Police Pay
Free Practice Tool

PSET
Practice Test

42 original practice questions in the format of the Police Scotland Entrance Test: language, numbers and information handling, each with a worked explanation. Untimed to learn, timed to test yourself. Free, no sign-up.

Independent information, not advice · Sources checked 18 October 2026 · Scotland unless stated

Before you start

These are original PolicePay practice questions written in the format of Police Scotland's published example paper. They are not official Police Scotland questions, Police Scotland has not endorsed them and your score does not predict your result. All the organisations, places and figures in them are invented.

Contents
Practice ToolHow It WorksWhy This FormatAfter Practising FAQs Sources
Preparing for the PSET? 10 full timed papers in the PSET Pack, £24.99

Free practice tool

Police Scotland entrance test practice

Pick a section and a mode. Every question is original PolicePay practice material written in the format of Police Scotland's published example paper. These are not official Police Scotland questions.

1. Choose a section
2. Choose a mode

Scores are saved in this browser only. Nothing is sent to us except an anonymous started or finished count.

How the practice works

  • Language (14 questions): Read a short passage, then decide whether each statement is true, false or not possible to say.
  • Numbers (14 questions): Short sums set in everyday policing situations. Type the figure. You may use a calculator, as on the day.
  • Information handling (14 questions): Pull figures out of a table, combine them and spot what the data does and does not show.

Untimed mode lets you check each answer as you go and read the worked explanation before moving on. Use it first, to learn the traps. Timed mode gives you the real paper's average pace (49 questions in 60 minutes) and marks everything at the end, with a full review. Unanswered questions count as wrong.

For numbers and information handling, type a figure (for example 30, 9.25 or 22.70). Symbols such as £ and % are ignored, so "£22.70" and "22.7" are both accepted.

Why the questions look like this

Police Scotland publishes a short example PSET with answers. Its language questions are a passage followed by statements marked true, false or not possible to say; its number questions are short policing-flavoured sums answered with a figure; and its information handling questions are about a table. We followed those formats, but wrote every passage, table and question ourselves. Do Police Scotland's own example paper too: it is the only official material.

What the real test adds

The real PSET is one handwritten paper, in ink, under exam conditions, with a calculator provided. You must pass all three elements. Practise at least once on paper with a basic calculator and a clock, so the format is familiar on the day.

After practising

Read our PSET guide for the traps in each section and how to pace the hour. Each element has its own guide too: literacy, numeracy and information handling, plus what to expect on PSET day. Then look ahead: the fitness test comes next. Police Scotland says more people fail it than any other stage. Our Police Scotland fitness test guide explains the 5.4 standard and the six-month rule.

Quick answers

Frequently Asked Questions

Are these real Police Scotland entrance test questions?

No. Every passage, table and question here was written by PolicePay in the format of Police Scotland's published example paper. They are not official questions, Police Scotland does not endorse them (it says it does not endorse any study materials) and your score does not predict your result.

How is timed mode worked out?

The real PSET is 49 questions in 60 minutes, about 73 seconds each on average. Timed mode gives each section the same average pace: 17 min 9 s for 14 language questions, 17 min 9 s for 14 numbers questions, 17 min 9 s for 14 information handling questions. Police Scotland does not publish separate timings for each element.

Can I use a calculator?

Yes. Police Scotland's candidate guidance says a calculator is provided at the test, so use one for the numbers and information handling sections here.

Is my score saved?

Your best and last score for each section are saved in this browser only, using local storage. Nothing about your answers is sent to us. We record only an anonymous count of practice sessions started and finished, with the section and a broad score band.

What score do I need to pass the real PSET?

Police Scotland does not publish the pass mark. It says you must pass all three elements, so aim to be comfortable in every section rather than relying on your strongest.

Evidence

Sources and how we checked them

Every factual claim on this page was written from the sources below, read on 18 October 2026. Rules and figures change, so check the source for the date you are reading this. Where we could not confirm something from an official or independent source, the page says so rather than guessing. Spotted something out of date? See our corrections policy.

  1. Police Scotland: Our recruitment process : PSET elements, link to the example questions and answers, no endorsed study materials (accessed 18 October 2026)
  2. Police Scotland: example PSET questions (Word document) : the question formats our practice follows (accessed 18 October 2026)
  3. Police Scotland candidate portal: Police officer selection process : 49 questions in 60 minutes; pass all three elements (accessed 18 October 2026)
  4. Police Scotland candidate portal: Reasonable adjustments and support : calculator provided; handwritten paper with multiple-choice and written answers (accessed 18 October 2026)
Related Guides

On this topic elsewhere

PSET Explained → The format, each section's traps and pacing. How to Join Police Scotland → Every stage of the process. Police Scotland Fitness Test → The stage after the PSET. Police Scotland Interview → Original practice questions for the assessment day.
Joining Police Scotland

More in this guide series

Start here Join Police Scotland hub Every stage in order, from eligibility to the PSET, fitness, the assessment day, final checks and training. Before you apply Eligibility requirements Age, three years in the UK, indefinite leave, manual licence, points, finances, eyesight and the rejection list. Free tool Eligibility checker Answer short questions and see each published rule you meet, need to check or do not meet yet. Before you apply Age limits and mature applicants Apply from 18 with no published upper limit. What pension age 60 means if you join later. Before you apply Driving licence and points Manual licence, DVLA group 2 medical standards, the more-than-6-points rule and drink driving. Before you apply Finance and debt rules Trust deeds, sequestration, bankruptcy and the £1,000 defaulted accounts rule, with dates worked out. Before you apply Tattoos and appearance What you declare, the photos, how tattoos are reviewed and the rejection figures from FOI. Compare Scotland vs England and Wales No National Sift, no degree routes, a written entrance test and an in-person assessment day. Plan How long recruitment takes What is fixed (18 weeks' training, 2 years' probation, the 6-month fitness rule) and what is not published. Plan Timeline to 31 March 2027 A month-by-month preparation plan for the current Police Officer vacancy. Free tool Timeline planner Plan your preparation and track your own stage dates against the fixed rules. Application Application form step by step Both parts of the form, the 800-word personal statement, word limits and what to have ready. Application Values question examples Two annotated example answers and ten evidence prompts for each value. Tool Values question tool Two example answers and a free builder for the 400-word values answer. Application Values and Code of Ethics Fairness, integrity, respect and human rights, the constable's declaration and the CVF. Entrance test Entrance test (PSET) explained 49 questions in 60 minutes across language, numbers and information handling. Entrance test PSET literacy How the language questions work, the traps and worked examples. Entrance test PSET numeracy Percentages, rates, time and money with a calculator, worked step by step. Entrance test PSET information handling Tables of figures, totals, differences and percentages, worked step by step. Entrance test PSET test day One handwritten paper in ink, a calculator provided and how to pace 49 questions. Free tool PSET readiness quiz Nine sample questions plus four about your preparation, with a readiness read for each element. Practice pack PSET Pack 10 full 49-question papers, 210 section drill questions and a score report by skill. Fitness Fitness test (5.4) The 15-metre multi-stage test, the 5.4 standard, the six-month rule and how to train. Assessment day Assessment day The 50-minute group task, the 60-minute spoken SJE and the interview. Assessment day Group task and SJE overview How the two morning exercises run, what they reward and how to practise speaking your reasoning. Practice pack SJE practice Assessment Day Pack: 42 spoken SJE scenarios with AI feedback and 12 group task briefs. Practice Group task practice Read a brief in 10 minutes and plan the group briefing. One free brief. Interview Interview questions and answers The 20-minute, four-question competency interview and how to build answers. Practice pack Interview practice Interview Pack: a 20-minute, four-question simulator and 84 questions with probes. Final checks Medical and substance test What the medical checks, eyesight and BMI, the hair sample and random testing. Final checks References Five years of employment, character references and what to tell your referees. Final checks Vetting When vetting happens, what it confirms, the early assessment option and why timing is not published. Training Tulliallan and Jackton training 1 + 15 + 2 weeks, the two training sites and ten intakes a year. Training Probation (2 years) Response policing, pay rises during probation and what changes after. Training Divisions and postings The 13 divisions, your three posting preferences and the Islands Allowance. Pay Starting salary and progression £34,001 on appointment, every pay point to £54,597 and take-home pay. Pay Part-time and flexible working What Police Scotland offers, the part-time pay formula and probation realities. Other routes Reapplying after failing The 200-word previous-applicant question and a plan for each stage you might fail. Other routes Transferees and rejoiners Who can transfer, the 3-week course, no probation and the rejoiner route. Specials Special constable Eligibility, the PSET, the 5.4 test, training and 96 hours a year. Bundle Complete bundle All three Police Scotland practice packs in one payment.
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Disclaimer

PolicePay.co.uk is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with Police Scotland, the Scottish Police Authority or the College of Policing. It does not recruit, test or assess applicants. Our practice questions are original PolicePay material, not official Police Scotland questions. Police Scotland sets and changes its own selection process, so check its recruitment pages and your candidate account before relying on anything here. Details are as checked on 18 October 2026.