Entry-Level Test Battery
Law Enforcement - Applicant
Important Update: This page has been updated to address questions regarding the PELLETB’s transition to an online platform, referred to as the “online PELLETB”. Please review the information below, as some requirements may have changed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is the PELLETB?
Commission Regulation 1951 mandates that peace officers be able to read and write at the levels necessary to perform the job of a peace officer as determined by the use of the POST Entry-Level Law Enforcement Test Battery (PELLETB) or other professionally developed and validated test of reading and writing ability. Because performance on the PELLETB is highly correlated with performance in the academy, many agencies and academies use the PELLETB as an indicator of readiness for a career in law enforcement.
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What does the PELLETB measure?
The PELLETB is a multiple-choice test designed to measure reading and writing ability. Candidates are given 1 hour and 45 minutes to complete the test. The transition of the PELLETB to the online platform did not involve altering the four sub-tests that currently comprise the test:
- Spelling (applicants select the correct spelling of a word from a list of options)
- Vocabulary (applicants select the correct meaning of a word from a list of options)
- Clarity (applicants select the sentence that is most clearly written from a pair of options)
- Reading Comprehension (applicants read a passage and answer questions about the passage’s content)
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What is the online PELLETB?
The PELLETB has recently been made available on an online platform, Assess.ai. Assess.ai is owned by Assessment Systems Corporation, specializing in secure, large-scale testing. Adding the PELLETB to an online platform makes testing faster, more secure, and easily accessible. Candidates are encouraged to view the Navigating Assess.ai Tutorial to familiarize themselves with the online platform prior to the test administration.
As POST transitions all agencies to the online platform, some agencies may still be offering the test in the traditional paper-and-pencil format.
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Where can I take the PELLETB?
Contact law enforcement agencies and/or basic training academies in your area to determine if they are administering the paper-and-pencil or online PELLETB (some agencies also refer to it as the “POST Reading and Writing Test”). Unfortunately, POST does not maintain a list of nor provide referrals for testing locations; however, the POST Website does provide a list of California POST-participating law enforcement agencies that may offer entry-level testing. Again, you will need to contact the agencies directly to determine if and when they offer the test.
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Can I take the PELLETB remotely from my home?
No. Both the paper-and-pencil and online formats of the PELLETB are required to be administered in person by a POST-approved California agency with proper test security protocols. The PELLETB is typically administered only within California by authorized POST-participating law enforcement agencies. Candidates will need to contact a California POST-participating law enforcement agency to determine if they are authorized to administer the exam and when and where it is scheduled.
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What candidate information is needed to be registered for an online PELLETB test administration?
To be registered for an online PELLETB test administration, candidates must provide agencies with their full name, valid email address, and POST ID. The email address provided must be valid and operational as candidates are emailed important information directly from the testing platform (Assess.ai). If candidates do not receive any emails prior to the test administration, they must first check their spam or junk folder and then contact the agency if further assistance is needed.
A POST ID is needed as a unique identifier so the online platform can accurately track candidates and record test results. POST will provide agencies with a temporary link to allow test candidates to obtain a POST ID without needing to contact POST. If candidates are not provided a link or cannot obtain information from the agency, you may still obtain a POST ID through contacting POST directly.
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How do I get my test results?
Do not directly contact POST for your test results. All agencies that administer the PELLETB must provide each candidate with a T-score breakdown (i.e., Writing T-Score, Reading T-Score, and Total T-score) on agency letterhead within 30 days of the test administration. The results letter must also contain the test date, the candidate’s first and last name, and POST ID (if administered online). If it has been less than 30 days, please allow time for the testing agency to process your results. If it has been more than 30 days, contact the testing agency to inquire about your test results. Alternately, an authorized agency representative from any of POST’s user agencies can contact POST on your behalf to obtain candidate test results.
For candidates who have taken the online PELLETB, test results will be available on your EDI profile the following day after the test administration.
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Can an agency verify my reported test results?
Yes. Agencies that receive hard-copy test results for a candidate who tested at another agency (such as a copy of a candidate’s EDI profile or test results on agency letterhead) are encouraged to contact POST to verify candidate test results. For security reasons, POST does not verify test results for unauthorized individuals, including persons not listed on the agency’s Designee List or candidates. Agencies that are granted access to a candidate’s EDI profile and view the test results there may rely on those results as verified by POST, since the results are imported.
Candidates can grant access by signing into their PASS account, visiting Online POST Profile, and entering the agency name and access expiration date before selecting “Add”.
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How do I interpret my test results?
Statistical calculations are performed to convert your raw score (the number of items you answered correctly) into “T-scores.” T-scores are a standardized score that places your performance on the test into a distribution (bell-shaped curve) with a midpoint (average) of 50 and a standard deviation of 10. If your score falls around 50, your performance is considered “average” when compared to other candidates who have taken the test. If you score 40 or below, your performance is considered “below average” when compared to other candidates who have taken the test. If you score 60 or above, your performance is considered “above average” when compared to other candidates who have taken the test.
Given the diverse needs of California law enforcement agencies, POST does not require all agencies to use the same passing score. Agencies are allowed, and encouraged, to locally determine the passing score that best fits their hiring needs and standards. Since research shows that the likelihood of successful academy completion increases for every point above 42 an applicant scores; POST recommends that agencies select a passing score of 42 or above.
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How long is my PELLETB test result good for?
A score on the PELLETB has no shelf life; however, individual agencies have the discretion to establish their own acceptable time frames for the shelf life of test results. Candidates should inquire directly with California POST-participating law enforcement agencies regarding their hiring practices.
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Must I re-take the PELLETB if I apply to a different agency?
Not for the purpose of meeting POST requirements. Agencies who use the PELLETB are required to provide candidates with their test results. Individual agencies may, at their discretion, accept PELLETB results from another authorized test agency as evidence that a candidate meets the POST reading and writing standard, provided the score is acceptable to that agency. Agencies may also choose to administer an alternative test of reading and writing ability.
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Can I re-take the test multiple times?
Yes, however, before you can re-test, you must wait for a period of 30 calendar days before re-taking the test. Candidates are eligible to re-take the test on the 31st day after their last attempt. For example, if you tested October 31st, the soonest you could re-take the test would be December 1st. This applies even if the test is taken through a different agency than the original test.
If you prematurely re-take the test before the 30-day waiting period, your test results will be invalidated.
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Can I be registered for multiple online PELLETB test sessions?
Candidates cannot be registered for more than one online PELLETB test session within a 30-calendar day period, regardless of testing agency. There must be more than 30 days between test administrations for a candidate to be registered for multiple test sessions. Registration will be blocked for any candidates already registered for a test session scheduled to take place within 30 calendar days.
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Can I bring my own device to take the online PELLETB?
No. Agencies must provide each candidate with a secure device to take the test.
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How do I prepare for the test?
Since the test measures various facets of reading and writing ability, the best method for preparing for the test is to participate in activities that involve reading and writing. Assessment centers at community colleges can generally provide information about specific reading and writing deficiencies and guidance on how to improve those deficiencies. Online writing labs (OWLs) are another tool for identifying areas of improvement and strengthening reading and writing skills. A quick internet search can lead candidates to many free OWLs available online. Candidates inquiring about sample questions and test format should be directed to the Applicant Preparation Guide for the POST Entry-Level Law Enforcement Test Battery (pdf).
Candidates scheduled to take the online PELLETB should also view the Navigating Assess.ai Tutorial to familiarize themselves with the online platform prior to the test administration.
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What if I have additional questions?
Test administration questions about the PELLETB, including upcoming test dates, scoring, and test result information, should be directed to California POST-participating law enforcement agencies.