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Taking the JIBC BC Police Entrance Test?

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Practice Test Questions

BC Police Practice

Eligibility

The British Columbia Police are one of the first law enforcement agencies, established in 1958. In order to join the British Columbia Police, there were minimum qualifications that one must-have.

 

  • Either be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident
  • Completed secondary education
  • At least one year of post-secondary education (preferably graduated with a university degree or college diploma)
  • Physically fit
  • Good people skills
  • Observant, calm, and detail-oriented.

In addition to these, you must possess good judgment skills, good communication skills, and be a problem solver.

The BC Police force are expected to protect people, identify and prevent crimes, and perform other duties aimed at maintaining law and order. BC Police are expected to work in different settings, indoors and outdoors, in shifts, at the scene of accidents or crime scenes.

BC Transit Police

BC Transit police are trained beside regular police at the Justice Institute of BC – the Entrance Test for Transit Police is the same as the BC Police test

How much do Police Officers make in BC?

The average salary for a Police Officer is $92,475

BC Police Entrance Test Math Workbook

Math Workbook

Application Process – How to Become a Police Officer in BC

British Columbia takes prides in the difficulty of the recruitment program.

In addition to the written test, there is a physical test where you are required to run 2.4 kilometers in twelve minutes, an evaluation interview, a private life questionnaire, a polygraph test, medical exam and a background investigation.

The BC Police Entrance test includes the Ethos Exam.

Registration

To register, you must attend an information hearing at the Justice Institute of British Columbia. This is the only place to get the application form. Fill out the form and submit to the police department.

There is no charge for the information session, the application form or the entrance exam

Occupational Outlook

There are approximately 300 new jobs fill every year and an expected 2,960 in the next 10 years

Exam Format and Contents

The JIBC Police Entrance test (including Ethos) is a multiple choice exam with two section, English and Mathematics. The questions are grade 12 level.  The test must be completed in 2 hours.

English

This includes grammar, speech, comprehension and composition.

Mathematics

  • Basic arithmetic operations
  • Decimals, fractions and percent
  • Equations including quadratic, linear and inequalities
  • Polynomials; the candidate will be tested on the basic operations of polynomials including addition, subtractions, simplifying, factorizing.
  • Simultaneous equation
  • Proper algorithms and its applications.
  • Coordinate planes

Memory and Recall (Ethos)

The test is used to assess your ability to recall details.  You are shown pictures of, for example, a busy street scene, or restaurant, followed by questions about details from the pictures.

Short essay questions

In this section, you are required to write briefly answers to questions you are asked. They are mostly life application questions that would test your problem-solving ability

BC Police Ethos Exam

The BC Ethos Exam has 4 components:

  1. Memory and Observation
  2. Reading Comprehension and Critical Thinking
  3. Summarization
  4. Writing and Editing
JIBC test
What's on the BC Police Entrance Test?

Scoring

All sections carry equal marks. However, they are all very relevant in the acceptance . The pass mark for the test is 65%, which guarantees entry to the next level which is physical test.

Calculators

For the JIBC exam, calculators are not allowed. The test emphasizes memory test and your ability to reason. Mobile phones and other electronic devices are not permitted.

Other Tests

You are required to take tests for strength, physical agility, vision, and fitness.

You are also required to take Psychological tests.

The Ethos test is included in the Entrance Test

After recruitment, a six-month police training is provided by the Police Academy in the Justice Institute of BC. The length of the training may be reduced if you have previous experience in law enforcement.

Category Student Tips & Strategies
Writing & Composition
  • Active Voice: Make the subject the actor in every sentence.
  • Proofread Pronouns: Watch out for traps like its/it’s, their/there, and who/whom.
  • Keep it Concise: Police reports require clear, straightforward language.
  • Maintain Tense: Don’t shift between past and present without a reason.
Spelling
  • Canadian Conventions: Memorize -our, -re, and -ment spellings.
  • Personal List: Track words you personally tend to misspell.
  • Use Mnemonics: E.g., “A rat in sep-a-rat-e.”
  • Police Vocabulary: Master high-frequency words like occurred and maintenance.
Memory & Observation
  • Chunk Information: Break license plates or numbers into small groups.
  • Visualize: Build mental images of suspects, vehicles, and sequences.
  • Rehearse Aloud: Repeat descriptions before your booklet is collected.
  • Note Direction: Pay close attention to left-vs-right details.
Mathematics
  • Mental Math: Practice daily to build speed without a calculator.
  • Estimate First: Quickly check if your answers are reasonable.
  • Know Conversions: Memorize core fractions like 1/4 = 0.25 and 3/4 = 0.75.
  • Read Carefully: Reread word problems to avoid misreading errors.
Reading Comprehension
  • 5 Ws Checklist: Extract who, what, when, where, and how.
  • Facts vs. Inferences: Separate direct statements from assumptions.
  • Summarize: Briefly recap each paragraph to lock in the main idea.
Test Day Strategies
  • Scan First: Get an overview before diving into answers.
  • Easy Wins: Tackle simple questions first to build momentum.
  • Flag & Move On: Don’t get stuck on tough questions; return later.
  • Double-Check: Use remaining time to review calculations.

Other Info

Test takers are advised to dressed decently for the exam. The test centers on memory, thinking and recall ability, problem-solving abilities, basic knowledge of mathematics and English, but also on the personality and image of the applicant.

You must be in the test venue for check in at least ten minutes before the exam starts.

Ordering Options

Complete JIBC Police and Ethos Entrance Test . Includes tutorials, quizzes, timed tests, practice questions, how to take a test, and self-assessments. Includes math practice questions, reading comprehension, English grammar, geometry, logic, memory and more!

PDF Download --- Paperback (Amazon) --- Online Course

You Receive:

  • Hundreds of JIBC BC Police Entrance Test Practice Questions
  • Includes Ethos Complete Exam
  • Answer Key with Step-by-Step Answer Key
  • Easy to follow Tutorials
  • Multiple Choice Tips and Strategies from Exam Experts
  • Self-Assessments to Identify your Strength and Weaknesses
  • How to make a Study Plan and Study Schedule
  • Practice Test Questions for reading comprehension, memorization, English, logic, vocabulary, spelling, and basic math
  • And a Lot More!


Complete BC Police Entrance Test (JIBC) Study Practice APP. Includes tutorials, quizzes, timed tests, practice questions, how to take a test, and self-assessments. You can find our titles at reputable bookstores like Indigo Chapters and in a variety of formats, including Kindle, Google Play and KOBO so you can study however and wherever works best for you.

Written by, Brian Stocker MA.,
Published by: Complete Test Preparation Inc.

Updated: Thursday, October 8th, 2026
Published: Thursday, February 13th, 2020

Complete Test Preparation Inc. is not affiliated with any BC Police Service or the Justice Institute of BC, who are not involved in the production of, and do not endorse this publication.