Australian Federal Police (AFP) Recruit: National Policing and ACT Policing: free practice test
AFP police officers investigate serious and organised crime, terrorism, cybercrime and fraud against the Commonwealth in National Policing, or police the streets of Canberra in ACT Policing. After an online application you sit four timed online tests (personality, deductive reasoning, inductive reasoning and numerical calculation), the Entry Physical Competency Assessment, an Employment Suitability Questionnaire, an online assessment centre with an interview, and health, psychological and security assessments. The AFP says the process takes 6 to 12 months, then recruits train for 26 weeks at AFP College in Canberra.
Watch the free 4:27 video lesson: the key AFP Police Recruit concepts →
Premium: 3,000 practice questions, 6 full mock exams, 800 flashcards and 60 comprehensive key notes, topic by topic. See the study path ·
- Lesson 2: AFP roles: National Policing versus ACT PolicingWhat each stream does, current priority roles and locations, and choosing your preference.
- Lesson 3: Eligibility: age, citizenship, licence and educationEvery entry requirement, the four education routes, and gaps to fix before applying.
- Lesson 4: Writing the CV for your online applicationHow to show responsibility, community work and the six competencies on one CV.
- Lesson 5: Online testing: format, timing and strategyThe four timed tests, the fourteen-day window, attempts and how to plan your sittings.
- Lesson 6: Deductive reasoning: logic rules and syllogismsMust versus could, reversal traps, negative rules and forced conclusions with drills.
- Lesson 7: Deductive reasoning: scheduling and ordering puzzlesGrid sketching, fixed facts first and testing linked pairs under time pressure.
- Lesson 8: Inductive reasoning: shape and grid patternsBreaking figures into features and finding rotation, movement and shading rules.
- Lesson 9: Inductive reasoning: series and odd-one-out itemsNumber, letter and figure series, combined rules and fast elimination of distractors.
- Lesson 10: Numerical calculation: rates, percentages and conversionsFuel rates, percentage of a percentage, remainders and estimation checks with a calculator.
- Lesson 11: The personality questionnaire: answering consistentlyHow fit for policing is judged and why inconsistent or perfect profiles get flagged.
- Lesson 12: EPCA plank and push-ups: passing form standardsValid form rules, warning triggers and a progressive plan to clear both tasks.
- Lesson 13: Beep test to level 6.5 and beyondPacing, turning technique, avoiding warnings and an eight-week training plan.
- Lesson 14: ESQ part 1: criminal history and associationsWhat to declare, spent and juvenile records, declarable associations and drug history.
- Lesson 15: ESQ part 2: traffic history and exclusion periodsGetting compliant records, overseas licences and how traffic exclusion periods are applied.
- Lesson 16: The AFP's six competencies explainedWhat assessors look for in each competency and behaviours that score high or low.
- Lesson 17: STAR answers that score: building your story bankTurning experience into strong STAR answers mapped to competencies and values.
- Lesson 18: Interview questions and model answersConflict, ethics, pressure, failure and motivation questions with worked model answers.
- Lesson 19: Assessment centre team activities and scenariosHow group exercises are observed and how to contribute without dominating.
- Lesson 20: Health assessment and medical standardsThe contracted medical, specialist reports, inherent requirements and avoiding delays.
- Lesson 21: Psychological assessment: standards and preparationThe twelve-month stability rule, disqualifying conditions and what the interview covers.
- Lesson 22: Security vetting, fingerprints, first aid and swimTen-year background review, partner checks and the final documents you must supply.
- Lesson 23: Merit pool, AFP College and probationWaiting for a start date, the twenty-six week program, the PCA and probation.
Keep going after the free lesson. Every topic gets its own lesson, plus the full question bank, timed simulations and study tools.
About the AFP Police Recruit exam
AFP police officers investigate serious and organised crime, terrorism, cybercrime and fraud against the Commonwealth in National Policing, or police the streets of Canberra in ACT Policing. After an online application you sit four timed online tests (personality, deductive reasoning, inductive reasoning and numerical calculation), the Entry Physical Competency Assessment, an Employment Suitability Questionnaire, an online assessment centre with an interview, and health, psychological and security assessments. The AFP says the process takes 6 to 12 months, then recruits train for 26 weeks at AFP College in Canberra.
What's on the exam
Each branch is a topic in the official outline. Members see every key fact on the full mind map. Read the free study guide →
How to pass the AFP Police Recruit exam
- The online tests are timed with no published pass mark, so speed and accuracy both count. Do the free SHL practice tests the AFP links to (deductive, inductive, calculation, personality) and the five in-platform practice questions before each live test.
- Start fitness training now. The EPCA is a 60-second plank, push-ups in 60 seconds (15 for men, 8 for women) and the beep test to level 6.5 with one attempt only, and AFP College later runs a harder Physical Competency Assessment.
- Collect your paperwork early: proof of citizenship, Year 10 (or higher) evidence, a full traffic history from every place you have held a licence (no older than 3 months when submitted), first aid and CPR certificates and a signed 100 m swim certificate.
- The assessment centre scores six competencies, including adhering to principles and values and coping with pressure and setbacks. Prepare 8 to 10 STAR examples and link each to an AFP value: integrity, commitment, excellence, accountability, fairness, trust or respect.
Save your results and get your Readiness Score
Create a free account after the test: your score by topic, a mistakes bank, the complete study notes for the first topic, flashcards and the Hiring Process Cheat Sheet.
What's in the premium AFP Police Recruit prep
Premium AFP Police Recruit prep is studied one topic at a time. Each step starts with that topic's key notes and flashcard deck, then its own question sets of 25, so you master one topic before you move to the next. When every topic is strong, the 6 full mock exams show you're ready.
Your step-by-step study path
- 1The Job and Eligibility8 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25Notes free with an account
- 2Deductive Reasoning8 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25Premium
- 3Inductive Reasoning8 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25Premium
- 4Numerical Calculation and the Personality Questionnaire8 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25Premium
- 5EPCA Fitness, Health and Security Assessment7 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25Premium
- 6Assessment Centre, Interview and AFP Values7 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25Premium
- 7Application Strategy and Timeline7 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25Premium
- 8AFP College and the First Year7 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25Premium
- Final step: 6 full mock exams50 questions each, timed like test day. Pass them, then book your exam.Premium
Read the complete AFP Police Recruit study notes for “The Job and Eligibility”
Our first full set of comprehensive notes, about 12 minutes of reading: What AFP police officers do · Who can apply · Education: four ways in · Requirements you prove later · Pay and conditions, a worked exam example, the traps examiners use and a one-minute recap. Create a free account to read it and see how premium notes work before you decide.
Study tools included
3,000 practice questions
3,000 exam-style questions per exam, organized topic by topic in sets of 25. Every answer explained, with the rule it comes from.
6 full mock exams
6 full-length timed mock exams per exam, with real question counts and time limits, so test day feels like practice day.
Exam Readiness Score
One 0 to 100 number that tells you when you're ready to book. Reach 80 and you're covered by our Pass Guarantee.
800 flashcards + spaced repetition
800 flashcards per exam, in a deck for each topic, that come back right before you'd forget them. Five minutes a day keeps every number fresh.
60 comprehensive key notes
60 key notes per exam, split across its topics and each explained in full: the concepts, worked exam examples, the traps examiners use and a quick recap. Your first set is free with an account.
Mind maps
See the whole exam on one screen: every topic and the facts under it.
Sample questions with answers
These are the questions in the free test above, with answers. Try the test first. You'll learn more by getting some wrong.
1. All officers rostered on the night shift have completed tactical training. Some officers who have completed tactical training are qualified divers. Constable Reid is rostered on the night shift. Which statement must be true?
2. Four vehicles travel in a convoy. The truck is first. The van is directly behind the sedan. The ute is not last. Which vehicle is last?
3. A detective interviews three witnesses, Ana, Ben and Cara, one each day on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Ben cannot be interviewed on Monday. Cara must be interviewed the day after Ana. Who is interviewed on Wednesday?
4. What number comes next in the series 2, 6, 12, 20, 30, ?
5. Which pair continues the pattern AZ, BY, CX, DW, ?
6. A patrol car travels 168 km and uses 12.6 litres of fuel. What is its fuel use in litres per 100 km?
7. Seized cigarettes totalling 3,750 sticks are repacked into evidence cartons of 200 sticks each. How many full cartons are filled, and how many sticks are left over?
8. A recruit's base salary is A$69,698 and the AFP contributes 15.4% superannuation on top. What is the yearly employer super contribution, to the nearest dollar?
9. An operation logs 240 calls. 35% relate to fraud, and one quarter of the fraud calls lead to a formal report. How many formal reports are made?
10. In a group exercise at the AFP assessment centre, another candidate keeps talking over a quieter team member who has a useful idea. What is the best thing to do?
11. You are a probationary constable. After an arrest, a senior colleague asks you to leave out of your notes that he pushed a handcuffed person into a wall, 'to keep it simple'. What should you do?
12. An interviewer asks: 'Tell us about a time you made a mistake at work.' Which answer plan scores best?
13. Which set of exercises makes up the AFP's Entry Physical Competency Assessment (EPCA)?
14. Which applicant meets the AFP's minimum education requirement for sworn police officers?
15. What does the AFP require for the traffic history you submit with the Employment Suitability Questionnaire?
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- Spaced repetition + mistakes bank
- Readiness Score & detailed reports
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- One career of your choice: any police force, APS, Defence, border, corrections, fire or state public service career
- 3,000 practice questions + 6 full mock exams per exam
- 800 flashcards + 60 key notes per exam, by topic, plus mind maps
- Spaced repetition + mistakes bank
- Readiness Score & detailed reports
- Video lessons as they release
- Content updates during your access
- 5 bonuses: hiring process cheat sheet, interview answer builder, fitness test table and more
- Pass Guarantee: complete the prep, pass or 100% back
Renews once a year until you cancel. We email you before each renewal. Cancel any time from your account; you keep access until the end of the year you've paid for.
Certification guide
Australian police entrance tests explained: Every Australian police force tests applicants before it invites them further, but no two forces use the same test. Victoria Police uses a four-part ACER exam, Queensland the QPS Entrance Assessment, South Australia a reading and writing test through TAFE SA, WA a psychometric and entrance evaluation, and the AFP online tests before its fitness assessment. Here is what each force publishes about its tests, fitness standards and process, with links to the [official recruiting sites](https://www.police.vic.gov.au/police-recruitment-process).
AFP Police Recruit exam FAQ
How many questions are on the AFP Police Recruit exam?
Online battery of four timed parts for National and ACT Policing: Personality questionnaire, Deductive Reasoning, Inductive Reasoning and Numerical Calculation. The AFP does not publish the number of questions, with a time limit of about 86 minutes in total: personality 25 min, deductive reasoning 23 min, inductive reasoning 23 min, numerical calculation 15 min (protective service officers sit three parts, about 63 min). Format: unsupervised online tests: use a quiet room and a reliable internet connection. pen and paper are allowed for deductive reasoning and numerical calculation, and a calculator for numerical calculation. five practice questions are available inside the platform before each live test.
What is the passing score for AFP Police Recruit?
No published pass mark. You receive your outcome within 2 to 4 weeks. If you do not pass, the AFP tells you how long to wait before trying again; its application page says you can reapply after 12 months, with a maximum of three attempts.
How much does the AFP Police Recruit exam cost?
No fee to apply or test. You pay for any extra medical reports, your first aid and CPR certificates and any traffic history records you need to obtain. Most government agencies charge no application fee, but some tests and checks cost money (for example Victoria Police's entrance exam, medicals, first aid certificates and police checks). Confirm current costs on the agency's recruiting website before you apply.
Which languages is the AFP Police Recruit exam offered in?
English.
Where do I take the AFP Police Recruit exam?
Online tests taken at home through the AFP's assessment provider (SHL-style tests) within 14 days of invitation; Entry Physical Competency Assessment (EPCA) booked online; assessment centre held online; health, psychological and security assessments by AFP and contracted providers.
Is this AFP Police Recruit practice test free?
Yes. The 15-question practice test on this page is free, with an explanation for every answer and no signup. A free account also unlocks the complete study notes for the first topic. The full AFP Police Recruit prep is Premium at A$89 a month for this exam.
What's in the premium AFP Police Recruit prep?
3,000 practice questions organized topic by topic (The Job and Eligibility: 375; Deductive Reasoning: 375; Inductive Reasoning: 375; Numerical Calculation and the Personality Questionnaire: 375; EPCA Fitness, Health and Security Assessment: 375; Assessment Centre, Interview and AFP Values: 375; Application Strategy and Timeline: 375; AFP College and the First Year: 375), 6 full-length timed mock exams of 50 questions, 800 flashcards and 60 comprehensive key notes split across all 8 topics, plus a mistakes bank and the Readiness Score.
Compare AFP Police Recruit with other government careers
- Victoria Police Officer vs AFP Police Recruit
- AFP Police Recruit vs ABF Officer (BFORT)
- ASIO Intelligence (IDP) vs AFP Police Recruit
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Exam details are summarized from the official candidate information available in November 2026. The recruiting agency changes formats and fees, so confirm with Australian Federal Police (AFP), recruiting through afp.gov.au/jobs and careers.afp.gov.au before you book. AusGovCareer is an independent career-prep service, not affiliated with or endorsed by any government agency.