CritiCall Practice Test: 911 Dispatcher Prep
There is no single CritiCall test: your agency picks the modules and sets the bar for each. Here is every module, how each is scored, and the only published set of real cut scores.
What your invitation may call it
CritiCall is made by Biddle Consulting Group and runs on its TestGenius platform. More than 1,400 public safety agencies in the United States and Canada use it to hire 911 dispatchers and call takers. If your invitation says any of these, this is the test:
- CritiCall, or CritiCall 3D
- TestGenius, or an email from invitations.testgenius.com
- OneTest, the operational part of CritiCall 3D
- A public safety dispatcher, telecommunicator or call taker exam scored in keystrokes per hour
The three things to know
- The rules are learned, not shown. Every decision item turns on four rules you are told to learn before the test.
- Much of it is a typing rate. Keyboarding is scored in words per minute and Data Entry in keystrokes per hour.
- Laptop or desktop, with a headset. The real test does not run properly on a phone or tablet, and several modules speak to you.
The four decision rules
Biddle’s candidate guide tells you to “read and learn these four rules before taking the test”, and to use only these rules, not what your own local agency would do. They decide every Decision Making item and every emergency message that interrupts the multi-tasking modules, and you have 15 seconds for each.
Police
“Police should be dispatched when someone is attempting or threatening to physically harm another person, or has actually physically harmed another person, or when a person causes or is in the process of causing harm to another person’s property.”
Fire
“Fire should be dispatched when there are the immediate signs of a fire in progress (such as flames or smoke), when a fire alarm is sounded, or when a person who is trapped or confined needs to be rescued or released.”
EMS
“EMS should be dispatched when there is an emergency medical condition requiring intervention by medically trained personnel.”
Utility
“Utility should be dispatched when there is a problem associated with malfunctioning or broken public water systems, electric power systems (including, but not limited to, electrical power lines, streetlights, and traffic signals), natural gas systems used for home heating, or blocked sewer drainpipes.”
The guide’s own examples: “Man is throwing rocks in an attempt to hurt children” is Police; “Electrical power lines knocked down during a severe hail storm” is Utility.
Free Tests
Free to try with a free account. Unlock this provider for all 9 modules.
CritiCall Decision Making
Emergency messages arrive one at a time and you have 15 seconds to send Police, Fire, EMS or Utility, using only Biddle’s four decision rules. A wrong agency and a late answer both score nothing, and the same messages interrupt every multi-tasking module.
CritiCall Keyboarding
Copy mixed-case paragraphs word for word for five minutes, scored in net words per minute with your accuracy beside it. Capitals and punctuation count, and agencies usually set the bar between about 31 and 35 words per minute.
All Tests
CritiCall Data Entry
Copy caller records (names, phone numbers, addresses, VINs, plates and licences) into CritiCall’s nine-field form while emergency messages interrupt you. Scored in keystrokes per hour, the measure agencies most often use as a pass or fail hurdle.
CritiCall Memory Recall: Phone Numbers
Hear a seven-digit phone number once, then type it from memory a few seconds later, twenty times over. Played through your device’s voice, with an on-screen fallback if no voice is available.
CritiCall Spelling
Hear a word, a sentence using it, then the word again, and type it spelled for that meaning: brakes or breaks, patients or patience. Marked in American spelling, as the real test is.
CritiCall Map Reading
Street maps with one-way streets, turn bans, rivers and railway lines. Choose the most direct legal route, or follow directions and say where you end up, without mixing up left and right.
CritiCall Sentence Clarity
Two statements with the same facts: choose the one that says who did what, to whom, where and when without leaving anything open. Two options per item, so 50% is the chance level.
CritiCall Memory Recall
Six pairs such as RED DODGE or GREEN SHIRT appear for 20 seconds and disappear. Then you get one word from a pair and choose its partner, with one option in each set that was never shown.
CritiCall Cross Referencing
Find the right entry in an alphabetical address book full of near-duplicate names and type the phone number, address or name the question asks for. Includes reverse lookups from a phone number.
Every CritiCall module
Biddle says the software “contains over 20 different tests, however each agency will select only the most appropriate tests for their positions”. Your invitation or the agency’s job posting usually names yours. This is the catalogue, and what we practise.
Decision Making
Practised (free)A written emergency; click Police, Fire, EMS or Utility within 15 seconds. Scored in percentage correct.
Data Entry (Multi-Tasking)
PractisedType records into nine fields while emergency messages interrupt. Scored in keystrokes per hour.
Keyboarding
Practised (free)Type written paragraphs word for word. Scored in words per minute.
Memory Recall: Numeric (Audio)
Practised, browser voiceHear a seven-digit phone number, then type it from memory. Scored in percentage correct.
Spelling (and Use of Words)
Practised, browser voiceHear a word in a sentence, then type its spelling. Scored in percentage correct.
Map Reading
PractisedA simple street map; choose the right route or position. Scored in percentage correct.
Sentence Clarity
PractisedTwo written statements; choose the clearer. Scored in percentage correct.
Memory Recall
PractisedStudy word pairs, then choose each partner word. Scored in percentage correct.
Cross Referencing
PractisedAnswer typed questions from an on-screen address book. Scored in percentage correct.
Call Summarization 1 and 2
Not simulatedHear a simulated caller, type the details, then answer questions. Scored in percentage correct.
Decision Making (Vocal), Vocalization Summary, Spoken English
Not simulatedSpoken answers, marked by a person or a third-party AI. Scored in a human or AI rating.
Data Entry (Audio), Cross Referencing (Audio), Memory Recall: Audio
Not yetVersions of the modules above delivered by ear. Scored in keystrokes per hour or %.
Character Comparison, Reading Comprehension, Numerical Ability
Not yetNear-duplicate strings, dispatch passages and job arithmetic. Scored in percentage correct.
Prioritization, Probability, Position Locating, Proofreading
Not simulatedFormats or marking rules Biddle does not publish in enough detail to copy. Scored in percentage correct.
How CritiCall is scored
Each module is scored in its own unit: words per minute for Keyboarding, keystrokes per hour for Data Entry, and percentage correct for the rest. Each agency then sets a cut score per module, usually by asking its own dispatchers what a minimally qualified new hire should score. The software offers three lower versions of that bar, each one standard error of measurement further down, and Biddle recommends agencies use one because the adjustment gives candidates the benefit of the doubt.
The most reliable modules can be set as stand-alone hurdles: fall below the cut on any of them and you are out of the process. Some agencies also rank passing candidates on a weighted composite. Most only tell you whether you are advancing.
The only full set of cut scores ever published comes from Florida Highway Patrol’s dispatchers in 2012, and our results compare you with it. An asterisk marks the modules FHP used as stand-alone hurdles.
| Module | Unit | Unadjusted | Less 1 | Less 2 | Less 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keyboarding | WPM | 33.5 | 31 | 29 | 27 |
| Data Entry MT* | KPH | 4,038 | 3,632 | 3,227 | 2,821 |
| Data Entry MT (Audio)* | KPH | 2,207 | 1,754 | 1,301 | 849 |
| Call Summarization 1 | % | 68.2 | 56 | 44 | 31 |
| Call Summarization 2 MT* | % | 68.3 | 61 | 53 | 46 |
| Cross Referencing | % | 67.0 | 55 | 43 | 30 |
| Cross Referencing (Audio) | % | 69.2 | 53 | 37 | 21 |
| Character Comparison | % | 79.8 | 70 | 59 | 49 |
| Memory Recall | % | 77.3 | 71 | 65 | 58 |
| Memory Recall: Numeric (Audio)* | % | 73.0 | 63 | 54 | 44 |
| Prioritization | % | 72.6 | 62 | 52 | 42 |
| Map Reading* | % | 70.4 | 60 | 50 | 39 |
| Spelling (and Use of Words)* | % | 75.6 | 69 | 63 | 56 |
| Sentence Clarity* | % | 68.0 | 57 | 47 | 36 |
| Reading Comprehension* | % | 65.9 | 55 | 44 | 32 |
The less 1, 2 and 3 columns are the bar lowered by one, two and three standard errors of measurement. In the same study, Keyboarding, both Data Entry modules, Map Reading and Spelling predicted how well dispatchers did the job. Your agency’s bar may be higher or lower than Florida’s.
The real CritiCall does not run on a phone
TestGenius supports laptops and desktops running Windows 10 or macOS 15 or later, and says specific modules “do not operate correctly with any Smartphone or Tablet devices”. For Data Entry it asks for a screen resolution of at least 1440 by 900, because the emergency message box otherwise covers part of the form.
Our modules work on a phone, because learning the rules on a train is better than not learning them. But a phone result is not comparable with the real test. Keyboarding and Data Entry are scored on your keystroke rate, and a touchscreen keyboard measures your thumbs, not the skill an agency is hiring for. Sit your practice runs the way you will sit the real one: a laptop or desktop, a physical keyboard with a numeric keypad, and a headset.
Audio and your headset
Biddle’s guide says you will “likely be required to listen to spoken information heard over a headset”, with a volume control. Check your headset before you start. On Safari, allow autoplay for the test site or the audio will not play.
The real test uses recorded voices. Our phone number and spelling modules use your browser’s built-in voice instead, so the accent and pacing will differ. If your browser has no voice, the module shows the item on screen instead and your results say so.
What we do not simulate
- Call Summarization. You hear a simulated caller and type the details. A synthetic voice would train the wrong skill, and Biddle does not publish how the typed detail is marked.
- Spoken-answer modules. Decision Making (Vocal), Vocalization Summary and Spoken English Language are marked by a person or a third-party AI.
- CritiCall 3D’s situational and personality parts. Biddle publishes no item format for either.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is on the CritiCall test?
Whatever your agency chose. Biddle sells over 20 modules and says "each agency will select only the most appropriate tests" for its positions. The ones that turn up most often in agency lists are Decision Making, Data Entry, Keyboarding, Call Summarization, Memory Recall, Map Reading, Spelling and Sentence Clarity.
How long does CritiCall take?
Biddle says "on average, between one and three hours", depending on how many modules your agency assigned. TestGenius recommends setting aside two to three hours, and you are expected to finish in one sitting.
What is a passing score on CritiCall?
There is no universal one. Each agency sets a bar for each module. The one published set, from Florida Highway Patrol, runs from about 55% to 80% on the percentage modules, 31 to 34 words per minute for keyboarding and about 3,600 to 4,000 keystrokes per hour for data entry, depending on the module and on how far the agency adjusts its bar down.
Can I take CritiCall on my phone?
No. It runs on a laptop or desktop with Windows 10 or macOS 15 or later, and TestGenius says "specific modules ... do not operate correctly with any Smartphone or Tablet".
Do I need a headset?
For most sittings, yes. Biddle’s guide says you will "likely be required to listen to spoken information heard over a headset", with a volume control. On Safari you must allow autoplay for the test site or the audio will not play.
What are the CritiCall decision rules?
Four rules that say when to send Police, Fire, EMS or a Utility company. They are printed near the top of this page, word for word from Biddle’s guide. Learn them before the test: they are not shown on screen while you answer.
Is there an official CritiCall practice test?
No. Biddle says "There is no 'practice test' for CritiCall". TestGenius offers free, unscored samples of Keyboarding, Proofreading and Spelling to check that your device works, and each real section starts with optional practice items that do not count.
Will I see my CritiCall results?
Usually only whether you are moving to the next stage. The scores belong to the agency and "most agencies do not give out test results". Some agencies email results within about a week.
Companies That Use CritiCall
CritiCall is Biddle Consulting Group’s pre-employment test for 911 dispatchers and calltakers, delivered through its TestGenius platform. Biddle says more than 1,400 US and Canadian agencies use it, from single-county communications centres to state highway patrols, and each agency chooses which of its modules a candidate sits.
California Highway Patrol
Government & Public SectorHosts Biddle’s 2023 CritiCall candidate guide as the study guide for its Public Safety Dispatcher and Public Safety Operator examination.
Riverside County Sheriff’s Office
Government & Public SectorNames the Criticall exam as the online pre-employment test for 911 dispatchers, with results emailed within a week and a retake allowed after 30 days.
Florida Highway Patrol
Government & Public SectorThe agency behind the only full set of published CritiCall cut scores: Biddle’s validation study with its dispatchers and calltakers.
Agencies rarely publish which CritiCall modules they use or where they set the bar, and many run it through a regional consortium or civil service commission rather than naming it on a job advert. The list below is limited to agencies whose own pages, or Biddle’s own published research, connect them to CritiCall. Biddle’s success stories page names many more agencies, but its testimonials are undated and several are visibly two decades old, so they are not repeated here.
Guides and Tips
Read up before you practise: what the tests reward, what catches candidates out, and why shortcuts do not work.
Can You Cheat CritiCall? Speed Is the Score
Keystrokes per hour and a 15-second clock per emergency message. Why there is nothing to look up on CritiCall.
CritiCall Test Tips: The Four Rules and the Typing Bar
Your agency picks the CritiCall modules and sets the bar for each. The decision rules and the typing rate are what reward practice most.
Practice by Test Type
Compare the same format across every provider that uses it, and see what each one is really measuring.
Verbal Reasoning Test Practice
Short dense passages and true, false or cannot say answers. Judged on what the text supports, never on what you already know.
Logical Reasoning Test Practice
Shapes, sequences and flowcharts instead of words or numbers. Inductive, deductive, abstract, diagrammatic and spatial in one place.
About CogniPrep CritiCall Practice
CogniPrep provides 9 practice modules for CritiCall, the 911 dispatcher test from Biddle Consulting Group. Each is scored in the real module’s unit and compared with Florida Highway Patrol’s published cut scores, and the decision items use Biddle’s own four rules. Item content is in American English, as on the real test. For the wider picture, read our CritiCall test tips or our guide to working out which provider sent your test.
- Decision Making: emergency messages on a 15-second clock, free to try
- Keyboarding: five minutes of mixed-case passages in words per minute, free
- Data Entry: nine-field records with emergency interruptions, in keystrokes per hour
- Phone number memory and Spelling, spoken by your browser’s voice
- Map Reading, Sentence Clarity, Memory Recall and Cross Referencing
Ready to Start Practising?
Start with the free Decision Making and Keyboarding modules, then unlock all 9 CritiCall practice modules with full scoring and feedback.