How the prison officer numeracy test works
The numerical part of the online test is up to 15 minutes for 20 questions, 45 seconds each. Each question sets a short task from prison life and gives four answers to choose from. The HMPPS practice test suggests having a calculator and rough paper ready.
The maths is basic but has to be accurate. HMPPS describes it as counting, adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing, basic ratios and fractions, taking data from tables, and reading the time in the 24-hour format. Officers do this every day: roll checks to account for every prisoner, counting movements to work or education, and keeping to a regime timetable.
You find out whether you passed after finishing both parts of the test. A pass takes you to the values-based assessment.
How to answer the questions
Most questions are one or two steps. Keep them that way:
- Pick out the starting figure and every change to it. Write them down as you read.
- Add up all the removals first, then take the total away once. It saves steps and mistakes.
- For times, change everything to the 24-hour clock before you add or subtract, and remember an hour is 60 minutes, not 100.
- For a table, find the row and column first, then read the one cell you need.
- Check your answer against the four options. If it is not there, re-read the question rather than taking the nearest.
Worked examples
A wing roll is 96. 27 prisoners go to education, 14 to work and 3 to healthcare. How many are still on the wing? Options: 48, 52, 54, 69. Add the movements first: 27 + 14 + 3 = 44. Then 96 − 44 = 52. 69 is the trap for taking away only the education group.
A visit starts at quarter to three in the afternoon. What is that on the 24-hour clock? Options: 02:45, 14:45, 15:45, 14:15. Quarter to three is 2:45, and afternoon adds 12 hours, so the answer is 14:45.
Tips for the real numeracy test
- Have a calculator and paper on the desk before you start. Forty-five seconds a question leaves no time to find one.
- Practise the 24-hour clock, especially times either side of midday and midnight.
- Count carefully when the question shows a picture or a list. Counting is a skill being tested in its own right.
- Take the HMPPS practice test before the real one, so the question style is familiar.
- Read each question to the end. The last line often changes what you need to work out, such as how many are left rather than how many went.
Practise the prison officer numeracy test on CogniPrep
Our Numerical Scenarios test is 20 prison maths questions on a 15-minute clock, each with four answers and an onscreen calculator below the options. There is no back button and no skip, and any question you do not reach scores nothing. The paper is generated fresh each time, so you can practise as often as you like without repeats. You get a percentage score and a percentile against other CogniPrep users.