General Test Strategy
Pre-employment aptitude tests measure how quickly and accurately you process information under time pressure. These strategies apply across every test type.
01
Don't get stuck
If a question stumps you, mark your best guess and move on. Time lost on one hard question costs you two easy ones.
02
Eliminate first
Cross out clearly wrong answers before deciding. With 4 options, eliminating 2 turns a guess into a coin flip.
03
Read the question
Many wrong answers come from misreading. Take 3 seconds to confirm what is actually being asked.
04
Watch your time
Most tests allow 1 to 2 minutes per question. Glance at the timer after every 5 questions to stay on pace.
05
Practice under pressure
Use TestReady's timed mode. Practising in exam conditions means the real test feels familiar, not stressful.
06
Review your mistakes
After each session, read every explanation for questions you got wrong. Patterns in your errors show you where to focus.
Numerical Reasoning
Used in: NZ Police, NZDF, Fire Service, Corrections Officer tests.
Key skills tested
- Percentages and percentage change
- Ratios and proportions
- Averages (mean, median, mode)
- Reading data from tables and charts
- Rate, distance, and time problems
- Number sequences
Must-know formulas
| Calculation | Formula |
|---|
| Percentage of a value | Value × (% ÷ 100) |
| Percentage change | (New - Old) ÷ Old × 100 |
| Mean (average) | Sum of values ÷ count |
| Speed | Distance ÷ Time |
| Time | Distance ÷ Speed |
| Ratio A:B split | Total × A ÷ (A+B) |
Common trap: Percentage increase vs percentage of. "20% more than 50" = 60. "20% of 50" = 10. Always check which one the question is asking.
Verbal Reasoning
Used in: NZ Police, Fire Service, Corrections Officer tests.
True / False / Cannot Say
This is the section that catches the most candidates. The rules are strict:
- True: the passage directly states or clearly implies it
- False: the passage directly contradicts it
- Cannot Say: the passage does not give enough information to decide either way
Critical rule: Answer only from the passage, not from your own knowledge or what seems likely. If the passage doesn't say it, the answer is Cannot Say, even if you personally know it to be true.
Word analogies
Identify the relationship type first: synonym, antonym, part-to-whole, function, degree. Then apply the same relationship to the second pair. Don't jump to the answer before identifying the relationship.
Tips
- Read the passage fully before answering any questions on it
- For Cannot Say questions, look for words like "all", "always", "never". These absolutes often make a statement False or Cannot Say
- If you find yourself reasoning beyond what the text says, choose Cannot Say
Abstract and Pattern Reasoning
Used in: NZ Police, Fire Service tests.
What to look for in each sequence
- Shape changes: rotation, reflection, size increase/decrease
- Number of items: adding or subtracting one item per step
- Colour/shading: alternating, inverting, or filling patterns
- Position: items moving clockwise, shifting rows, or rotating positions
- Combinations: two separate rules operating simultaneously
Strategy: Look at one feature at a time. Start with shape count, then rotation, then shading. Trying to take everything in at once causes confusion.
Mechanical Reasoning
Used in: NZDF, Fire Service tests.
Core concepts
| Concept | Key rule |
|---|
| Levers (1st class) | Fulcrum between load and effort, like a seesaw |
| Levers (2nd class) | Load between fulcrum and effort, like a wheelbarrow |
| Levers (3rd class) | Effort between fulcrum and load, like tweezers |
| Pulleys | Each rope segment supporting the load halves the effort needed |
| Gears | Meshing gears turn in opposite directions. Larger gear = slower speed |
| Inclined plane | Longer slope = less force needed (same work, spread over more distance) |
| Pressure | Force ÷ Area. Smaller area = higher pressure for same force |
Tip: For gear questions, trace the direction of rotation step by step. Every meshing pair reverses direction. Gears connected by a belt or chain rotate in the same direction.
Category Quick Reference
NZ Police
What to focus on
- The Revelian Cognitive Ability Test (RCAT) covers verbal, numerical, and abstract in a strict 20-minute window
- Speed matters as much as accuracy: most candidates don't finish
- Practise switching between question types quickly: the real test mixes them
- There is no penalty for wrong answers: always attempt every question
NZDF
What to focus on
- The NZDF aptitude battery covers numerical, inductive, deductive, and mechanical reasoning
- Deductive reasoning: apply stated rules precisely, don't use outside knowledge
- Inductive reasoning: identify the pattern from examples, then apply it to new cases
- Mechanical: brush up on levers, gears, pulleys, and basic physics before your test
Fire and Emergency NZ (FENZ)
What to focus on
- The general ability section tests reading comprehension and numerical reasoning in a work context
- Mechanical comprehension covers tools, forces, and basic engineering principles
- Questions are set in a realistic emergency services context: read the scenarios carefully
- Pythagoras (a² + b² = c²) appears in practical distance and ladder-reach problems
Corrections Officer
What to focus on
- The True/False/Cannot Say section is the most commonly failed part: practise the strict rules above
- Passages are set in a corrections context: familiarise yourself with terms like remand, classification, and segregation
- Numerical questions use prison staffing ratios, rosters, and budget figures: the maths is straightforward but the context can be distracting
Motorcycle Licence
Key NZ rules to memorise
- Default urban: 50 km/h | Open road: 100 km/h | School zone (flashing): 40 km/h
- Alcohol: zero for under-20s and all learner/restricted holders | 250 mcg/L breath for 20+
- Following distance: 2 seconds dry | 4 seconds wet
- Learner restrictions: no pillion, no motorway, yellow L plates required
- Lane filtering is not legal in New Zealand
Food Safety (SSS)
Key facts to know
- Temperature danger zone: 4°C to 60°C. Bacteria multiply rapidly in this range
- Hot food must be held above 60°C | Cold food below 4°C
- Food must be reheated to 70°C or above before serving
- Handwashing required: before handling food, after toilet, after handling raw meat, after touching face
- Use-by dates are mandatory limits; best-before dates are quality indicators
- All food businesses in NZ need a Food Control Plan or operate under a National Programme
- The Food Act 2014 governs food safety in New Zealand, administered by MPI
Site Safe Foundation Passport
Key facts to know
- The Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (HSWA) is the primary legislation, enforced by WorkSafe NZ
- PCBU = Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking: they have the primary duty of care
- Hierarchy of controls (most to least effective): Eliminate → Substitute → Isolate → Engineering → Administrative → PPE
- Notifiable events (death, serious injury, serious incident) must be reported to WorkSafe immediately
- Noise action level: 85 dB(A) over an 8-hour day; hearing protection required above this
- Site Safe Foundation Passport is the minimum safety certification required for NZ construction sites
LCQ: Licence Controller Qualification
Key facts to know
- The Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012 (SSAA) governs alcohol licensing in NZ
- A minor is any person under 18 years of age
- Zero tolerance for selling to minors: maximum fine $10,000 individual, $20,000 company
- Default off-licence hours: 7am to 11pm | On-licence hours vary by licence conditions
- The Duty Manager must be on premises and in charge whenever alcohol is being sold
- Signs of intoxication, not a fixed alcohol level, determine when service must stop
- A General Manager's Certificate (GMC) is required to manage licensed premises
- Licences are renewed every 3 years through the District Licensing Committee (DLC)
Learner Licence
Key NZ road rules to memorise
- Default urban: 50 km/h | Open road: 100 km/h | School zone (flashing): 40 km/h
- Give way: vehicles from your right at uncontrolled intersections | all traffic already in a roundabout
- Following distance: 2 seconds dry | 4 seconds wet
- Alcohol: zero for under-20s and all learner/restricted holders | 250 mcg/L for 20+ full licence
- Learner supervisor: must be 20+, held full licence 2+ years, seated in front passenger seat
- Restricted: no solo driving 10pm to 5am | no passengers (except immediate family with conditions)
- Stop sign: complete stop required even if the intersection appears clear
- Railway crossing: flashing red lights mean stop and remain stopped until lights stop flashing
Recommended Study Plan
If your test is in 1 week
- Day 1: Read through this guide and the key facts for your specific category
- Day 2–3: Complete the free 3-question sample. Identify your weakest section
- Day 4–5: Unlock full access. Drill your weakest section using Drill Mode
- Day 6: Take a full 60-question timed run. Review every explanation for wrong answers
- Day 7 (test day): Light review only. No cramming. Get a good sleep.
If your test is today or tomorrow
- Focus only on the quick-reference section for your category above
- Complete one timed session on TestReady to get the format in your head
- Trust what you know. Last-minute cramming increases anxiety more than it improves scores
The single biggest improvement: Most candidates fail because they run out of time, not because they don't know the answers. The best thing you can do is practise working quickly under timed conditions. TestReady's timer is set to match real test pacing.
NZ Firearms Licence
The Seven Rules: all must be correct to pass
- Rule 1: Treat every firearm as loaded, always, regardless of what you're told
- Rule 2: Always point in a safe direction: where an accidental discharge causes no harm
- Rule 3: Only load and chamber a round when ready to fire
- Rule 4: Identify your target beyond all doubt. Never fire at movement, sound, or shape
- Rule 5: Check the zone beyond your target: bullets can pass through or miss
- Rule 6: Store firearms and ammunition separately in locked containers
- Rule 7: Avoid alcohol and drugs when handling firearms
PROVE safety check procedure
- Point the muzzle in a safe direction
- Remove the magazine
- Observe the chamber
- Verify the feed path is clear
- Examine the barrel
Key legal facts
- Minimum age for a standard NZ firearms licence: 16 years
- Licence valid for 10 years; must be renewed
- Firearms must be stored in a locked container fixed to the building, separate from ammunition
- A standard (Category A) licence covers sporting rifles, shotguns, and rimfire semi-automatics
- Pistols require a Category B endorsement, restricted to approved pistol club members
- The written test: 30 questions, pass mark 28/30 (93%); all 7 vital questions on the Seven Rules must be correct
- Failing any one vital question is automatic failure regardless of overall score
NZ Citizenship Test
Key facts about NZ government
- NZ is a constitutional monarchy: the King (currently Charles III) is head of state, represented by the Governor-General
- Parliament has 120 seats (plus overhang). Elections are every 3 years using MMP (Mixed Member Proportional)
- Under MMP, voters get two votes: one for a local MP (electorate), one for a party. Party vote determines seat share.
- There are currently 7 dedicated Maori electorates. Maori voters choose which roll to enrol on.
- The Prime Minister is the leader of the party (or coalition) that can command a majority in Parliament
Treaty of Waitangi
- Signed on 6 February 1840 at Waitangi; approximately 500 chiefs signed in total
- Three principles: Partnership, Participation, Protection
- The Waitangi Tribunal (est. 1975) hears claims that the Crown has breached Treaty principles
- Treaty settlements are negotiated between the Crown and individual iwi
- Waitangi Day (6 February) is NZ's national day
NZ values and rights
- Three official languages: English, te reo Maori (1987), and New Zealand Sign Language (2006)
- The Bill of Rights Act 1990 protects civil and political rights for everyone in NZ, not only citizens
- NZ was the first self-governing country to give women the vote, in 1893
- Electoral enrolment is compulsory for eligible citizens aged 18+; voting is not compulsory
- Kaitiakitanga: guardianship and stewardship of the environment for future generations
- ANZAC Day (25 April) commemorates NZ and Australian service personnel in all wars
- Remembrance Day (11 November) marks the end of World War I
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