| Many law enforcement candidates react to | | | | While reading, underline these sentences. This will |
| reading comprehension questions by thinking, "This | | | | save you valuable time. 4. Underline key words, |
| part of the test is going to really slow me down." | | | | phrases and facts, such as dates, names and |
| And, to a degree this part of the test will slow | | | | events. 5. If you are totally confused by a |
| you down. However, if you follow the strategies | | | | sentence or phrase in the passage, read the |
| described in this article you will be able to | | | | sentence before and after the difficult sentence |
| complete your test at a steady pace and gain | | | | to clarify its meaning. If you're still confused, |
| valuable points. Most police entrance exams | | | | move on. Don't dwell too long or you'll lose |
| emphasize reading comprehension. Why? Because | | | | valuable time. 6. Try to visualize by forming a |
| to properly perform their jobs, law enforcement | | | | mental picture of the events described in the |
| officers are expected to understand and | | | | passage as you read. When you are able to |
| comprehend what they read. Reading | | | | visualize something, it's easier to comprehend. 7. |
| comprehension questions will typically be based on | | | | Answer the questions based on the information in |
| one or more situational paragraphs, or require a | | | | the passage, not prior knowledge. If you don't |
| candidate to determine the proper course of | | | | agree with something stated in the passage this is |
| action to take based on reading police rules and | | | | not the time to argue your point. Remember your |
| procedures. Firstly, I would suggest you do a lot | | | | goal is to get the highest score. In this part of the |
| of reading before taking the test. Newspaper and | | | | test, you are being tested on your ability to read |
| magazine articles can improve your concentration | | | | and comprehend, not your knowledge of the |
| and your ability to understand what you read. | | | | subject. Do's and Don'ts Do read actively, not |
| Read with purpose. Underscore details and ideas | | | | passively. Pause briefly after each paragraph to |
| that appear crucial to the meaning of the articles. | | | | think about the points made by the author. Jot |
| Identify the writer's point of view and their | | | | down a brief outline as you go. Don't get too |
| supporting information. When you finish with an | | | | concerned with details as you read a passage, |
| article, summarize it. Ask yourself, what was the | | | | especially long passages. Just take notes of where |
| author's purpose in writing the article? What was | | | | the details were in the passage. You can quickly |
| the main idea. What was the article's focus, key | | | | list statistics, numbers, dates, names titles, etc. Do |
| information and words? Another suggestion is to | | | | pay attention to the passage structure. Is it |
| take practice law enforcement exams. The best | | | | organized chronologically, by comparison of two or |
| practice exams will include reading comprehension | | | | more arguments, or was there some other |
| sections taken directly from actual exams used | | | | classification system? This will help you locate |
| by law enforcement agencies. Here are seven | | | | details later. Do summarize the passage. Take a |
| proven strategies to help you pass the reading | | | | few seconds to recap the main idea of the |
| comprehension part of the law enforcement | | | | passage. This may help you answer several |
| written exam: 1. Skim the answers before reading | | | | questions quickly. In summary, if you follow these |
| the passage. This will let you know what to look | | | | simple tips and strategies you will find reading |
| for while reading. As you read the passage, mark | | | | comprehension test questions far easier to |
| or circle anything that answers a question. | | | | answer correctly. Remember read with purpose. |
| Continue reading that passage until you're done. | | | | By far the most effective method to help you |
| Don't answer the question until you've read the | | | | hone your skills and build your confidence, besides |
| entire passage because you'll break your | | | | reading newspaper and magazine articles, is to |
| concentration. 2. Ask yourself after you read a | | | | take actual practice exams used by law |
| paragraph, "What exactly did that paragraph say?" | | | | enforcement agencies. |
| Spend a couple of seconds summarizing the | | | | For more than 290 practice exam questions |
| contents of the paragraph. While doing this look at | | | | based on real exams used by police agencies |
| the paragraph to help you remember where | | | | throughout the country with instruction and |
| important information is located. 3. Without fail | | | | detailed answer explanations for fast, focused |
| there will be one or more questions asking you to | | | | learning, and to discover the three reasons why |
| identify the main idea. Usually a passage will have | | | | 70% of all police applicants fail the written exam |
| a few sentences stating the author's main idea. | | | | visit: ... |