NSW Police Officer vs Victoria Police Officer: which career suits you?
Both are large state forces with a statewide posting obligation, but the entry routes differ. Victoria Police runs a stand-alone ACER entrance exam (numeracy, abstract reasoning, literacy and report writing; $284, online or in person) before background checks, a fitness test, psychological testing and a panel interview, averaging about six months. NSW Police uses a seven-stage process that leads to the Associate Degree in Applied Policing, delivered with Western Sydney University from 2026, with residential training at Goulburn. Choose the state you want to live and work in; prepare for Victoria's exam sections if you go south, and for NSW's suitability assessments and study load if you stay in NSW.
NSW Police Officer vs Victoria Police Officer at a glance
| NSW Police Officer | Victoria Police Officer | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | NSW Police Force Officer (Student Police Officer to Probationary Constable) | Victoria Police Officer (Recruit to Constable) |
| Questions | No ACER-style entrance exam. Academic entry is through Western Sydney University's ADAP admission (Year 12 HSC with an ATAR of 50 or an equivalent qualification). The test sat during recruitment is a psychometric assessment of psychological suitability; NSW Police does not publish its format or number of questions | Victoria Police Entrance Exam (ACER), four components: Literacy 30 questions, Abstract reasoning 45 questions, Numeracy 30 questions (onscreen calculator) and Report writing (one typed report of about 300 to 350 words) |
| Time | Not published. NSW Police says no preparation is required for the psychometric assessment and full instructions are given on the testing day | 2 hours in total: Literacy 30 min, Abstract reasoning 20 min, Numeracy 35 min, Report writing 35 min |
| Passing score | No published pass mark. The psychometric results are reviewed for psychological suitability and you may be asked to attend an interview with a NSW Police Force psychologist. Academic entry needs an ATAR of 50 or an equivalent qualification; applicants who fall short may be offered the Undergraduate Preparation Program in Applied Policing (UPPAP) | Scaled scores: 105 or more in Literacy, Numeracy and Abstract reasoning and 107 or more in Report writing ('Standard met' on every component). You may re-sit failed components once; if you fail the re-sit an exclusion period applies |
| Format | Psychometric assessment: follow the instructions given on the day and answer honestly. Our practice questions cover the reading, writing, numeracy and judgement skills the ADAP and the suitability stages rely on. They are original practice items, not real NSW Police test questions | Computer-based. Numeracy has an onscreen calculator. In Report writing there is no spell check, grammar check, dictionary, cut and paste or formatting; a word count is shown. ACER warns that only ACER and Victoria Police material is official, and there are no past papers |
| Cost | No application fee is published. You pay for the Aquatic Rescue Sequence assessment, the medical assessment (including any specialist reports), certification of documents, any overseas penal clearance certificate and any interstate driving history report | $284 (incl. GST) paid to ACER for the exam; re-sits $135 for one component, $191 for two, $284 for three or more. You also pay for travel, your medical, hearing and vision reports and a first aid certificate. ACER's Practise Now book is $48 and its online practice tests $77 for the set |
| Languages | English (Western Sydney University's English language proficiency rules apply; work experience is not accepted as proof) | English |
| Where | Professional Suitability Application (PSA) lodged online through iworkfor.NSW; academic entry assessed by Western Sydney University; fitness, psychometric testing and fingerprinting arranged by your recruitment case manager; medical assessment by the external provider Cogent Thinking | Online application through the Victoria Police careers portal; entrance exam run by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER), online with remote proctoring or in person at Camberwell; fitness test at the Victoria Police Academy, Glen Waverley; online psychological evaluation; medical by your own GP and specialists |
| Level | Police | Police |
What each exam covers
NSW Police Officer
- The Job and Eligibility
- Academic Suitability and the ADAP
- Reading, Writing and Numeracy for Police Study
- Psychometric Assessment and the Statement of Values
- Physical Capacity Test, Aquatic Rescue and Medical
- Professional Suitability, Vetting and Interview
- Application Strategy and Timeline
- Academy Training and Probation
Victoria Police Officer
- The Job and Eligibility
- Literacy (Reading Comprehension)
- Numeracy
- Abstract Reasoning
- Report Writing
- Fitness Test, Psychological Screening and Medical
- Background Checks and the Panel Interview
- Application Strategy, Academy and First Years
Which should you take?
Both are large state forces with a statewide posting obligation, but the entry routes differ. Victoria Police runs a stand-alone ACER entrance exam (numeracy, abstract reasoning, literacy and report writing; $284, online or in person) before background checks, a fitness test, psychological testing and a panel interview, averaging about six months. NSW Police uses a seven-stage process that leads to the Associate Degree in Applied Policing, delivered with Western Sydney University from 2026, with residential training at Goulburn. Choose the state you want to live and work in; prepare for Victoria's exam sections if you go south, and for NSW's suitability assessments and study load if you stay in NSW.
Try both, free
Each free practice test takes about 10 minutes and shows your score by topic. No signup.
FAQ
What is the difference between NSW Police Officer and Victoria Police Officer?
Both are large state forces with a statewide posting obligation, but the entry routes differ. Victoria Police runs a stand-alone ACER entrance exam (numeracy, abstract reasoning, literacy and report writing; $284, online or in person) before background checks, a fitness test, psychological testing and a panel interview, averaging about six months. NSW Police uses a seven-stage process that leads to the Associate Degree in Applied Policing, delivered with Western Sydney University from 2026, with residential training at Goulburn. Choose the state you want to live and work in; prepare for Victoria's exam sections if you go south, and for NSW's suitability assessments and study load if you stay in NSW.
Which is harder, NSW Police Officer or Victoria Police Officer?
NSW Police Officer: no acer-style entrance exam. academic entry is through western sydney university's adap admission (year 12 hsc with an atar of 50 or an equivalent qualification). the test sat during recruitment is a psychometric assessment of psychological suitability; nsw police does not publish its format or number of questions in not published. nsw police says no preparation is required for the psychometric assessment and full instructions are given on the testing day. Victoria Police Officer: victoria police entrance exam (acer), four components: literacy 30 questions, abstract reasoning 45 questions, numeracy 30 questions (onscreen calculator) and report writing (one typed report of about 300 to 350 words) in 2 hours in total: literacy 30 min, abstract reasoning 20 min, numeracy 35 min, report writing 35 min. The longer exam covers more ground, but the harder one is the one further from your daily work. Take both free practice tests to see where you stand.
Can I hold both NSW Police Officer and Victoria Police Officer?
You can usually apply to more than one agency at the same time, and many candidates do. You can only work in one full-time role at once, though, and each agency runs its own tests, checks and merit list, so plan your preparation around the test you'll sit first.
How do I prepare for NSW Police Officer and Victoria Police Officer?
Start with the free practice test for each, then study by topic. Premium is per exam (A$89 a month each), so most people start with the exam they'll sit first and add the second when they're ready.
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Exam details are summarized from the recruiting agency's published information as of November 2026. Confirm with the recruiting agency before you book. AusGovCareer is an independent career-prep service, not affiliated with or endorsed by any government agency.