Victoria Police Entrance Exam: sections, timing and how to prepare

The Victoria Police Entrance Exam is run by ACER (the Australian Council for Educational Research). It's the first big hurdle after your application, and you need to pass all four sections to move on.

The four sections

Section	Questions	Time
Literacy	30	30 minutes
Abstract reasoning	45	20 minutes
Numeracy	30	35 minutes
Report writing	1 task	35 minutes

The whole exam takes about two hours.

Literacy

Reading comprehension across about six types of text, which can include graphs and charts. Most questions are multiple choice or true/false. Read the question before the passage so you know what to look for, and watch for words like "proposed" or "most" that change the meaning.

Abstract reasoning

Shape sequences and patterns — what comes next, what completes the pattern, or the right order. With 45 questions in 20 minutes you have under 27 seconds each, so speed matters. Look for one change at a time: rotation, number, shading, position, size.

Numeracy

Everyday maths in context: money, percentages, measurement and reading data. An on-screen calculator is provided, so the challenge is setting up the problem correctly, not the arithmetic.

Report writing

A typed report of about 300–350 words, with no spell-check, grammar check or formatting tools. Practise typing reports without spell-check so errors don't surprise you on the day. Stick to facts, keep events in order and finish with clear next steps.

How you sit it and what it costs

You can sit the exam at home with remote supervision (you'll need a webcam) or at a venue in Camberwell, Melbourne. ACER lists the fee as $284, with resits from $135 for one section. You can attempt the exam twice.

Who doesn't need to sit it

Victoria Police offers exemptions for people with a completed bachelor's degree, VCE with an ATAR of 65+ (and English 25+), full-time ADF service, prior police experience, some emergency services workers and some public servants. Check the current list before you book.

How to prepare

• Take a timed practice test early to find your weakest section.
• Drill abstract reasoning for speed — it's the tightest time limit.
• Write at least three practice reports without spell-check.
• Do a full-length mock under exam timing in the week before.

Our VIC practice tests follow the same four sections and timing, with explanations for every question. Start with the free quiz.

Sources: ACER — Victoria Police Entrance Exam; Victoria Police — recruitment process. Checked September 2026.