Covers the current Police Officer exams, Notice of Examination for Exam Nos. 7311 through 7322.
If you want to practice for the NYC police officer exam, start with the only official outline there is. The notice says the multiple-choice test "may include questions requiring the use of" 9 abilities and defines each one, with an example of how a Police Officer uses it.
Exams 7311 to 7322 each have a monthly application period between July 1, 2026, and June 14, 2027, the fee is $0, and you need 70% to pass (the notice). See how the exam works for the full calendar.
What the notice says, and what it does not
The notice lists the abilities with a short job example for each. It does not publish the number of questions, the time limit or how many questions test each ability. Because it says the test "may include" these abilities, not every one may appear on your test.
Three more facts from the notice matter for practice:
- No calculators: the notice says calculators are not permitted on this exam. None of the 9 abilities is a math ability.
- Test-day materials: some questions may be answered "on the basis of documents or other information supplied to the candidates on the date of the multiple-choice exam." The notice does not describe those documents.
- Pictures of people: the notice's Memorization example involves "an image and description" of a wanted person, and its Visualization example is about recognizing people who have changed their appearance. PrepRaven does not offer face or picture memory questions yet. Our memory questions use written notices that hide before you answer, our Spatial Orientation questions use drawn street maps and our Visualization questions use drawn rooms and racks that you picture turned or seen from another door. Try them in the 30 free practice questions.
Every practice question below is original. The names, numbers and rules in them are made up, and they are not real test questions. Try each one before you open "Show answer."
1. Deductive Reasoning
Official definition: "applying general rules to specific problems and coming up with logical answers. It involves deciding if an answer makes sense." (the notice)
What it means: The notice's job example is choosing the right dispatch code for a situation.
Practice example
Made-up rule: a parked car gets a summons for blocking a hydrant if any part of it is within 15 feet of the hydrant. A car with a valid commercial plate that is actively loading may stand within 15 feet for up to 10 minutes. Officer Grant measures four cars.
Which car should get a summons?
- A. A private car whose rear bumper is 16 feet from the hydrant
- B. A commercial van that has been loading near the hydrant for 6 minutes
- C. A private car whose front bumper is 12 feet from the hydrant
- D. A commercial van with its doors closed, parked 20 feet from the hydrant
Show answer
Answer: C. Part of the private car is within 15 feet, and no exception applies to it. The first car is 16 feet away, the loading van is inside its 10 minutes and the closed van is 20 feet away.
Tip: Apply the rule first, then check whether an exception covers the case.
2. Inductive Reasoning
Official definition: "combining separate pieces of information, or specific answers to problems, to form general rules or conclusions. It involves the ability to think of possible reasons for why things go together." (the notice)
What it means: The notice's job example is investigating specific offenses.
Practice example
Over one week, four people report that their phones were taken on the same subway platform. All four were standing near the stairs when a train arrived. Each says someone bumped into them as the doors opened. No phones were reported taken on that platform at other times of day, and none were taken from people standing at the far end.
Which conclusion do these facts best support?
- A. The thefts likely happen as people crowd toward the train near the stairs.
- B. The phones were likely lost when the owners dropped them on the platform.
- C. The thefts likely happen at any spot on the platform, at any time of day.
- D. The thefts are likely done by someone who works in the station booth.
Show answer
Answer: A. Every report came from near the stairs as a train arrived, with a bump as the doors opened. Each person reports being bumped, which does not fit simply dropping a phone. No thefts were reported at the far end or at other times, and nothing points to the booth.
Tip: Pick the conclusion that fits every fact, and check each wrong option for the fact it contradicts.
3. Information Ordering
Official definition: "following correctly a rule or set of rules or actions in a certain order. The rule or set of rules used must be given." (the notice)
What it means: The notice's job example is storing found, seized or recovered property.
Practice example
Made-up steps after a lost wallet is turned in: (1) Count any cash in front of the finder. (2) Write the count and the finder's name in the memo book. (3) Give the finder a receipt. (4) Voucher the wallet at the precinct. If the wallet holds no cash, skip Step 1 and write "no cash" in Step 2.
A finder hands Officer Diaz a wallet with no cash. What does Officer Diaz do first?
- A. Count the cash in front of the finder
- B. Give the finder a receipt
- C. Write "no cash" and the finder's name in the memo book
- D. Voucher the wallet at the precinct
Show answer
Answer: C. With no cash, Step 1 is skipped, which makes Step 2 the first step, with "no cash" written in. The receipt and the voucher come later.
Tip: Read the exception before you start counting steps.
4. Memorization
Official definition: "remembering information such as words, numbers, pictures, and procedures." (the notice)
What it means: The notice's job example is searching for people wanted for questioning after being shown an image and a description of the person.
Practice example
Read this note for about 30 seconds (our choice, not a known test timing), cover it, then answer. Wanted for questioning: a woman about 25, about 5 feet 4 inches, with short red hair, a gray hoodie and white sneakers, last seen walking east on Union Street at 3:10 PM.
Which way was she last seen walking?
- A. West on Union Street
- B. East on Union Street
- C. East on Union Avenue
- D. North on Union Street
Show answer
Answer: B. The note says east on Union Street. West and north change the direction, and Union Avenue changes the street.
Tip: Link the details together as you study: who, wearing what, going which way, when.
5. Problem Sensitivity
Official definition: "being able to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It includes being able to identify the whole problem as well as elements of the problem." (the notice)
What it means: The notice's job example is apprehending crime suspects or working with crime victims.
Practice example
Officer Chen answers a call about a man who fell on an icy sidewalk. The man says he is fine and wants to go home.
Which detail most clearly suggests something is wrong?
- A. He is embarrassed and wants to leave quickly.
- B. His coat is wet from the sidewalk.
- C. He asks the same question three times in two minutes.
- D. He says he has walked this street for years.
Show answer
Answer: C. Asking the same question again and again can be a sign of a head injury, so he may need medical help even though he says he is fine. Embarrassment, a wet coat and knowing the street are ordinary.
Tip: Look for the detail that does not fit with "I am fine."
6. Spatial Orientation
Official definition: "determining where you are in relation to the location of some object or where the object is in relation to you." (the notice)
What it means: The notice's job example is finding the way around the assigned precinct on foot or in a vehicle.
Practice example
Text version; the real test may show a map. Officer Ruiz walks north on Park Avenue, turns right onto 3rd Street, walks one block and then turns right again.
Which direction is Officer Ruiz walking now?
- A. North
- B. East
- C. South
- D. West
Show answer
Answer: C. Walking north, a right turn faces east. A second right turn faces south. East is the direction after only one turn, and west would come from turning left.
Tip: Track your facing after every turn, one turn at a time.
7. Visualization
Official definition: "imagining how something would look when it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged." (the notice)
What it means: The notice's job example is trying to identify wanted people who may have changed their appearance.
Practice example
Text version; the real test may use pictures. A square storeroom has a door in the middle of the north wall and another in the middle of the south wall. Coming in through the north door, facing south, you see a safe in the near left corner.
Where is the safe when you come in through the south door, facing north?
- A. Near left corner
- B. Far right corner
- C. Far left corner
- D. Near right corner
Show answer
Answer: B. Facing south, near is north and left is east, so the safe is in the northeast corner. Facing north from the south door, the northeast corner is far and on your right. The other answers flip only one direction or none.
Tip: Turn the room into compass corners first, then turn back into left and right.
8. Written Comprehension
Official definition: "understanding sentences and paragraphs written in English." (the notice)
What it means: The notice's job example is reading policies, laws and other legal documents, traffic signs and traffic summonses.
Practice example
Made-up memo: Officers on foot patrol must check in by radio every hour. During a parade, check-ins are every 30 minutes. An officer who cannot reach the dispatcher by radio must call the desk officer by phone within 10 minutes of the missed check-in.
According to the memo, what must an officer do during a parade if the radio check-in fails?
- A. Try the radio again at the next hourly check-in
- B. Call the desk officer by phone within 10 minutes
- C. Wait 30 minutes and then check in by radio
- D. Walk back to the precinct and report in person
Show answer
Answer: B. The memo says to call the desk officer by phone within 10 minutes of a missed check-in. Hourly check-ins do not apply during a parade, waiting 30 minutes skips the phone call and the memo does not say to walk back.
Tip: Answer from the text only, even when another choice sounds sensible.
9. Written Expression
Official definition: "using English words or sentences in writing so that others will understand." (the notice)
What it means: The notice's job example is recording information in a memo book or other reports.
Practice example
Facts: at 6:50 PM, Officer Park saw a gray van hit a parked blue car on Main Street and drive away without stopping.
Which memo book entry is the clearest and most accurate?
- A. At 6:50 PM, I saw a gray van hit a parked blue car on Main Street, it drove away without stopping.
- B. At 6:50 PM, I saw a gray van hit a parked blue car on Main Street. The van drove away without stopping.
- C. At 6:50 PM, I saw a gray van hit a parked blue car on Main Street. It drove away without stopping.
- D. At 6:50 PM, a drunk driver in a gray van hit a parked blue car on Main Street and drove away.
Show answer
Answer: B. B names the van as the one that drove away. A joins two sentences with a comma, C uses "it," which could mean either vehicle, and D adds a claim the officer did not see.
Tip: Each fact once, no guesses and no pronoun that could point to two things.
How to practice by ability
The notice publishes no weights, so give every ability some time and extra time to your weak ones.
- Find your weak abilities. Work a mixed set, then sort your misses by ability.
- Practice one ability at a time, then mix. Single-ability sets teach the patterns, and mixed sets train you to switch between them.
- Read every explanation, even for questions you got right.
- Practice memory with the material hidden. Reading a notice and answering while it is still in view does not test memory.
Common questions
How many questions are on the exam, and how long is it?
Neither is published. The notice gives no question count and no time limit, so treat any exact numbers you see elsewhere as unofficial.
Can I use a calculator on the police officer exam?
No. The notice says calculators are not permitted, and none of the 9 abilities is a math ability.
Will all 9 abilities be on my test?
Not necessarily. The notice says the test "may include" questions on these abilities and publishes no weights, so prepare for all 9.
Are there face or picture memory questions on PrepRaven?
Not yet. The notice's examples suggest the real test may show images of people. Our memory practice uses written notices that hide before you answer, and we say so plainly so that you can add picture practice elsewhere if you need it.
When do I get my score?
DCAS gives immediate, tentative results at the end of the test (DCAS results page). Proposed answer keys can be protested (protest procedures).
Does the City publish official practice questions?
We found no official practice test or sample questions from DCAS for this exam. The examples in this guide are our own.
What score do I need?
At least 70% to pass. Passing candidates are placed on the eligible list in final score order, so a higher score means a better list number. See list numbers explained.
PrepRaven is an independent study site. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the City of New York, DCAS, the NYC Police Department or any City agency. Our practice questions are original and are not taken from any real test. Always confirm dates and rules in the current Notice of Examination.
Last updated October 2026