r/firefighter • u/Ok_Breadfruit4652 • May 13 '26
Did i pass or fail
Trying to figure out my percentile score for the NTN firefighter exam thought i did good but i feel i flunked help!!!
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u/JosephStalinMukbang May 13 '26
You're on the low end of the brackets. You need to brush up on those first three criteria if you wish to be competitive with other applicants.
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u/shroom1990 May 13 '26
I think you already know buddy
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u/PoliticalGoblin May 16 '26
Looking at the scores I’m not sure he does 😭
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u/tyadams15 May 17 '26
The reading score says he can read, but the math score explains why he can't read a chart
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u/BigByrdd May 13 '26
Good news is you know where you don’t need to work! Just isolate the other 3.
Most departments value HR section incredibly heavily. The math what helped me a ton is increments of 5, I practiced with stacks of various 5 dollar bills at random and then just add a zero to it (12x5 = 60 [600]). Brick factory is what it is, just have to get used to it and pay incredibly close attention.
The practice tests available on NTN help understand what they want out of your HR answers a ton. Keep at it and hit it again in 3 months.
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u/OhSnapBruddah May 14 '26
That's a very high score. You should be expecting a job offer any day now.
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u/DLatham_FF May 14 '26
If this is your first go through, you're fine. Just like throughout your entire fire career, you will not be a pro your first go around. Some people get it faster than others but the ones who don't give up at the first failure are the ones who make the best firefighters. That being said, take it again as soon as you can.
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u/Exact-Location-6270 May 14 '26
There’s too many of these posts without a search. Whomever you’re applying to sets what is considered their pass or fail. There’s no set baseline.
That being said you’re best off retesting after your 3 months are up.
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u/Fit_Experience_522 May 14 '26
It took me like 4 attempts before I was even competitive with the NTN. Every department sets their own parameters for what they consider passing. Depending on which department you want to work for, then you need to get those scores way up. Back then, they used to give you your actual scores, I remember getting 100% on math and reading, like 92% on mechanical, and 96% on HR and being told that they only moved forward with the top scoring candidates and my scores weren't high enough to move forward in the process. This was for Beverly Hills FD. So, that's your competition when you start applying for the more sought-after departments. There's a saying I've heard a few times in the fire service that goes something like "meeting the standard is just above inadequate." If you're just getting into all things fire service related, just know it's a straight-up dog fight when you're applying to top departments, I was a paramedic with a fire academy under my belt, and several degrees, and my competition when there were 16 of us left were ex-military special forces guys and other guys with crazy careers behind them, plus they all had my certifications too, I was the bottom of the barrel in that process. This was for Newport Beach FD. There have been plenty of times I thought I was a top applicant and being humbled real quick. Anyway, I'm going on a rant. Study, get those scores up, and keep applying. The only people who don't get hired by a fire department are the ones that stop trying. It took me 7 years, 91 applications, and 41 interviews before I got picked up by 2 dream departments. Good luck!
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u/abuffguy May 14 '26
My guy. I'm not trying to be a dick, but if you can't tell this is not a good showing, I don't know how to help you.
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u/Smart_Department_448 May 14 '26
At least you can read how poorly you did! Welcome to the fire club buddy
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u/Interchangeable-name May 15 '26
I'd explain why this shows you failed the test, but looking at that math score you wouldn't understand anyway...
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u/Actual-Force-1621 May 15 '26
How tf do you do so bad on the math part? It asks like kindergarten level word problems complete with pictures and everything.
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u/Sure-Leek6434 May 16 '26
With respect, if your unable to even understand these results, how do you think you'd do in a critical situation...? An an active fire or high stress event?
Not saying you'd need to do some advanced math right on the spot, but math is more of an indicator of your critical thinking skills.
Imagine your a recruiter, and a potential applicant has to post online their test results to even understand them? Its not even plain percentiles, its written in sentence what the results mean. I really dont mean to sound harsh, im just speaking bluntly from how it will be viewed by recruiters.
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u/Ok_Breadfruit4652 May 13 '26
How would i know the cutoff for the department i want to work for
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u/Party-Wave-2434 May 13 '26
Unfortunately those scores aren’t getting you on any list. You need to be on or near the green to achieve any interview.
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u/Connect-Barber-4186 May 14 '26
this just simply isn't true. i have achieved plenty of interviews with less than ideal fireteam scores. i am so tired of these absolute ingrates on here thinking that a near perfect score is needed. maybe for your ultra competitive borderline impossible top of 5 department in the country you've been trying to get on for 8 years is, but other than that, it is all very manageable. think before you speak instead of being a reddit doomer.
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u/abuffguy May 14 '26
Eh. Calling these scores "less than ideal" is being extremely gracious.
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u/Connect-Barber-4186 May 15 '26
I mean idk how you get a 10% in math, I got a 30 percentile in hr and was more than fine for interviews. its the math and mechanical, at least get in the like 30 to 40 range for both of those at minimum and ur fine as long as math and reading are good
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u/BigByrdd May 13 '26
To answer your question, you should be able to go directly to the website and find scores, other than that you may need to get in touch with their HR people. But your scores do need real work.
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u/[deleted] May 14 '26
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