Checked against the official Notice of Examination for Exam Nos. 7311 through 7322.
The NYC Police Officer exam is the civil service test New York City uses to rank candidates for Police Officer jobs with the NYC Police Department. The Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) runs it. Unlike most City exams, one Notice of Examination now covers 12 exams in a row, Exam Nos. 7311 through 7322, with a new application period about once a month from July 2026 to June 2027. This guide sums up that notice, with sources, and says plainly what the City does not publish.
The Police Officer exam at a glance
- Exams: Police Officer, Exam Nos. 7311, 7312, 7313, 7314, 7315, 7316, 7317, 7318, 7319, 7320, 7321 and 7322, all on one notice.
- Filing: from July 1, 2026, to June 14, 2027, split into monthly application and scheduling periods (table below).
- Fee: $0.00 (select "No Fee" when you apply).
- Format: multiple-choice, on a computer at a DCAS testing center. Calculators are not permitted.
- Content: 9 abilities listed in the notice.
- Pass mark: 70%. Your score sets your place on the eligible list.
- Source: Notice of Examination, Exam Nos. 7311 through 7322 (PDF).
What the exam is
DCAS says that over 80% of City civil service positions are "competitive class," and these jobs "require you take an exam to qualify" (DCAS: What is Civil Service?). Police Officer is one of them. The notice says Police Officers "perform general police duties and related work in the New York City Police Department including connecting and building relationships with the community." The listed duties include patrolling on foot or in a vehicle, responding to crimes in progress, investigating vehicle accidents, interviewing witnesses and victims, vouchering found or seized property, preparing reports and testifying in court. This guide covers only the New York City exam run by DCAS.
The monthly calendar for Exams 7311 to 7322
Each exam number has its own application and scheduling period and its own testing period. These dates come from the notice, as posted on nyc.gov on October 12, 2026:
| Exam No. | Apply and schedule | Testing period |
|---|---|---|
| 7311 | July 1 to July 14, 2026 | August 3 to August 8, 2026 |
| 7312 | August 3 to August 17, 2026 | September 1 to September 4, 2026 |
| 7313 | September 1 to September 14, 2026 | October 5 to October 9, 2026 |
| 7314 | October 1 to October 14, 2026 | November 2 to November 7, 2026 |
| 7315 | November 2 to November 16, 2026 | December 1 to December 5, 2026 |
| 7316 | December 1 to December 14, 2026 | January 4 to January 9, 2027 |
| 7317 | January 4 to January 19, 2027 | February 1 to February 6, 2027 |
| 7318 | February 1 to February 16, 2027 | March 1 to March 6, 2027 |
| 7319 | March 1 to March 15, 2027 | April 5 to April 10, 2027 |
| 7320 | April 1 to April 14, 2027 | May 3 to May 8, 2027 |
| 7321 | May 3 to May 17, 2027 | June 1 to June 5, 2027 |
| 7322 | June 1 to June 14, 2027 | July 6 to July 9, 2027 |
Applications are accepted only during a filing period. The notice calls each window an "application and scheduling period" but does not explain the scheduling steps beyond that, so follow the instructions in OASys when you apply. The notice also lists days when the DCAS testing centers are closed, including November 3, November 11, November 26 and December 25, 2026. November 3 falls inside the testing period for Exam 7314.
The notice does not say whether you may take more than one of these monthly exams, or how two scores for the same title would be handled. We found no official rule on this, so ask DCAS before you apply again.
How to apply through OASys
- Go to the Online Application System (OASys) at www.nyc.gov/examsforjobs and create an account. You need a valid email address, and new accounts are verified by email.
- Apply for the exam number whose application period is open, and select "No Fee" as the payment method.
- Look for the emailed receipt. Your status also shows on the OASys Dashboard under "Notifications." Add OASys@dcas.nyc.gov to your known senders.
You can also apply online in person at a DCAS testing center (DCAS: Applying for an Exam). The notice warns: "You will be given the test before we verify your qualifications." If you are later found "Not Qualified," you will not receive a score. You must be at least 17 by the test date, and most other requirements must be met by the date you are appointed. See our requirements guide.
Where and how the test is taken
The test is given on a computer at one of five DCAS Computer-based Testing & Application Centers, in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island and the Bronx. Key rules from the notice:
- Bring one valid photo ID with your signature. The name you applied with must match the first and last name on the ID.
- Phones, smartwatches, cameras and other devices are sealed in a Yondr pouch until the exam event is over. Misusing a device can void your score and bar you from City tests for up to five years.
- Calculators are not permitted on this exam. The notice lists no math ability, so you should not need one.
- You are fingerprinted at the site. If you leave after that and before you finish, you cannot come back in.
- No one may come with you or wait for you inside the center, including children.
Requests for testing accommodations because of a disability must be received at least 30 days before the date of your test (the notice; DCAS Special Circumstances Guide). With monthly windows, that can mean asking before your application period even closes, so plan early.
The 9 abilities in brief
The notice lists abilities, not subjects or sections. It says the test "may include questions requiring the use of" these 9, described here in short paraphrase:
- Deductive Reasoning: applying general rules to specific problems.
- Inductive Reasoning: combining separate pieces of information to reach a general conclusion.
- Information Ordering: following a given rule or set of rules in the right order.
- Memorization: remembering words, numbers, pictures and procedures.
- Problem Sensitivity: telling when something is wrong or likely to go wrong.
- Spatial Orientation: knowing where you are in relation to an object, or where it is in relation to you.
- Visualization: imagining how something looks when it or its parts are moved or rearranged.
- Written Comprehension: understanding sentences and paragraphs written in English.
- Written Expression: writing in English so that others will understand.
"May include" means not every ability is promised to appear. The notice also says some questions may be answered from "documents or other information supplied to the candidates on the date of the multiple-choice exam." Its Memorization example mentions being shown "an image and description" of a person, and its Visualization example is about recognizing people who have changed their appearance, so the real test may use pictures. For each ability with its job example and a practice question, read the 9 abilities explained.
Scoring: 70% to pass, then rank decides
"You must achieve a score of at least 70% to pass the test," the notice says. DCAS shows "immediate, tentative results at the end of your test" (DCAS: How Do You Get Your Results?).
Passing is only the first step. The notice says passing candidates are placed "on an eligible list in final score order. You will receive a list number and be notified of your test results via email." The list is "usually active for four years." Two kinds of extra points can move you up, and both are added only if you pass: 10 points of New York City residency credit for candidates who qualify, and veterans' or legacy credits. Under the City personnel rules, an agency fills a job by choosing one of the three highest-ranked candidates who are qualified and willing to accept (Personnel Rules, Rule IV). No official source says what score is "competitive." Our list number guide explains the credits and how lists move.
What the notice does not publish
As of October 12, 2026, the notice does not state the number of questions, the time limit, how many questions test each ability or how the Memorization questions are run. We also found no official sample questions or practice test for this exam. A page that gives a question count or a time limit for Exams 7311 to 7322 is not quoting the notice.
Common myths, checked against the notice
What happens after the exam
A Protest Review Session is held on the first Friday after the week of your test, and you have 30 days to protest an answer. A Test Validation Board reviews protests and can change the key (DCAS protest procedures). The notice adds that score appeals go to the Committee on Manifest Errors through OASys.
DCAS says an eligible list "may be established within six to nine months from the date of the examination though times vary" (DCAS veterans guidance). When your number is reached, you get a call letter. If you do not respond, "your name may be taken off the list of candidates, even if you passed the exam" (DCAS: What Happens Next). Before appointment, the notice lists an investigation with an $82.75 fingerprint fee, medical and psychological exams, a qualifying physical test and drug screening.
How to prepare
- Read the notice. It is the only official outline of the test.
- Pick your month. Choose an application period that gives you time to prepare, and note its testing dates.
- Learn the 9 definitions and job examples. Each ability is tied to a police task.
- Practice by ability. Weights are not published, so do not skip any ability, and spend extra time on your weakest ones.
- Practice without a calculator. None is allowed, although the notice lists no math ability.
- Plan test day. Check OASys, and confirm that your ID matches your application.
Frequently asked questions
When is the NYC Police Officer exam?
Every month. Exams 7311 to 7322 each have an application period of about two weeks and a testing period in the following month, from July 2026 to July 2027. See the table above.
How much does it cost?
Nothing. The fee for Exams 7311 to 7322 is $0.00.
How many questions are there, and how long is it?
The notice does not say. It publishes no question count, time limit or ability weights.
What score do I need?
At least 70% to pass. Passing candidates are then ranked by final score, and a higher score means a lower list number.
Can I bring a calculator?
No. The notice says calculators are not permitted on this exam.
Is there an age limit?
Yes. You must be 17 by the test date and at least 20 years and 6 months old to be appointed. To be appointed, you must also be under 43 on the date you file, with up to six years of qualifying military service deducted.
When will I get my list number?
By email when the list is established. DCAS says lists may take six to nine months after the exam, though times vary.
Does living in New York City help?
Yes. Candidates who qualify get 10 points of New York City residency credit, added to a passing score. You request it on the test date by following the instructions given there.
Official sources
- DCAS Notice of Examination, Police Officer, Exam Nos. 7311 through 7322 (PDF)
- DCAS: Applying for an Exam
- DCAS: How Do You Get Your Results?
- DCAS Computer-Based Test Protest Procedures (PDF)
- DCAS Special Circumstances Guide (PDF)
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