subject: Passing The Police Oral Exam Is A Matter Of Not Being Caught Off Guard [print this page] The police oral exam is only part of the process of becoming a police officer. It isn't even necessarily the most important part either. But for many people it is the most intimidating.
People figure that on the police written exam it is between them and the piece of paper. As long as they remember the answers, they are fine. But during the oral exam you have to talk face to face with the officers you are being interviewed by. This can make a person feel very "on the spot" and this can lead to a lot of nervousness.
But there are things you can do to prepare yourself for passing the police oral exam. In fact, taking the time to prepare yourself is the absolute most important thing there is. Without studying and preparation, there is hardly any point to taking the exam at all.
Set time aside every day for studying. Treat this exam like you would treat any other that is important to you. You need to be diligent in spending time on it.
Learn about what kinds of questions are likely to be asked in the police oral exam. You will be expected to think on your feet and effectively come up with answers that make sense. Also, you need to be able to present your answers clearly and concisely. Rambling or slurring your words will take points away.
Something that people facing the oral exam should do is get someone to help them practice. Get somebody who is willing to sit and "drill" you on the sorts of things that are likely to be asked in the exam. This won't be exactly like sitting in front of seasoned officers, but it will at least acquaint you with some of the terms you want to use, and help you become more comfortable with talking about the subjects.
While there are many tips that have to do directly with the police oral exam, one of the most important applies to any sort of exams. Be confident. Confidence will take you a long way if you know how to master it. You need to be calm, collected, and realize that you are just as good as any of the other applicants for the job.
The other side of this is to not be cocky. While you are just as good, you need to remember that you do have stiff competition, and acting flippant or overly aggressive isn't going to impress your interviewers.
Finally, during your preparation and the exam itself, start thinking like a police officer. In all reality, this is what they are really looking for. You interviewers want to know if you have what it takes to think and act like a cop. Instead of waiting until you have passed your exams, start practicing this right away.
Get a good study guide to help you with the police oral exam and the police written exam. This will help you to make the most of the time and effort you spend studying, and will make it more likely that you will pass the exam with ease.
