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PROMOTIONAL EXAM
2011
UPDATE
Doc, I just got notified in September that I have to take the new
Police Sergeant video assessment test in January 2012. Is
there still time to prepare?
Yes,
you can still do it. However, you have to make
the commitment to study. You will also need to
learn about the video test, the video assessment strategy and
practice extensively with videos. Additionally, your written
responses should be evaluated by a certified assessor. Practice
and feedback are essential, as the assessment portion is now worth
45% of the overall score. The video test Civil Service is
proposing is similar to the video assessment test I helped to
develop years ago. To learn about the video test,
click here to read
the video assessment article I wrote for NJ Cops.
Are the old Police Sergeant test questions that Civil Service
previously administered going to be used on the new exam again?
No,
Civil Service has said they are going to develop a
new format for the written multiple choice test. For the new exam
it's no longer appropriate to memorize old recycled questions. If
you prepare for the old test using the old methods, your score
will go down. You need to make the mental adjustments and prepare
for the new test, not the old one.
On the Civil Service Police Lieutenant and Captains exam, is there
a new format?
Yes,
Civil Service changed the format for lieutenant and
captain. They added work sample test items to both the
lieutenant and captain written exams e.g. Report review, event
planning exercise.
Was
the Police Captains Oral Assessment Exam changed also?
Yes,
the Captains Oral Exam is now worth 40% of
the overall score. New Jersey Civil Service gave a longer work
sample scenario and increased the response time.
In regards to the Sheriffs promotional exam, will a book list be
issued for the upcoming exams?
Yes,
Civil Service posts the list in November in the
Sheriffs promotional orientation guide. In addition to the
textbook, Criminal Code 2C and Case Law are routinely tested.
For the County Corrections Sergeant's exam, why has Civil Service
not included a textbook?
They
have never said why publicly. Privately, they have told
Union representatives who ask that they believe knowledge of
10A-31 is critical for the Corrections First Line Supervisor. So
with no textbook, this becomes an extremely important area to
study.
