All of us We have a family member, friend or acquaintance who is currently preparing for the competitive examinations for the National Police Corps, the Civil Guard (Guardia Civil) and Local police. Of the first, they are currently immersed in the physical tests, but then they will have the theoretical and psychotechnical exam.
The psychotechnical tests They are the most feared by most candidates and it is no wonder, considering that it is the test in which they fail the most. It is advisable to prepare with method this phase, so we are going to give you a series of tips and measures that you should keep in mind on the day of the test.
The key to doing these psychometric and personality tests well and passing is know, understand and assume the profile that you have to give, adapting the answers to a single possible profile, the profile they are looking for, which is none other than him police profileIf you go with this idea, that is, knowing in advance that what you have to give is a completely police profile, it will be easier for you to pass these tests. Here, intelligence alone is not the most important. respond according to the professional role what do you need.
- You're taking the police exam, and you're asked the following question on the test: How do you react to an insult or provocation? You have the following possible answers: Calmly, Violently, I distance myself from the person provoking me. Logically, if you want to present a good police profile, you can't select the "violently" option. A police officer must remain calm to insults and provocations. The best response then would be "calmly."
Therefore, on the day of the test you must go fully prepared. mentally prepared for the profile what they are looking for and what type of police profile they need. And this can also be useful for both the competitive examinations and the rest of works, in which they often also pass this type of questionnaires and tests.
What are psychometric tests and what do they evaluate?
They are multiple choice tests designed to measure cognitive skills and key reasoning traits for police work. They often combine several areas: verbal reasoning (comprehension and vocabulary), numerical reasoning (calculation and problems), abstract reasoning (patterns and sequences) and spatial reasoning (rotation and manipulation of figures). Becoming familiar with each typology reduces errors by lack of knowledge of the format.
Types of tests: omnibus and specific
In many processes tests are combined bus (a variety of exercises that touch on multiple skills, excellent for training mental agility) and tests specific (focused on a specific skill). Areas that may be covered include: math problems, coding, order tables, figures in space, visual memory, reading comprehension, fatigue resistance, atención y reasoning in different variants. The number of questions and total time may vary depending on the current rules.
How it is valued and what score you need
Correction usually applies an objective formula: [A − E/(n − 1)]*10/P, where A is the correct answers, E the errors, n the number of alternatives and P the total number of questions. This allows order from highest to lowest grades and declare a number of people fit/passed equal to the number of places. Understanding the penalty for failure helps you decide when to take risks and when to leave a question blank.
Tricks and techniques to solve quickly and accurately
- practice regularly: Repetition creates automatisms and increases speed without sacrificing precision.
- manage time: Time drills and allocate minutes per block; avoid getting stuck.
- Read instructions calmly: many mistakes come from misinterpreting what is being asked.
- Identify patterns: looks for sequences, symmetries, rotations and changes in size or direction.
- Paper and pencil: Outlining operations or visual diagrams reduces mental calculation errors.
- Rule out options obviously incorrect to increase the probability of success.
- Keep calm: Apply short breaths between blocks; a focused mind is more productive.
- Real drills: reproduces exam conditions (time and number of questions) and analyze your mistakes after each test.
Commented examples of common exercises
Logic reasoning: Given an age relationship between several people, deduce correct comparisons. Strategy: Translate "greater/lesser" into inequalities and order. Typical example: If the statement infers that Luis is younger than Marta, that will be the valid option.
Numerical reasoning: Counts in ranges and exclusions. If you are asked how many numbers are between two extremes (both inclusive), calculate end − start + 1 and checks whether any additional conditions actually apply to the range (e.g., excluding two-digit pairs has no effect if the interval doesn't contain them). Illustrative result: 141.
Simple equation: in 3x + 3y − 50 = 70, if x = 4, substitute and clear: 12 + 3y − 50 = 70 → 3y = 108 → y = 36. Clue: operates step by step and avoid sign errors.
Arithmetic logic problem: Two children have a total of 170 stickers, and if one gives 15 to the other, they tie. System: x + y = 170 and y − 15 = x + 15. Solution: x = 70 hey = 100. Useful: raises variables before operating.
Preparation plan and test day
Integrate into your week spaced practice of all types (omnibus and specific), alternating short, intense sessions with reviewing errors. Strengthen your weaknesses without neglecting what you've mastered to maintain confidence and rhythm.
Performs complete drills in real time and correct in detail: classify errors by cause (haste, concept, reading) and design micro-habits (underline key data, write down operations, mark doubts for a second round).
On the day of the exam, do a global look, manages blocks by skipping difficult questions and returns to the end if there is time. In personality tests, he answers with consistency and coherence with the police profile (temperance, responsibility, teamwork, self-control).
Methodical preparation, regular practice, and emotional control place the grade within a suitable range; with consistency and strategy, psychometric tests cease to be an obstacle and become a opportunity to stand out.