911 Operator Test Listening and Memory Recall 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A caller rapidly reads off a license plate: 'Alpha-Bravo-Seven-Three-Niner-Papa.' Using the NATO phonetic alphabet, what is the correct plate?
- AB739P (Correct answer)
- AB73NP
- A8739P
- AB73P9
Correct answer: AB739P
Alpha=A, Bravo=B, Seven=7, Three=3, Niner=9, Papa=P — spelling out AB739P.
Question 2: A caller describes a medical emergency: 'He collapsed, he's breathing but unconscious, and he has a MedicAlert bracelet that says diabetic.' Which detail should trigger the most immediate action in your dispatch notes?
- He is breathing
- He is unconscious
- He has a MedicAlert bracelet
- He is diabetic per the bracelet (Correct answer)
Correct answer: He is diabetic per the bracelet
The diabetic condition provides EMS with critical medical history that can directly affect treatment decisions upon arrival.
Question 3: You are on a call when the caller whispers, 'He's in the next room. I can't speak.' What is the recommended technique to gather information?
- Ask them to text 911 instead
- Ask yes/no questions they can answer with tapping or short responses (Correct answer)
- Tell them to call back when it is safe
- Immediately dispatch and stay silent on the line
Correct answer: Ask yes/no questions they can answer with tapping or short responses
Yes/no questions allow the caller to communicate with minimal sound, reducing risk while still gathering critical information.
Question 4: A caller describes hearing 'three or four gunshots' near '5th and Main or maybe 4th and Main.' How should you log the uncertain information?
- Log the first option only (5th and Main, 3 shots)
- Log both possibilities and flag the information as unconfirmed (Correct answer)
- Wait for another caller to confirm before logging anything
- Log only the number of shots since the location is unclear
Correct answer: Log both possibilities and flag the information as unconfirmed
Logging both possibilities with an unconfirmed flag ensures responding units are aware of the ambiguity and can check both locations.
Question 5: A caller provides the following details in rapid succession: address, nature of incident, suspect description, and weapon description. What is the standard order for prioritizing and relaying this information?
- Weapon, suspect, address, nature
- Nature, address, suspect, weapon
- Address, nature, suspect, weapon (Correct answer)
- Suspect, address, weapon, nature
Correct answer: Address, nature, suspect, weapon
Address and nature of incident are dispatched first so units can respond immediately while suspect and weapon details are relayed en route.
Question 6: You are handling a call when a second high-priority call comes in. What is the best approach for the active call?
- Put the first caller on hold indefinitely and take the second call
- Obtain essential information from the first call, dispatch, then manage the second (Correct answer)
- Disconnect the first call to focus on the second
- Ignore the second call until the first is fully resolved
Correct answer: Obtain essential information from the first call, dispatch, then manage the second
Obtain the minimum information needed to dispatch the first call before managing the second, ensuring both callers receive service.
Question 7: A witness to a robbery says, 'The guy had a gun — or maybe a knife, it was dark.' How should you classify the weapon in your CAD entry?
- Armed with a gun
- Armed with a knife
- Unarmed — witness was unsure
- Possibly armed — weapon unconfirmed, may be gun or knife (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Possibly armed — weapon unconfirmed, may be gun or knife
Logging the uncertainty accurately ensures responding officers approach with appropriate caution without overstating the known facts.
911 Operator Test Listening and Memory Recall 3
A caller rapidly reads off a license plate: 'Alpha-Bravo-Seven-Three-Niner-Papa.' Using the NATO phonetic alphabet, what is the correct plate?