Firefighter Written Exam Practice Test: 60 Questions With Answers
Practice the question types fire departments use on written entrance tests: reading comprehension, math, mechanical aptitude, map reading and spatial thinking, and judgment. All 60 questions come from our practice-test video, each with an explanation, followed by what is and isn't standard about firefighter testing.
There is no single national firefighter written exam. Each department chooses its own test, often from a vendor such as FireTEAM by Ergometrics (delivered through National Testing Network) or NTN's Firefighter Express exam, so the format, length, and cut-off score vary. Departments often set the cut-off after testing and invite top scorers to the next step. The CPAT is a separate physical test: 8 events in 10 minutes 20 seconds, pass or fail.
Firefighter written exam facts at a glance
| Practice questions | 60: original questions in six sections, from our video |
|---|---|
| National exam | None: each department picks its own written test |
| FireTEAM / NTN test | About 2 hours: human relations, mechanical, reading, and math sections |
| CPAT | 10 min 20 s: 8 physical events in a 50-lb vest; pass/fail |
| Passing score | Set by department: some set the cut-off after the exam and rank applicants |
| Hiring steps | Written, physical, interview, academy: per the Bureau of Labor Statistics; details vary |
Checked against the official National Testing Network page and the sources listed at the end of this page on 2026-10-26.
Watch: Firefighter written exam video
Firefighter Written Exam Practice Test 2026: 60 Questions With Answers (Reading, Math, Mechanical)
Firefighter written exam practice test: 60 questions
These are the 60 questions from our firefighter practice-test video, grouped into reading comprehension, two math sections, mechanical aptitude, map reading and spatial thinking, and judgment and fire service basics. Press Check Answer to see why each answer is right; missed questions go to a retry queue. Every question is original, not from a real department test.
Our target is 48 or more correct, about 80%. That is our own estimate, not a passing score: real tests and cut-offs differ by department, and many rank applicants.
Two common vendor written tests
National Testing Network lists two firefighter written exams. Your department's announcement says which one, if either, it uses.
| Test | Length | Sections |
|---|---|---|
| FireTEAM (Ergometrics, delivered through NTN) | About 2 hours | Human Relations (video, two parts), Mechanical (video, animated factory), Reading (fill-in-the-blank), Math (mental math, no written work) |
| NTN Firefighter (Express) exam | About 2 hours | Human Relations (situational judgment), Mechanical, Reading, Math, Role Fitness Questionnaire |
Source: National Testing Network: Firefighter Testing with FireTEAM
What is on a firefighter written exam
The mix depends on the test your department buys or writes. Salt Lake City Fire, for example, uses the FireTEAM exam from Ergometrics and says all or only parts of it may be used. FireTEAM covers human relations, mechanical aptitude, reading, and math; other tests add map reading or spatial questions.
This practice set covers all of those areas so you are ready whichever test you face. Reading questions are answered only from the passage. Math is whole numbers, fractions, percents, rates, units, and simple algebra, and some tests (FireTEAM's math section among them) allow no written work, so practice the easy calculations in your head. Mechanical questions cover levers, gears, pulleys, water pressure, and simple circuits. Judgment questions reward the safe answer that follows procedure.
How firefighter written exams are scored
There is no national passing score. Salt Lake City Fire sets its cut-off after the exam, based on department needs, and typically invites roughly the top 50 to 100 candidates to the oral board. So passing often means ranking well among applicants rather than reaching one fixed number, which is why every question matters.
A score that is strong for one department may not be enough for another, so build solid fundamentals, practice under mild time pressure, and read your own department's announcement for its rules.
Written test vs the CPAT
The Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) is a separate physical test. It was developed by the IAFF/IAFC Joint Labor-Management Wellness-Fitness Task Force, released in 1999, and the IAFF says more than 900 jurisdictions have adopted it.
San Antonio Fire describes it as eight events finished within 10 minutes 20 seconds while wearing a 50-pound vest (with 25 more pounds for the stair climb), scored pass or fail: stair climb, hose drag, equipment carry, ladder raise and extension, forcible entry, search, rescue, and ceiling breach and pull.
Some departments only accept their own CPAT. Austin Fire, for instance, says it does not provide or accept CPAT certification cards and requires candidates to test at its facility.
The usual path to the fire academy
The Bureau of Labor Statistics says firefighter candidates must pass written and physical tests, complete interviews, and train at a fire academy, which lasts a few months. Many departments add a background check and medical and psychological evaluations, but the order and details vary, so follow your own department's steps.
How to prepare
Most written tests are a screening step with many applicants, so small differences in score matter. Practice a short block of reading, math, and mechanical questions most days instead of one long cram, and write down why you missed each question.
After this test, work on your weakest area: for reading, find the sentence that proves the answer; for math, drill fractions, percents, and rates and write units next to every number; for mechanical, review levers, gears, pulleys, and pressure; for spatial questions, sketch a quick map with north at the top; for judgment, reread the safety principles. If your department names its vendor, read that vendor's candidate information too.
Sample Firefighter written exam questions with answers
One question from each content area of the practice set above, with the answer and explanation. Try it before you open the answer.
Reading comprehension
“Hot smoke rises, so in a burning room the coolest, cleanest air is usually near the floor.” Staying low helps mainly because:
- Fire cannot burn near the floor
- Floor air is cooler and cleaner
- Smoke is heavier than air
- Crawling is always faster
Show answer
B. Floor air is cooler and cleaner
The passage says the coolest, cleanest air is usually near the floor, which is why staying low helps. On a reading question, go back to the passage and find the exact words that support your choice, and do not rely on memory. The wrong choices here each add a claim the passage never makes.
Arithmetic, fractions, percents
An engine carries 1,200 feet of hose in 50-foot sections. How many sections is that?
- 20
- 22
- 26
- 24
Show answer
D. 24
Divide 1200 by 50 to get 24 sections. A quick check: 50 times 20 is 1000, and 50 times four more is 200, which lands you on 1200. Estimating like this catches mistakes.
Rates, units, algebra
A pump delivers 250 gallons per minute. How long to fill a 3,000-gallon tank?
- 12 minutes
- 10 minutes
- 15 minutes
- 750 minutes
Show answer
A. 12 minutes
Divide the volume by the rate. 3000 divided by 250 is 12 minutes. Always rearrange rate problems to what you need. Time equals volume divided by rate. Checking the units, gallons divided by gallons per minute, leaves minutes.
Mechanical aptitude
A 60-lb load sits 2 ft from a pivot. What downward force 6 ft on the other side balances it?
- 20 lb
- 30 lb
- 60 lb
- 180 lb
Show answer
A. 20 lb
The turning effects must match. 60 times two is 120, divided by six feet is 20 pounds. A lever balances when the turning effects match, which is force times distance on each side. A longer arm needs less force, and that is why long wrenches and pry bars work.
Map reading and spatial
You face north, turn right 90 degrees, then turn around 180 degrees. Which way do you face?
- East
- North
- South
- West
Show answer
D. West
Turning right from north faces you east. Turning around from east faces you west. Mark north on a scrap of paper and physically turn the paper if that helps. A right turn is a quarter turn clockwise, and a full turn around is half a circle.
Judgment and fire basics
Which of these is NOT one of the four elements of the fire tetrahedron?
- Heat
- Fuel
- Chemical chain reaction
- Water
Show answer
D. Water
The four elements are heat, fuel, oxygen, and the chemical chain reaction. Water is a way to put fires out. Remember it as a triangle that became a tetrahedron when firefighters added the chain reaction. Take away any one of the four, and the fire goes out.
Firefighter written exam FAQ
Is there a national firefighter written exam?
No. Each department chooses its own written test, often from a vendor such as FireTEAM by Ergometrics (delivered through National Testing Network) or NTN's Firefighter Express exam. Check your department's announcement for the test it uses.
What is on the firefighter written test?
Usually reading comprehension, math, mechanical aptitude, and human relations or situational judgment. Some tests add map reading or spatial questions. NTN's FireTEAM and Express exams each take about 2 hours.
What score do you need to pass the firefighter exam?
There is no single passing score. Departments set their own; Salt Lake City Fire, for example, sets its cut-off after the exam and invites roughly the top 50 to 100 candidates to the oral board.
What is the difference between the written test and the CPAT?
The written test checks reading, math, mechanical reasoning, and judgment. The CPAT is a separate physical test of 8 events completed in 10 minutes 20 seconds in a 50-pound vest, scored pass or fail.
Can I use a calculator on the firefighter math section?
It depends on the test. FireTEAM's math section is mental math with no written work, so practice simple calculations in your head even if your department's test turns out to allow paper.
Related practice and guides
Sources
Exam facts on this page were checked against these official pages on 2026-10-26.
- National Testing Network: Firefighter Testing with FireTEAM
- Salt Lake City Fire: FireTEAM Employment Written Exam by Ergometrics
- IAFF: Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT)
- San Antonio Fire Department: CPAT
- Austin Fire Department: Cadet Fitness Preparation
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Firefighters, How to Become One
OpenExamHub is an independent study resource and is not affiliated with any fire department, Ergometrics, National Testing Network, or the IAFF. All practice questions are original, not from a real test. Each department sets its own tests, cut-offs, and hiring steps, and they can change; follow your department's current announcement.