Expert: Chris Wagoner - 3/11/2008

Question
QUESTION: If you fail the police examination can you take it again?

ANSWER: Hi Mark,

What police examination are you talking about? What State?

In Florida you can take the State Licensure Exam 3 times. If you fail it the third time you have to take the entire police academy again. If you want to know what to study for the Fla State Exam, look at all the objectives in the front of each lesson, and make those your study points. All of the test questions on the Fl state exam come from those objectives.

If you are not talking about Florida I need more information before I can answer your question.

Stay Safe and good luck!

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks chris. I was actually talking about the exam in Philadelphia. Like if
you fail the physical test or written exam can you take it again? Thanks.

Answer
Hi Mark,

I think you are talking about the Philadelphia Police Department? Their Civil Service Exam?

If so I would contact the department and ask for the Human Resources Department at 215-686-1776 and they can tell you exactly. Normally its one time every 6 months for testing everywhere I have seen. But contact them to be sure.

Also you should follow these guidlines when taking the test (this is from their own website):

Before the examination, make sure that you are well rested
Testing experts say that the most sensible preparation for an examination is to get a good night's sleep.  Fatigue is recognized as one of the most serious deterrents to successful test performance.  Try to arrange your schedule to get a full night of sleep before the examination.

On the day of the examination, leave early to go to the testing site
You may need extra time to find the testing site or to offset delays due to traffic, parking or bad weather.  Give yourself at least 30 extra minutes to arrive at the testing site to ensure that you arrive on time, calm and unhurried. Please note that if you arrive late at the testing site, you will not be permitted to take the examination.

Once the examination has started, listen carefully to all testing instructions
The more information that you have about the examination process the more confident you will feel while taking the exam.  Listen specifically for information about how to fill in your answer sheet.  If you fill in your identification number incorrectly on your answer sheet, the computer will not be able to assign your examination score to you. If you do not complete your answer sheet according to the directions, the computer may have difficulty reading your answers.  Listen for instructions about how much time you will be given to complete the examination and what to do when you are finished with it.  Ask your proctor if you have any questions about the exam.  They are there to provide appropriate help to you.

Pace yourself during the examination
Knowing how much time you have to complete the examination, you can figure out roughly the amount of time that you can spend on any one question.  Answer the easy questions within each subject first, then tackle the more difficult items.  Try to save some time at the end of the examination to review your responses to the more difficult questions and to check your answer sheet to be sure that you have not missed any questions.

If you follow those suggestions your score should be much better.

Good luck and I hope you score well and do not have to worry about re-taking...