Once inside, listen to the test monitors and follow their instructions carefully. They will be providing you with important information about taking the test. 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. Ask your proctor if you have any questions about the exam. They are there to help you.

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. 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. Use your watch or the clock in the room to keep track of your time during the test. Answer the easy questions within each subject first, then tackle the more difficult items. It’s to your advantage to answer as many questions as possible, even if you must guess. Mark your answers on the answer sheet and NOT in the test booklet. Only answers clearly marked on the answer sheet can be given credit. 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

Next time we will cover specific strategies for taking Multiple Choice tests, as well as the topics covered on the exam.

The written examination is your first step in the screening process for Police Officer candidates and is used to identify unqualified candidates without any possible accusation of favoritism or prejudice. The Civil Service System was established to insure the maintenance of a merit personnel system to recruit, employ, promote, and retain qualified persons for employment. Entry-level examinations do not presuppose knowledge. You will not be expected to know police rules, regulations, or procedures, but rather to reason and think like a Police Officer.

First: Find out test dates
Most civil service exams are administered as needed, many being annual. Make sure to contact the city or state administering your exam for more information. Most cities make this information readily available on their websites. Do not procrastinate! Not a fun feeling to finally go check on testing information only to find you missed applying by a day. You may be waiting up to a year for the next test date.

Second: Learn where and when the test is being given
Contact the city or state administering your exam for more information. Make sure you are familiar with the location. If you are not, take a drive before the test date to make sure you will have no problems finding it. Even so, plan on being to the test 30 minutes early on test day.

Third: Provide all necessary paperwork
Fill out all necessary forms, get copies of any identification, transcripts, etc. that they require. Also, there is a fee for taking these exams. Be prepared to pay it when you turn in your forms. Different municipalities have different rules on accepting cash, checks, or credit cards. Find out what form of payment they will take for the testing fee.

Next time we will discuss what test day will be like and how to be prepared.

No Income Tax
No tax on our NYS Retirement
No tax on 457 or deferred comp
No tax on Social Security

These states are Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas, Washington and Wyoming.

So if one of these states fits into your retirement plan that’s great. If they don’t then it is worth taking a look at the possibility of making a move. In the long run its all about making your retirement stretch as far as possible, for as long as possible.

Disclaimer: This information applies to New York State Police retirements.
If you are reviewing this information to seriously contemplate a move to a particular state, you should be mindful of the fact that states often enact, amend, and repeal their tax laws; please contact their Revenue Agency yourself to verify that the information is up to date.

Most physical agility tests consist the following:
Pushup max in 1 min
Situp max in 1 min
Timed 1.5 mile run
Sit and reach stretch test.
(this is the most common test, but by no means the only type)

You will need to start this program as close to 12 weeks out from your test date as you can. Stop this program 3-4 days before the test to allow your muscles to rest.

The Program
Do a set of each exercise: pushups, pullups, and situps. Round down to the nearest 5 unless your max is under 10 (for example 32 would be 30, 48 would be 45, but a max of 7 would stay at 7). This will be your max for that exercise. If your max is less than 10 you will pyramid by 1′s. If you max is between 10 and 20 you will pyramid by 2′s. If your max is between 20 and 40 pyramid by 5′s. Greater than 40 pyramid by 10′s

So the workout would pyramid up to you adjusted max and then back down, all by a set number. Something like this:

Pushups (max 45) : 10-20-30-40-45-40-30-20-10
Situps (max 32) : 5-10-15-20-25-30-25-20-15-10-5
Pullups (max 7) : 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-6-5-4-3-2-1

You will move from one exercise to the next in a circuit, taking a 1-2 minute rest after all three are done. Then move to the next step on the pyramid. You will continue until the longest pyramid is complete. If you finish a shorter pyramid, just continue doing the lowest amount on that pyramid until you complete the others. So in the above example our workout would look like this:

Pushup 10-20-30-40-45-40-30-20-10-10-10-10-10
Situps 5-10-15-20-25-30-25-20-15-10-5-5-5
Pullups 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-6-5-4-3-2-1

You will be working for 13 total sets taking you about 30-45 minutes depending on your pace. You will have completed 285 pushups, 190 situps, and 49 pullups. If you struggle with these exercises then do pushups from your knees, crunches, and chair-assisted pullups. Continue with the easier versions for three weeks, then retest yourself to set a new max on the original exercises.

You should do these exercises three days a week, alternating with running on the other three days (yes you only get Sundays off). Your runs should be as follows:
Day 1: 2-mile run, sprint half a lap, jog/recover half a lap.
Day 2: 2-mile timed run. Try to get under 16 minutes. 13-14 minutes would be ideal.
Day 3: 3-mile easy run at your own pace.

Do this program for three weeks. Then retest your max after a day or two of rest, readjust the pyramids, and start over. This method is a proven to boost your max dramatically in each of these exercises.

I hope to use this website to provide useful information to current, retired and future law enforcement officers.