ALICE Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield ALICE facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. Which ALICE option is most directly informed by real-time situational awareness gathered during an active event? → Inform
2. How does ALICE recommend handling a situation where the threat location is unknown at the time of the initial alert? → Issue an alert with the best available information and update as details emerge
3. Why does ALICE training discourage using coded language (e.g., 'Code Red') for threat announcements? → Coded language may not be understood by all occupants, visitors, or substitutes
4. Which U.S. federal law most directly supports schools adopting proactive response protocols like ALICE? → The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
5. How does documentation support quality in Recovery Ops? → It creates records, ensures consistency, and enables improvement
6. How should staff communicate with students in a room that is counter-barricading against a threat? → Use calm, quiet, and direct instructions to minimize noise and maintain focus
7. During an evacuation, a teacher encounters first responders in the hallway. What communication action is recommended? → Keep hands visible and quickly report the threat's last known location to officers
8. Why do many school districts require parental notification before conducting ALICE drills with students? → To address potential psychological impact and maintain transparency with families
9. During an active threat event, what is the primary purpose of the 'Inform' component of ALICE? → To provide real-time, ongoing information to occupants and first responders
10. What is the primary purpose of professional certification in Evacuation Plans? → To validate competency and knowledge in the field
11. Which study approach is most effective for Recovery Ops material? → Active recall with practice questions
12. What is the chain of command? → The hierarchical structure of authority in a military organization
13. How should a teacher communicate a room change if she decides to evacuate her class mid-event? → Inform the PA operator or call the office with her new location as soon as safely possible
14. How should you manage time during a timed test? → Divide total time by questions and pace yourself, spending less on easy ones
15. Why is continuing education important in Counter Strategies? → To stay current with evolving standards and practices
16. When evacuating during a lockdown, what should individuals do with their hands as they approach law enforcement officers? → Raise hands above their head with fingers spread to show they are unarmed
17. What is one of the key benefits of ALICE Training for organizations? → It provides a framework for reducing response time during an emergency.
18. What does OPSEC stand for? → Operations Security
19. What is the relationship between theory and practice in Lockdown Procedures? → Theory provides the foundation; practice applies it to real situations
20. Which of the following strategies is covered in the "Lockdown" module of ALICE? → Barricading doors and windows to secure rooms.
21. Which of the following is a key component of ALICE Training? → Scenario-based drills that simulate active shooter situations.
22. Which of the following scenarios would be practiced in the "Counter" module of ALICE Training? → Using chairs, desks, or other objects to create barriers or distract the attacker.
23. What is the recommended approach when a student receives conflicting instructions from different adults during an active threat? → Follow the most recent Inform announcement from the official PA or alert system
24. Which organization issues the official ALICE Instructor certification? → ALICE Training Institute
25. Why is continuing education important in Recovery Ops? → To stay current with evolving standards and practices
26. A staff member sees a threat moving toward the east wing. According to ALICE Inform principles, what should she do? → Immediately announce the threat's location and direction of travel over the PA
27. Which scenario represents an appropriate use of a secondary alert channel in ALICE? → Sending a text alert to staff when the PA system has been compromised
28. What is the relationship between theory and practice in Training Methods? → Theory provides the foundation; practice applies it to real situations
29. What should you do when encountering a difficult question? → Mark it, move on, and return to it later
30. In ALICE training, the concept of 'soft target hardening' begins with: → Increasing situational awareness and early threat detection among all occupants