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Taking the CritiCall Dispatcher Test? We can Help!

911 Dispatch

About the Test

The CritiCall test, administered by the Biddle Consulting Group measures your ability   to make immediate decisions, summarize calls, and communicate with public safety officers.

The test also screens applicants who are unable to stay calm in difficult situations. This test measures the hidden capabilities and skills that individuals need to have before any training as public safety offices or dispatchers. Here, applicants are not obliged to have any special skills, know-how, or training to read, comprehend, or answer any test contents. Since successful applicants play a pivotal role in public safety, the CritiCall test assesses fundamental expertise to perform the essential duties they are applying for.

Criticall Ontario Practice Questions

What’s on the Test

Scope of the CritiCall Dispatcher Test

The CritiCall test has 23 modules which take 3 hours to complete. The most common modules are map-reading, data entry, memory and recall and decision-making.

The CritiCall Dispatcher test measures these skills:

  • data entry
  • multi-tasking
  • decision-making
  • making priorities
  • reading maps
  • reading and writing
  • spelling and language
  • basic mathematics skills
  • memory recall

Another vital skill tested by the CritiCall Dispatcher test is to ensure that candidates can work in different environments and do their job under pressure.

 

Jobs and Salary

Telecommunications Operator Trainee (9-1-1 Dispatchers) 
Starts at $51,000

Opérateur ou Opératrice des Télécommunications Stagiaire
Starts at $51,000

Ambulance Communications Officer
$29.14 hour

Modules

The CritiCall Ontario  test has 23 modules which take 3 hours. The most common modules are map-reading, data entry, memory and recall and decision-making

  •  Data entry and multi-tasking-Candidates are provided with names, (written or audio) phone numbers, addresses, and data, which they obligation to record into accurate fields in a simulated dispatch computer system.
  • Candidates answer a range of decision-making questions, assessing their ability to make the right choices under pressure and multi-task.
  • Cross-Referencing – This section requires the candidate to correctly read address books, quickly and precisely locate and record requested data. It also requires the candidate to record existing data verbally. The minimum mark is 70%.
  • Character Comparison – Candidates are presented with two tables of data which are related and similar, but not the same. Candidates must scrutinize and compare the data. The minimum mark is 70%

Dispatcher Skills

  • Decision making – This sections presents the candidate with a sequence of questions that a candidate uses to establish the most suitable emergency service to deploy to any happening event. Applicants use a microphone to give their responses.
  • Prioritization – Candidates are given details of several incidents to be ranked accordingly to priority. This section tests your decision-making skills when responding urgently to incidents. The minimum mark is 70%
  • Memory and Recall – Candidates are given the audio and written data, followed by questions. The minimum mark is 70%.
  • Probability – Public safety officers very often work with partial or inconsistent information about a situation. They may not hear a caller clearly, due to background noise or a poor network. The probability section is used to judge how well a candidate can differentiate between a range of likely answers based on imperfect information.
  • Map Reading – The map reading section tests an applicant’s ability to use maps for effectively planning the best route for emergency services units to reach a reported incident as quickly as possible. The minimum mark is  70%.

Basic Skills

  • Call Summarization – This requires the candidate to pay attention to the public safety officer and the audio recordings before summarizing the data. Candidates are measured on speed and accuracy. The applicants are asked oral questions about the information gathered. The minimum mark is 70%.
  • Reading Comprehension – This section tests the candidates ability to read and interpret information in written form, e.g., guidance materials and manuals, including written data recorded about the incoming call. The minimum mark is 60%.
  • Spelling and Sentence Clarity – Public safety officers must have a high standard of written English to correctly transmit meaning. The spelling test focusses on workplace-related terms. The sentence structure tests candidates ability to use a simple sentence to pass a message.
  • Mathematics This a test of basic math. Public safety officer must know basic math for incoming calls and distance calculations.

Types of Jobs

The CritiCall test scores are used for jobs in the public safety and emergency services sectors, such as:

  1. 911 Call-Takers
  2. Dispatchers
  3. Law enforcement officers
  4. Firefighters
  5. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel
  6. Emergency Management personnel
  7. Corrections Officers
  8. Security personnel in hospitals, universities, and other public facilities

Format and Time

  • Test location: The test is provided by the specific public safety agency that is recruiting the candidates.
  • Test schedule: The test is done at the initial stages of recruitment to evaluate the applicants and filter those with no ability to complete the test and tasks.
  • Test format: This is a computer-based test with a headset and microphone.  Help with taking a computerized test
  • Question format:  Questions are multiple choice – Help with multiple choice

Criticall FAQ

It usually takes 1-3 hours, depending on the number of modules.
CritiCall exam measures how successful you will be as a public safety officer. The various types of modules test how well you respond under pressure, transcribe data, and recall numbers.
No. The CritiCall test is given by the agency where you apply. The agency will provide a computer, microphone, headset, and recorder to take the test. In some instances, a company might permit the CritiCall test to be taken away from the agency; however, this may require the individuals to retake this exam from the agency to ensure valid results.
Different departments have different terms and conditions. To qualify for a public safety job, you must pass the exam to be hired. If you fail the test, you will have to wait for the next hiring cycle to be considered again. If you apply to different agencies, you must take at each agency, even if you have taken it for another agency.
More than 1500 government and private companies in Canada use the CritiCall test, including 911 dispatchers, communications operatiors, highway patrol, provincial and municipal police agencies, ambulance communication officers and many more.
To perform well on the CritiCall test, you must pass all the individual modules. Usually, the minimum grade is 70% to 75%.
This depends on the sections that the recruiting agents chose to test. The overall abilities examined include decision-making, performing several tasks simultaneously, data entry, listening, data comparison, memory and recall, reading comprehensions, map-reading, fundamental mathematical skills, and sentence clarity.
The hiring firm receives the results immediately except the voice responses, which may take longer to arrive. Applicants are only notified if they have failed or passed by the specific safety agency.

Scoring on the Criticall

How are the scores for the CritiCall test calculated?
The scores are the number of correct answers in each section of the test. The test has four sections, each section is scored separately, and the scores are combined to create an overall score. Some sections may be weighted more heavily than others depending on the specific job requirements.  There is no penalty for wrong answers, so if you are unsure, making an educated guess is a good strategy.

How are the scores for the CritiCall test used?
The scores are used to determine if you are a good fit for the job and identify areas where you may need additional training.   Agencies may use the scores to assess their training programs.

What is a passing Score?  
You must score 70% or higher on each module.

CritiCall Test Ontario Practice and Test Prep

You Receive:
  • A multi-tasking feature (New)
  • Speed typing test practice (New)
  • 5 Decision-making tests
  • 15 Data entry tests
  • 4 Memory recall tests
  • 10 Map reading tests
  • 15 Checking tests
  • 15 Reading comprehension tests
  • 8 Numerical tests

Learn More and Get Started!

Note: You will need to complete only specifically selected sections based on the preferences of the state or county where your test is held.