Firefighter Written Exam Practice Test (2024 Guide)

What Is the Firefighter Written Exam?

To fulfill the requirements to be a firefighter, one must suceed in the firefighter written exam, often referred to as the FFA written test. This is a critical step in the series of firefighter entrance exams, and only upon passing this, you may be considered for subsequent stages such as interviews or physical examinations.

The firefighter written exam, a crucial part of the requirements to be a firefighter, is a comprehensive assessment containing between 100 and 150 questions. This exam measures a wide array of cognitive abilities essential for effective firefighting.

The fire department written test is either taken before applying for a firefighter role (so test results can be submitted along with a written letter of application) or after applying for a role online when invited to a test.

To be interviewed for a firefighting role, you must pass part one and part two of the firefighter written test.

Preparation is essential. Firefighting is a dream job for many. There will be hundreds of entrants for firefighter positions, as the remuneration and benefits of the role are high.

What Is On The Firefighter Written Exam?

The firefighter written examination is an assessment designed to test a variety of skills essential for firefighting.

The specifics of the exam can differ from state to state as local fire departments are typically responsible for setting them.

The Firefighter Written Exam assesses cognitive and situational judgment abilities among other key competencies.

It's worth noting that while the content may vary, the ultimate goal of the firefighter written examination is to evaluate the readiness and potential of candidates for the demanding role of a firefighter.

Most will assess general cognitive functions:

• Reading comprehension
• Verbal comprehension
• Mathematical reasoning
• Mechanical reasoning
• Memory
• Logic and problem solving
• Spatial orientation

Firefighter paramedic written exams may include job-specific terminology questions on first aid and medical knowledge.

Apart from this, the firefighter written exam evaluates skills which are essential to all workplaces, such as:

• Personality
• Reading
• Writing
• Verbal communication
• Mathematics

The most important of a firefighter's skills is spatial orientation, as being able to find your way through a building using maps or to the location of a fire while under extreme stress is essential in an emergency.

The firefighter test mechanical reasoning questions evaluate science knowledge.

Firefighters need to understand how different fires start and behave and how to put them out using the right chemicals safely.

Mechanical reasoning questions may also cover combustion and ask about diagrams of machinery used in the job.

The firefighter written test will evaluate how well a candidate can withstand stress in emergencies and how well they take decisions alone and within teams while faced with immediate dilemmas and cognitive ability.

What Does The Firefighter Written Exam Consist Of And What To Expect When Taking It?

It is called the firefighter written exam because it is delivered on paper.

Each question is multiple-choice or has a true/false answer.

In general, the tests take two or two and a half hours.

There are no penalties for incorrect answers, and each question has an equal weighting.

Most of the tests do not allow for tools other than a pen or pencil in the examination room.

However, candidates are allowed scrap paper and to make marks on the question book.

The questions can include:

• Verbal reasoning
• Reading comprehension
• Mathematical reasoning
• Spatial orientation
• Scientific or mechanical reasoning

The firefighter written tests also assess personality traits and situational judgment requirements specific to firefighting.

Each department obscures the test material for legal reasons: a fire department cannot disclose information about specific incidents in its local area by translating them into the test material.

Consequently, the majority of the questions on the firefighter written tests are not job-specific.

The test is designed to evaluate basic competencies required in any working environment.

This makes it possible to practice and prepare for the firefighter written test using general test prep material and preparation material created by firefighters and other fire safety professionals.

Will the Firefighter Written Exam Vary Between States?

There is no standard firefighter written exam. Every state department sets its tests and has a different process for application.

Different fire departments face different challenges: some will mostly tackle forest fires, others house fires or roadside accidents.

Each department intentionally writes its tests to assess the knowledge needed for working in its particular environment.

What Happens If You Fail The Firefighter Written Exam?

The process of application also varies between states.

Some states offer tests quarterly, where others will offer the exam once every two years.

Should you fail the test, you usually have to wait two years before applying again.

Therefore, if you are considering a career as a firefighter, research the application process for your preferred state department early and prepare for the firefighter written test in advance.

What Are the Sections of the Firefighter Written Test?

There are two sections in the firefighter written test.

• Part one comprises 100 to 150 questions with multiple-choice or true and false answers on cognitive skills.

• Part two is a personality test.

You must pass part one to be invited to take part two of the FCFC written exam.

Although each fire department creates a unique version of the FCFC written exam, the test will include some or all of the following sections:

Verbal Comprehension

These tests evaluate grammar, spelling and punctuation.

Test questions are on general topics and will normally have a sentence with a missing word to fill in with a choice of three to five answers.

Reading Comprehension

These tests evaluate a candidate's ability to extract information from a paragraph or table of written information.

After each passage of reading, there is a series of true or false or multiple-choice questions about the facts in each one.

Mathematical Reasoning

The mathematical reasoning questions of the firefighter written exams test skills like arithmetic, geometry and speed calculations.

Although the questions are not all on firefighting topics, mathematical proficiency is important in fire safety roles.

Being able to make good estimations of distance, calculate pressure and estimate time for journeys in emergency responses is key to the role.

Some tests will present graphs or tables of information. Others are mathematical questions presented in sentence form.

Mechanical Reasoning

The mechanical reasoning questions of the firefighter written exams test candidates' science knowledge. These questions cover topics from chemical processes to concepts in physics.

Questions on forces, pressure, sound waves and temperature are common. They might also include questions about diagrams of firefighting or other mechanical equipment.

Mechanical reasoning questions are not calculation questions. They are factual recall questions on scientific topics.

Although they are not firefighting specific, these are important questions for prospective fire safety professionals to answer.

For example, a firefighter should know the difference between an electrical or oil fire and why one cannot be fought with water.

Observation and Memorization

The observation and memorization questions of the fire safety exam present an image or diagram to memorize then answer questions about.

Some of these images will be pictures or photographs.

Other images may be of 3D shapes, followed by questions about their properties.

Logic and Problem-Solving

These questions are general problem-solving questions with right or wrong answers, usually selected from a multiple choice of five.

Candidates are presented with a sequence of images or shapes and asked to select which option from the following images fits next in the order.

Spatial Orientation

Being able to orient yourself with speed in a space is an essential skill fire safety professionals need as they will often be entering buildings with limited visibility.

Spatial orientation questions evaluate a candidate's ability to locate themselves within a building or environment accurately.

These questions begin with a map or diagram and ask a candidate to identify the fastest routes between points A and B on the diagram.

These questions might also present 3D shapes and ask candidates to match the shape from a different angle.

Situational Judgment

Situational judgment questions have no right or wrong answers.

The candidate reads a paragraph describing a work-based situation. They then select the answer which best fits how they would respond.

These types of questions appear in many psychometric tests. However, in firefighting, the way individuals act while working alone is as important as how they act in a team.

These questions will address workplace and social dilemmas to evaluate how a candidate might act in groups, when working alone and when working under pressure in an emergency response.

How to Study For the Firefighter Written Test in 2024?

Although preparing for a test that can be so varied might seem daunting, it is essential that you prepare for the firefighter written exam.

There are numerous resources and study guides for the firefighter written exam available created specifically to support preparing for this test, including free resources.

Some of the paid online resources give access to study communities of others preparing for the firefighter written exam. Others come with an app.

There are also books and flashcards available to support the firefighter written exam.

Therefore, research resources that are available and choose some which support the way you like to study.

Some fire departments will provide candidates with a study guide.

Other departments advise applicants to review the job bulletin for clues about what will be in the test.

It is possible to ask the department you have applied to for study resources in advance.

How to Prepare For the Firefighter Written Test in 2024

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts

It might seem daunting to prepare for a firefighter safety written test, as so much of the test content is withheld and can change between departments.

However, because it is not a firefighting test specifically, there are even more practice resources available that can help you prepare.

You can create your firefighter written exam practice tests by combining general online practice tests with the apps and study guides created specifically for the fire safety written test.

Using standard online verbal, logical and mathematical reasoning tests will improve your chances of passing the firefighting written exam and help you understand the differences between these types of questions.

In addition to these general preparation tests, there are many resources available for test practice, and many of these have been created by firemen and women who have passed the test themselves.

The firefighter safety test is unusual in this regard.

Having a community of people to support you through studying is rare in job tests; however, a few fire safety prep test online subscriptions give you access to one.

Use a combination of paid test prep resources, free online testing and general test preparation, and allow yourself to become familar with the potential questions that might arise, and you will give yourself the best chance to pass the firefighter written exam.