What is the Victoria Police entrance exam?
Four separately passed sections, set and marked by ACER, sat on a computer.
ACER (the Australian Council for Educational Research) runs the exam on behalf of Victoria Police and reports your results to both you and the force. Victoria Police manages every other stage. The exam is used to select both police officers and Protective Services Officers (PSOs), and the force says you must pass all four sections before you move to the next stage.
Literacy
- Questions
- 30
- Time
- 30 min
- Format
- Online multiple choice, plus some true/false and yes/no
- Pass mark
- 105+
Abstract reasoning
- Questions
- 45
- Time
- 20 min
- Format
- Online multiple choice: next in sequence, complete the pattern, middle of sequence
- Pass mark
- 105+
Numeracy
- Questions
- 30
- Time
- 35 min
- Format
- Multiple choice, true/false and numeric entry, with an on-screen calculator
- Pass mark
- 105+
Report writing
- Questions
- 1
- Time
- 35 min
- Format
- Typed report from several sources, about 300-350 words, no spell check
- Pass mark
- 107+
| Section | Questions | Time | Format | Pass mark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Literacy | 30 | 30 min | Online multiple choice, plus some true/false and yes/no | 105+ |
| Abstract reasoning | 45 | 20 min | Online multiple choice: next in sequence, complete the pattern, middle of sequence | 105+ |
| Numeracy | 30 | 35 min | Multiple choice, true/false and numeric entry, with an on-screen calculator | 105+ |
| Report writing | 1 | 35 min | Typed report from several sources, about 300-350 words, no spell check | 107+ |
From ACER's Victoria Police exam site, read 9 October 2026. Pass marks are scaled scores.
Abstract reasoning
27 seconds
per question
Literacy
60 seconds
per question, including reading
Numeracy
70 seconds
per question, calculator provided
Those per-question figures, calculated by us from ACER's question counts, explain why many capable people fail one section. Abstract reasoning gives you less than half a minute a question. Literacy gives you a minute, but that has to cover reading the texts too. Speed is a skill you train, not a talent you have or don't.
Where the exam sits in the recruitment process
The exam comes early. After you apply online and pass the first eligibility checks, Recruiting Services emails you an invitation to sit it, with an Applicant ID you'll need when registering with ACER. Everything after it, including background checks, the fitness test, psychological testing, medicals and the panel interview, only happens if you pass.
- 1
Online application
Personal, employment and education details, plus prior offences and police dealings.
- 2
Eligibility checks
Driving, criminal history and behavioural responses.
- 3
Victoria Police Entrance Exam
Numeracy, abstract reasoning, literacy and report writing; you must pass all parts. Fee $284; 3 months to sit. Exemptions for degree holders, ATAR 65+ with English 25+, ADF, paramedics/firefighters, VPS Grade 3+, final-year criminology students and others.
- 4
Background checks
Document pack and fingerprints at a local station (free).
Victoria Police notes that you pay all your own recruitment costs, including the exam, travel to assessments, medicals and first aid certification. You have 3 months to sit the exam once invited. If you're also preparing for the physical side, our Victoria Police fitness test guide covers the beep test and swim.
Why it's worth getting right first time
Recruits are paid from day one at the Academy: $61,187 a year at the recruit rate, then $84,060 as a Constable once sworn in (Victoria Police enterprise agreement). A failed re-sit means a 6-month wait before you can reapply. See the full Victoria Police pay scale.
Booking, cost and how you sit it
You book through ACER's portal after Victoria Police invites you. You'll need the invitation, your Applicant ID, a passport-style photo (head and shoulders, plain background, no filters or sunglasses) and a photo of your ID document. You choose police or PSO, pick a date, time and method, and pay the $284 fee plus any practice tests you want.
Exam fee
- Cost or rule
- $284 (incl. GST), paid to ACER at booking
Rescheduling
- Cost or rule
- Free up to 72 hours before your session, in the ACER portal
Late reschedule (within 72 hours)
- Cost or rule
- $107, for illness, family emergencies or technology problems
Cancellation refund
- Cost or rule
- Up to 3 business days before, less a $55 administration charge
No-show without notice
- Cost or rule
- Application void, with a risk of a 6-month delay before reapplying
Practice tests and books
- Cost or rule
- Non-refundable once purchased
| Item | Cost or rule |
|---|---|
| Exam fee | $284 (incl. GST), paid to ACER at booking |
| Rescheduling | Free up to 72 hours before your session, in the ACER portal |
| Late reschedule (within 72 hours) | $107, for illness, family emergencies or technology problems |
| Cancellation refund | Up to 3 business days before, less a $55 administration charge |
| No-show without notice | Application void, with a risk of a 6-month delay before reapplying |
| Practice tests and books | Non-refundable once purchased |
At home or in Camberwell?
Remote proctoring (at home)
- ✓No travel, and a wide choice of session times
- ✓Familiar surroundings
- ✓Needs your own Windows 10+ or macOS computer, a webcam, a separate microphone (not a headset mic) and a stable non-public connection
- ✓You install ACER's test app and a secure browser beforehand
Venue sitting (Camberwell)
- ✕Supervised in person, so no tech risk on your side
- ✕Only one weekend a month
- ✕Dates appear in the ACER portal when you book
- ✕Best if your laptop, Wi-Fi or room setup is doubtful
ACER itself says that where possible the venue is the safer choice, because technical problems caused by poor preparation can stop you finishing. If you test at home, run ACER's system check days ahead, use a wired connection if you can, and clear your desk completely.
Literacy: 30 questions in 30 minutes
The literacy section tests reading comprehension. You read about six different types of text, some with graphs, charts, diagrams or maps, and answer multiple-choice, true/false and yes/no questions about them. ACER scores it against the Australian Core Skills Framework. The texts are everyday adult material such as notices, articles, instructions and data.
The trap is answering from common sense instead of the text. Read the question first, find the exact sentence that answers it, and watch the small words: may, must, only, except, weekdays.
Practice text (original): community centre notice
From 1 March, the Hillcrest community centre car park will close at 9 pm on weeknights and 6 pm on weekends. Permit holders may continue to park overnight in bays 1 to 12. Vehicles left in any other bay after closing time may be towed at the owner's expense. Enquiries should go to the centre manager, not the council.
A resident without a permit parks in bay 5 on a Saturday and leaves the car there until 7 pm. Based on the notice, which statement is correct?
- A She is allowed to stay because bay 5 is one of bays 1 to 12.
- B Her car may be towed at her expense.
- C She should contact the council about it.
- D She can stay until 9 pm.
Show the answer and working
Answer: B
On weekends the car park closes at 6 pm. Bays 1 to 12 are only for permit holders overnight, and she has no permit, so her car is left after closing and may be towed. A ignores the permit condition. C contradicts the notice (enquiries go to the centre manager). D uses the weeknight closing time.
Does the notice say that permit holders must leave the car park by 9 pm on weeknights?
- A Yes
- B No
Show the answer and working
Answer: No
The notice says permit holders may park overnight in bays 1 to 12. The 9 pm closing applies to everyone else. A permit holder parked outside bays 1 to 12 would be at risk, but the notice never says permit holders as a group must leave.
Exam habit: When a statement uses 'must', look for an obligation in the text. 'May' and 'must' are not interchangeable.
Abstract reasoning: 45 questions in 20 minutes
This section measures how quickly you find the rules that change a visual pattern. ACER lists three question types: choose the next shape in a sequence, find the missing shape or pattern, and order shapes then choose the middle one. With about 27 seconds a question, you need a routine you can run without thinking.
Using the frames above, which option comes next?
Show the answer and working
Answer: B
Three rules run together. Shading alternates (shaded, clear, shaded, so next is clear). The dot moves one corner anticlockwise (top-left, bottom-left, bottom-right, so next is top-right). The bars go up by one (1, 2, 3, so next is 4). Only B is clear, with the dot top-right and four bars. A has the wrong shading, C the wrong dot and D the wrong number of bars.
Exam habit: With three rules, check them one at a time and strike out options as you go. You rarely need to compare all four options on every rule.
Rules that come up again and again
- ✓ Rotation by 45°, 90° or 180°, clockwise or anticlockwise
- ✓ Movement of one element around corners or along a path
- ✓ Counting: sides, dots or lines going up or down by a fixed step
- ✓ Alternation: shading or colour switching every frame
- ✓ Addition or subtraction: overlap two frames to make the third
- ✓ Reflection in a vertical or horizontal line
Our text-based practice tool can't draw shapes, so use it for pattern speed with numbers and words, and use ACER's free sample questions for the real visual format.
Numeracy: 30 questions in 35 minutes, calculator provided
ACER says this section covers number and algebra, measurement and geometry, and statistics and probability, all set in adult contexts and presented in words, tables, graphs, plans and maps. It suggests practising money, percentages, rates and ratios, area and volume, and reading data. Some questions are multiple choice or true/false; others ask you to type the number, so check units and rounding.
A crime scene is taped off as a rectangle 12.5 m long and 8 m wide. Inside it, a smaller rectangle 4 m by 3 m is marked as no entry. What area, in square metres, can forensic staff walk through? Type your answer.
Show the answer and working
Answer: 88 m²
Whole area: 12.5 × 8 = 100 m². No-entry area: 4 × 3 = 12 m². Walkable area: 100 − 12 = 88 m². With numeric entry there are no options to check against, so do the subtraction twice.
Calls to a police assistance line were: January 420, February 378, March 441, April 462. Which month had the largest percentage increase on the month before?
- A February
- B March
- C April
- D They are all equal
Show the answer and working
Answer: B, March
February fell (378 is 10% below 420). March rose by 441 − 378 = 63, and 63 ÷ 378 ≈ 16.7%. April rose by 462 − 441 = 21, and 21 ÷ 441 ≈ 4.8%. April has the highest number of calls, but March has the biggest percentage rise. That gap between 'largest value' and 'largest change' is a classic trap.
Exam habit: Underline what the question compares: values, changes, or percentage changes.
Practise on a basic scientific calculator so the on-screen one feels familiar, as ACER suggests. A calculator doesn't stop mistakes in method, though. The usual errors are dividing by the wrong base in percentage change, mixing minutes and hours, and forgetting to convert centimetres to metres before multiplying.
Report writing: one typed report in 35 minutes
You'll be given several sources of information, and you must read them all and include the relevant parts in a typed report of about 300 to 350 words. ACER assesses whether you select relevant information; write clearly, objectively and in a logical order; form paragraphs; build complex sentences; and spell and use grammar correctly. You get an on-screen word count, but no spell check, grammar check, dictionary, cut and paste or formatting such as bullets.
Source 1 (your notes): Thursday 3:15 pm, school crossing, Elm St. Silver hatchback did not stop for lollipop person. No one hurt. Partial plate 1AB. Source 2 (crossing supervisor): 'The car was going fast, maybe 50. Two children had to step back onto the kerb. The driver was a man on his phone.' Source 3 (school newsletter): The school fete raised $4,200 for new library books. Which sources belong in your report to the local police station, and how would you order it?
Show the answer and working
Answer: Sources 1 and 2 only, in time order
Source 3 is a distractor: it's irrelevant to the incident, and including it costs marks for selecting information. A clear plan: (1) what happened, when and where, from your notes; (2) what the supervisor saw, attributed to them: 'The supervisor estimated the speed at about 50 km/h'; (3) the risk: two children had to step back; (4) the identifying details: silver hatchback, partial plate 1AB, male driver reportedly on a phone. Keep estimates attributed to the witness, not stated as fact. A model opening: 'At about 3:15 pm on Thursday, a silver hatchback failed to stop for the school crossing supervisor on Elm Street.'
Exam habit: Objective means reported, not judged. Write 'the supervisor said the driver was using a phone', not 'the reckless driver was on his phone'.
ACER's report task rewards choosing the right information as much as writing it well. Leave the distractor out.
ACER's official writing practice is unscored: you get a sample answer to compare against. That's why a marked practice piece is useful. Our free tool marks one piece a day; check your spelling of common report words (received, occurred, separate, accommodation, licence) without any spell checker.
Get your practice report marked
Write a timed response and get a score, a band and corrections, free once a day. Entrance Exam Prep ($39.99, 180 days) adds full criterion-by-criterion marking and up to 40 practice sets a day. All questions are original, not ACER material.
Pass marks and scaled scores, explained
ACER doesn't mark you out of 30 or report a percentage. It converts your raw score into a scaled score that accounts for how hard your version of the test was, because several versions are in use. Scores run from about 40 to about 170, and literacy and numeracy are mapped to the Australian Core Skills Framework. The pass marks are published: 105 for literacy, numeracy and abstract reasoning, and 107 for report writing.
Literacy
105+
scaled
Abstract reasoning
105+
scaled
Numeracy
105+
scaled
Report writing
107+
scaled
Because the scale adjusts for difficulty, nobody can tell you that "21 out of 30" is a pass, and anyone who does is guessing. What ACER does say is useful: wrong answers aren't penalised, and every question is worth the same. So answer every question, bookmark the ones you're unsure of, and return to them if time allows.
What the result looks like
You'll get a score for each of the four sections and an overall "Standard met" or "Standard not met". Results reach you and Victoria Police within 7 business days. Download a copy from the ACER portal straight away, because portal access is time-limited.
Results, re-sits and how long a pass lasts
If you meet the standard, Victoria Police Recruiting contacts you within 7 business days about the next step. If you don't, you can re-sit, and you only re-sit the sections you failed. Your passed sections stand.
- 1
Book within 2 weeks
Victoria Police requires you to register for your re-sit within two weeks of receiving your results, using the 're-sit failed sections' link in the ACER portal.
- 2
Sit within 2 months
There's no waiting period, so you can take the next available session, but the whole re-sit must be completed within two months of your first attempt.
- 3
Pay by the number of sections
$135 for one section, $191 for two, $284 for three or more.
- 4
If you fail again
You must wait 6 months from your re-sit date before reapplying, and then sit the whole exam again.
You can ask for a re-mark of report writing only, for $60, and only after failing it at the re-sit, within 10 business days of results. ACER and Victoria Police don't hear appeals for literacy, numeracy or abstract reasoning, and there's no special consideration for illness on the day, so reschedule rather than sit unwell.
Once you pass every section, your results are valid for 5 years. If your application stalls and you reapply within that time, you may be able to skip the exam.
Can you be exempt from the Victoria Police exam?
Yes, at the discretion of the Recruiting Services Branch. Victoria Police lists these grounds:
You may be exempt if you are currently
- ✓ In the final year of a Bachelor of Criminology (or similar) at an Australian, NZ or UK university
- ✓ A Victorian Public Service employee at VPSG3 or above
- ✓ Employed by Victoria Police, in any classification
Or if, in the last five years, you
- ✓ Passed the Victoria Police ACER entrance exam
- ✓ Passed another Australian police force's entrance exam or academic entry requirement
- ✓ Worked as a police officer or had policing experience in Australia, NZ or the UK
- ✓ Completed a bachelor degree or higher in arts, science, humanities, business or law (Australia, NZ or UK)
- ✓ Worked as a paramedic or firefighter in Australia, NZ or the UK (not SES or CFA volunteering)
- ✓ Served full-time in the ADF (not the Reserves)
- ✓ Passed the VCE or equivalent with an ATAR of 65+ and at least 25 in English
Being exempt saves the fee and time, but the report-writing skills are tested again in the academy and in the job. If you're exempt on an older qualification, a few practice reports are still a good investment.
A 4-week Victoria Police exam study plan
This plan assumes 40 to 60 minutes a day and that you've booked your exam about a month out. If one section is far weaker, give it an extra week before you book.
- 1
Week 1: diagnose and learn the format
40 min a dayWatch ACER's four video tutorials. Do the free sample questions in every section, untimed. Write one report from sources. List your two weakest sections and the type of mistake you make most.
- 2
Week 2: fix the weakest section
45 min a dayDaily drills in your weakest section, reading every explanation. Abstract reasoning: name the rules before looking at options. Numeracy: percentage change, rates, area and data tables, on a calculator.
- 3
Week 3: build speed
50 min a dayTime everything. Aim for about 27 seconds per abstract question and 70 seconds per numeracy question. Write two reports in 35 minutes with spell check turned off, then mark them against ACER's criteria.
- 4
Week 4: simulate and rest
60 min a day, then restSit the sections back to back at full timing, ideally using ACER's online practice tests. Check your computer setup if you're testing at home. Rest the day before.
Daily practice, free
A fresh set of original questions every day in numeracy, verbal reasoning, logical reasoning, spelling and judgement, with worked explanations. Upgrade to Entrance Exam Prep ($39.99) for up to 40 sets a day for 180 days.
Official resources, and what ACER says about courses
ACER and Victoria Police say they don't run preparation courses and don't recommend or endorse any commercial course, and that some commercial courses may give misleading information. They recommend preparing with official material.
Video tutorials
- Cost
- Free
- What you get
- 4 videos, 10 to 20 minutes each, one per section
Free sample practice tests
- Cost
- Free
- What you get
- A selection of untimed sample questions for each section, after creating an ACER account
Online practice tests
- Cost
- $77 full set, or individually
- What you get
- One set per section, timed and scored (report writing unscored), 12 months' access, bought when you book
Practise Now! Victoria Police Entrance Exam (4th ed.)
- Cost
- $48
- What you get
- eBook with question types, explained answers and exam-day tactics
| Official resource | Cost | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Video tutorials | Free | 4 videos, 10 to 20 minutes each, one per section |
| Free sample practice tests | Free | A selection of untimed sample questions for each section, after creating an ACER account |
| Online practice tests | $77 full set, or individually | One set per section, timed and scored (report writing unscored), 12 months' access, bought when you book |
| Practise Now! Victoria Police Entrance Exam (4th ed.) | $48 | eBook with question types, explained answers and exam-day tactics |
From ACER's preparation page. Some older third-party sites quote different prices; ACER's own page is the reference.
We agree with ACER on one thing: nobody outside ACER has the real questions. Our practice is original and labelled as such. Use it for volume and feedback, and use ACER's material for the real look and feel. Once you're through the exam, the next big hurdle is the panel, which you can rehearse with the AI mock interview and our Victoria Police interview guide. For every other force's test, see police entrance exams in Australia.
Free email alerts
Get an alert when Victoria Police changes its entrance exam
Older guides still describe more sections than the four ACER sets today. We watch the format, pass marks, fees and Camberwell sitting dates and email you when anything changes, so you never prepare for last year's test.
- ✓Format, fee and pass-mark changes for the Victoria exam
- ✓New original Victoria-style practice questions
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Victoria Police entrance exam?
About two hours of testing: literacy 30 minutes, abstract reasoning 20 minutes, numeracy 35 minutes and report writing 35 minutes. If you sit it at home, allow extra time before the start for the proctor's identity and room checks. ACER asks you to install its test app at least three days before your session.
How much does the Victoria Police entrance exam cost?
$284, paid directly to ACER when you book through its portal. Re-sits cost $135 for one section, $191 for two and $284 for three or more. A late reschedule within 72 hours costs $107. If you cancel at least three business days ahead you can get a refund, less a $55 administration charge.
What is the pass mark for the Victoria Police entrance exam?
ACER uses scaled scores, not percentages. You need 105 or more in literacy, numeracy and abstract reasoning, and 107 or more in report writing. Scaled scores allow for differences in difficulty between test versions, so there's no fixed number of correct answers that guarantees a pass.
Can I use a calculator in the Victoria Police numeracy test?
Yes. ACER provides an on-screen calculator in the numeracy section and recommends you practise calculations such as percentages on it in the free sample tests. Some numeracy questions need you to type a number or measurement rather than choose from options.
Can I sit the Victoria Police exam at home?
Yes. Most candidates sit it online with live webcam supervision, using their own desktop or laptop, a stable internet connection, a webcam and a microphone. Tablets, phones, Chromebooks and most work computers aren't supported. ACER also runs supervised sittings in Camberwell, Melbourne, one weekend each month.
How many times can I sit the Victoria Police entrance exam?
Two attempts per application. If you fail any section you re-sit only the failed sections, with no waiting period, but you must register within 2 weeks of your results and complete the re-sit within 2 months. Fail the re-sit and you must wait 6 months before reapplying, then sit the full exam again.
Is the PSO entrance exam the same as the police exam?
Yes. ACER and Victoria Police say Protective Services Officer applicants sit the same exam, which makes it easier to switch roles later. The PSO process lists a two-month window to sit it, compared with three months for police applicants.
Are there past papers for the Victoria Police exam?
No. ACER says there are no past test papers available from ACER or Victoria Police. The official options are free sample questions, paid online practice tests once you've booked, the Practise Now! eBook and four free video tutorials. Treat anyone selling 'real' questions with suspicion.
Who is exempt from the Victoria Police entrance exam?
Exemptions are at the Recruiting Services Branch's discretion. They include people who in the last five years passed the Victoria Police exam or another Australian force's exam, completed a relevant bachelor degree, achieved an ATAR of 65+ with English 25+, or served as police, paramedics, firefighters or full-time ADF members.
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.
- ACER: Victoria Police Entrance Exam (format, fees, delivery) — read 9 October 2026
- ACER: Victoria Police exam results, pass marks and re-sits — scaled pass marks, re-sit rules, 5-year validity
- ACER: Victoria Police exam registration and fees — rescheduling, refunds, non-attendance
- ACER: Victoria Police exam preparation — official practice products and prices
- Victoria Police: police recruitment process — four assessments, exemptions, 3 months to sit
- Victoria Police: salary and benefits — recruit and constable pay context
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.