What is the NT Police entrance exam?
NT Police doesn't call it an exam. Its constable page says applicants must be able to pass an assessment consisting of computer-based cognitive and psychological testing, and lists it as the "cognitive assessment" stage. That's the NT entrance test.
Official name
Cognitive assessment
NT Police constable process
Parts
2
cognitive and psychological
Delivery
Computer
provider not named
The cognitive part measures how well you reason, learn and solve problems. The psychological part looks at personality and suitability for police work. Unlike Victoria or SA, there's no separate written literacy exam with a published pass mark.
Our NT data file says
Provider and format are not published. No separate psychologist interview is described on the pages read.
What NT Police publishes, and what it doesn't
Many prep sites write about the NT test as if its format were public. It isn't, on the official pages we read on 9 October 2026. Here's the honest split.
Is there a cognitive test?
- Published by NT Police?
- Yes
- Detail
- Computer-based cognitive and psychological testing
Where in the process?
- Published by NT Police?
- Yes
- Detail
- Stage 3, after background checks, before fitness
Test provider
- Published by NT Police?
- No
- Detail
- Not named on the constable or FAQ pages
Sections and timing
- Published by NT Police?
- No
- Detail
- Not published
Pass mark
- Published by NT Police?
- No
- Detail
- Not published
Fee
- Published by NT Police?
- No fee published
- Detail
- Check with Recruiting before paying anything
Psychologist interview
- Published by NT Police?
- Not described
- Detail
- Only computer-based psychological testing is described
If you don't meet standards
- Published by NT Police?
- Yes
- Detail
- You may be excluded from applying for a period, notified in writing
| Question | Published by NT Police? | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Is there a cognitive test? | Yes | Computer-based cognitive and psychological testing |
| Where in the process? | Yes | Stage 3, after background checks, before fitness |
| Test provider | No | Not named on the constable or FAQ pages |
| Sections and timing | No | Not published |
| Pass mark | No | Not published |
| Fee | No fee published | Check with Recruiting before paying anything |
| Psychologist interview | Not described | Only computer-based psychological testing is described |
| If you don't meet standards | Yes | You may be excluded from applying for a period, notified in writing |
Some commercial coaching sites name a particular game-based test product for NT Police. NT Police hasn't confirmed this on its own pages, so we don't present it as fact. If you want to know the format, ask NT Police Recruiting directly on 1800 005 099 or at ShapeYourFuture@pfes.nt.gov.au.
Where the cognitive assessment sits in the NT process
NT Police publishes its constable selection stages in order. The cognitive assessment comes right after the background checks, so you'll sit it early, before the fitness test and long before the medical.
1. Online application
- What happens
- Apply online through NTPFES.
2. Suitability background checks
- What happens
- Criminal and traffic history checks. Declared matters may go to an Integrity Committee.
3. Cognitive assessment
- What happens
- Computer-based cognitive and psychological testing.
4. Fitness assessment
- What happens
- Push-ups, plank, farmer's carry, beep test and 100m swim (see fitness standards).
5. Panel interview
- What happens
- Panel interview.
6. Referee checks
- What happens
- Referee checks.
7. Pre-employment medical
- What happens
- Against NTPF police medical standards: some conditions are disqualifying, others assessed case by case; corrected vision within parameters is acceptable; colour blindness assessed case by case.
8. Probity checks
- What happens
- Final probity checks.
| Stage | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1. Online application | Apply online through NTPFES. |
| 2. Suitability background checks | Criminal and traffic history checks. Declared matters may go to an Integrity Committee. |
| 3. Cognitive assessment | Computer-based cognitive and psychological testing. |
| 4. Fitness assessment | Push-ups, plank, farmer's carry, beep test and 100m swim (see fitness standards). |
| 5. Panel interview | Panel interview. |
| 6. Referee checks | Referee checks. |
| 7. Pre-employment medical | Against NTPF police medical standards: some conditions are disqualifying, others assessed case by case; corrected vision within parameters is acceptable; colour blindness assessed case by case. |
| 8. Probity checks | Final probity checks. |
In the NT, honesty about your history comes before the test. Non-disclosure is likely to mean permanent exclusion.
The background stage matters because NT Police asks for full disclosure of criminal, traffic, juvenile, DVO and bankruptcy history. Its FAQ says this includes spent convictions and traffic tickets. Get that right before you worry about reasoning practice.
The skills to prepare: verbal, numerical and abstract reasoning
Without a published format, prepare for the skills that computer-based cognitive tests used in Australian recruitment usually measure. These three cover most of them, and practising all three also helps if you apply to other forces.
Verbal reasoning
- What it looks like
- Short passages with true / false / cannot say judgements, or word relationships
- How to practise
- Read carefully for qualifiers; never use outside knowledge
Numerical reasoning
- What it looks like
- Percentages, ratios, rates and reading simple tables
- How to practise
- Mental arithmetic daily; estimate before calculating
Abstract reasoning
- What it looks like
- Find the rule in a sequence of shapes or symbols
- How to practise
- Check one feature at a time: number, shape, position, shading
Speed and adaptability
- What it looks like
- Timed items, sometimes changing in difficulty
- How to practise
- Timed sets; skip and move on when stuck
| Skill | What it looks like | How to practise |
|---|---|---|
| Verbal reasoning | Short passages with true / false / cannot say judgements, or word relationships | Read carefully for qualifiers; never use outside knowledge |
| Numerical reasoning | Percentages, ratios, rates and reading simple tables | Mental arithmetic daily; estimate before calculating |
| Abstract reasoning | Find the rule in a sequence of shapes or symbols | Check one feature at a time: number, shape, position, shading |
| Speed and adaptability | Timed items, sometimes changing in difficulty | Timed sets; skip and move on when stuck |
Year 12 (or equivalent), or a completed trade certificate, or considerable employment experience and life skills. Because NT Police accepts applicants without Year 12, the cognitive test does a lot of the work in checking reasoning ability, so take it seriously even if school was a while ago.
The psychological testing: what to expect
The second half of the assessment is psychological testing on a computer. NT Police doesn't describe the questionnaires, but psychological testing in police recruitment usually means personality and wellbeing questionnaires with no right answers, which psychologists interpret.
Do
- ✓Answer the way you actually behave, not the way you think a police officer should
- ✓Be consistent: similar questions will come up in different words
- ✓Take your time; read every statement fully
- ✓Disclose relevant history honestly when asked
Don't
- ✕Agree with every 'I never...' or 'I always...' statement
- ✕Rehearse a 'perfect' profile
- ✕Rush the questionnaire after the timed tests
- ✕Hide treatment or history that later checks will find
NT Police's FAQ says some medical conditions are disqualifying and others are assessed case by case. Our police psychological assessment guide covers how forces across Australia use these questionnaires and what they screen for.
Six original practice questions with worked answers
We wrote these questions. They aren't taken from NT Police's assessment or any test publisher, and the real test may look quite different.
Question 1
Numerical: percentagesA station's fleet has 40 vehicles. 15% are four-wheel drives. How many vehicles are not four-wheel drives?
- A6
- B25
- C34
- D36
Show the answer and working
Answer: C (34)
15% of 40 = 0.15 × 40 = 6 four-wheel drives. 40 − 6 = 34. Quick check: 10% of 40 is 4 and 5% is 2, so 15% is 6. Breaking percentages into 10% and 5% chunks is faster than multiplying decimals under time pressure.
Question 2
Numerical: ratesA patrol drives 330 km from Katherine to a remote community at an average of 110 km/h, then 30 km on a dirt road at 40 km/h. How long is the whole trip?
- A3 hours
- B3 hours 30 minutes
- C3 hours 45 minutes
- D4 hours
Show the answer and working
Answer: C (3 hours 45 minutes)
Time = distance ÷ speed. 330 ÷ 110 = 3 hours. 30 ÷ 40 = 0.75 hours = 45 minutes. Total 3 hours 45 minutes. The trap is averaging the two speeds; you must work out each leg separately. (Distances here are invented for the question.)
Question 3
Verbal: true, false or cannot say'Applicants must hold a current driver licence to drive a manual vehicle. Provisional licences are accepted.'
Statement: 'An applicant on a provisional licence that only allows automatic vehicles meets this requirement.'
- ATrue
- BFalse
- CCannot say
Show the answer and working
Answer: B (false)
The licence must allow you to drive a manual vehicle. Provisional is accepted, but an automatic-only licence fails the manual condition. Verbal reasoning items often combine two conditions; check the statement against each one.
Question 4
Verbal: word relationshipConstable is to Sergeant as Sergeant is to:
- ASenior Constable
- BRecruit
- CSenior Sergeant
- DOfficer
Show the answer and working
Answer: C (Senior Sergeant)
The relationship is 'the next rank up' in a simplified ladder. Analogy questions are about finding the relationship first, then applying it. Here, 'Officer' is too general and the others go down the ladder, not up. (Real rank structures have more steps; the question only tests the relationship.)
Question 5
Abstract: sequence ruleEach term describes a shape: 1 triangle, 2 squares, 3 pentagons, 4 hexagons, ?
- A5 hexagons
- B5 heptagons
- C6 heptagons
- D5 octagons
Show the answer and working
Answer: B (5 heptagons)
Two rules run at once: the count rises by one (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) and the shape gains one side each time (3, 4, 5, 6, 7 sides). Seven sides is a heptagon. Abstract reasoning items on screen use pictures, but the method is identical: separate the features, find each rule.
Question 6
Logic: orderingFour officers start shift at different times. Ana starts before Ben. Cy starts after Ben but before Dee. Who starts last?
- AAna
- BBen
- CCy
- DDee
Show the answer and working
Answer: D (Dee)
Write it as a line: Ana before Ben, Ben before Cy, Cy before Dee, so the order is Ana, Ben, Cy, Dee. Dee is last. Sketching a quick line or grid on scrap paper (if allowed) beats holding it all in your head.
Practise reasoning every day, free
Generate fresh original numeracy, verbal and logical reasoning sets with worked explanations. Choose NT as your force for NT-flavoured scenarios. It's practice, not the real test.
ARP, ACPO and PPSO applicants: do you sit it too?
NT Police runs several entry streams. The Accelerated Recruitment Program for current or recent police lists a cognitive assessment among its steps, along with background checks, a panel interview, referee checks, medical and probity. ARP has no fitness test listed, but you still need the swim.
Check your stream's page for
- ✓ Whether the cognitive assessment applies
- ✓ Whether the fitness assessment applies
- ✓ The swim requirement
- ✓ Training length and pay
For the Aboriginal Community Police Officer and Police Public Safety Officer streams, check the stream's own page or ask Recruiting which assessments apply; we haven't confirmed the testing steps for every stream. Our NT Police overview summarises each stream's training and pay.
A 4-week plan for the NT cognitive assessment
About 30 minutes a day is enough for most people. If maths has been a weakness, start with numerical work in week 1 and give it extra time throughout.
- 1
Week 1: baseline
30 min a dayDo one set each of verbal, numerical and abstract reasoning. Rank them strongest to weakest. Practise mental arithmetic for 10 minutes a day: percentages, fractions, time and distance.
- 2
Week 2: weakest area
30 min a dayTwo-thirds of your time on your weakest skill, one-third on the others. Keep an error log noting why each mistake happened.
- 3
Week 3: speed
40 min a daySwitch to timed sets. Aim to finish every set; skip and return rather than stall. Alternate the three skills day by day.
- 4
Week 4: rehearsal
45 min a dayTwo mixed timed sessions back to back, at the time of day you expect to sit the test. Check your computer, browser and internet if you're sitting it remotely. Rest the day before.
Ask for adjustments early
If you have a diagnosed condition such as dyslexia, ask NT Police Recruiting about reasonable adjustments before your test date, not after a result.
If you're unsuccessful: the exclusion period
NT Police says candidates who fail to meet the required standards may be excluded from submitting an application for a determined period, and will be notified in writing. It doesn't publish how long the period is, or whether you'll get feedback on your scores.
You don't meet the standard
- What NT Police says
- You may be excluded from applying for a set period
How you're told
- What NT Police says
- In writing
Length of the exclusion
- What NT Police says
- Not published
Feedback on scores
- What NT Police says
- Not published
Non-disclosure of history
- What NT Police says
- Likely to mean permanent exclusion
| Situation | What NT Police says |
|---|---|
| You don't meet the standard | You may be excluded from applying for a set period |
| How you're told | In writing |
| Length of the exclusion | Not published |
| Feedback on scores | Not published |
| Non-disclosure of history | Likely to mean permanent exclusion |
Use any exclusion period well. Cognitive test performance responds to practice, especially on speed. If you're applying to other forces in the meantime, the same reasoning skills carry over to the AFP's online tests and to Tasmania Police's suitability testing.
What comes after, and what NT recruits earn
After the cognitive assessment come the fitness assessment (push-ups, plank, farmer's carry, beep test and a 100m swim), the panel interview, referee checks, the pre-employment medical and probity checks. You can check your fitness numbers against the NT standards with our fitness test checker.
NT Police's FAQ says corrected vision within certain parameters is acceptable and colour blindness is assessed case by case, not automatically disqualifying. Our medical requirements guide compares this with other forces.
Pay while you train
$74,619 a year for the first 4 months; $79,095 a year from 4 months to graduation. Allowances are not paid during training. A first-year constable earns $87,005 base. Constable 1 (graduation to end of 12 months) base as published by NTPFES; $111,366 including the 23% Consolidated Allowance and 5% GPA.
See the full NT Police salary guide. Entrance Exam Prep costs A$39.99 if you want unlimited practice sets; the free tier gives you a set every day.
Free email alerts
Hear first when NT Police says more about its test
NT Police publishes very little about its cognitive assessment. When that changes, or when new squads and intakes open, we'll email you, along with new original reasoning practice.
- ✓Updates on the NT cognitive assessment
- ✓NT intake and squad announcements
Frequently asked questions
Does NT Police have an entrance exam?
Yes, though it's called a cognitive assessment. NT Police says applicants must be able to pass an assessment consisting of computer-based cognitive and psychological testing. It's the third stage of the constable process, after the online application and suitability background checks.
What is in the NT Police cognitive assessment?
NT Police describes it only as computer-based cognitive and psychological testing. It doesn't name the provider or publish the sections, timing or pass mark. Cognitive tests of this kind typically measure verbal, numerical and abstract reasoning, so practising all three is the sensible approach.
Is there a fee for the NT Police cognitive test?
NT Police doesn't publish a fee for the cognitive assessment on its constable or FAQ pages. If you're asked to pay anything, check with NT Police Recruiting on 1800 005 099 before you do.
What happens if I fail the NT Police assessment?
NT Police says candidates who don't meet the required standards may be excluded from submitting an application for a set period, and will be told in writing. It doesn't publish how long that period is, so read your letter carefully and ask Recruiting if it isn't clear.
Is there a psychologist interview for NT Police?
The NT Police pages we read describe computer-based psychological testing as part of the cognitive assessment stage, but don't describe a separate interview with a psychologist. The panel interview later in the process is with a recruiting panel.
Do I need Year 12 to join NT Police?
Not necessarily. NT Police accepts Year 12 or equivalent, a completed trade certificate, or considerable employment experience and life skills. The cognitive assessment is how it checks reasoning ability across applicants with different educational backgrounds.
Are these practice questions from the real NT Police test?
No. Every question on this page is original, written by us to practise the reasoning skills a cognitive test measures. NT Police doesn't publish its test questions, and we don't reproduce any test publisher's material.
Who do I contact about the NT Police cognitive test?
NT Police Recruiting can be reached at ShapeYourFuture@pfes.nt.gov.au or on 1800 005 099. Ask about format, timing and reasonable adjustments before your test date rather than after.
Evidence
Sources and how we checked them
Every figure on this page comes from the sources below, read on 9 October 2026. Pay rates and rules change when new agreements are made, so check the source for the date you're reading this. Where we couldn't confirm something from an official source, the page says so instead of guessing. Spotted an error? Read our corrections policy.
- NTPFES: Constable recruitment page — selection steps, cognitive assessment wording, exclusion period notice; read 9 Oct 2026
- NTPFES: Recruitment FAQ — medical, vision and disclosure answers
- NTPFES: Accelerated Recruitment Program — ARP steps including cognitive assessment
- NTPFES: Fitness assessment — the stage that follows
Related guides
Joining the police
More in this series
General information, not advice. This guide explains published rules and rates. It doesn't consider your personal circumstances and isn't financial, legal, tax or credit advice. Confirm anything you rely on with your force, your police association, the ATO or a licensed professional.