Law Enforcement Officer Selection Tool (LST) Online Preparation & Free Practice Questions – 2024

What Is the LST Exam?

The Law Enforcement Officer Selection Tool (LST) is an entry-level exam given to applicants pursuing a career in law enforcement. Precincts in many states use this exam, including those in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington State.

I/O Solutions publishes the test, which consists of 190 multiple-choice questions you must complete in 2.5 hours. The exam consists of two main sections: Cognitive Abilities and Non-Cognitive traits.

Cognitive Abilities Test

The Cognitive Abilities portion of the exam is two hours long and consists of 70 multiple choice questions. This LST section will assess several skills critical to success as a police officer, including:

• Information Gathering
• Spatial Orientation
• Visualization
• Deductive Reasoning
• Inductive Reasoning
• Written Expression (English Grammar)
• Written Comprehension (Reading)

Cognitive Abilities Sample Questions

Here are a few examples of questions you may see in the cognitive abilities section of the LST:

Question 1:

Ben had a long night and needed to arrest four people: James, Brad, Greg, and Adam. Greg and Brad were arrested before James. Adam was the last to be arrested. Brad was not the first to be arrested. Who was the third person arrested?

1. James
2. Brad
3. Greg
4. Adam

Question 2:

Which sentence below has correct punctuation?

1. Manny have you gone to the store yet.
2. Manny have you gone to the store yet?
3. Manny, have you gone to the store yet?
4. Manny, have you gone to the store, yet?

Non-Cognitive Traits

The Non-Cognitive Traits portion of the exam consists of 120 questions you must answer in 30 minutes. The questions will fall into two main categories: personality and biographical data. The first category, personality, examines the stable traits that describe your working style. The biographical data questions will assess the experiences that result from your character, abilities, and interests.

This portion of the LST exam is used to ensure that you are a good fit for the department and that you have the right personality and character traits to be successful in law enforcement. While there are no right or wrong answers during this section, the precinct will use it to assess your capabilities. The department you are applying to may also compare your results with successful offers in the force to determine fit.

Non-Cognitive Sample Questions

Here are examples of questions you may find in the non-cognitive section of the LST exam:

Question 3:

Please rate how much you agree or disagree with the following statement:

I prefer working alone.

1. Strongly Agree
2. Agree
3. Neither Agree nor Disagree
4. Disagree
5. Strongly Disagree

Question 4:

You and your partner respond to a call for an armed robbery. You arrive to find a teenage boy yelling at the cashier but does not appear to have a weapon. What would be the best course of action in this scenario?

1. Approach the boy with your gun in hand. You are responding to an armed robbery and cannot take any chances.
2. Immediately use force on the boy. He appears angry, and you were told that he is armed.
3. Approach the boy calmly without weapons. His hands are empty, and you think you can calm him down with reason.
4. Wait for backup. Armed robbery can escalate quickly.

Answers:

1. A
2. C
3. There are no right or wrong answers to this question, but you will want to remember the values and duties of the position you are applying for when answering these questions.
4. When responding to this question, you will want to remember the honors and duties of the police force.

How to Prepare for the LST Test?

Applying to be a law enforcement officer can be challenging. There are a lot of mental and physical tasks that you must endure to earn your badge. The Law Enforcement Selection Tool exam will be easier if you prepare for the test.

The best way to prepare for the LST exam is the use study materials and practice tests. Using these resources as a guide will allow you to practice timing and fully understand the questions you will see on the exam.

Each precinct determines what scores are considered passing, so you will want to score as high as possible to ensure your spot in the program. Those who take the time to study for the LST will do better on the exam and will have a significantly higher chance of getting into their chosen law enforcement program.