Before you can be 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, and interpersonal and practical skills.
Before you can be 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, and interpersonal and practical skills. Not all firefighter written exams contain questions from all of these categories, but it is best to study all the different areas to prepare for the exam. This test prep guide will prepare you for the reading comprehension and writing ability sections that may be found on the firefighter 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 tests, ranging from 1 minute per question to 3 minutes per question, with 100 questions or more. So, you can count on spending several hours on each written test you take.
A reading comprehension test is designed to test the cognitive abilities of the firefighter candidate. Several reading passages that may or may not have to do with firefighting are used to determine how well you can read, reason, comprehend, think, and process the information given in the passage. These reading passages can include fire department operational procedures, firefighting procedures, tools and equipment, or fire management strategies. Most fire departments use fire-related passages without getting too technical since you are not required to have firefighting knowledge.
At the end of each reading passage, there are questions relating to the story, designed to test your thinking ability and how well you concentrate under pressure. It is recommended to read the passage first, then answer the questions. Due to time constraints, it is not suggested to read the questions before you read the passage. Save time by concentrating on the passage as you read, and review the passage if needed after answering the questions.
Fire departments use reading comprehension tests to test the cognitive abilities and processing skills of the firefighter candidate. These skills and abilities are essential for firefighters to succeed in the fire academy and on-the-job training. Related fire duties that pertain to these skills are reading and understanding fire department manuals, fire codes, and departmental standard operating procedures.
The writing ability test is designed to test your ability to use English words or sentences in writing to be easily understandable to others. The writing ability test includes vocabulary, spelling, punctuation, and the proper use of grammar. The writing ability test may ask you to identify the correct spelling of a word or ask you to determine which sentence has proper punctuation.
Fire departments test on writing ability to determine that you can accurately complete fire reports, daily logs, forms, and narratives to describe incidents. Firefighters will be asked to write memos, email correspondence, and letters as part of their job duties.
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 reading comprehension and writing ability tests may be included in the firefighter's written aptitude test. The tests are not taken independently of each other. Here are some common questions you might have about the firefighter reading comprehension and writing ability tests 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 the 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 Reading Comprehension and Writing Ability practice tests. In addition to taking those tests, there are many firefighter test prep books that are good 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, so you 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 practice tests, here is some more advice to candidates preparing for the reading comprehension and writing ability sections of the firefighter's written exam:
After completing the reading comprehension and writing ability practice tests, check out the Mathematical Reasoning Section here. This section measures your ability to perform the basic math functions required of entry-level firefighters. It consists of fire-related problems and formulas that call for you to use addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Some problems call for simple algebra and square roots.
