APCAT - Alberta Police Cognitive Ability Logical Reasoning in Policing Questions and Answers

Question 1

An officer responds to a report of a suspicious person in a park late at night. The person claims to be looking for a lost dog. The officer observes fresh graffiti on a nearby wall and notices the person has spray paint on their fingers that matches the colour of the graffiti. Based on these observations, what is the most logical conclusion?

Accepted Answer

The person is likely responsible for the graffiti.

Answer

This is an example of inductive reasoning, where specific observations lead to a general conclusion. The presence of matching spray paint on the person's fingers, combined with the fresh graffiti, provides strong circumstantial evidence linking them to the act. The other options are either unsupported by the provided facts or are less probable.

Question 2

Read the following premises:
1. All issued police equipment must be inventoried at the end of each shift.
2. A conducted energy weapon (CEW) is a piece of issued police equipment.
3. Officer Jones did not inventory his CEW at the end of his shift.
Which of the following statements logically follows from the premises?

Accepted Answer

Officer Jones has violated a procedural rule.

Answer

This is an example of deductive reasoning. Premise 1 establishes a clear rule. Premise 2 confirms that the CEW falls under this rule. Premise 3 states Officer Jones broke the rule. Therefore, the only certain conclusion is that a violation occurred. The other options are assumptions not supported by the given information.

Question 3

An officer discovers a vehicle abandoned on the shoulder of a rural highway. The driver's door is ajar, the engine is cold, and a half-full cup of coffee is in the centre console. There are no obvious signs of an accident or struggle. What is the most plausible initial inference for the officer to make?

Accepted Answer

The driver experienced a mechanical breakdown and left to find help.

Answer

This question requires abductive reasoning, which involves finding the simplest and most likely explanation for a set of observations. A mechanical breakdown is a common reason for a car to be abandoned and fits all the facts (cold engine, no signs of foul play) without making major assumptions like theft or abduction, for which there is no evidence.

Question 4

An analyst notes a series of residential burglaries with a distinct pattern. They all occur on Tuesday or Thursday mornings. The point of entry is always a rear window, and the items stolen are small electronics and jewelry. The crimes have occurred in the following postal code areas over four weeks: T2M, T2N, T2P. Based on this pattern, which of the following locations would be the most logical place to increase preventive patrols?

Accepted Answer

A residential area with postal code T2R on a Tuesday morning.

Answer

The established pattern identifies the crime type (residential burglary), time (Tuesday/Thursday morning), and a clear geographic progression (T2M, T2N, T2P are adjacent postal codes in Calgary). The most logical next target would be in an adjacent residential postal code, T2R, during the established time frame. The other options ignore one or more key elements of the pattern.

Question 5

An officer is interviewing two witnesses after a sidewalk altercation. Witness A says, 'The person in the blue shirt was the aggressor; I saw them yelling first.' Witness B says, 'I didn't see who started it, but I saw the person in the green shirt push the other person.' To create an objective and accurate report, what is the most logical step for the officer?

Accepted Answer

Document both witness statements verbatim without drawing a final conclusion on scene.

Answer

The officer's primary duty in this situation is to gather facts, not to make a final determination of guilt with incomplete or conflicting information. The most logical and professional action is to record both accounts accurately in the report. The statements are not necessarily contradictory—one describes verbal action, the other physical—and both are valuable pieces of information for a potential investigation.

APCAT - Alberta Police Cognitive Ability Test Practice Test

APCAT - Alberta Police Cognitive Ability Test Practice Test

APCAT - Alberta Police Cognitive Ability Logical Reasoning in Policing Questions and Answers