Florida Basic Abilities Test (FBAT) – A Complete Study Guide + Practice Questions

The Florida Basic Abilities Test (FBAT) is an exam structured to assess the basic abilities of each candidate before they enter a basic recruit training program, become a law enforcement officer, and even pass a military recruitment process. The FBAT is a multiple choice and written exam.

Take the Florida Basic Abilities Practice Test to improve your score.

Note: The Florida Basic Abilities Test is also known is now known as the CJBAT (Criminal Justice Basic Abilities Test) and BAT (Basic Abilities Test)

There are three types of FBAT exams:

  1. LEBAT – Law Enforcement Basic Abilities Test
  2. COBAT – Corrections Basic Abilities Test
  3. PROBAT – Probations Basic Abilities Test

The College of Central Florida has limited access to its Criminal Justice programs and so, they require candidates to take this exam to ensure they have the most qualified candidates admitted into their law enforcement program.

The exam is focused on situations entry-level police officers will face, so answer questions in a way that proves you have the best job-related behavioral attributes, and you will be able to serve the State of Florida.

Please see the Criminal Justice & Public Service page for more information on CCF’s protocols and admission requirements.

CJBAT Test Structure

The FBAT or CJBAT assesses 8 different abilities that the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) requires applicants to be good at.

Below are the 8 ability areas in the FBAT exam:

Inductive Reasoning

The ability to combine pieces of information to form conclusions and general rules.

Deductive Reasoning

The ability to arrange things or actions in a pattern or specific order based on set rules.

Information Ordering

This tests your ability to use general rules and apply them to problems and then produce logical answers.

These first three cognitive ability areas are vital for new officers and recruits. These questions will inform the law enforcement agency in the State of Florida that you can survey a situation and respond in an appropriate and professional manner.

If you cannot take in information and draw logical and practical conclusions then it shows a low critical reasoning ability  In times of stress and pressure, you may not have the expected quick thinking of a police officer.

Memorization

The memorization test assesses ability to remember and recall words, numbers, procedures, or pictures. The questions in this test will require you to recall the number of participants in a room, the facial features of a person, or the numbers on a license plate.

Spatial Orientation

The spatial orientation test checks your ability to know your location or deduce approximate locations based on environments and what objects or features are near you.

This is an opportunity to show how well you can read a map, give directions, describe the locations of an object, or find hidden objects. As a police officer, you will often be in situations that require dispatch or back-up police officers and so you will have to direct others to your location.

Take Florida Basic Abilities Test Now

Problem Sensitivity

The problem sensitivity exam tests your ability to recognize early signs of trouble and de-escalate or control the situation with a sense of calm and rationality. This ability requires you to recognize symptoms of physical injury or use data to judge a solution accurately.

Written Comprehension

The written comprehension test measures your ability to read and understand information and ideas in a written format. The written comprehension test assesses your basic skills of communication and logic.

Written Expression

The written expression exam checks your ability to use English in a manner that others can understand in the written medium. Answer the questions in this test as clearly and concisely as possible.

Number of Questions

The CJBAT exam has a total of 104 questions. There are 13 questions per ability.

Duration of the CJBAT Test

Each exam takes approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes to administer from beginning to end, including instructions.

What Is the Passing Score in FBAT?

  • LEBAT Passing Score: 71%
  • COBAT Passing Score: 77%
  • PROBAT Passing Score: 67%

Scores are valid for 4 years after taking the test. Scores are presented as percentage (%) of the total correct answers given, for each subtest and the FBAT total.

Your official score will be sent electronically to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The scoring sheet given to you by the Testing Center is not an official copy.

Hiring agencies must verify your score through the Florida Department.

Take Florida Basic Abilities Test Now

How Much Is a BAT Test in Florida?

Cost of Test: $45

Registration

To register, you must fill out an FBAT registration form and pay for the test in advance at your nearest Testing Center.

The FBAT is offered year-round. You can walk in to take this exam at the Ocala Testing Center or make an appointment.

Retake Policy

If you fail the FBAT, you may retake it up to two additional times within a 12-month period per discipline.

You must wait at least 24 hours between retakes. You may only make 3 testing attempts per discipline, per 12-month period.

CJBAT Practice Test & Practice Questions

Now that you have a basic understanding of what this exam is, it is time you practice some sample questions in a couple of sections:

Written Comprehension Question:

Note: Before reading the text, read the question so you know what information may be important.

Ms. Amelia Winters called the Fort Lauderdale Police Department at approximately 8:45 p.m. Wednesday evening to report a burglary in her apartment. Ms. Winters, who lives with three roommates, reported that she was alone in the apartment at the time of the incident. She heard a noise and did not immediately investigate the situation because she assumed that she must not have noticed one of her roommates returning home early. However, when her greetings went unanswered, she walked into the bedroom to see who was in the apartment.

She walked through her bedroom, looked into an adjoining bathroom, and discovered a young Caucasian male, approximately six feet tall, age 14-16, standing in her shower, attempting to keep out of sight. He had short brown hair and was wearing sunglasses. He was wearing a plain red t-shirt, blue jeans, and black Nike sneakers. Ms. Winters ordered the young man to leave, and he ran into the bedroom and climbed out of an open bedroom window. After he left, Ms. Winters suddenly grew fearful and went next door to a neighbor’s apartment to seek help and call the police. When she returned, she noticed that her purse had been stolen. She did not know exactly when the purse had been stolen although she remembered that she had last seen it lying on her bed.

Where was the suspected burglar hiding?

a) In the living room.

b) In the bedroom.

c) Inside an adjoining bathroom in the shower.

d) Just beneath an open bedroom window.

The correct answer is c.

Take Florida Basic Abilities Test Now

Problem Sensitivity Question:

Officer Denver is patrolling a neighborhood around 3:30 a.m. when she notices a car that must be traveling at least 25 miles per hour over the speed limit. She pulls the car over for a traffic stop. As she steps out of the squad car, the driver of the car steps out of his vehicle and walks towards her with his license and registration. Before Officer Denver can say a word, the driver apologizes for speeding and explains that he had just received a call about an emergency at home. He shows Officer Denver his driver’s license and says that he hopes that the situation can be taken care of quickly. The man seems alert and agitated; his speech is clear, and he does not seem to have problems walking.

Officer Denver orders the man to go back inside his car. She adds that she will also need to see proof of insurance. The man offers to go back to the car and get the proof of insurance for her. Officer Denver again orders the man to return to his car. The man snaps, “Why can’t we just take care of this here?” He immediately apologizes for losing his temper; however, Officer Denver must order him to return to his car a third time before he complies.

Based on the above information, what, if anything, is most likely to be the man’s problem?

a) The man is just impatient to return home so that he can deal with a family emergency.

b) The man has something in his car that he does not want Officer Denver to see.

c) The man is under the influence of alcohol.

d) The man is nervous because he has no insurance.

The correct answer is b.

Note: These questions may have answers that are difficult to choose from, so think through the immediate consequences of each action and choose the option that seems most sensible and logical.

Take Florida Basic Abilities Test Now

Written Expression Question:

Find the best synonym for the italicized word.

Colloquial language is not appropriate when speaking to someone of authority.

a. Methodical

b. Mimicking

c. Informal

d. Official

The correct answer is c.

Visit JobtestPrep for in-depth questions, a study guide, and practice tests.

Information Ordering Question:

Officer Hill has just finished interviewing the victim of a home invasion and assault. The following six statements appeared in the victim’s account of the incident.

  1. When I heard a loud pounding on our front door, I looked through the living room window and saw Charles Dixon, a friend of my boyfriend, standing outside.
  2. Charles hit me repeatedly around my head, arms, and shoulders with a baseball bat in the backyard.
  3. I didn’t want to answer the door because I knew that Charles was very angry with my boyfriend, and he had threatened us several times over the phone.
  4. Charles kicked open the front door and chased me through the house.
  5. I escaped the house through the back door in the kitchen, but Charles caught up with me in the backyard.
  6. A neighbor heard my cries and chased Charles away.

What is the most logical order of these statements?

a) 6, 1, 3, 5, 4, 2

b) 2, 4, 5, 3, 1, 6

c) 1, 3, 4, 5, 2, 6

d) 4, 3, 5, 2, 6, 1

The correct answer is c. Remember, ask yourself which is the most logical and professional answer and this should guide you to the correct answer.

Take Florida Basic Abilities Test Now

Recommended Reading