Before you can get hired by a fire department, you must first pass a written aptitude test and a physical abilities test. The firefighter written test can include reading comprehension and writing ability, spatial orientation, mathematical reasoning, observation and memory, mechanical reasoning, map reading, observational and situational judgment, personality, and practical skills.
Before you can get hired by a fire department, you must first pass a written aptitude test and a physical abilities test. The firefighter written test can include reading comprehension and writing ability, spatial orientation, mathematical reasoning, observation and memory, mechanical reasoning, map reading, observational and situational judgment, personality, and practical skills. Not all firefighter's written exams contain questions from all categories, but studying all the different areas is recommended to prepare for the exam. This test prep guide will prepare you for the firefighter personality section that may be found on the firefighter's written exam.
Firefighter aptitude tests do not require previous firefighting knowledge or particular college degrees. The test will be at a skill level based on the requirements in the job announcement. For example, if the job requires a high school diploma or equivalent, the test will have questions that a high school student could answer.
Most firefighter aptitude tests are timed, ranging from 1 minute to 3 minutes per question, with 100 questions or more. So, you can count on spending several hours on each written test you take.
The firefighter personality test measures the firefighter candidate's qualities needed to succeed at the job. These qualities include teamwork, flexibility, quick decision-making, positive attitude, resourcefulness, empathy, accepting and learning from feedback, and working under pressure. Firefighter personality tests help the fire department choose candidates who share the same values and eliminate unsuitable candidates. Personality tests are designed to extract candidates' strengths, weaknesses, habits, quirks, and tendencies. Personality tests typically do not have a "right" or "wrong" answer. The test measures your personality, so no one can say what the correct answer for your personality is. However, some answers will look more favorable for you as a candidate, depending on how you answer. The Mock Questions practice test will explain the best ways to answer each question based on the fire service culture.
Fire departments use firefighter personality tests to determine which candidates are more likely to succeed at the day-to-day aspects of the job and hold the same ethics and values as the department. Some tests display which candidate is more suitable for the firefighting position based on their teamwork, organizational skills, disposition, and effectiveness in working with the community. Personality tests help large departments filter through candidates quickly and effectively and compare a set of test results to see which candidate is most likely to share its values and suit the department's culture.
Each department will have a dedicated location where the tests are administered. Some departments may have onsite testing at their training facility, while others might hire a firefighter testing center to administer the aptitude tests.
Remember, the firefighter personality test may be included in the firefighter's written aptitude test. Still, some departments may not include the personality test in the aptitude test and may wait to learn more about you in an oral interview. Here are some common questions you might have about the firefighter personality test that may be included in the aptitude test:
You can expect to receive your results within one to two weeks, depending on the fire department.
The firefighter's written aptitude test is the first test you will be invited to when applying for a firefighter position after your application has been submitted. Upon successful completion of the test, you will be asked to participate in the physical abilities test. After passing the physical abilities test, you will be invited to an oral interview.
With most departments, a passing score is 70%. However, the higher score you receive will place you higher on the firefighter candidacy list, so you want to achieve as high a score as possible.
The first step is to take the Mock Questions Firefighter Personality practice test. In addition to taking that test, there are many firefighter test prep books that are valuable resources to use to prepare for the firefighter's written aptitude test. Test prep books cover all the different sections that might be on a firefighter's written aptitude test. Some departments will offer a testing packet to firefighter candidates that have sample questions. If a department offers a testing packet, study the packet before taking the written test. It is also recommended timing yourself while taking the practice exams to get an idea of how long it will take you to answer each question.
If you do not know the answer to a question, skip over it and move onto the next question. Since the test is timed, you want to answer as many questions as possible. It is not recommended to leave any questions blank, so after you complete the test, go back to the unanswered questions and choose the answer you believe to be most accurate.
The questions are based on basic knowledge, but it is recommended that you study for the exam if you want to achieve a high score. Those who spend time familiarizing themselves with the content on the test and the imposed time limits tend to feel more confident on the day of the test and have a better chance of achieving the highest possible score.
In addition to studying the materials and taking firefighter personality practice tests, here is some more advice to candidates preparing for the firefighter personality section of the firefighter's written exam:
After completing the Firefighter Personality practice test, check out Mock Questions firefighter aptitude preparatory tests here. There are seven categories of tests to help you prepare for the successful passing of the firefighter written exam.
