APCAT Cheat Sheet 2026

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

1. Which sentence uses a semicolon correctly? → The scene was secured; the paramedics arrived shortly after.
2. You are given a series of address numbers from a single block: 1302, 1306, 1310, 1314, ____, 1322. What is the missing number in this sequence? → 1318
3. FLOCK is to BIRDS as PACK is to: → Wolves
4. A police cruiser travels at 55 mph for 2 hours and then at 70 mph for 1 hour. What is the total distance traveled? → 180 miles
5. Which sentence uses the correct form of the possessive? → The officers' reports were thorough.
6. An officer reads: 'No person shall park within 5 meters of a fire hydrant.' A vehicle is found 4.8 meters from a hydrant. Should a parking violation be issued? → Yes, because 4.8 meters is less than the required 5-meter minimum
7. A police report is filed at 14:45 and the incident occurred 2 hours and 30 minutes earlier. At what time did the incident occur? → 12:15
8. A fingerprint found at a burglary scene matches Suspect A. Which of the following is the most logical conclusion? → Suspect A was present at the scene at some point.
9. Which sentence correctly uses 'fewer' versus 'less'? → He made fewer mistakes on the written test this time.
10. A series of license plate numbers follows a pattern: AB-101, AB-103, AB-105, AB-107. What is the next plate in the sequence? → AB-109
11. An officer on patrol sees a vehicle run a red light. Moments later, dispatch reports an armed robbery at a store two blocks away. What should the officer do? → Respond to the armed robbery and note the vehicle's plate if possible
12. Identify the sentence free of pronoun-antecedent disagreement. → Every witness must submit his or her statement by Friday.
13. A K-9 unit covers 5 square miles in 2 hours. At the same rate, how long will it take to cover 12.5 square miles? → 5 hours
14. Which sentence contains a dangling modifier? → Running down the alley, the suspect was apprehended.
15. If it is raining, the outdoor crime scene is compromised. The outdoor crime scene is not compromised. What can be concluded? → It is not raining.
16. During a search authorized by warrant, you find evidence of a crime not listed in the warrant. What should you do? → Note its location, leave it in place, and seek an additional warrant if needed
17. Which sentence is written in the most objective tone for an official report? → The accused struck the complainant once on the left forearm with a closed fist.
18. Which sentence uses punctuation correctly? → The officer, who was on duty last night, responded to the call.
19. Which option corrects the comma splice in this sentence? 'The door was open, the lights were on.' → The door was open; the lights were on.
20. An officer notices two teens arguing loudly outside a store. One teen shoves the other, who stumbles but does not fall. What is the BEST immediate action? → Intervene verbally to de-escalate before the situation turns physical
21. A series of case numbers reads: 2024-01, 2024-04, 2024-09, 2024-16. What is the next number? → 2024-25
22. An officer is told by dispatch that the suspect in an active call is armed. The officer loses radio contact before arriving. What should the officer do? → Stage at a safe distance and attempt to re-establish radio contact before approaching
23. Officers work 8-hour shifts. If a station needs 24-hour coverage with 3 officers on duty at all times, how many officer-shifts are needed each day? → 9
24. Statement: 'All officers who completed advanced training were promoted. Officer Davis was promoted.' What can logically be concluded about Officer Davis? → Officer Davis may or may not have completed advanced training
25. Which option contains a run-on sentence? → The constable identified the suspect she then radioed for backup.
26. Using the same Stinchcombe passage: What can happen if the Crown fails to disclose? → A stay of proceedings may result
27. An officer is using the SARA model for problem-solving a recurring issue. What is the crucial first step in this process? → Scanning (Identifying and defining the problem).
28. Which spelling is correct for the document that authorizes police to search a location? → Warrant
29. Which option correctly completes the sentence? 'The evidence, ______ was collected at dawn, proved crucial.' → which
30. Which word is spelled correctly? → Accommodate