The written tests side by side
Exemptions are common. Victoria, for example, can exempt recent graduates of some bachelor's degrees, people who passed the VCE (or equivalent) in the last five years with an ATAR of 65 or more and at least 25 in English, and people with recent police, paramedic, firefighter or full-time ADF service. Check the exact list before you pay for a test.
| Force | Test | What it covers | Key facts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Victoria Police | Victoria Police entrance exam (ACER) | Numeracy, abstract reasoning, literacy, report writing | Pass every component; $284; online by remote proctoring or in person at Camberwell; 3 months to sit; one re-sit, then an exclusion period |
| Queensland Police Service | QPS Entrance Assessment (QPSea) | Literacy, abstract reasoning, writing | Taken after your expression of interest; exemptions may apply |
| WA Police Force | Psychometric / entrance evaluation | Cognitive ability, emotional intelligence, personality, behaviour, psychological wellbeing | Checks for inconsistent or overly favourable answers |
| SA Police | SAPOL Recruitment Test (TAFE SA) | Reading and writing | 60% in each to pass; spelling and numeracy removed from 14 April 2025; degree holders can be exempt |
| AFP | Online tests | Aptitude tests set by the AFP | Passing leads to the Entry Physical Competency Assessment |
| NSW Police Force | Professional suitability assessments | Set by the force, which says it decides the criteria from time to time | Seven-stage process leading to the Associate Degree in Applied Policing |
What the test sections look like
- Numeracy: arithmetic without long calculations, percentages, ratios, rates, time and distance, simple data in tables.
- Abstract reasoning: find the rule in a sequence or grid of shapes and pick the next one.
- Literacy and reading: comprehension of short passages, vocabulary in context, grammar and punctuation.
- Report or written expression: a short piece written from a scenario, marked on clarity, structure, accuracy, spelling and grammar.
- Psychometric questionnaires: personality and behaviour items with no right answers. Answer honestly and consistently; WA says its tools detect overly favourable responding.
Fitness standards the forces publish
SAPOL's fit-for-duty test is done in a 10 kg vest. The AFP requires a 100 m freestyle swim and an Entry Physical Competency Assessment; QPS publishes its Recruit Entry Fitness Assessment Standard on its recruiting site. Train to the exact items, not general fitness.
| Item | Victoria Police | WA Police Force |
|---|---|---|
| Beep test | Level 5.01 | 7.01 men / 6.01 women |
| Agility | Illinois agility run, 20 seconds | Modified Illinois, 20 s men / 22 s women |
| Push-ups | 5 in a row, on toes | 10, on toes |
| Core | Prone bridge, 60 seconds | 1 sit-up |
| Grip | 30 kg each hand | 30 kg |
| Other | Swim 100 m in 4 minutes (done beforehand, signed off by a lifeguard) | 35 kg bag lift and carry |
See where you stand in 10 minutes
Take the free Victoria Police Officer practice test. 15 questions, every answer explained.
The process after the test
- Background and integrity checks: offences, traffic history, associations, employment and, in Victoria, social media. Disclose everything.
- Fitness test at the academy or a test site (Victoria Police's must be done in Victoria).
- Psychological assessment: online questionnaires, sometimes a psychologist interview.
- Medical: GP examination, plus hearing and vision reports. WA requires unaided vision of at least 6/9 in the better eye and 6/18 in the other, or corrected vision with soft contact lenses.
- Panel interview: behavioural and scenario questions. Victoria's runs about 40-50 minutes with two members; QPS's is online.
- Offer and academy: WA's academy is 28 weeks, the AFP's Federal Police Development Program 26 weeks, and NSW recruits study the Associate Degree in Applied Policing with residential training at Goulburn.
Eligibility basics
- Age: WA and QPS accept applications from 17 and a half; the AFP from 18.
- Citizenship: WA accepts Australian or New Zealand citizens and Australian permanent residents; the AFP requires Australian citizenship.
- Licence: a current car licence (provisional licences accepted by WA and the AFP).
- First aid: a current certificate (WA asks for HLTAID003 or HLTAID011; the AFP asks for first aid and CPR).
- Education: WA asks for no formal qualifications; the AFP asks for Year 10 plus work experience or a Certificate III, Year 12, or a diploma or higher.
- Tattoos: assessed case by case; WA doesn't accept face tattoos.
How long it takes
Victoria Police says its process averages six months. QPS says about 16 weeks on average from submission to an offer. WA runs its assessments over three to four months before candidates enter a selection pool. The AFP says as little as six months but often up to nine. Start fitness training before you apply: some forces book the fitness test soon after the written test.
Frequently asked questions
Which police entrance test is the hardest?
No force publishes pass rates, so there is no official answer. Victoria's exam covers the most sections (including numeracy and abstract reasoning) and allows only one re-sit before an exclusion period, so it rewards the most preparation. SAPOL's test is now reading and writing only.
Can I use the same test result for more than one force?
Sometimes as an exemption. Victoria, for example, can exempt you if you passed another Australian police force's entrance exam or academic entry requirement in the last five years. Each force decides; check its exemption list.
Do I have to pay for the test?
Victoria Police charges $284 for its exam and re-sits are extra. SAPOL's test is free when SAPOL invites you. Other forces may reimburse some costs: WA reimburses first aid, medical, vision, bankruptcy check and fingerprint costs for applicants who reach the final stages.
Are your questions the real police test questions?
No. They are original practice questions written to the sections each force publishes. Use the official tutorials and sample material first, then practise with us.
Official sources
- Victoria Police: Recruitment process for police officers
- QPS Recruiting: Recruitment process
- WA Police Force: Police Officer eligibility and recruitment
- SAPOL: Recruitment process
- NSW Police Force: Application process
- AFP: Application process
Practice tests for these certifications
Victoria Police Officer (Recruit to Constable)
Victoria Police officers start in general duties after a paid 25-week Police Foundation Training Program at the Academy in Glen Waverley, being sworn in at week 12 and completing the POL50124 Diploma of Policing over about two years.
Queensland Police Service Officer (Recruit to First Year Constable)
Queensland police officers start in general duties anywhere in the state after about 32 weeks of paid recruit training at the QPS Academy in Brisbane (Oxley) or Townsville, then a 12-month First Year Constable Program.
WA Police Force Officer (Entry-Level Recruit to Probationary Constable)
WA police officers train for 28 weeks at the WA Police Academy in Joondalup, then serve 18 months as a Probationary Constable in metropolitan or regional Western Australia.
South Australia Police (SAPOL) Officer (Cadet to Probationary Constable)
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.
NSW Police Force Officer (Student Police Officer to Probationary Constable)
NSW police officers start as students in the Associate Degree in Applied Policing (ADAP), delivered by Western Sydney University with the NSW Police Force: 16 weeks of online study, then 16 paid weeks at the Goulburn Academy, attestation as a Probationary Constable and a 12-month probation in the field.
Australian Federal Police (AFP) Recruit: National Policing and ACT Policing
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.
This guide is general information, checked November 2026, not legal advice. The recruiting agency rules change; confirm with the recruiting agency before you apply.
