Most difficult Written Exam you have taken with a CA LE agency?

[camelotskin]

I am just curious...What is the most difficult written exam you have taken with a CA LE agency? So far I have tested with: Beverly Hills PD, Irvine PD, Manhatten Beach PD, Monrovia PD, SDPD, LASD, OCSD, LAPD, Santa Monica PD, Tustin PD, and Torrance PD. What I have noticed, except for the standard P.O.S.T. PELLETB exam, is that some of the exams seem to be unnecessarily difficult even though I have passed all but two of the ones I have listed here. I will be testing with Newport PD soon and I heard their exam only has about a 30% pass rate. Thx

[avalon42]

post deleted

[LA DEP]

The written exam for Sgt on my dept.....

[nobodyjr]

The POST dispatcher exam. It's actually not even passable, the grades are done on a comparison basis to others who have taken the test. The cop tests are cake in comparison. Everyone should require a written essay. Too many people are awful at writing.

[SCV-Sop]

The T-Test isn’t a cake walk.

The FBI’s was hardest by far.

Some tests require you know compass directions.

Some tests require you know how to memorize things.

Some tests require you can follow and interpret instructions.

Some tests require you are good at spelling and vocabulary (the T-test).

They are all relative, and I think if you have a good broad knowledge you should pass them all. None of them aren’t hard, but say you don’t know how to read a map for instance, you are dead in the water for Santa Clara SO.

Also, it’s kind of a crap shoot with some of these tests and what a department might be looking for. I failed Woodland’s for example, however, I’ve Passed the FBI’s, Santa Clara SO, and got a 56.8 on my T-test. But for some reason I failed Woodland’s.

[camelotskin]

SCV-SOP, You are pretty much dead on. I guess if you take enough exams, if you do have a weakness...i.e. map reading, memory, etc., you will eventually be exposed. Unless of course you have no weaknesses.

[camelotskin]

Avalon, OCSD's was pretty easy but LAPD's has got to be the easiest exam around. But suprisingly LAPD makes it difficult to score above 85 because it's a subjective test.

[chazzz53]

All the tests I have taken have been easy, at least I haven't failed one yet!

[pappabacon]

Department of Mental Health so far. It was tough, no math but a plethora of confusing diagrams and essays. Non-standard POST, made by a firm called CPS.

I've taken OCSD's test and it was pretty easy for being non-standard POST.

Agreed. It was rather challenging. I was very used to exams consisting of proper grammar and spelling, but that one was rough.

[nobodyjr]

If you can't read a TB guide you shouldn't be a cop. And the t-test is the one with the crossword puzzle at the end right? That was a joke. LE tests have been reduced to JR high school levels in this state.

[JeffMerr]

The POST dispatcher exam. It's actually not even passable, the grades are done on a comparison basis to others who have taken the test. The cop tests are cake in comparison. Everyone should require a written essay. Too many people are awful at writing.

I agree. Sounds funny but the POST Dispatcher exam is ****ing ridiculous. So stressful beyond what it really needs to be, and since there is no way to complete any of the sections you never know how you are doing, not to mention it's 3.5-4hrs long.

[camelotskin]

That's right. The T-score is from the P.O.S.T./PELLETB exam with the "Cloze" portion aka "crossword puzzle" at the end. However, i wouldn't say that all the written exams are "Jr. High School" level. For instance, Beverly Hills PD only has about a 30-40 percent pass rate, as opposed to other written exams that have a much higher pass percentage. The P.O.S.T. exam is just a reading and writing exam with various "pass points" depending on the agency you are applying with. Typically with a T-score between T-48-T-52.

[camelotskin]

That sucks! I have never taken the Dispatcher exam. My point in starting this thread was to understand why some agencies are going above and beyond what is necessary when administering their written exams. I guess it's just another way to screen for certain applicants...i.e. if they can't say that you need a B.A., they will just use an exam that screens for individuals who more than likely have one.

[JeffMerr]

Apples and oranges. You'd be surprised how many people completely fail the pre-post. It's just a way of getting rid of the people who shouldn't be there in the first place. They'll flush out the others who shouldn't be there physically during the physical agility, and then flush out the rest during backgrounds/oral.

[OPD510]

Response edited