At some point during the recruitment process you will be required to complete a written test. Police forces use the "PIRT" - Police Initial Recruitment Test (also just called the "PIR"). This is used to establish if you are able to write clearly and accurately - since there is plenty of paperwork involved in policework too - but also to test reasoning and logic skills.

The main areas tested in the PIR are:

• The ability to spell words and construct sentences correctly
• The ability to check information quickly and correctly
• The ability to solve numerical problems accurately
• The ability to reason logically when given facts about events

The PIR is designed to assess the potential of an applicant's mental skills. You're advised to brush up on your basic mental arithmetic, i.e. without using a calculator, or working it out on paper!

Written by a former Chief Superintendent, The Police Selection Process is invaluable if you are applying to the police service as a Police Constable, Police Community Support Officer or a Special Constable as it deals with all aspects of the police selection process.

It covers the application form, assessment centre, core competencies, competency based interview, interactive scenarios, written exercises, numerical test, verbal logical reasoning test, information on entry criteria and frequently asked questions.

The book is also accompanied by an interactive DVD that demonstrates what to expect when you undergo the Interactive Scenarios and Competency Based Interview.

There were changes to the PIR in late 2002, in particular the removal of the observation test. The pass mark is set at around the 60% mark - if during your practice tests you're beating this then you should be fine in the actual test.

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