The firefighter written exam is basically make or break – get a high score, and you will qualify for the next step in the hiring process. But get a low score and you can kiss that firefighting career goodbye, at least until the next exam is held.
This is why many experts suggest you take several different tests in different municipalities. Do this and you will not only get a good idea of what to expect, you will build your self-confidence.
The Firefighter Exam
On the average, a firefighter written exam takes about 3 1/2 hours. It will most likely include seven or more different kinds of questions. Here are the most typical types:
- Recalling, visualizing, and spatial orientation questions.
- Reading and verbal/listening comprehension questions
- Questions on understanding and applying basic mathematics and science
- Questions relating to tools and equipment
- Questions about dealing with people
- Questions relating to mechanical devices
- Questions that test judgment and reasoning
Note: The first section, recalling, visualizing and spatial orientation questions, will most likely be broken into three subsections.
Typical Firefighter Exams
FireTEAM
This exam was developed primarily as a way to prescreen entry-level firefighter candidates and save the hours and hours of staff time that was historically spent on oral board interviews. This exam measures your skills and abilities in four categories: Teamwork, public relations, mechanical aptitude and reading ability.
FireTEAM Video-Based Human Relations Test
A second FireTeam test is the video-based human relations test. This test is multiple choice and, as you would imagine from the name, video-based. Its goal is to test your skills in human relations.
The video-based human relations test covers many performance dimensions related to being an excellent firefighter, including:
- Teamwork
- Positive versus negative influence on station internal relations
- Professional responses in difficult situations
- Situational judgment
- Positive relations with supervisors and management
- Professional behavior and bearing
FireTEAM Reading Test
This reading test completes the elements in the FireTEAM testing battery. It is designed specifically for firefighting, a job which requires the ongoing study of difficult and technical materials. It addresses the reading competency that you need to have for this job.
You can visit the site, www.ergometrics.org/firefighter_test.htm, to take a practice test and for more information about FireTeam testing and training materials.
ErgoMechanical Animated Aptitude Test
This test, which represents the most dramatic update for IE testing in 60 years, is designed to assist your mechanical common sense. It addresses:
- Analytical problem solving
- Adapting and improvising
- Working with complex systems and sequences
- Understanding the physical world
- Anticipating predictable occurrences
Cooperative Personnel Services (CPS)
This firefighter written exam was used extensively in the early 1990s, but has been superseded in most cities by the FireTEAM tests. The most common CPS written tests you might run in today are:
- #2129: Entry Firefighter
- #2150: Entry Firefighter
- #2158-A: Entry Firefighter (EMT / Paramedic requirements only)
- #2179: Entry Firefighter
- #2199: Entry Firefighter
A fire department may also use one of the following supplemental tests designed to test specific skills.
- EMT
- Paramedic
- Firefighter Essentials
- Ground Ladder Practices
These supplemental tests generally consist of 30 questions.
WH management Solutions - Selection Solutions Entry-level Firefighter Written Test
This entry-level, firefighter written exam has been used and validated by fire departments across the country. It is said to provide the most powerful selection process possible. It incorporates research on multiple intelligence and conditional reasoning as well as a broader range of job related abilities than traditional written test. While most entry-level written tests simply measure cognitive (knowledge) skills, this test also assesses several other dimensions that are important for success in fire service. These include interpersonal skills, self-awareness and emotional skills and practical skills.
You can visit the CMS website, www.cwhms.com, for more information on this test.
Your Firefighter Exam Scores
Either the person who monitors your firefighter written exam or the exam book itself will tell you when and where the official answers to the exam will be posted or published. Be sure to check the published answers. If you do not get a perfect score, you may find that you do not agree with all the official answers. If so, and if you feel very strongly that the answer you chose was as good or better than the official answer, you can file a protest. How the protest procedure works should be covered on the exam instructions or be available at the office of the examining agency.
If you are going to submit a protest to the examiner it should usually be done within a limited time. This protest should include an explanation of why you believe your choice is as good or better than the official answer, and you should list any books or reference materials that support your claim. If you find it necessary to protest more than one question, you should submit each protest on a separate sheet of paper. Sign your name and give your address on the bottom of each sheet. The examining agency will review all of your protests, make a final determination, and then publish an official answer key.
There may be several months between the time you take the exam and when the final answer key and the official list are published. When the final list of candidates is established, you will be notified by mail of your number on the. The next step will be the announcement of appointments for physical and emotional tests but it may also be several months before this happens.
You must keep abreast of what is going on during these waiting periods. It is important that you notify the examining agency of any change in your address or status that could affect its ability to contact you.