| Many law enforcement candidates react to | | | | underline these sentences. This will save you |
| reading comprehension questions by thinking, | | | | valuable time. 4. Underline key words, |
| "This part of the test is going to really | | | | phrases and facts, such as dates, names and |
| slow me down." And, to a degree this part of | | | | events. 5. If you are totally confused by a |
| the test will slow you down. However, if you | | | | sentence or phrase in the passage, read the |
| follow the strategies described in this | | | | sentence before and after the difficult |
| article you will be able to complete your | | | | sentence to clarify its meaning. If you're |
| test at a steady pace and gain valuable | | | | still confused, move on. Don't dwell too long |
| points. Most police entrance exams emphasize | | | | or you'll lose valuable time. 6. Try to |
| reading comprehension. Why? Because to | | | | visualize by forming a mental picture of the |
| properly perform their jobs, law enforcement | | | | events described in the passage as you read. |
| officers are expected to understand and | | | | When you are able to visualize something, |
| comprehend what they read. Reading | | | | it's easier to comprehend. 7. Answer the |
| comprehension questions will typically be | | | | questions based on the information in the |
| based on one or more situational paragraphs, | | | | passage, not prior knowledge. If you don't |
| or require a candidate to determine the | | | | agree with something stated in the passage |
| proper course of action to take based on | | | | this is not the time to argue your point. |
| reading police rules and procedures. Firstly, | | | | Remember your goal is to get the highest |
| I would suggest you do a lot of reading | | | | score. In this part of the test, you are |
| before taking the test. Newspaper and | | | | being tested on your ability to read and |
| magazine articles can improve your | | | | comprehend, not your knowledge of the |
| concentration and your ability to understand | | | | subject. Do's and Don'ts Do read actively, |
| what you read. Read with purpose. Underscore | | | | not passively. Pause briefly after each |
| details and ideas that appear crucial to the | | | | paragraph to think about the points made by |
| meaning of the articles. Identify the | | | | the author. Jot down a brief outline as you |
| writer's point of view and their supporting | | | | go. Don't get too concerned with details as |
| information. When you finish with an article, | | | | you read a passage, especially long passages. |
| summarize it. Ask yourself, what was the | | | | Just take notes of where the details were in |
| author's purpose in writing the article? What | | | | the passage. You can quickly list statistics, |
| was the main idea. What was the article's | | | | numbers, dates, names titles, etc. Do pay |
| focus, key information and words? Another | | | | attention to the passage structure. Is it |
| suggestion is to take practice law | | | | organized chronologically, by comparison of |
| enforcement exams. The best practice exams | | | | two or more arguments, or was there some |
| will include reading comprehension sections | | | | other classification system? This will help |
| taken directly from actual exams used by law | | | | you locate details later. Do summarize the |
| enforcement agencies. Here are seven proven | | | | passage. Take a few seconds to recap the main |
| strategies to help you pass the reading | | | | idea of the passage. This may help you answer |
| comprehension part of the law enforcement | | | | several questions quickly. In summary, if you |
| written exam: 1. Skim the answers before | | | | follow these simple tips and strategies you |
| reading the passage. This will let you know | | | | will find reading comprehension test |
| what to look for while reading. As you read | | | | questions far easier to answer correctly. |
| the passage, mark or circle anything that | | | | Remember read with purpose. By far the most |
| answers a question. Continue reading that | | | | effective method to help you hone your skills |
| passage until you're done. Don't answer the | | | | and build your confidence, besides reading |
| question until you've read the entire passage | | | | newspaper and magazine articles, is to take |
| because you'll break your concentration. 2. | | | | actual practice exams used by law enforcement |
| Ask yourself after you read a paragraph, | | | | agencies. |
| "What exactly did that paragraph say?" Spend | | | | |
| a couple of seconds summarizing the contents | | | | For more than 290 practice exam questions |
| 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 | | | | detailed answer explanations for fast, |
| fail there will be one or more questions | | | | focused learning, and to discover the three |
| asking you to identify the main idea. Usually | | | | reasons why 70% of all police applicants fail |
| a passage will have a few sentences stating | | | | the written exam visit: ... |
| the author's main idea. While reading, | | | | |