Description
The fast and easy way to score your best on the Firefighter Exam
In addition to physical tests of strength, agility, and coordination, firefighters must also pass a difficult written test that requires serious preparation to fare well, and many applicants fail to succeed.
Firefighter Exam For Dummies gives you a complete review of the most commonly tested topics that are typical of firefighter exams given to candidates across North America, as well as tips and advice on how to pass the oral interview, psychological testing, and the Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT).
- Coverage of reading comprehension, math, principles of mechanics, tool usage and recognition, memorization and visualization, and on-the-job scenarios
- Study advice and test-taking tips
- 4 full-length practice exams with answers and detailed explanations including the National Firefighter Selection Inventory (NFSI), a battery of 105 questions that assess the job-related cognitive skills required of a firefighter, and a test based on the New York City (NYC) firefighter exam-one of the most demanding Complete with advice for conquering test anxiety, Firefighter Exam For Dummies covers everything you need to know to confidently tackle-and pass-the big exam.
Table of Contents
Introduction 1
About This Book 1
Conventions Used in This Book 1
Foolish Assumptions 2
How This Book Is Organized 2
Part I: So You Want to Be a Firefighter? Get Ready! 2
Part II: Gearing Up to Take the Test: The Written Exam 2
Part III: Demonstrating Physical, Mental, and Emotional Fitness with Interactive Tests 3
Part IV: Practice Firefighter Exams 3
Part V: The Part of Tens 3
Icons Used in This Book 3
Where to Go from Here 4
Part I: So You Want to Be a Firefighter? Get Ready! 5
Chapter 1: Getting the Lowdown on the Job of Firefighter 7
Understanding What It’s Like to Be a Firefighter 7
Knowing your role 7
Looking at shifts: Timing is everything 9
Picturing your work environment 9
Considering risks on the job 10
Handling the highs and lows 11
From Firefighter to Fire Chief: Climbing the Fire Department Ladder 11
Starting on the bottom rung 12
Firefighter 12
Engineer 12
Moving to middle management 12
Fire lieutenant 12
Fire captain 12
Battalion chief 13
Becoming the top dog 13
Assistant/Division chief 13
Deputy chief 13
Fire chief 13
Finding Firefighters: Who They Work For 13
In the public sector 13
In the private sector 14
Predicting the Future: How Many Firefighting Jobs Will There Be? 14
Chapter 2: Throwing Your Hat in the Ring: Applying to Be a Firefighter 15
Finding and Applying for a Job 15
Understanding job requirements 15
Obtaining information about the exam and the position 16
Filling out the application 17
Submitting resumes, cover letters, and references 18
Noting special considerations 19
The Road to Landing a Firefighter Job 19
The written exam 20
The physical ability test 20
The oral interview 21
The medical exam 21
The psychological evaluation 22
Chapter 3: Preparing Yourself for the Firefighter Exam 23
Getting Familiar with the Written Exam 23
Test format 23
Question topics 24
Tips for the written exam 25
Preparing for the Non-Written Tests 26
1, 2, 3, lift: Prepping for the physical test 26
You don’t say: Prepping for the oral test/interview 27
Keeping it clean: Prepping for the background check 28
Take a deep breath: Prepping for the medical test 29
Don’t psych yourself out: Prepping for the psychological test 30
Part II: Gearing Up to Take the Test: The Written Exam 31
Chapter 4: Showing Off Your Reading and Verbal Comprehension 33
Getting an Overview of the Reading and Verbal Comprehension Component 33
What is a reading passage, anyway? 34
Tuning in to the listening portion 34
Processing What You Read and Hear 34
Scanning the questions first 35
Noting important details 35
Figuring out the main idea 36
Answering Different Types of Questions 36
Finding-details questions 37
Determining-the-main-idea questions 37
Questions about new words 38
Questions that use NOT or EXCEPT 43
Drawing-conclusions questions 44
Questions about charts and tables 44
Practice Reading and Verbal Comprehension Questions 45
Answers and Explanations 51
Chapter 5: Mastering Verbal Expression 53
Acing Vocabulary Questions 53
Choosing the correct synonym 54
Looking for context clues 54
Acing Spelling Questions 55
Remembering spelling rules 55
Mastering commonly misspelled words 56
Acing Grammar Questions 57
Choosing the correct verb tense 57
Choosing an agreeable answer: Subject-verb agreement 58
Choosing the correct pronoun (or pronoun-like adjective) 59
Navigating space and time: Prepositions 62
Using the right adjective: Is it good, better, or best? 63
Practice Verbal Expression Questions 64
Answers and Explanations 66
Chapter 6: Testing Your Observation and Memory 67
Watching Out for Observation and Memory Questions 67
Observing diagrams and other images 68
Reading the words accompanying an image 69
Reading and recalling written information 69
Developing Great Observational Skills 70
Covering space: How to observe using a pattern 70
Covering topics: How to observe using memory devices 72
Handling Questions Involving Recall 73
Answering questions about visual material 73
Answering questions about written material 74
Practice Observation and Memory Questions 74
Answers and Explanations 83
Chapter 7: Sizing Up Your Spatial Orientation Skills 87
Getting from Place to Place with Spatial Orientation 87
Answering Questions about Maps and Floor Plans 88
Noting the details 88
Reading the question and tracing the route 90
Choosing the correct answer 90
Practice Spatial Orientation Questions 90
Answers and Explanations 99
Chapter 8: Making Decisions Based on Reasoning and Judgment 101
Applying Reasoning and Judgment to Firefighting 102
Answering questions about firefighting operations 102
Answering questions about interpersonal relations 104
Answering questions about following procedures 105
Answering questions about public relations 106
Answering questions about logical reasoning 108
Practice Reasoning and Judgment Questions 111
Answers and Explanations 114
Chapter 9: Performing Mathematical Calculations 115
Laying Out Basic Rules and Reminders 115
Working with Units of Measurement 116
Parts of the Whole: Breaking Down Common Math Concepts 117
Piecing together fractions 118
Gimme tenths! Working with decimals 122
Out of 100: Using percentages 124
Solving Algebraic Equations 126
Keeping the balance: Basic algebraic equations 126
You’ve got the power! Properties of exponents 127
Coming to terms with FOIL: Multiplying binomials 128
Comparing things with fractions: Ratios and proportions 129
Shaping Up Your Geometry Skills 131
Making Sense of Word Problems 133
Practice Mathematics Problems 135
Answers and Explanations 138
Chapter 10: Mechanical Aptitude: Knowing the Nuts and Bolts of Machines 141
Tinkering with Tools 141
Common handheld tools 142
Forcible entry tools 143
Mechanical Devices 147
Looking at levers 148
Ramping up your effort with inclined planes 149
Turning to wheels and axles 150
Perusing pulleys 151
Sinking your teeth into gears 152
Stretching out with springs 153
Sorting out screws 154
Practice Mechanical Aptitude Questions 155
Answers and Explanations 161
Chapter 11: Acing the National Firefighter Selection Inventory Test 163
Checking Out What’s on the NFSI 163
Assessing Your Cognitive Skills 164
Testing your verbal comprehension 164
Examining your verbal expression skills 166
Appreciating problem sensitivity questions 167
Applying deductive reasoning 168
Drawing conclusions with inductive reasoning 169
Making sense of information ordering 170
Measuring mathematical reasoning 171
Navigating number facility questions 173
Showing Off Your Personality Attributes 174
Evaluating your coping skills: Stress tolerance 174
Playing well with others: Team orientation 174
Looking at what gets you going: Motivation/attitude 175
Practice NFSI Questions 175
Answers and Explanations 180
Part III: Demonstrating Physical, Mental, and Emotional Fitness with Interactive Tests 183
Chapter 12: Show Them What You Can Do: Passing the Physical Exam 185
Let’s Get Physical: The Whys and Wherefores of Physical Exams 185
Why you have to take a physical exam 186
How a physical exam works 186
Getting the lowdown on the local test 188
Acing the Physical Exam: A Closer Look at a Standardized PAT 188
Before the test 189
During the test 189
Event 1: Dry Hose Deployment 189
Event 2: Charged Hose Deployment 190
Event 3: Halyard Raise 191
Event 4: Roof Walk 192
Event 5: Attic Crawl 193
Event 6: Ventilation Exercise 193
Event 7: Victim Removal 194
Event 8: Ladder Removal/Carry 194
Event 9: Stair Climb with Hose 195
Event 10: Crawling Search 196
Event 11: Stair Climb with Air Bottles and Hose Hoist 196
After the test 197
Chapter 13: Acing Your Oral Interview 199
Preparing for the Interview 199
Putting Your Best Self Forward 200
Knowing what to expect during the interview 200
Answering typical interview questions 202
Following Up After the Interview 204
Chapter 14: Knowing What to Expect During Medical and Psychological Testing 205
Understanding What Happens During the Medical Exam 205
Putting your heart to the test 206
Catching your breath: Lung tests 207
Giving some fluids: Blood and urine tests 207
Checking your organs 207
Now see here: Examining eyes and ears 209
Walk this way: Monitoring muscular and skeletal disorders 209
Getting a onceover for glandular and gastrointestinal disorders 210
Understanding What Happens During the Psychological Exam 211
Completing the personality questionnaire 211
Interviewing with a psychologist 212
Part IV: Practice Firefighter Exams 213
Chapter 15: Practice Exam 1 215
Chapter 16: Practice Exam 1: Answers and Explanations 253
Chapter 17: Practice Exam 2 265
Chapter 18: Practice Exam 2: Answers and Explanations 303
Chapter 19: Practice Exam 3 317
Chapter 20: Practice Exam 3: Answers and Explanations 347
Chapter 21: Practice Exam 4: The National Firefighter Selection Inventory (NFSI) 355
Chapter 22: Practice Exam 4: Answers and Explanations 381
Part V: The Part of Tens 389
Chapter 23: Ten Ways to Improve Your Chances of Getting Hired 391
Be Prepared 391
Visit Local Fire Departments 391
Volunteer 391
Maintain a Clean Background 392
Enroll in Some Firefighting Classes 392
Identify Where You Want to Work 393
Apply at Multiple Locations 393
Practice for Perfection 393
Take the Exam More than Once 394
Stay Focused 394
Chapter 24: Ten Things Every Firefighter Should Do 395
Show Respect for the Job 395
Demonstrate Integrity 395
Be a Team Player 395
Check Your Gear 395
Display Leadership Qualities 396
Find a Work/Home Balance 396
Ask Questions 396
Respect Your Superiors 396
Be Flexible 396
Have Fun 396
Appendix: Observation and Memory Exercises 397
Index 405
