Police Online Assessment Centre Briefing Exercise Explained
A clear, practical guide for police applicants. Learn how the exercise runs, how to prioritise information and deliver a structured answer, and what changes in parts two and three.
Short answer
Last reviewed 1 October 2026The briefing exercise is one of three police OAC exercises. You act as a police constable in a developing scenario: about 10 minutes reading the preparation material (untimed, not assessed), then 12 spoken questions in three parts of four, with 60 seconds to think and 3 minutes to answer each, about 60 minutes in all. It assesses public service, emotional awareness, taking ownership and being innovative and open-minded.
Use only the information provided. You cannot bring prepared notes, but you can make notes on the platform. Want something to practise on? Try our three original briefing exercise practice scenarios, each with 12 questions and a worked outline.
Sources: College of Policing candidate guide (updated July 2026). Timings can differ if you have a reasonable adjustment.
What the briefing exercise actually is
The briefing exercise in the Online Assessment Centre assesses how you absorb information, prioritise issues, and explain decisions clearly under time pressure.
- It is not a test of memory, speed, or police knowledge.
- You are not expected to know procedures, legislation, or terminology.
Instead, assessors are looking at how you:
- identify priorities
- explain reasoning
- communicate clearly and calmly
- balance risk and practicality
It can feel challenging because you speak to a camera and think aloud rather than deliver a prepared answer. You cannot use prepared notes or scripts.
Where the briefing exercise fits in the OAC
The briefing exercise is one of three OAC components. Your feedback report gives an overall score for each exercise; no pass mark is published. The published guidance does not say whether strong performance elsewhere can offset a weaker exercise, so ask your force if you need to know. For a full overview, see: Police Online Assessment Centre (OAC) Explained.
The Virtual Environment: What to Expect
Unlike a physical interview, the OAC briefing exercise happens entirely on your screen. Understanding the logistics helps reduce cognitive load on the day.
The College's walkthrough video shows each question as text on the left with a video of an assessor reading it on the right, and a timer in the corner. You read the preparation material on screen first; you may need to scroll to see all the prompts.
You are recording a video response. There is no live assessor: a pre-recorded video of an assessor reads each question, and the question also appears as text with prompts. Treat the camera lens as the person you are briefing.
Pro Tip: Do not read exclusively from your notes. Glance down to check your bullet points, then look up at the camera to deliver the point. This simulates "eye contact" and engages the assessor.
How the exercise runs, and how to use the time
The College describes three stages. Here is what each involves and how to use it.
Read the materials
You read the preparation materials and think about part one. This stage is untimed and not assessed. Work out what you are being asked to deal with and what matters most. Use only the information provided.
Structure your answer
After the question is read aloud you get up to 60 seconds to prepare. You can make notes on the platform. A simple shape (our suggestion): your priority, the reason, the action.
Answer calmly
You record your answer. There are 12 questions in three parts of four, so about 50 minutes of answering time, and parts two and three add new information.
Timings are from the College of Policing candidate guide and may differ if you have a timing-related reasonable adjustment.
How to Structure Your Spoken Delivery
You have 180 seconds per question, so keep each answer short and structured. "Signposting" helps whoever is listening follow you. This is our suggestion, not an official requirement.
Start with a one-sentence summary of the situation.
"Good morning. I have reviewed the information regarding the [Situation]. There are three key issues to address: Safety, Evidence, and Community Reassurance."
Deal with one topic at a time. Do not jump back and forth.
"Turning to my first priority, [Issue X].
My action will be to [Action Y].
I have
decided this because [Reason Z]."
Summarise your answer briefly and stop.
"To recap, my immediate focus is securing the scene, then the vulnerable resident."
What assessors are actually listening for
Positive Indicators
- ✓ Identifying what matters most
- ✓ Logical reasoning
- ✓ Calm, clear explanation
- ✓ Considering risk & impact
They Are Not Expecting
- ✗ A single "correct" answer
- ✗ Perfect legal knowledge
- ✗ Rushed, rapid-fire speaking
- ✗ Memorisation of all facts
How to prioritise: A Worked Example
Illustrative example, not a real assessment scenario. Imagine you are preparing a briefing on a Neighbour Dispute.
You have info on:
A) A heated argument over a fence (Potential assault).
B) A report of a barking dog (Noise nuisance).
C) A vulnerable elderly resident scared to leave her
house.
"I would prioritise the elderly resident (C) and the potential assault (A) first."
Why?
Risk of harm involves a vulnerable person. This outweighs the noise complaint.
"Next, I would ensure we investigate the alleged assault (A) to secure evidence."
"Finally, I would address the dog barking (B), referring it to the council if necessary, as it is not an immediate threat."
The "Magic" Phrase
"I am prioritising this because [Reason: Risk/Vulnerability], whereas that issue can wait because [Reason: Low Threat]."
Advanced Tactic: Handling Information Overload
The materials may include details that matter more or less than others. Prioritising is our advice; the College's instruction is to use only the information provided and not add anything.
Ignore (Noise)
- • Long background histories of people not involved in the immediate incident.
- • Detailed descriptions of unrelated assets (e.g., the colour of a car that isn't suspect).
- • Complaints about long-term issues (unless they escalate risk *now*).
Focus (Signal)
- • Any threat to life or safety (Top Priority).
- • Vulnerability (Age, disability, mental health).
- • Evidence at risk (CCTV being wiped, rain washing away blood).
- • Time-critical factors (Suspect leaving the country).
If you are unsure how confident you feel prioritising information under pressure, the free “Are You Ready for the Police Online Assessment Centre?” readiness check can help identify areas to focus on before assessment day.
Parts two and three: new information
There are no live follow-up questions from an assessor. Instead, the exercise has three parts. In parts two and three you are given new information and asked four more questions each, again with 60 seconds of thinking time and 180 seconds to answer.
Our advice
New information can change what matters most. It is fine for your priorities to shift, and to say why: "In light of the new information, I would now prioritise...". Keep to the information provided rather than adding anything.
Common mistakes candidates make
Trying to memorise everything
You do not need to. You can make notes on the platform during preparation and after each question, but you cannot bring prepared notes.
Rushing without reasoning
Listing actions without saying why leaves assessors little to credit: the College says it can only assess what you tell it, and it does not publish a marking scheme.
Focusing on minor details
Don't get bogged down in trivial complaints while ignoring safety risks.
The Monologue Trap
Talking non-stop without structure. Assessors need pauses to process your points.
What happens after the briefing exercise
Your recruiting force tells you when to expect results. You then receive an automated email from police.assessments@notifications.service.gov.uk with instructions to view your outcome and personalised feedback report, which gives your score for each exercise. Check your junk folder.
Final reassurance
The briefing exercise is not designed to overwhelm you. It is designed to assess how you think, prioritise, and communicate under pressure. If you can explain your decisions calmly and logically, you are demonstrating exactly what assessors are looking for.
FAQ
How long is the OAC briefing exercise?
How many questions are in the briefing exercise?
Can I use notes in the briefing exercise?
Do I need police knowledge for the briefing exercise?
Are there follow-up questions from an assessor?
What is assessed in the briefing exercise?
Can I fail the OAC because of the briefing exercise alone?
How can I practise for the briefing exercise?
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Sources used on this page
- Online assessment process candidate guide (College of Policing, updated July 2026): briefing exercise format, timings, competencies, notes rules, results.
- College candidate FAQs v2.2 (2022, older guidance): what it said about pass marks.
Independent guidance, not affiliated with the College of Policing. Where we say "our advice" or "our suggestion" that is our judgement, not an official rule.