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Changes to the Prescribed Waiting Periods
Effective December 4th 2006
Applicant Testing
Services Inc. (ATS) is pleased to inform you that the
Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP) and the
Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services have
made changes to the prescribed waiting periods to retest the
Police Analytical Thinking Inventory (PATI), Written
Communication Test (WCT), Physical Readiness Evaluation for
Police (PREP) and Behavioural Personnel Assessment Device (BPAD)
for the Constable Selection System (CSS).
If you have not met standard with the PATI, WCT and/or BPAD
on your first attempt, the waiting period to retest is 3
months from your test date and 6 months for each attempt
after that.
If you have not met standard with the PREP on your first
attempt, you are eligible to register immediately and retest
within 2 months of your test date. For each attempt after
that, the waiting period to retest is 2 months from your
test date.
Please note: To be eligible to retest the BPAD, all tests of
the CSS Pre-Interview Stage I - PATI, WCT and PREP must be
valid.
Applicants updating an OACP Certificate of Results: If you
have not met standard on your first attempt to retest your
PATI, WCT and/or BPAD for your OACP Certificate of Results,
the waiting period to retest is 3 months from your test date
and 6 months for each attempt after that. If you have not
met standard with the PREP on your first attempt, you are
eligible to register immediately and retest within 2 months
of your test date.
Testing Information
Recent developments in the
police constable hiring procedure have led to the use of
standardized tests in the initial screening of applicants.
This process involves a series of four (4) tests, which are
designed to indicate certain aptitudes and abilities of a
career in policing. This test battery consists of:
STAGE I
- PATI, WCT and PREP
1. POLICE ANALYTICAL THINKING INVENTORY (PATI)
Description:
The PATI assesses the essential competency
analytical thinking, which tests three key areas
required of police constables when performing their jobs.
These areas are:
-
Deductive Reasoning
- The ability to draw appropriate conclusions from
information provided. Police officers are often required to
make sense of evidence by drawing conclusions about its
relevance and meaning. This is tested through the
Syllogism and Travel Time tasks.
Improvement
Strategy - Search for information on basic logic or
syllogism in your library (college, university or community)
or on the Internet.
-
Inductive Reasoning
- The ability to identify trends or common characteristics
in a series of objects or information presented. Police
officers often need to sift through seemingly disconnected
facts and make judgments about how they fit together.
This is tested through the Classification and Series
Completion tasks.
Improvement Strategy -
Search for information in your library (college, university
or community) on inductive reasoning. An explanation and
examples can be found on the Internet using the key words
“Inductive Reasoning”.
-
Quantitative Reasoning
- The ability to apply basic arithmetic operations like
addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and
fractions to solve problems. Police officers are required to
apply arithmetic processes to determine rates of speed,
stopping distances, etc. This ability is tested on the Word
Problems and Arithmetic tasks.
Improvement Strategy
- To practice the arithmetic tasks, the most common strategy
is to complete computations longhand and double check with a
calculator. Search the bookstore for math books specializing
in computations and word problems. An Adult Learning Center
may be able to provide resources to assist you with
arithmetic improvement strategies.
PATI Testing Tips and
Practice Exercises
Test Administration:
The PATI is a paper-and-pencil test (English language),
which takes approximately an hour and forty-five minutes.
Validity Period:
A successful result on the PATI remains valid for a period
of three (3) years.
Re-Test Waiting
Period: Candidates who have not met standard with the
PATI at the first attempt, must wait a period of three (3) months from their test date
before they can make another attempt. Candidates who have
not met standard on subsequent attempts must wait a period
of 6 months before they can test again. Tests may be taken with any organization or
agency that provides testing services for the Constable
Selection System: Applicant Testing Services (ATS) or the
Ontario Provincial Police (OPP).
Where a successful PATI
result is due to expire, a candidate may rewrite within 2
months prior to the expiry date, or anytime afterwards.
GENERAL APTITUDE TEST BATTERY (GATB) (available in French
only)
Description:
The GATB is currently used as the French alternate to the
PATI. If you prefer to write the aptitude test in
French, please identify this at time of registration.
The French GATB assesses the following aptitudes:
-
Arithmetic Skills - Understanding of addition,
subtraction, division and multiplication.
-
Problem Solving Skills - Ability to solve mathematical
problems.
-
Spacial Aptitude - Ability to identify the relationship
between objects of different shapes.
-
Verbal Skills - Ability to understand the relationship
between words (e.g. words that mean the same and words
that have opposite meaning).
It is recommended that
you brush up on basic high school level math (approximately
grade 10 level). Study both quick computation
(multiplication, division, subtraction, addition, fractions,
etc.) as well as the math word problems without using a
calculator (longhand on paper or in your head) as there are
math sections on the GATB. It is also recommended that
you increase your vocabulary by doing activities such as
crosswords, etc., as well as by looking up words you don't
know while reading. You should also increase the level and
frequency of your reading (i.e. read more challenging
materials than you are used to, and read more often). This
will help you to learn new words, as well as help to
increase the speed of your reading comprehension, which
helps immensely since the tests are timed.
French GATB Study Exercises
Test Administration:
The GATB is a timed paper-and-pencil test, which takes
approximately forty-five minutes.
Validity Period:
A successful result on the GATB remains valid for a period
of three (3) years.
Re-Test Waiting
Period: Candidates who have not met standard with the
GATB at the first attempt, must wait a period of three (3) months from their test date
before they can make another attempt. Candidates who have
not met standard on subsequent attempts must wait a period
of 6 months before they can test again. Tests may be taken with any organization or
agency that provides testing services for the Constable
Selection System: Applicant Testing Services (ATS) or the
Ontario Provincial Police (OPP).
Where a successful GATB
result is due to expire, a candidate may rewrite within 2
months prior to the expiry date, or anytime thereafter.
2. WRITTEN COMMUNICATION TEST (WCT)
Description: This test evaluates the
candidate's ability to organize information in a clear,
coherent and comprehensive manner, and to make conclusions
from given facts. The candidate is presented with a scenario
in which factual details are jumbled or represented in a
non-chronological manner.
Since the WCT is an analytical thinking exercise, it is a
little harder to prepare for this test, however, any
activities that will get you thinking analytically will
help. One suggestion is to read the "5-Minute Mysteries"
(author Ken Weber), which are available at local libraries.
These short mysteries will help to get you thinking
analytically because all the information is given to you to
solve the mystery, and you have to come to a conclusion
about what happened, or solve the mystery (answers appear in
the back of the book to check your work). It also helps if
you time yourself and write the case down, including
relevant facts (or clues) and why you reached the conclusion
you did. Always back up your answer with facts. Doing these
activities will help to get you thinking analytically, which
is what you will need to employ during the WCT exercise.
WCT Testing Tips and Practice Exercises
Test Administration:
The WCT is a paper-and-pencil test (English language), which
takes approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes to complete.
Validity Period:
A successful result on the WCT remains valid for a period of
three (3) years.
Re-Test Waiting
Period: Candidates who have not met standard with the
WCT at the first attempt, must wait a period of three (3) months from their test date
before they can make another attempt. Candidates who have
not met standard on subsequent attempts must wait a period
of 6 months before they can test again. Tests may be taken with any organization or
agency that provides testing services for the Constable
Selection System: Applicant Testing Services (ATS) or the
Ontario Provincial Police (OPP).
Where a successful WCT
result is due to expire, a candidate may rewrite within 2
months prior to the expiry date, or anytime thereafter.
3.
PHYSICAL READINESS EVALUATION FOR POLICE
(PREP)
This test consists of a number of procedures.
Detailed information on the assessment for physical skills
and abilities is available in the brochure:
Fit-to-Serve: Preparing for
the PREP (PDF).
Description:
Physical Fitness: Pass all components of the Physical
Readiness Evaluation for Police (PREP) test, which includes:
-
Pursuit/Restraint
Circuit, will be evaluated by completing as quickly as
possible a 25-metre circuit four times (total distance = 100
metres) while wearing a 9 lb. soft weight belt that
simulates wearing a full equipment belt. During each
rotation, a set of stairs are climbed and on the second and
fourth rotation, a 4 ft fence is scaled. Following
completion of the circuit, the participant completes pushing
and pulling on the "body control" simulator plus two "arm
restraint" simulations, then drags a 150 lb. rescue dummy a
distance of 15 metres.
-
Aerobic Shuttle Run,
evaluated by running back and forth over a 20-metre course
in time with tape recorded signals. The time to cover
the 20-metre course is shortened progressively until the
participant is unable to maintain the pace or the standard
is met.
Test Administration:
This assessment procedure takes about 20 minutes of activity
to complete.
If you are over 40 years of
age or have answered 'yes' to any of the questions
on the
PAR-Q
(Participant Activity Readiness Questionnaire), please
notify ATS when you register. You will be required to have
your physician complete a PARmed-X
(Physical Activity Readiness Medical Examination).
Please take the time to read the instructions included with
the form to ensure that you have the PARmed-X form filled
out completely and properly, as you will not be permitted to
attempt the PREP test without it.
On test day, a pre-test
blood pressure will be taken. This blood pressure reading
must be 144/94 or less in order for you to participate in
the PREP component of the Constable Selection System. Some
people experience "White Coat Syndrome". White Coat Syndrome
is a medical term that describes the finding of elevated
blood pressure during a stressful situation such as a visit
to the doctor, or certain testing, when you have normal
blood pressure at other times. If you are a person that
experiences this condition and are concerned that you will
not meet the BP standards on the day of testing then:
A: Attend your physician
B: Have
a Copy of the PARmed-X form for your doctor to complete
C: Either Fax/Mail a copy to the ATS office a minimum of
1 week prior to your test date.
You will be required at
the test centre to complete and sign an Informed Consent
Form, which contains information about each
component of the PREP and identifies any risks associated
with participation.
Validity Period: A successful result on the
PREP remains valid for a period of six (6) months.
Re-Test Waiting
Period: Candidates who have not met standard with the
PREP on their first attempt, are eligible to register
immediately and retest within 2 months of their test date.
For each attempt after that, the waiting period to retest is
2 months from your test date.
Where a successful PREP
result is due to expire, a candidate may re-test within 2
months prior to the expiry date, or anytime thereafter.
Note: Stage I (PATI,
WCT, PREP) is administered consecutively on your selected
test date, and will take approximately 6 to 7 hours to
complete. Upon completion of the PATI, WCT & PREP, a
Test Results Profile (TRP) will be mailed to you within 7-10
business days. If successful in Stage I, you will also
receive confirmation for Stage II testing which will take
place approximately 3 weeks following your Stage I test
date.
STAGE II - B-PAD and VISION/HEARING ASSESSMENT
4. BEHAVIOURAL
PERSONNEL ASSESSMENT DEVICE for POLICE (B-PAD)
Description: This test is available only to
those candidates who have been successful in the first 3
tests. Candidates are required to view on a TV
monitor, scenarios representing what police constables
experience on the job, and respond as if they were speaking
to the people in the scene. Knowledge of police
procedures is not required.
Test Administration:
This assessment procedure takes about 20 minutes to
complete.
Validity Period:
A successful result on the B-PAD remains valid for a period
of three (3) years.
Re-Test Waiting
Period: Candidates who have not met standard with the
BPAD at the first attempt, must wait a period of three (3) months from their test date
before they can make another attempt. Candidates who have
not met standard on subsequent attempts must wait a period
of 6 months before they can test again. Tests may be taken with any organization or
agency that provides testing services for the Constable
Selection System: Applicant Testing Services (ATS) or the
Ontario Provincial Police (OPP).
Where a successful BPAD
result is due to expire, a candidate may rewrite within 2
months prior to the expiry date, or anytime thereafter.
ASSESSMENT OF VISION AND HEARING -  Printer Friendly Page
The following
VISION STANDARDS
apply:
-
Uncorrected Visual Acuity
- at least 20/40 (6/12) with both eyes open
-
Corrected
Visual Acuity
- at least 20/20 (6/6) with both eyes open
-
Farsightedness
– The amount of hyperopia must not be greater than +2.00
D, spheroequivalent in the less hyperopic eye. For
screening, the visual acuity score recorded above should
worsen when +1.50 lenses are worn; no change from the
uncorrected visual acuity when wearing +1.5 lenses
denotes unacceptable vision
-
Depth Perception
- Stereo acuity of 80 seconds of arc or better
-
Lateral Phoria “Far”
- In excess of 5 eso or 5 exo, requires additional
information from an eye care professional, which
documents that the person is unlikely to experience
double vision when fatigued or functioning in reduced
visual environments
-
Lateral Phoria “Near”
- in excess of 6 eso or 10 exo, requires additional
information from an eye care professional, which
documents that the person is unlikely to experience
double vision when fatigued or functioning in reduced
visual environments
-
Colour Vision
- pass Farnsworth D-15 without any colour corrective
(e.g. X-Chrom, Chromagen) lenses
-
Peripheral
Vision
- Peripheral visual field limits with a 5 mm
white target at 33 cm (or a target with similar angular
size with respect to the candidate's viewing distance)
should be no less than the limits given below. In
addition, no blind spots should be present within these
limits other than the physiological blind spot.
Limits for the various meridians are:
Temporal
(0° meridian)
75°
Superior-temporal (45° meridian)
40°
Superior
(90° meridian) 35°
Superior-nasal
(135° meridian) 35°
Nasal
(180° meridian) 45°
Nasal-inferior
(225° meridian) 35°
Inferior
(270° meridian) 55°
Inferior-temporal (315°
meridian) 70°
-
Corneal Refractive Surgery
– Allowed;
however, the candidate must meet additional requirements
and must provide specific documentation on vision
stability and night vision using Constable Selection
System approved forms, available through Applicant
Testing Services or Ontario Provincial Police
-
Pseudophakic Intra-Ocular Lenses - Allowed;
however, the candidate must meet additional requirements
and must provide specific documentation using
Constable
Selection System approved forms, available through
Applicant Testing Services or Ontario Provincial Police
-
Phakic Intra-Ocular Lens Implants (PIOL) -
Certain designs are allowed; however, the candidate must
meet additional requirements and must provide specific
documentation on
vision
stability and night vision using Constable Selection
System approved forms, available through Applicant
Testing Services or Ontario Provincial Police
-
Orthokeratology, Corneal
Transplants, Intra-Stromal Corneal Rings
-
Not allowed
-
Ocular Disease -
Free from diseases that impair or will impair visual
performance as indicated by the standards above,
or will produce sudden, unpredictable incapacitation of
the visual system.
The following
HEARING STANDARDS apply:
-
For each ear, pure-tone thresholds measured under
audiometric earphones shall not exceed a four-frequency
average (500,
1000, 2000, 3000 Hz) of 25 dB HL, thresholds at none of
these single frequencies shall exceed 35 dB HL and
thresholds at 4000 Hz shall not exceed 45 dB HL
-
Speech recognition
scores shall be 88% or better in each ear at 50 dB HL in
quiet, using half lists (25 test words) of recorded
monosyllabic words presented under standard audiometric
earphones (Northwestern University Test. No. 6)
-
Speech recognition
scores measured with both ears open in sound field shall
be 68% or better at a +5 dB signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio,
when a half-list (25 test words) or recorded
monosyllabic words is presented at 50 dB HL
-
Only
complete-in-canal (CIC) hearing aids may be used to meet
the above standards. However, the applicant's
unaided hearing loss must not exceed 40 dB in each ear
at the following frequencies: 500, 1000, 2000 and 3000,
and shall not exceed 55 dB at 4000 Hz
-
The audiologist must
provide specific documentation using
Constable
Selection System approved forms, available through
Applicant Testing Services or Ontario Provincial Police.
Applicants who do not
meet standard on any of the vision or hearing assessments
will be referred for further examination by an appropriate
specialist. It is recommended that applicants confirm
that they meet vision and hearing standards before they
commit themselves to the testing fees of the pre-interview
stage.
Assessment
Administration:
This procedure takes approximately 10-20 minutes to
complete. Please be prepared to remove contact lenses
or eyeglasses during this assessment.
Validity Period:
A successful result on the vision and hearing assessment
remains valid for a period of three (3) years.
Note: Stage II (B-PAD,
Vision and Hearing) is administered consecutively, and will
take approximately one (1) hour to complete. Upon
successful completion of Stage II, an Ontario Association of
Chiefs of Police (O.A.C.P.) Certificate of Results will be
mailed to you within 10-14 business days. If you are
unsuccessful on the B-PAD, or have been referred for vision
or hearing, a Test Results Profile (TRP) will be mailed to
you within 10-14 business days.
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