South Australia Police (SAPOL) Officer (Cadet to Probationary Constable): free practice test
SAPOL police officers begin as paid cadets in the Constable Development Program at the SA Police Academy in Taperoo, Adelaide, for about 9 to 11 months, then graduate as Probationary Constables posted to a metropolitan District or regional area. You start with an online eligibility assessment form, then sit the SAPOL Recruitment Test (reading and writing, 60% each, unless exempt) and remote IQ and personality testing, followed by a panel interview, a medical and the Fit for Duty test. A selection board makes the final decision.
Watch the free 4:48 video lesson: the key SA Police Officer 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: SAPOL officer role, eligibility and the application formWhat officers do, who can apply, and how to complete the eligibility form well.
- Lesson 3: Character, licence and offence history disclosuresHow past offences and traffic history are treated and how to disclose them.
- Lesson 4: Recruitment Test exemptions: which ones apply to youDegree, diploma, ATAR, ADF, emergency service and public sector exemptions explained.
- Lesson 5: Reading: detail and stated-fact questionsChecking times, places and conditions word by word against the passage.
- Lesson 6: Reading: main idea, inference and vocabularyChoosing options the passage supports without adding unstated claims.
- Lesson 7: Writing: sentence boundaries and comma splicesFull stops, semicolons and joining words to build correct sentences.
- Lesson 8: Writing: confusable words and linking wordsEffect and affect, licence and license, however, therefore and instead.
- Lesson 9: Writing: planning a clear, report-style responsePurpose, three points, logical order and a neutral Australian English tone.
- Lesson 10: Cognitive testing: number series and patternsDifference methods, alternating series and how to work fast without format details.
- Lesson 11: Cognitive testing: logic, deduction and odd-one-outValid and invalid conditional reasoning and category-based elimination.
- Lesson 12: Personality profile: honesty, consistency and self-awarenessWhy faking the ideal answer backfires and how to answer authentically.
- Lesson 13: SAPOL qualities: what the panel looks forLeadership, decisiveness, problem solving, stress management, integrity, courage, respect.
- Lesson 14: Building STAR stories from limited work experienceTurning study, sport, caring and volunteering into scoreable examples.
- Lesson 15: Panel interview questions with model answersWhy SAPOL, pressure decisions, standing up for what is right, managing stress.
- Lesson 16: Scenario questions: priorities, safety and fairnessStructuring answers around safety, decisive action, communication and lawful conduct.
- Lesson 17: Fit for Duty circuit: each station explainedVest run, weight carry, beam, step-ups, fence, drops and trigger pulls.
- Lesson 18: Fit for Duty training plan to beat 2:30A progressive weekly programme combining cardio, strength and the memory task.
- Lesson 19: Medical assessment and police medical standardsHow the Police Medical Section assesses fitness for Academy training and duties.
- Lesson 20: Country and interstate applicants: the three-day eventRemote components, the Headquarters recruitment event and relocation allowance.
- Lesson 21: Selection board, timelines and reapplying after rejectionHow final decisions work, getting feedback and the twelve-month wait.
- Lesson 22: Constable Development Program at the Taperoo AcademyNine to eleven months of law, procedure, safety, firearms and driver training.
- Lesson 23: Probation, the learning portfolio and becoming ConstablePostings, workplace learning records and progression to Constable.
Keep going after the free lesson. Every topic gets its own lesson, plus the full question bank, timed simulations and study tools.
About the SA Police Officer exam
SAPOL police officers begin as paid cadets in the Constable Development Program at the SA Police Academy in Taperoo, Adelaide, for about 9 to 11 months, then graduate as Probationary Constables posted to a metropolitan District or regional area. You start with an online eligibility assessment form, then sit the SAPOL Recruitment Test (reading and writing, 60% each, unless exempt) and remote IQ and personality testing, followed by a panel interview, a medical and the Fit for Duty test. A selection board makes the final decision.
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 SA Police Officer exam
- Check the Recruitment Test exemptions before you sit it: a bachelor's degree, an Australian diploma, an ATAR of 65 or more, a previous pass, another police entrance exam pass, or certain police, emergency service, ADF (including Reservists with 6 months' service) or SA public sector backgrounds.
- Practise the Fit for Duty test under load: you wear a 10 kg vest, carry two 15 kg weights, climb a 1 m fence, cross a slippery beam and must recall at least 3 of 5 physical characteristics at the end. Aim for under 2 minutes 30 seconds, the competitive time and the graduation standard.
- Prepare interview examples for each quality SAPOL lists: leadership, decisiveness, problem-solving, stress management, integrity, courage and respect, drawn from education, work, community and life experience.
- If you are unsuccessful you usually cannot reapply for 12 months, so ask the Talent Acquisition Team for feedback and be fully prepared before you submit.
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 SA Police Officer prep
Premium SA Police Officer 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
- 2SAPOL Recruitment Test: Reading8 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25Premium
- 3SAPOL Recruitment Test: Writing8 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25Premium
- 4IQ (Cognitive) and Personality Profile Testing8 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25Premium
- 5Fit for Duty Test and Medical7 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25Premium
- 6Panel Interview and SAPOL Qualities7 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
- 8Academy Training and Probation7 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 SA Police Officer study notes for “The Job and Eligibility”
Our first full set of comprehensive notes, about 10 minutes of reading: What the job involves · How to start: the eligibility assessment form · Age and who can apply · What SAPOL looks for, 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. Read the notice: "The Neighbourhood Watch meeting has moved from Tuesday at the library to Wednesday at the community hall, still at 7 pm, because the library is closed for repairs. People who registered for Tuesday do not need to register again." Which statement is supported?
2. Read: "Volunteers in the program do not replace police. They act as extra eyes and ears, reporting suspicious behaviour and helping residents secure their homes, which frees officers to respond to urgent matters." What is the main purpose of the passage?
3. "The magistrate adjourned the hearing until the interpreter could attend." In this sentence, "adjourned" most nearly means:
4. Which sentence is correctly punctuated?
5. Choose the correct word: "The new lighting had a noticeable ___ on night-time thefts."
6. "The road was wet and poorly lit. ___, the driver was travelling well above the speed limit." Which linking word fits best?
7. What number comes next: 2, 6, 12, 20, 30, ...?
8. "If it rains, the outdoor event is cancelled. The outdoor event was not cancelled." What can you conclude?
9. Which word does not belong with the others: Sergeant, Inspector, Constable, Magistrate?
10. You are the first officer at a shopping centre where a parent reports a 4-year-old missing ten minutes ago. The parent is panicking. What should you do first?
11. A café owner on your patrol offers you and your partner free meals "any time you're in uniform". What should you do?
12. You lead a small team at work. In meetings, one quiet team member's suggestions keep getting talked over, even though they are often good. What is the best action?
13. Which applicant still needs to sit the SAPOL Recruitment Test?
14. Which memory task is built into SAPOL's Fit for Duty test?
15. Which statement about the current SAPOL Recruitment Test is correct?
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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
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- Content updates during your access
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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).
SA Police Officer exam FAQ
How many questions are on the SA Police Officer exam?
SAPOL Recruitment Test (TAFE SA): Reading and Writing components (spelling and numeracy were removed from 14 April 2025). SAPOL does not publish the number of questions. Separately, remote IQ and personality profile testing, format not published, with a time limit of not published by sapol or tafe sa. Format: our practice questions cover the reading, writing and reasoning skills sapol tests. they are original practice items, not real sapol or tafe sa questions. exemptions from the recruitment test apply for degree, diploma, atar 65+ and some police, emergency service, adf and public sector backgrounds.
What is the passing score for SA Police Officer?
60% in Reading and 60% in Writing on the SAPOL Recruitment Test. No published pass mark for the IQ and personality testing; results feed a selection board, and passing every test does not guarantee selection.
How much does the SA Police Officer exam cost?
SAPOL does not publish a fee for the Recruitment Test on its recruitment pages; check with the Recruiting Section when invited. Eligible country and interstate recruits receive a cost-of-living allowance (currently $4,531.28) on starting at the Academy. 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 SA Police Officer exam offered in?
English.
Where do I take the SA Police Officer exam?
Online eligibility assessment form (treated as an expression of interest); SAPOL Recruitment Test delivered by TAFE SA, in person or online at a time of your choice; IQ and personality profile testing done remotely; panel interview in Adelaide or by Microsoft Teams for interstate and rural applicants; medical through the SAPOL Police Medical Section or a referred provider.
Is this SA Police Officer 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 SA Police Officer prep is Premium at A$89 a month for this exam.
What's in the premium SA Police Officer prep?
3,000 practice questions organized topic by topic (The Job and Eligibility: 375; SAPOL Recruitment Test: Reading: 375; SAPOL Recruitment Test: Writing: 375; IQ (Cognitive) and Personality Profile Testing: 375; Fit for Duty Test and Medical: 375; Panel Interview and SAPOL Qualities: 375; Application Strategy and Timeline: 375; Academy Training and Probation: 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 South Australia Police (SAPOL) Talent Acquisition / Recruiting Section (police.sa.gov.au/join-us/achievemore) before you book. AusGovCareer is an independent career-prep service, not affiliated with or endorsed by any government agency.