Police Math Test Section Preparation & Sample Questions

Police officers often use basic math skills while performing their job duties. A police officer might need to calculate the value of stolen goods or the speed of a vehicle involved in an accident, for example. When hiring police officers, most departments include a math section in the written exam part of the hiring process.

What Is the Police Math Test Section?

Different police departments use various tests during the recruitment process, but the math section is usually similar regardless of the specific test. Your test may refer to this section as math, mathematical ability, or mathematical reasoning.

Typically, this section of a written police test covers general arithmetic. The skills you will need include addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Questions might also cover fractions, ratios, decimals, and percentages. Simple geometry concepts such as area and volume are often included, and some questions may involve viewing a graph or chart and interpreting the data shown.

Calculators are usually not allowed, but you can use a pencil and paper to help you figure out your answers as needed.  Questions are often in the form of word problems that relate to realistic scenarios you would encounter as a police officer. The format is almost always multiple-choice.

How to Prepare for the Police Math Test Section?

Practice tests are a helpful way to prepare for your written exam, including the math section. Taking a practice test will help you know what to expect on the actual test. You’ll also have a chance to refresh your knowledge of any essential functions or formulas.

Look for a timed test to ensure you can answer each question quickly and move on to the next. Since most tests do not allow you to use a calculator, be sure to practice without one. Use scratch paper to perform your calculations.

Have a look at the sample questions below to get started.

Sample Questions

1. You are in charge of investigating a break-in and burglary at a local clothing store. The store owner tells you that money was taken from the register totaling $2,400. The burglar(s) also took the following items: 10 coats, 17 necklaces, and 14 pairs of earrings. The value of each these items is shown below:Coats: $75 each
   Necklaces: $45 each
   Earrings: $30 per pairWhat is the total value that was stolen, including cash and goods?
   1. $4,220
   2. $4,335
   3. $4,742
   4. $5,115
2. You are called to a crime scene and need to get there as quickly as possible. The crime scene is 10.5 miles away. You will be able to drive an average of 45 miles per hour. Approximately how long will it take you to get to the scene?
   1. 5 minutes
   2. 10 minutes
   3. 5 minutes
   4. 14 minutes
3. Your unit has arrested a drug dealer who was in possession of $675,00 worth of heroin at the time of the arrest. If the value of heroin is $150,000 per kilogram, how many kilograms of heroin did the dealer have?
   1. 5
   2. 5
   3. 5
   4. 6
4. A number is increased by 20%, then decreased by 10%, then increased by 25%. If the final result is 165, what was the original number?
   1. 100
   2. 110
   3. 120
   4. 125
5. The ratio of boys to girls in a class is 5:3. If there are 40 more boys than girls, how many students are there in total?
   1. 100
   2. 120
   3. 140
   4. 160
6. A tourist exchanges $500 into euros when the exchange rate is 1 USD = 0.85 EUR. After a week, the rate changes to 1 USD = 0.90 EUR. How much does the tourist lose or gain if they exchange the euros back to dollars?
   1. Gain $15
   2. Lose $15
   3. Gain $20
   4. Lose $20
7. A tank can be filled in 5 hours by Pipe A and in 6 hours by Pipe B. If both pipes are opened together, but Pipe A is turned off after 2 hours, how long does it take to fill the tank?
   1. 5 hours
   2. 5 hours
   3. 2 hours
   4. 5 hours
8. A train travels 240 km at an average speed of 80 km/h, then 360 km at 90 km/h. What is the average speed for the entire journey?
   1. 84 km/h
   2. 85 km/h
   3. 86 km/h
   4. 87 km/h
9. Find the next number in the sequence:
   2, 6, 12, 20, 30, 42, ?
   1. 54
   2. 56
   3. 58
   4. 60
10. A factory produces 500 widgets per day, but due to a power outage, production decreases by 20% for the first half of the month and by 10% for the second half. How many widgets are produced in the month?
    1. 12,500
    2. 13,000
    3. 13,500
    4. 14,000
11. A rectangular field has a perimeter of 240 meters and a length that is 30 meters more than its width. What is its area?
    1. 3600 m²
    2. 4200 m²
    3. 4800 m²
    4. 5200 m²
12. The sum of three consecutive odd numbers is 75. What is the largest of these numbers?
    1. 23
    2. 25
    3. 27
    4. 29

Answer Key

1. B
2. D
3. A
4. C
5. C
6. B
7. D
8. A
9. C
10. B
11. C
12. C