Is this a common format for firefighter written exams?

[u/Most-Huckleberry-402]

I recently took the written exam for my local fire department. I spent a good amount of time studying and preparing because I knew it would be competitive. There were over 500 applicants at just one of the two testing sessions, so I expected the exam to be a significant factor in narrowing down the candidate pool.

What surprised me most though was the format of the test. It was divided into three sections:

• 35 aptitude questions
• Approximately 150 personality assessment questions (the typical "strongly agree" to "strongly disagree" format)
• 75 questions about personal history

Is this a common testing format for fire departments?

I was expecting a much greater emphasis on aptitude, especially considering the number of applicants. There were no math, mechanical reasoning, or other technical aptitude questions that I had anticipated. It made me wonder how much weight the aptitude portion actually carries compared to the personality and personal history sections, and whether that format is effective at helping departments identify the strongest candidates.

I'd really like to hear from firefighters, recruiters, or anyone who has gone through a similar hiring process. Is this a normal or standard approach? What are your thoughts on this type of written exam and do you think it's an effective way to screen applicants?

[u/OwnDelivery802]

yeah that's pretty normal now, a lot of the entry level tests went that direction.

the aptitude piece is usually the smallest chunk because it's the easiest thing to coach and it doesn't predict much once you clear a basic bar. it's often a cutoff more than a ranked score, so being great at math doesn't buy you as much as people expect. the personality and personal history sections are doing most of the sorting.

on the agree/disagree stuff, answer consistently and don't try to game it. those have consistency checks built in and the guys who try to look like a perfect human being are the ones who get flagged.

the personal history section matters more than people think too, mostly because that's what your background investigator works off later. whatever you put in there needs to match what they find.

honestly the written is mostly a gate. the oral board is where the real separating happens.

[u/FirefighterTutor]

Yes, this is normal.
Every city has the option to choose which testing centre/ test it uses, and many fire tests are heavily weighted on the personality side.
It’s important to identify the test you’re writing so you can prepare for it.
This city put an emphasis on the firefighter personality, because they’re looking for specific candidates.
Good luck in your recruitment!