes straight fact recall from a candidate's notes with interpretation items like this one, where the correct answer is drawn directly from what the caller reported about the relationship; nothing in the call supports the caller being a relative, a coworker, or a paramedic, so those are interpretation traps.
- A candidate working the Call-Taking subtest takes notes across three back-to-back simulated calls and must then answer about 25 fact and interpretation questions, with some items asking which call a detail came from. Why is organized, call-by-call note-taking especially important on this subtest?
- Because the recordings are scored on the candidate's handwriting rather than the answers
- Because notes are forbidden and must be erased before the questions begin
- Because details from three separate calls must be kept distinct and located quickly to answer accurately at speed
- Because only the first of the three calls is ever questioned
Correct answer: Because details from three separate calls must be kept distinct and located quickly to answer accurately at speed
Keeping details from three separate calls distinct and locating them quickly is why organized note-taking matters so much here. The Call-Taking subtest layers Perceptual Speed onto comprehension: a candidate who blends facts from different calls or cannot find a noted detail fast will miss interpretation and fact items, since questions can draw from any of the three calls. Handwriting is not scored, notes are permitted rather than forbidden, and all three calls are fair game for questions, not just the first.
- On the POST Following Oral Directions subtest, a candidate listens to a recorded radio transmission from a patrol officer and must respond to questions. What is the central ability this subtest is designed to measure?
- Identifying the tasks the officer requests and determining the correct order in which to carry them out
- Choosing the more clearly written of two versions of the officer's request
- Judging whether the officer's statements are true, false, or cannot be determined
- Matching the officer's spoken unit number against a printed code sheet for speed
Correct answer: Identifying the tasks the officer requests and determining the correct order in which to carry them out
Identifying the requested tasks and determining the correct order to perform them is exactly what the Following Oral Directions subtest measures. The task plays a radio call in which an officer asks the dispatcher to do several things, and the candidate must extract those tasks and sequence them correctly, which is an Information Ordering skill applied to spoken input. Comparing two sentence versions belongs to Sentence Clarity, judging statements true/false/cannot-be-determined belongs to Evaluating Facts, and matching a spoken code against a printed sheet belongs to Checking Coded Information.
- During the Following Oral Directions subtest, an officer radios: "Dispatch, first run the plate on the silver pickup, then once that comes back send me a cover unit, and after the cover unit is rolling, notify the supervisor of my location." A question asks what the dispatcher should do first. Based on the transmission, what is the correct first action?
- Notify the supervisor of the officer's location
- Send a cover unit to the officer
- Run the plate on the silver pickup
- Ask the officer to repeat the silver pickup's plate
Correct answer: Run the plate on the silver pickup
Running the plate on the silver pickup is the correct first action, because the officer explicitly said to run the plate first, then send a cover unit once the plate returns, and only after the cover unit is rolling notify the supervisor. The Following Oral Directions subtest tests sequencing spoken instructions in the exact order the officer gives them, so sending the cover unit or notifying the supervisor are later steps, and asking the officer to repeat the plate is not one of the directed tasks.
- On the Following Oral Directions subtest, an officer transmits at 1422 hours: "I'm out on a traffic stop at Lincoln Avenue and Fifth Street with one occupant, James Carter, date of birth March 4th 1990. Run him for wants and check the registered owner." A later question asks the candidate to recall the location of the stop. Why does this subtest demand accurate capture of names, times, and locations from the spoken call rather than just the order of tasks?
- Because the candidate is scored only on how fast the answers are entered, not on accuracy
- Because the recording is replayed before every question, so memory of details is unnecessary
- Because acting on a directed task correctly depends on recording the specific spoken details, such as the intersection, the name, and the time, accurately the first time
- Because the officer's spoken details are always provided again in a printed transcript
Correct answer: Because acting on a directed task correctly depends on recording the specific spoken details, such as the intersection, the name, and the time, accurately the first time
Accurate capture matters because acting on a directed task correctly depends on recording the specific spoken details the first time, such as the Lincoln Avenue and Fifth Street intersection, the name James Carter, and the 1422 time. The Following Oral Directions subtest combines listening, memory, and information ordering, so the dispatcher must both sequence the tasks and pull exact identifiers from the transmission; the subtest does not reward speed over accuracy, does not replay the call before each question, and does not supply a printed transcript of the officer's spoken details.
- During the Recalling Facts & Details subtest, the recorded caller says her name is Maria Delgado and that she lives at 4127 Sycamore Lane. No notes are allowed. After the recording ends, a recall item asks for the caller's house number. What should the candidate select?
Correct answer: 4127
The correct house number is 4127 because the recorded caller stated she lives at 4127 Sycamore Lane. This subtest measures auditory recall with no notes, so the candidate must hold the spoken digits in memory exactly as heard; the other options scramble the same four digits to mimic the transposition errors that commonly occur when a number is recalled from memory.
- On the Recalling Facts & Details subtest, the recorded caller reports that a kitchen fire started about ten minutes ago and that two children are still inside the house. No notes are permitted. After the call ends, a recall item asks how many children are still inside. What should the candidate select?
- Three children
- One child
- Four children
- Two children
Correct answer: Two children
The correct answer is two children, because the recorded caller stated that two children are still inside the house. The subtest tests memory for spoken details with no notes allowed, so the candidate must retain the exact count heard; the other numbers are plausible distractors that test whether the candidate confuses the count with the ten-minute time detail also mentioned in the call.
- While taking the Recalling Facts & Details subtest, a candidate hears the recorded caller describe a robbery suspect as a tall man wearing a red baseball cap and a gray hooded sweatshirt. No notes are allowed. After the recording, a recall item asks what color the suspect's cap was. What should the candidate select?
Correct answer: Red
The correct answer is red, because the recorded caller described the suspect as wearing a red baseball cap. Because this subtest forbids notes and plays the call only once, the candidate must keep the cap color and the separate sweatshirt color distinct in memory; gray is a deliberate trap drawn from the sweatshirt detail, and the remaining colors were never mentioned.
- On the Recalling Facts & Details subtest, the recorded caller says the incident is happening at the Lakeside Apartments in building C, apartment 12. No notes are permitted. After the recording ends, a recall item asks for the apartment number. What should the candidate select?
- Apartment 21
- Building 12
- Apartment 12
- Apartment 2
Correct answer: Apartment 12
The correct answer is apartment 12, because the recorded caller stated the incident is in apartment 12 of building C at the Lakeside Apartments. This subtest measures auditory memory with no notes, so the candidate must separate the apartment number from the building letter; the distractors transpose the digits or confuse the apartment with the building designation heard in the same sentence.
- During the Recalling Facts & Details subtest, the recorded caller reports that an elderly man has collapsed and is breathing but not responding. No notes are allowed. After the call ends, a recall item asks about the man's breathing status. What should the candidate select?
- He is not breathing and not responding
- He is breathing and responding normally
- He is responding but not breathing
- He is breathing but not responding
Correct answer: He is breathing but not responding
The correct answer is that he is breathing but not responding, because the recorded caller stated the collapsed man is breathing but not responding. The subtest requires recalling spoken medical details from memory with no notes, so the candidate must keep the breathing and responsiveness facts paired correctly; the distractors swap or negate one of the two conditions to test precise recall.
- On the Recalling Facts & Details subtest, the recorded caller states the suspect fled in a blue pickup truck with the license plate beginning with the letters BRT. No notes are permitted. After the recording, a recall item asks for the first three letters of the plate. What should the candidate select?
Correct answer: BRT
The correct answer is BRT, because the recorded caller said the license plate begins with the letters BRT. Because this subtest allows no notes and plays the call once, the candidate must retain the exact letter sequence in order; the distractors rearrange or alter one letter to mimic the common memory error of reordering a short string of characters.
- While taking the Recalling Facts & Details subtest, a candidate hears the recorded caller say the disturbance is coming from the upstairs neighbor in unit 3B. No notes are allowed. After the recording ends, a recall item asks which unit the disturbance is coming from. What should the candidate select?
- Unit 3A
- Unit 2B
- Unit B3
- Unit 3B
Correct answer: Unit 3B
The correct answer is unit 3B, because the recorded caller identified the disturbance as coming from the upstairs neighbor in unit 3B. The subtest measures recall of spoken details with no notes, so the candidate must retain both the number and letter exactly; the distractors change the letter, change the number, or reverse the order to test precise memory of the unit identifier.
- On the Recalling Facts & Details subtest, the recorded caller reports that the accident involved three vehicles and that one driver is trapped. No notes are permitted. After the call ends, a recall item asks how many vehicles were involved. What should the candidate select?
- Two vehicles
- Four vehicles
- One vehicle
- Three vehicles
Correct answer: Three vehicles
The correct answer is three vehicles, because the recorded caller stated the accident involved three vehicles. Since this subtest forbids notes and plays the call once, the candidate must separate the vehicle count from the detail that one driver is trapped; the distractor of one vehicle is drawn from the trapped-driver fact, and the other numbers are nearby values that test exact recall.
- During the Recalling Facts & Details subtest, the recorded caller gives the cross streets of the emergency as Maple Avenue and Seventh Street. No notes are allowed. After the recording, a recall item asks for the cross streets. What should the candidate select?
- Maple Street and Seventh Avenue
- Maple Avenue and Seventeenth Street
- Maple Avenue and Seventh Street
- Marple Avenue and Seventh Street
Correct answer: Maple Avenue and Seventh Street
The correct answer is Maple Avenue and Seventh Street, because the recorded caller named those exact cross streets. The subtest tests auditory recall with no notes, so the candidate must retain both street names and their suffixes precisely; the distractors swap the Avenue and Street labels, alter a number to a similar-sounding one, or change a street name slightly to test careful listening.
- On the Recalling Facts & Details subtest, the recorded caller says the missing child is a six-year-old girl wearing a yellow raincoat. No notes are permitted. After the call ends, a recall item asks the child's age. What should the candidate select?
- Six years old
- Seven years old
- Five years old
- Sixteen years old
Correct answer: Six years old
The correct answer is six years old, because the recorded caller described the missing child as a six-year-old girl. Because no notes are allowed and the call plays once, the candidate must keep the age separate from the clothing detail; the distractor of sixteen tests whether the listener confuses six with a similar-sounding number, and the other ages are nearby values that probe exact recall.
- While taking the Recalling Facts & Details subtest, a candidate hears the recorded caller report that a break-in is in progress at a hardware store on Industrial Road. No notes are allowed. After the recording ends, a recall item asks what type of business is being broken into. What should the candidate select?
- A grocery store
- A hardware store
- A pharmacy
- A hardware warehouse
Correct answer: A hardware store
The correct answer is a hardware store, because the recorded caller said the break-in is in progress at a hardware store. The subtest measures recall of spoken details with no notes, so the candidate must retain the business type exactly; the distractor of a hardware warehouse is close but changes the business type, while the other options name businesses never mentioned in the call.
- On the Recalling Facts & Details subtest, the recorded caller states that the suspect is armed with a knife, not a gun. No notes are permitted. After the call ends, a recall item asks what weapon the suspect has. What should the candidate select?
- A gun
- A knife
- A baseball bat
- No weapon
Correct answer: A knife
The correct answer is a knife, because the recorded caller specified the suspect is armed with a knife and not a gun. Since this subtest allows no notes and plays the call once, the candidate must recall the weapon precisely and resist the gun distractor that the caller explicitly ruled out; the other options name weapons or conditions never stated in the call.
- During the Recalling Facts & Details subtest, the recorded caller says the emergency began around 9:45 in the evening. No notes are allowed. After the recording, a recall item asks what time the emergency began. What should the candidate select?
- Around 9:45 p.m.
- Around 9:45 a.m.
- Around 9:15 p.m.
- Around 8:45 p.m.
Correct answer: Around 9:45 p.m.
The correct answer is around 9:45 p.m., because the recorded caller said the emergency began around 9:45 in the evening. The subtest tests auditory recall with no notes, so the candidate must retain both the time and the evening designation; the distractors change the time of day to a.m. or alter the minutes or hour to test whether the listener recalls the full detail accurately.
- On the Recalling Facts & Details subtest, the recorded caller reports that water is flooding the basement and is now about two feet deep. No notes are permitted. After the call ends, a recall item asks how deep the water is. What should the candidate select?
- About two feet deep
- About two inches deep
- About four feet deep
- About twelve feet deep
Correct answer: About two feet deep
The correct answer is about two feet deep, because the recorded caller stated the basement water is about two feet deep. Because no notes are allowed and the call plays once, the candidate must recall both the number and the unit; the distractor changing feet to inches tests whether the listener retains the unit, and the other depths alter the number to probe exact recall.
- While taking the Recalling Facts & Details subtest, a candidate hears the recorded caller say that the injured worker fell from a ladder on the second floor of the warehouse. No notes are allowed. After the recording ends, a recall item asks what the worker fell from. What should the candidate select?
- A scaffold
- A ladder
- A roof
- A staircase
Correct answer: A ladder
The correct answer is a ladder, because the recorded caller said the injured worker fell from a ladder. The subtest measures recall of spoken details with no notes, so the candidate must separate what the worker fell from from the location detail of the second floor; the distractors name other elevated objects that were not mentioned, testing precise recall of the stated cause.
- On the Recalling Facts & Details subtest, the recorded caller gives a callback number ending in the last four digits 5280. No notes are permitted. After the call ends, a recall item asks for the last four digits of the callback number. What should the candidate select?
Correct answer: 5280
The correct answer is 5280, because the recorded caller gave a callback number ending in 5280. Since this subtest forbids notes and plays the call once, the candidate must retain the digit sequence in exact order; the distractors transpose the digits to mimic the reordering errors that frequently happen when a four-digit number is recalled from memory.
- During the Recalling Facts & Details subtest, the recorded caller reports that an aggressive dog is loose in the fenced backyard of the home. No notes are allowed. After the recording, a recall item asks where the loose dog is located. What should the candidate select?
- In the front yard
- In the fenced backyard
- Inside the house
- In the garage
Correct answer: In the fenced backyard
The correct answer is in the fenced backyard, because the recorded caller said the aggressive dog is loose in the fenced backyard. The subtest tests memory for spoken details with no notes, so the candidate must recall the specific location stated; the distractors name other parts of the property that were never mentioned, testing whether the listener retains the exact location heard.
- On the Recalling Facts & Details subtest, the recorded caller says the chemical spill involves a substance labeled chlorine in the storage room. No notes are permitted. After the call ends, a recall item asks what substance spilled. What should the candidate select?
- Chlorine
- Chloroform
- Ammonia
- Chromium
Correct answer: Chlorine
The correct answer is chlorine, because the recorded caller said the spilled substance is labeled chlorine. Because this subtest allows no notes and plays the call once, the candidate must recall the substance name precisely; the distractors are similar-sounding chemical names that test whether the listener confuses chlorine with another term heard under time pressure.
- While taking the Recalling Facts & Details subtest, a candidate hears the recorded caller report that three armed men entered the bank through the rear entrance. No notes are allowed. After the recording ends, a recall item asks which entrance the men used. What should the candidate select?
- The rear entrance
- The front entrance
- The side entrance
- The loading dock
Correct answer: The rear entrance
The correct answer is the rear entrance, because the recorded caller said the three armed men entered through the rear entrance. The subtest measures recall of spoken details with no notes, so the candidate must separate the entrance detail from the count of three men; the distractors name other entry points not mentioned, testing whether the listener retains the exact entrance stated.
- On the Recalling Facts & Details subtest, the recorded caller states that the stalled vehicle blocking the highway is a white delivery van. No notes are permitted. After the call ends, a recall item asks what color the stalled vehicle is. What should the candidate select?
Correct answer: White
The correct answer is white, because the recorded caller described the stalled vehicle as a white delivery van. Since this subtest forbids notes and plays the call once, the candidate must recall the vehicle's color exactly as stated; the distractors are other common vehicle colors that were never mentioned, testing whether the listener retains the specific color heard in the call.
- While taking notes on a Call-Taking subtest call, a caller reports that a kitchen fire started after a pan of grease caught fire on the stove, that everyone has left the apartment, and that the building is at 412 Walnut Court, unit 3B. A later fact question asks for the exact location of the emergency. Which detail should the candidate have noted to answer correctly?
- 412 Walnut Court, unit 3B
- The caller's first name
- The brand of the stove
- The time the call was received
Correct answer: 412 Walnut Court, unit 3B
412 Walnut Court, unit 3B is the detail to note, because a fact question asking for the exact location of the emergency is answered straight from the address the caller gave. The Call-Taking subtest rewards capturing concrete who-what-where details verbatim in notes; the caller's name, the stove brand, and the call time were not stated and are not the location asked for.
- On the Call-Taking subtest, a caller describes a hit-and-run in which a blue sedan struck a cyclist and then drove north on Main Street. A later interpretation question asks which direction the fleeing vehicle was last seen heading. What is the correct answer?
- South on Main Street
- North on Main Street
- West on Oak Avenue
- The direction was not given
Correct answer: North on Main Street
North on Main Street is correct, because the caller stated the blue sedan drove north on Main Street after the collision. Call-Taking questions frequently test directional details captured in notes; south reverses the stated direction, Oak Avenue was never mentioned, and the direction was in fact given, so those are traps for inattentive note-takers.
- During the Call-Taking subtest a candidate listens to three calls and may take notes throughout, with a short period after the calls end to finish writing before questions begin. Why does the subtest allow a brief completion window after the recordings stop?
- To let candidates compare answers with neighbors
- To replay any call the candidate missed
- To give time to finish notes started during fast-moving calls before answering
- To reorder the three calls by severity
Correct answer: To give time to finish notes started during fast-moving calls before answering
Giving time to finish notes started during fast-moving calls is the purpose of the brief completion window. Because callers speak quickly and continuously, the subtest provides a short pause after the recordings so candidates can complete partial notes before the question phase; comparing answers is prohibited, calls are not replayed, and reordering by severity is a Setting Priorities task, not part of Call-Taking.
- A Call-Taking subtest caller reports that a child swallowed an unknown number of pills from a medicine bottle, that the child is now drowsy, and that the family is at 88 Riverside Drive. A fact question later asks what the child reportedly swallowed. Based on the call, what should the candidate answer?
- Cleaning fluid
- Nothing was swallowed
- A small toy
- Pills from a medicine bottle
Correct answer: Pills from a medicine bottle
Pills from a medicine bottle is the answer, because the caller specifically said the child swallowed pills from a medicine bottle. The Call-Taking subtest tests accurate recall of the reported substance or hazard; cleaning fluid and a toy were never mentioned, and the call clearly states something was swallowed, so the other choices contradict the call.
- On the Call-Taking subtest, a caller says she heard glass breaking next door and then saw two people climb out a back window carrying a television. An interpretation question asks what crime is most likely occurring. What is the best conclusion from the call?
- A burglary
- A house fire
- A traffic accident
- A medical emergency
Correct answer: A burglary
A burglary is the best conclusion, because breaking glass plus people climbing out a window carrying a television points to a break-in and theft. Call-Taking interpretation items ask candidates to draw the most supported conclusion from noted facts; nothing in the call describes fire, a crash, or a medical event, so those are unsupported inferences.
- A candidate on the Call-Taking subtest takes notes on a caller who describes a suspect as a tall man wearing a red jacket and a black baseball cap, fleeing on foot. A later question asks for the suspect's clothing description. Which noted detail set answers it correctly?
- Short man in a blue coat
- Tall man in a red jacket and black cap
- Woman in a green dress
- No description was provided
Correct answer: Tall man in a red jacket and black cap
Tall man in a red jacket and black cap is correct, because that is exactly the description the caller gave. The Call-Taking subtest tests precise capture of suspect descriptions; swapping colors or height, inventing a woman in green, or claiming no description was given all conflict with what the caller actually reported.
- On the Call-Taking subtest, one caller reports a gas smell in an apartment building and another, separate call reports a stalled car blocking an intersection. A question asks which call involved a possible gas leak. Why does keeping notes labeled by call matter for answering this?
- Because only one call is ever scored
- Because callers are graded on politeness
- Because details from different calls must not be mixed up when a question targets a specific call
- Because the gas-leak call must be answered first
Correct answer: Because details from different calls must not be mixed up when a question targets a specific call
Keeping details from different calls separate so they are not mixed up is why labeled notes matter, since this question targets one specific call out of several. The Call-Taking subtest draws questions from any of the simulated calls, so a candidate who blends the gas-leak and stalled-car facts may attribute a detail to the wrong call; all calls are scored, politeness is not graded, and there is no required answering order tied to the gas call.
- During the Call-Taking subtest, a caller states that a fight broke out at a bar, that one person has been stabbed and is bleeding from the arm, and that the attacker ran toward the parking lot. A fact question asks where the attacker went. What should the candidate answer?
- Into the bar's kitchen
- Up to the roof
- The attacker stayed at the scene
- Toward the parking lot
Correct answer: Toward the parking lot
Toward the parking lot is the answer, because the caller said the attacker ran toward the parking lot. The Call-Taking subtest tests recall of where a suspect went, a detail call-takers must capture for responding units; the kitchen, the roof, and staying at the scene all contradict the caller's statement.
- A Call-Taking subtest question presents a statement and asks whether it is supported by the call: the caller said a woman fell down the stairs and cannot move her leg, but never stated her age. The statement to evaluate is that the injured woman is elderly. How should the candidate handle this?
- Treat it as not supported because the call never gave the woman's age
- Mark it supported because falls usually involve elderly people
- Guess an age based on the injury
- Skip the question entirely
Correct answer: Treat it as not supported because the call never gave the woman's age
Treating it as not supported because the call never gave the woman's age is correct, since the candidate must answer only from information actually provided in the call. The Call-Taking subtest punishes adding assumptions; concluding she is elderly relies on a stereotype rather than stated facts, guessing an age invents information, and skipping forfeits a scorable item.
- On the Call-Taking subtest, a caller reports that her elderly father is having chest pain and trouble breathing, that he has a heart condition, and that they are at 27 Maple Lane. An interpretation question asks what type of emergency this most likely is. What is the best answer?
- A property crime
- A medical emergency
- A noise complaint
- A water-main break
Correct answer: A medical emergency
A medical emergency is the best answer, because chest pain, breathing trouble, and a known heart condition describe a person in medical distress. Call-Taking interpretation items ask candidates to classify the emergency from noted symptoms; a property crime, noise complaint, and water-main break have no support in the call's described facts.
- A candidate taking notes on the Call-Taking subtest hears a caller give a phone callback number, 555-0147, in case the line drops. A later fact question asks for the caller's callback number. Why is jotting numbers like this immediately a good Call-Taking strategy?
- Because numbers are the only thing ever questioned
- Because the test scores how neatly numbers are written
- Because precise figures are easy to forget and may be asked verbatim
- Because callback numbers are never relevant
Correct answer: Because precise figures are easy to forget and may be asked verbatim
Precise figures are easy to forget and may be asked verbatim, which is why writing the callback number down immediately helps. The Call-Taking subtest can ask for exact numbers a caller provides, and human memory drops digits quickly; numbers are not the only questioned content, neatness is not scored, and callback numbers can absolutely be relevant test details.
- On the Call-Taking subtest, a caller reports two children trapped on the second floor of a smoking house and, in a separate detail, mentions that the family dog is still inside. A question asks how many children are reported trapped. What should the candidate answer?
- One child
- Three children
- No children, only a dog
- Two children
Correct answer: Two children
Two children is correct, because the caller stated two children are trapped on the second floor. The Call-Taking subtest tests exact counts of people involved, which drive resource decisions; one or three children misstate the number, and answering only a dog ignores the explicitly reported children.
- During the Call-Taking subtest, a caller describes an event but is upset and gives details out of order, mentioning the location near the end after first describing the injuries. How should a skilled note-taker handle out-of-order information?
- Capture each key detail as it comes, regardless of the order given
- Write only the first thing the caller says and ignore the rest
- Wait until the call ends and reconstruct it from memory
- Stop taking notes until the caller calms down
Correct answer: Capture each key detail as it comes, regardless of the order given
Capturing each key detail as it comes regardless of order is the right approach, because callers often report facts in a scattered sequence. The Call-Taking subtest still expects accurate notes on location, injuries, and other facts even when they arrive out of order; writing only the first detail, relying on memory after the call, or pausing note-taking all risk losing scorable information.
- A Call-Taking subtest caller reports a robbery at a convenience store and says the suspect showed a knife but did not fire any shots. A statement to evaluate asks whether a firearm was used in the robbery. How should the candidate respond?
- Supported, because robberies usually involve guns
- Not supported, because the caller described a knife and said no shots were fired
- Cannot tell, because weapons were not mentioned
- Supported, because a knife counts as a firearm
Correct answer: Not supported, because the caller described a knife and said no shots were fired
Not supported, because the caller described a knife and said no shots were fired, is the correct response. The Call-Taking subtest requires answering from stated facts, and the call specifies a knife rather than a gun; assuming a firearm relies on a generalization, weapons were clearly mentioned, and a knife is not a firearm, so the other options misread the call.
- On the Call-Taking subtest, a caller says a delivery driver was assaulted in the lobby at about 9:15 in the evening and that the assailant left in a white van. A fact question asks what time the assault reportedly happened. What should the candidate answer?
- About 9:15 in the morning
- Around noon
- About 9:15 in the evening
- The time was not stated
Correct answer: About 9:15 in the evening
About 9:15 in the evening is correct, because the caller gave that as the time of the assault. The Call-Taking subtest tests careful recall of the time of an event, and confusing morning for evening is a classic trap; noon was never mentioned, and the time was in fact stated, so those choices conflict with the call.
- A candidate on the Call-Taking subtest realizes that some questions ask for facts the caller stated and others ask for conclusions the candidate must draw. How should the candidate tell these two question types apart while answering?
- Both types are answered by guessing
- All questions are interpretation, so notes are useless
- Only fact questions appear on this subtest
- Fact questions point to a stated detail, while interpretation questions ask for a conclusion the facts support
Correct answer: Fact questions point to a stated detail, while interpretation questions ask for a conclusion the facts support
Fact questions point to a stated detail while interpretation questions ask for a supported conclusion is the correct distinction. The Call-Taking subtest deliberately mixes literal recall items with reasoning items, so a candidate should answer fact questions straight from notes and reason carefully for interpretation items; guessing, dismissing notes, and claiming only fact questions exist all misunderstand the subtest.
- During the Call-Taking subtest, a caller reports a multi-vehicle crash on the highway and says three cars are involved and one is on fire. An interpretation question asks which agencies would most likely be needed based on the call. What conclusion is best supported?
- Both fire and medical response given the fire and crash
- Only a tow truck
- Only animal control
- No response is needed
Correct answer: Both fire and medical response given the fire and crash
Both fire and medical response given the fire and crash is best supported, because a burning vehicle in a multi-car collision indicates both fire suppression and likely injuries. Call-Taking interpretation items ask which response the noted facts justify; a tow truck alone ignores the fire and injuries, animal control is irrelevant, and a serious crash with fire clearly warrants response.
- On the Call-Taking subtest, a caller describes a domestic disturbance and names two people: Maria, who is the one calling, and David, who she says is breaking furniture. A fact question asks who is reported to be breaking furniture. What should the candidate answer?
- Maria
- David
- A neighbor
- No one was named
Correct answer: David
David is correct, because the caller Maria identified David as the person breaking furniture. The Call-Taking subtest tests keeping track of who did what when a call names multiple people; swapping in Maria, inventing a neighbor, or saying no one was named all confuse or contradict the roles the caller described.
- A candidate on the Call-Taking subtest hears a caller mention a landmark, saying the crash is right in front of the public library on Center Street, but never gives a street number. A fact question asks where the crash occurred. What is the best answer from the call?
- At an unknown location
- At the caller's home
- In front of the public library on Center Street
- On the highway
Correct answer: In front of the public library on Center Street
In front of the public library on Center Street is the best answer, because the caller located the crash by that landmark even without a street number. The Call-Taking subtest accepts the location as the caller described it, including landmark references; calling it unknown ignores the given landmark, and the caller's home and the highway were never mentioned.
- On the Call-Taking subtest, a caller reports that a man is threatening people with a baseball bat outside a school and that classes are in session. An interpretation question asks why this call would be treated as urgent based on the facts. What conclusion is best supported?
- Because the caller spoke quietly
- Because the man asked for directions
- Because no one else was nearby
- Because an armed threat is occurring near children at a school in session
Correct answer: Because an armed threat is occurring near children at a school in session
An armed threat occurring near children at a school in session is why the call is urgent, the conclusion the noted facts support. Call-Taking interpretation items ask candidates to justify a judgment from stated details, and a bat-wielding threat by an occupied school points to high risk; the caller's tone, a request for directions, and an absence of people are either unstated or contradicted by the call.
