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Firefighter selection test practice

Each fire and rescue service runs its own recruitment. The services we looked at combine written tests, job-related physical tests, an interview and a medical – here is what they publish.

Process varies by service

Coming soon

What we know about the selection process

The fire and rescue services below each publish their own recruitment process, and the stages, their order and the tests used differ between them. Treat them as examples and always check the current campaign page of the service you are applying to.

Application and eligibility

Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service asks applicants to upload proof of identity, a full UK manual driving licence and GCSE English and maths results or equivalent, and says you must be 18 or older at the start of training and pass an enhanced DBS check. It also says incomplete applications will not progress (Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service – Wholetime recruitment selection process). Merseyside’s application has a second part asking for examples of the leadership behaviours and person specification criteria, and its shortlisting managers do not see your personal information (Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service – The selection process).

Written tests

Written tests are where services differ most. Warwickshire’s on-call process uses two tests taken on a set date: Working with numbers, which assesses your ability to understand and work with numerical information, and Understanding information, which assesses your ability to read and understand written information of the type firefighters deal with (Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service – Recruitment and selection process). Northamptonshire’s recruitment day includes a written assessment covering numeracy, reading and understanding written information, situational awareness, and equality, diversity and inclusion. The same page also describes another version of its process with a behavioural questionnaire, a situational judgement test and online numerical, verbal and mechanical reasoning tests. Merseyside’s published stages do not list a written test.

Cheshire describes six National Firefighter Selection Tests, designed to reflect a selection of the tasks a firefighter performs (Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service – National Firefighter Selection Tests):

Ladder climb – confidence at height, with a leg lock and a question answered at the top.
Casualty evacuation – dragging a 55 kg dummy backwards around a 30 metre course.
Ladder lift – raising the bar of a ladder lift simulator to the required height.
Enclosed space – crawling through a space in full protective equipment, first with clear vision and then with it obscured.
Equipment assembly – a timed test of manual dexterity after a demonstration.
Equipment carry – carrying equipment between two cones placed 25 metres apart.

Warwickshire lists a similar set of six, and Northamptonshire adds a ladder extension test. Merseyside’s functional fitness stage also includes a shoulder press and either a lateral pull-down or a ladder extension assessment.

Fitness

Northamptonshire uses the multi-stage fitness test on a 20 metre track with a required standard of level 8, shuttle 8, and later the Chester step test. Warwickshire’s pre-employment checks use either the Chester step test or the Chester treadmill test, and Merseyside uses the Chester treadmill run test.

Interview, assessment day and checks

Northamptonshire’s assessment centre includes a structured panel interview and a Safe and Well exercise that tests how you analyse information, communicate and make decisions. Merseyside’s assessment day combines a competency interview based on the NFCC Core Code of Ethics with a group problem-solving task, where it says the result matters less than how you work together. Warwickshire uses a values-based interview. Services finish with medical checks, an enhanced DBS check and references. Northamptonshire notes that its medical includes drug and alcohol tests.

Sources

Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service – Wholetime recruitment selection process: https://www.northantsfire.gov.uk/wholetime-recruitment-selection-process – accessed 23 October 2026
Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service – The selection process: https://www.merseyfire.gov.uk/careers/roles/firefighter/firefighter-recruitment-the-selection-process – accessed 23 October 2026
Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service – Recruitment and selection process: https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/work-fire-rescue/takes-firefighter/2 – accessed 23 October 2026
Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service – National Firefighter Selection Tests: https://www.cheshirefire.gov.uk/jobs/wholetime-firefighter/-national-firefighter-selection-tests/ – accessed 23 October 2026

Firefighter selection tests: frequently asked questions

What do the written tests cover?

It depends on the service. Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service, for example, uses a Working with numbers test and an Understanding information test based on the kind of written information firefighters deal with.

Source: Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service – Recruitment and selection process

What are the job-related physical tests?

Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service lists a ladder climb, casualty evacuation, ladder lift, enclosed space, equipment assembly and equipment carry. They are designed to reflect a selection of the tasks a firefighter performs.

Source: Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service – National Firefighter Selection Tests

Is there a swimming test?

Some services include one. Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service describes a timed 50 metre unaided front-crawl swim in cold open water wearing protective equipment, and Northamptonshire describes a confidence in water stage.

Source: Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service – The selection process

How is the interview assessed?

Services describe it differently. Merseyside centres its competency questions on the NFCC Core Code of Ethics, while Northamptonshire assesses its group exercise against the NFCC Leadership Framework.