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Career Firefighter (Fire and Rescue NSW, Fire Rescue Victoria and other state fire services): free practice test

Name: Career Firefighter: how to get hired
Uploaded: 2026-11-15T14:45:54+00:00
Duration: 4 min 36 s
Description: The seven-step FRNSW hiring path, its standards and its traps. Your driving record is a hard gate; Three proctored tests, then a video; Simple physics, applied fast; Pace the PAT, you get one go; Every answer maps to a value; Disclose everything, or lose everything.

Career (permanent) firefighters respond to fires, rescues, hazardous materials incidents and medical emergencies, and work in community safety. Fire and Rescue NSW recruits in short campaigns through seven steps: application, online Criteria tests (cognitive aptitude, emotional intelligence, mechanical reasoning) with a video interview, the Physical Aptitude Test, an assessment centre interview and group activity, a medical, employment checks and an offer leading to a 13-week recruit course. Other states use similar stages, for example Fire Rescue Victoria's ACER written test, shuttle run and 20-week recruit course.

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Free lesson

Career Firefighter: how to get hired

The seven-step FRNSW hiring path, its standards and its traps. Your driving record is a hard gate; Three proctored tests, then a video; Simple physics, applied fast; Pace the PAT, you get one go; Every answer maps to a value; Disclose everything, or lose everything.

22 more lessons in PremiumThe full Career Firefighter video course, 4+ hours, rolling out to members

Members

Lesson 2: Eligibility: licence, work rights and education rulesEvery FRNSW entry requirement, the documents that prove it and common rejection reasons.
Lesson 3: Driving record, demerits and the MR licenceHow demerit limits are counted at application and when to get your Medium Rigid licence.
Lesson 4: Writing an application that survives screeningExact-name rules, document uploads and the screening questions that filter out applicants.
Lesson 5: Proctored online testing: rules and setupWebcam, microphone and screen-share rules, room setup and behaviours that get flagged.
Lesson 6: Cognitive aptitude: verbal reasoning itemsSynonyms, analogies, sentence completion and deduction, with timed drills and answer logic.
Lesson 7: Cognitive aptitude: numbers without a calculatorRates, percentages, averages and number series solved fast with mental shortcuts.
Lesson 8: Cognitive aptitude: logic and spatial patternsSyllogisms, ordering problems and shape series, with a skip-and-return timing plan.
Lesson 9: Mechanical reasoning: levers, pulleys and gearsMoments, mechanical advantage and gear ratios with sketch-first worked examples.
Lesson 10: Mechanical reasoning: fluids, heat and stabilityPressure, flow, conduction, expansion and centre of gravity items explained step by step.
Lesson 11: Emotional intelligence test: reading the scenariosHow emotion-recognition and response items work and what strong choices have in common.
Lesson 12: The recorded video interview, start to finishTiming, camera setup and STAR answers to the most likely firefighter questions.
Lesson 13: PAT Stage 1: search and ladder simulationTechnique for the reduced visibility search and ladder tasks in full protective gear.
Lesson 14: PAT Stage 2: carries, stairs, holds and dragsPacing the fifteen-minute block and training grip, legs and breathing for it.
Lesson 15: PAT Stage 3 and a 14-week training planFire attack and rescue technique plus a progressive plan modelled on FireFit principles.
Lesson 16: FRNSW values and what panels actually scoreRespect, Integrity, Service and Courage translated into behaviours you can evidence.
Lesson 17: Assessment centre interview: model STAR answersModel answers for teamwork, conflict, mistakes, pressure and helping someone in distress.
Lesson 18: Group and scenario exercises that score wellHow to contribute, include others and steer a group to a decision on time.
Lesson 19: The online workstyles assessmentWhat the personality questionnaire measures and why consistent honest answers matter.
Lesson 20: The pre-employment medical: what to prepareHearing, vision, ECG and spirometry, plus how to document existing conditions.
Lesson 21: Employment checks: police, driving and refereesChoosing referees, conduct checks and how past offences are assessed case by case.
Lesson 22: Other states: FRV, QFD, DFES and moreHow Victoria, Queensland, WA and other services differ in tests, fitness and timing.
Lesson 23: The recruit course and your first yearThirteen weeks of training, recruit pay, platoon placement and progression to Qualified Firefighter.

Keep going after the free lesson. Every topic gets its own lesson, plus the full question bank, timed simulations and study tools.

About the Career Firefighter exam

What's on the exam

Career Firefighter

The Job and Eligibility

6 key facts

Cognitive Aptitude: Verbal, Numerical and Logic

6 key facts

Mechanical Reasoning

6 key facts

Emotional Intelligence and the Video Interview

6 key facts

Physical Aptitude Test, Medical and Employment Checks

6 key facts

Assessment Centre Interview and Values

6 key facts

Application Strategy and Timeline

6 key facts

Recruit Training and the First Year

5 key facts

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 Career Firefighter exam

Campaigns are short: FRNSW's 2026 applications were open only from 9 to 20 March, with online tests the following week. Have your licence, education and work-rights documents ready before the campaign opens.
Practise speed tests on a computer. Cognitive aptitude tests such as Criteria's CCAT give well under a minute per question, so skip hard items and come back if time allows.
Learn the FRNSW values (Respect, Integrity, Service, Courage) and prepare STAR examples for each; the assessment centre and video interview look for job-related behaviours, not firefighting knowledge.
Start the FRNSW FireFit 14-week program months ahead and get your GP's PAT medical clearance form in on time. You only get one attempt at the FRNSW PAT, and you must not run at any point.

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.

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What's in the premium Career Firefighter prep

Premium Career Firefighter 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.

3,000practice questions, every answer explained

6full-length mock exams, 50 questions each, timed

800flashcards with spaced repetition, sorted by topic

60comprehensive key notes across 8 topics

Your step-by-step study path

1
The Job and Eligibility8 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25
Notes free with an account
2
Cognitive Aptitude: Verbal, Numerical and Logic8 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25
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3
Mechanical Reasoning8 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25
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4
Emotional Intelligence and the Video Interview8 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25
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5
Physical Aptitude Test, Medical and Employment Checks7 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25
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6
Assessment Centre Interview and Values7 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25
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7
Application Strategy and Timeline7 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25
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8
Recruit Training and the First Year7 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25
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Final step: 6 full mock exams50 questions each, timed like test day. Pass them, then book your exam.
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Free with an account

Read the complete Career Firefighter study notes for “The Job and Eligibility”

Our first full set of comprehensive notes, about 11 minutes of reading: What the job involves · FRNSW eligibility · How other states differ (example: Fire Rescue Victoria) · Pay and career structure, 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.

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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. A fire appliance carries 2,800 litres of water. A hose line delivers 350 litres per minute. How long can the appliance supply one line before running dry?

Answer: 8 minutes. 2,800 ÷ 350 = 8 minutes. A quick check: 350 × 8 = 2,800. Rate problems are common in cognitive tests; divide the total by the rate, then multiply back to confirm.

2. Which word is most nearly the opposite of RELUCTANT?

Answer: Eager. Reluctant means unwilling or hesitant, so its opposite is eager. Hesitant is a synonym, a common trap in antonym items. Read whether the question asks for the same or the opposite meaning before you choose.

3. All of Station 12's crews have completed road crash rescue training. Crew B has not completed road crash rescue training. Which statement must be true?

Answer: Crew B is not one of Station 12's crews. If every Station 12 crew is trained and Crew B is not trained, Crew B cannot be a Station 12 crew. The other options add information that the statements do not give. In deductive items, accept only what must follow.

4. What number comes next: 4, 9, 19, 39, ?

Answer: 79. Each term is doubled and 1 is added: 4×2+1 = 9, 9×2+1 = 19, 19×2+1 = 39, so 39×2+1 = 79. The differences (5, 10, 20, then 40) also double, which confirms it.

5. A station has 24 firefighters. One third are on leave and one quarter of the rest are at training. How many are available for duty?

Answer: 12. One third of 24 is 8 on leave, leaving 16. One quarter of 16 is 4 at training, leaving 12 available. 16 is the answer after the first step only; reading the second fraction as "of the rest" is the key.

6. Gear A has 20 teeth and drives Gear B, which has 40 teeth. If Gear A turns clockwise at 60 revolutions per minute, how does Gear B turn?

Answer: Anticlockwise at 30 rpm. Meshed gears turn in opposite directions, so B turns anticlockwise. Speed falls in proportion to teeth: 60 × 20 ÷ 40 = 30 rpm. A larger driven gear turns more slowly but with more turning force (torque).

7. A firefighter uses a lever to lift a 300 kg slab. The slab is 0.5 m from the pivot and the firefighter pushes 1.5 m from the pivot. Ignoring the lever's weight, how much force (in kg equivalent) is needed?

Answer: 100 kg. For balance, load × load distance = effort × effort distance: 300 × 0.5 = effort × 1.5, so effort = 150 ÷ 1.5 = 100 kg. The longer the effort arm compared with the load arm, the less force you need, which is why rescue bars are long.

8. Water flows through a hose that narrows from a wide section to a narrow nozzle. Assuming the same volume flows each second, what happens to the water speed at the nozzle?

Answer: It increases. The same volume must pass through a smaller area each second, so the water speeds up (flow rate = area × velocity). This is why a nozzle produces a fast jet. Mechanical reasoning tests often include simple fluid, pulley, lever and gear principles.

9. A load hangs from a single movable pulley supported by two rope sections. Ignoring friction and the pulley's weight, how much effort is needed to lift a 60 kg load?

Answer: 30 kg. The load is shared by the two supporting rope sections, giving a mechanical advantage of 2, so the effort is 60 ÷ 2 = 30 kg. The trade-off is that you pull twice as much rope as the height the load rises.

10. At a house fire you notice a colleague pocketing a small item from the property. Which response best reflects FRNSW's values?

Answer: Tell the colleague to return it immediately and report the matter to your officer. FRNSW's values are Respect, Integrity, Service and Courage. Integrity and Courage mean acting honestly and speaking up even when it is uncomfortable. Stopping the behaviour and reporting it through your officer is right; ignoring it, gossiping or posting online either condones it or breaches the Code of Conduct.

11. During a community safety visit, an elderly resident is rude and refuses to let you check her smoke alarm. What is the best response?

Answer: Stay calm and polite, explain why the check matters, and leave information if she still declines. Respect means treating people fairly and with dignity, and Service means helping the community. A calm explanation and leaving information respects her choice while still promoting safety. Forcing entry, walking off or making threats damage trust in the service.

12. In the assessment centre group exercise, one candidate dominates and another has not spoken. What should you do?

Answer: Invite the quiet candidate to share their view and keep the group on task. Group exercises assess teamwork, communication and respect. Bringing others in and keeping the group focused shows you can work in a crew. Competing for airtime, withdrawing or complaining to assessors gives poor evidence of the behaviours FRNSW is looking for.

13. What is the minimum driver licence FRNSW requires when you apply to be a permanent firefighter?

Answer: A provisional P2 (green) licence. FRNSW requires at least a P2 (green) licence when applying, with no more than 1 demerit point for provisional holders (7 for full licence holders). An MR licence is not needed to apply but must be obtained, at your cost, before you can accept an offer and start recruit training.

14. In which order does FRNSW run its permanent firefighter recruitment steps?

Answer: Application, online tests and video interview, PAT, assessment centre, medical, employment checks, offer. FRNSW lists seven steps: (1) application, (2) psychometric testing and video interview, (3) Physical Aptitude Test, (4) assessment centre, (5) medical assessment, (6) employment checks and (7) offer of employment and the recruit course. Each step must be passed to reach the next.

15. Which statement about the FRNSW Physical Aptitude Test is correct?

Answer: It is done in firefighter PPE as a task-based circuit, and you must not run at any point. FRNSW describes the PAT as a task-based circuit in supplied PPE (with ankle weights) that reflects real firefighting work, not a gym fitness test. Running is not allowed, a GP medical clearance form is needed beforehand, and candidates must pass on their first attempt. Stage 1 (search and ladder simulation) is untimed; Stage 2 includes jerry can carries, a stair climb, rescue tool holds and hose drags; Stage 3 is a fire attack simulation and firefighter rescue.

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Career Firefighter exam FAQ

How many questions are on the Career Firefighter exam?

FRNSW: Criteria online tests (cognitive aptitude, emotional intelligence, mechanical reasoning); question counts not published (Criteria's CCAT is 50 questions). FRV: ACER Written Selection Test of literacy, numeracy and mechanical reasoning (four sub-tests), with a time limit of frnsw does not publish time limits (criteria's ccat allows 15 minutes for 50 questions). the pat's stage 2 cannot be finished before 15 minutes; stage 3 is usually done in under 2 minutes. Format: online tests are proctored (webcam, microphone and screen sharing); no outside help or second screens. practise timed tests on a computer: frnsw points candidates to criteria's free practice tests.

What is the passing score for Career Firefighter?

Cut-offs not published. Candidates are ranked; FRNSW requires the PAT to be passed on the first attempt. FRV requires a pass in all four Written Selection Test sub-tests and shuttle run level 9.6 (second attempt allowed).

How much does the Career Firefighter exam cost?

No application fee. FRNSW candidates pay for the initial pathology, ECG and spirometry at the medical stage and for obtaining a Medium Rigid (MR) licence before an offer; Medicare does not cover pre-employment medicals. 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 Career Firefighter exam offered in?

English.

Where do I take the Career Firefighter exam?

FRNSW: online psychometric tests and video interview from home (proctored by webcam), Physical Aptitude Test in person (2026: Albion Park and Sydney Olympic Park), assessment centre and medical at FRNSW headquarters, Greenacre. FRV uses an ACER Written Selection Test.

Is this Career Firefighter 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 Career Firefighter prep is Premium at A$89 a month for this exam.

What's in the premium Career Firefighter prep?

3,000 practice questions organized topic by topic (The Job and Eligibility: 375; Cognitive Aptitude: Verbal, Numerical and Logic: 375; Mechanical Reasoning: 375; Emotional Intelligence and the Video Interview: 375; Physical Aptitude Test, Medical and Employment Checks: 375; Assessment Centre Interview and Values: 375; Application Strategy and Timeline: 375; Recruit Training 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.

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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 State fire and rescue services; main reference Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) before you book. AusGovCareer is an independent career-prep service, not affiliated with or endorsed by any government agency.

Exam at a glance

Certifying body: State fire and rescue services; main reference Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW)
Test provider: FRNSW: online psychometric tests and video interview from home (proctored by webcam), Physical Aptitude Test in person (2026: Albion Park and Sydney Olympic Park), assessment centre and medical at FRNSW headquarters, Greenacre. FRV uses an ACER Written Selection Test
Questions: FRNSW: Criteria online tests (cognitive aptitude, emotional intelligence, mechanical reasoning); question counts not published (Criteria's CCAT is 50 questions). FRV: ACER Written Selection Test of literacy, numeracy and mechanical reasoning (four sub-tests)
Time: FRNSW does not publish time limits (Criteria's CCAT allows 15 minutes for 50 questions). The PAT's Stage 2 cannot be finished before 15 minutes; Stage 3 is usually done in under 2 minutes
Passing score: Cut-offs not published. Candidates are ranked; FRNSW requires the PAT to be passed on the first attempt. FRV requires a pass in all four Written Selection Test sub-tests and shuttle run level 9.6 (second attempt allowed)
Format: Online tests are proctored (webcam, microphone and screen sharing); no outside help or second screens. Practise timed tests on a computer: FRNSW points candidates to Criteria's free practice tests
Fee: No application fee. FRNSW candidates pay for the initial pathology, ECG and spirometry at the medical stage and for obtaining a Medium Rigid (MR) licence before an offer; Medicare does not cover pre-employment medicals

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