- DCAS gives 55 questions in two hours and requires at least 70% to pass, per NYPD's hiring FAQ and the DCAS notice.
- Nine ability areas are tested, from Deductive Reasoning to Written Expression - not just "reading and math."
- The application fee is $0, and calculators or personal electronics are banned; DCAS provides scrap paper only.
- Appointment requires age 20 years 6 months, 24 college credits (or two years of military service), and an unrestricted NY driver license.
What This Cheat Sheet Covers
This is a one-page-style reference for the DCAS-administered Police Officer series, Exams 7311-7322 - the computer-based, multiple-choice exam commonly shortened to "the NYPD exam." It is not a substitute for full preparation, but it puts the numbers, domains, and eligibility rules that trip up candidates in one place so you can check your understanding fast. If you need the deeper walkthrough behind any of these facts, pair this page with the NYPD Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt and the domain-by-domain breakdown in the NYPD Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 9 Content Areas.
Keep in mind this is a hiring examination administered by the City of New York - it is not a renewable professional certification you maintain over time. You sit for it once per application cycle, land on a score-ranked list, and move through the hiring process from there.
Exam Format at a Glance
The Police Officer exam is delivered as a computer-based multiple-choice test. According to NYPD's official hiring FAQ, candidates face 55 questions and are given two hours to complete them. That works out to a little over two minutes per question on average, though real testing rarely divides evenly - some ability areas involve short scenario reads, while others hinge on quick visual or memory tasks that take seconds once you know the pattern.
Because the device restriction is strict, any technique that leans on a phone, smartwatch, or calculator during practice needs to be retired well before test day. Build the habit of working problems on scrap paper only, since that is exactly what you'll have available on the actual computer-based session.
The Nine Tested Ability Areas
The DCAS notice lists nine ability areas that the exam draws its questions from. Memorizing the names is step one; understanding what each one actually asks of you is what separates a passing score from a guessing game. For a full treatment of each area, see the NYPD Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 9 Content Areas.
Domain 1: Deductive Reasoning
Applying general rules or premises to reach a specific, logically forced conclusion.
- Practice moving from stated facts to the one answer that must be true
Domain 2: Inductive Reasoning
Spotting a pattern across several specific examples and generalizing it correctly.
- Work sets of related scenarios and identify the common thread before choosing an answer
Domain 3: Information Ordering
Arranging steps, events, or details into the correct sequence based on given rules.
- Practice ranking and sequencing tasks against explicit criteria, not intuition
Domain 4: Memorization
Retaining details from a passage, image, or scenario long enough to answer questions without reference material.
- Train short-burst recall using timed study-then-recall drills
Domain 5: Problem Sensitivity
Recognizing that a problem exists or is about to exist, even before all the details are spelled out.
- Read scenario questions for the "something is off" signal, not just the literal facts
Domain 6: Spatial Orientation
Understanding your position relative to a location or object, and how that position changes.
- Practice with maps, directions, and relative-position questions
Domain 7: Visualization
Mentally manipulating or reconfiguring shapes, layouts, or objects to predict an outcome.
- Practice rotating, folding, or rearranging figures in your head before checking answer choices
Domain 8: Written Comprehension
Reading and correctly understanding written information presented in policy-style or narrative passages.
- Practice pulling exact meaning from dense paragraphs, not skimmed summaries
Domain 9: Written Expression
Communicating information clearly in writing so it is understood by others.
- Practice choosing the clearest, most grammatically correct version of a sentence or report-style statement
Because all nine areas draw from a single 55-question, two-hour pool, no single domain gets a guaranteed fixed number of questions on your specific form. Treat all nine as fair game rather than betting your prep time on only two or three.
Passing Score Mechanics
The DCAS notice requires a minimum score of 70% to pass. That threshold applies to the exam itself, separate from the additional residency points discussed below, which are only added after a candidate has already passed. If you want the full mechanics of how scoring, passing thresholds, and list rank interact, read the NYPD Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass and the broader data discussion in the NYPD Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows.
Key Takeaway
70% is the floor set by DCAS - but because the eligible list is score-ranked, a higher score can matter for where you land on the list, not just whether you pass.
Eligibility Snapshot
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Minimum age to test | 17 |
| Minimum age to be appointed | 20 years 6 months |
| Maximum age | Under 35 on the first day of the relevant application period, subject to military-age deduction |
| Education | High-school diploma or equivalent plus 24 college semester credits with a 2.0 cumulative index, OR two years of honorable full-time U.S. military service |
| Citizenship | U.S. citizenship required |
| Driver license | Unrestricted New York State driver license |
These are eligibility rules for appointment, not for sitting the exam - you can test at 17 while still finishing coursework, provided you meet the appointment requirements by the time you're hired. For the complete rundown with context on how each requirement is verified, see NYPD Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify.
Registration, Fees, and Test-Day Rules
The application fee for this exam is $0 - there is no cost to apply through DCAS. That is a fact worth confirming for yourself directly through official channels before you budget for prep, since fee structures for other credentials that share the "NYPD" acronym are sometimes confused with this one. For a full pricing breakdown of what candidates actually spend on prep materials versus what the city charges, see NYPD Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown.
Because timing and registration windows shift by application cycle, don't rely on memory for open dates. Cross-check the current cycle against the NYPD Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling page before you lock in a study plan.
Eligible List, Residency Points, and Validity
Once you pass, your score determines your rank on a score-ranked eligible list. Qualifying New York City residents receive 10 additional points after passing - a meaningful boost when candidates are ranked closely together. The resulting eligible list is usually active for four years, though placement earlier on the list generally means earlier movement through the hiring process as academy classes are filled.
Key Takeaway
Passing is the entry ticket; your rank on the four-year eligible list - shaped by your raw score plus any residency points - is what actually determines how soon you're called.
Understanding this list-based system also matters when you're deciding how much time and effort to invest in prep. Since this is a hiring exam rather than a renewable license, there's no annual recertification fee or repeat testing cycle to plan around the way there might be with other credentials - you prepare hard once, pass with room to spare, and let your rank work in your favor. If you're still weighing how much effort this deserves relative to the payoff, the analysis in Is the NYPD Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 and the numbers in the NYPD Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis can help frame that decision.
Final Review Timeline
A cheat sheet is only useful if you've already built the underlying skill - so here's a compressed final-review structure for the two weeks before your test date, mapped to the nine ability areas rather than generic study advice.
Reasoning and Ordering Domains
- Drill Deductive Reasoning and Inductive Reasoning question sets daily, timing yourself against the two-hour, 55-question pace
- Practice Information Ordering tasks using scrap-paper sequencing, since no calculator or device will be available on test day
Perception, Language, and Full Simulation
- Rotate short daily sessions across Memorization, Problem Sensitivity, Spatial Orientation, and Visualization
- Spend two sessions on Written Comprehension and Written Expression passages to sharpen reading precision
- Run at least one full 55-question, two-hour simulation under the same no-electronics conditions you'll face at the testing center
If two weeks feels tight, back up your timeline using the full study framework in the NYPD Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt, and gauge your realistic prep window against the honest difficulty discussion in How Hard Is the NYPD Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026.
Who This Exam Is For
This exam exists to build the score-ranked eligible list from which the NYPD hires new officers. It's the entry point into the department's training pipeline and the broader field of NYPD jobs - candidates who pass move on to the additional steps of the hiring process, with their score and any residency points shaping timing. If you're still getting oriented on the basics of what this exam and department actually are before diving into prep, the primer pages on What Is NYPD?, NYPD Meaning, and What Does NYPD Stand For? are a good starting point, along with a broader look at NYPD Certification and What Is NYPD Certification? for how this hiring exam fits into the bigger picture.
Whatever stage you're at, practicing against realistic, timed questions across all nine ability areas is the fastest way to convert this cheat sheet into an actual passing score - you can start building that practice habit over at the main practice test platform and return to this page as a quick-reference check before test day.
FAQ
NYPD's official hiring FAQ states the exam has 55 questions with a two-hour time limit, delivered as a computer-based multiple-choice test.
The DCAS notice requires a minimum score of 70%. Passing candidates are then placed on a score-ranked eligible list.
No. The application fee for this exam is $0.
No. Calculators and personal electronic devices are prohibited. DCAS supplies scrap paper for any notes or calculations you need during the test.
The score-ranked eligible list is usually active for four years, though appointment timing depends on your rank and hiring needs during that period.