Skip to content
Uniformed Services Prep
Menu

// Police · Police Constable

Police Constable selection test practice

Most forces in England and Wales use the College of Policing's national sift and online assessment process. Here is what is known about each stage while we build practice material for it.

  • 2 online assessment stages
  • No policing knowledge needed
Coming soon

What we know about the selection process

The College of Policing describes a series of typical stages for anyone applying to become a police constable: an eligibility check, an application form, the national sift, the online assessment process, a force interview, pre-employment checks for fitness, medical and vetting, and finally a decision from the force. It also stresses that the process varies between forces and that you follow the recruitment process of the force you choose (College of Policing – Becoming a police constable, April 2026).

The national minimum requirements in the same guide are that you are aged 18 or over to join, although you can apply from 17, and that you are competent in written and spoken English and in numeracy. Forces may set additional requirements.

Stage 1: the national sift

The sift has two parts, both taken online through one invitation link (College of Policing – Online assessments candidate guide):

  • Situational judgement test. You see 15 scenarios that police constables may face. Each scenario has four actions, and you rate how effective each action is. You must rate every action before you move on. The test is untimed, but the College expects it to take about 30 minutes.
  • Behavioural styles questionnaire. You see 80 statements about your typical behaviour and preferences at work and say how far you agree or disagree with each one. It is also untimed and expected to take about 20 minutes. The College asks you to think about how you actually behave at work and to answer honestly.

According to the same guide, you are told by email whether you have met the national standard and you receive a personalised feedback report. How quickly results arrive depends on your recruiting force. Dorset Police tells its applicants that they have seven days to complete the sift once registered (Dorset Police – Police officer selection process).

Stage 2: the online assessment process

The online assessment process has three exercises, all marked against level 1 of the College’s competency and values framework. You do not need any prior knowledge of policing (College of Policing – Online assessments candidate guide).

  • Competency-based interview. Five questions, shown on screen and read out in a pre-recorded video. For each one you get one minute to prepare and five minutes to record your answer. The College gives about 40 minutes for the whole exercise.
  • Written exercise. An urgent written task for your line manager. Reading the instructions takes about 10 minutes and the exercise itself about 40 minutes, with an overall limit of two hours. If time runs out, your response is not submitted. Spelling and grammar are not assessed.
  • Briefing exercise. About 10 minutes of untimed preparation, then about 50 minutes of questions in three parts. Each part has four questions, with up to one minute to prepare and three minutes to give your spoken answer. New information is added between parts.

Thames Valley Police notes that the written and briefing exercises are released and taken separately (Thames Valley Police – National sift and online assessment centre).

If you are unsuccessful, you can resit three months from the start of your assessment window, with a limit of two attempts in 12 months, and you repeat all the exercises.

Force stages after the online assessments

What follows is set by each force. As an example, Dorset Police describes a structured force interview of up to 40 minutes, a job-related fitness test using the 15 metre multi-stage fitness test at level 5:4, medical checks including eyesight, colour vision, hearing and lung function, and vetting that covers your family members and financial circumstances (Dorset Police – Police officer selection process). Check your own force’s pages for its version.

Sources

National sift and online assessment process: frequently asked questions

Do I need to know about policing before the online assessments?

No. The College of Policing says you do not need any prior knowledge of policing or the police role to complete the online assessment exercises.

Source: College of Policing – Online assessments candidate guide

Is the situational judgement test in the national sift timed?

No. The College describes it as untimed but expects it to take about 30 minutes. The behavioural styles questionnaire is also untimed and expected to take about 20 minutes.

Source: College of Policing – Online assessments candidate guide

Is spelling and grammar marked in the written exercise?

No. Because candidates use different devices and some have a spell checker while others do not, the College says it does not assess spelling or grammar in the written exercise.

Source: College of Policing – Online assessments candidate guide

When can I try the online assessment process again?

The College says you can resit three months from the start date of your assessment window, with a limit of two attempts in a 12-month period. You have to complete all exercises again.

Source: College of Policing – Online assessments candidate guide

Is the process the same in every force?

The national stages are shared, but the College says the application process varies between forces, so check the website of the force you want to join.

Source: College of Policing – Becoming a police constable (guide, April 2026)

Related practice

  • Interested in public-facing security work while you wait for a police campaign to open? Revise for the licence exams with our SIA door supervisor mock exams.
  • Also weighing up a career in the Armed Forces? See how British Army selection tests your speed and memory with our Army Cognitive Test practice.

Facts checked on 23 October 2026.