Academy Entrance Exam

**The Lostralian** · 07-02-07, 09:04 PM

My academy entrance exam is on the 21st of this month, besides reading comprehension, spelling, and grammer, is there anything else that I should get myself ready for?

**TXCharlie** · 07-02-07, 10:59 PM

Depends on what type of Academy it is... My community college academy didn't require any type of entry test whatsoever with a degree, and people that don't have a degree just had to take a reading comprehension test.

On the other hand, Dallas' Reserve academy required a polygraph, Oral Board, and the whole nine yards which I failed miserably, and never even got to take the polygraph (picture a scenario with 4 or 5 people hollering at you, questioning your every statement). No telling what their real academy entry test is like, but I'm pretty sure it's at least that with PT thrown in.

BTW, in Dallas, they also sat me out in a hallway a couple of times while they reviewed my application & discussed my results, and they obviously wanted me to hear them laughing and joking about stuff on my resume and so forth, because they were very loud about it. I knew that they were just trying to intimidate me, so I ignored it.

**Autumn2009** · 07-02-07, 11:03 PM

The big hurdle for our academie's entrance exam is the PT part otherwise it's all pretty easy if you know how to read, and count on your fingers. Not sure how yours is set up.

**TXCharlie** · 07-03-07, 12:20 AM

One thing I forgot to mention is BPAD testing... Your academy probably won't be using it, but don't be shocked if they do - Mostly it's used for licensed police officer testing, but I think some academies use it too, according to the BPAD trainer that we had.

In a BPAD exam, you just stand in front of a TV and respond to scenarios like it was the real thing, using only the information you can gain from the video. See:
http://www.bpad.com/

I was trained & certified to sit on a BPAD evaluation committee once for our PD, but they never called me to actually do any evaluations.

**Virginian** · 07-03-07, 08:02 AM

It's easy. Not really anything you can prepare for.

**The Lostralian** · 07-04-07, 11:16 AM

yeah thats what every cop I talk to says. i'm still getting shit from my fire dept....they didn't think i'd really go for it. Thanks everyone

**conalabu** · 07-04-07, 12:03 PM

Virgin is right and wrong. At this point in your life you will either have it, or you won't. Most tests are based on life skill/experience. You have to be the total package.