CritiCall Dispatcher Test Data Entry and Typing 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A dispatcher types a vehicle description as 'Blu Chevy Impla' instead of 'Blue Chevy Impala'. What type of error is this?
- A formatting error
- A typographical/data entry error that could impair officer response (Correct answer)
- An acceptable abbreviation
- A system-generated shortcut
Correct answer: A typographical/data entry error that could impair officer response
Abbreviated or misspelled entries in CAD systems can prevent officers from locating the correct vehicle and may impact database searches.
CAD systems rely on text matching for lookups. 'Impla' will not match 'Impala' in a search. Dispatchers must type complete, correctly spelled entries even under time pressure. Partial entries may seem acceptable in the moment but can cause critical failures in officer matching, BOLO (Be On the Lookout) distribution, and after-action reporting.
Question 2: What is the standard acceptable typing speed benchmark for most 911 dispatch positions?
- 20 WPM
- 35 WPM (Correct answer)
- 80 WPM
- 100 WPM
Correct answer: 35 WPM
Most dispatch centers require a minimum of 35 WPM with high accuracy. Some require higher speeds, but 35 WPM is the common minimum standard.
The 35 WPM minimum ensures dispatchers can log incident details in real time while managing active calls. Accuracy at speed is equally important — 100% typing speed with 50% accuracy is worse than 40 WPM with 98% accuracy. CritiCall assessments test both speed and accuracy simultaneously.
Question 3: You are entering an incident report and the caller gives you two different addresses. You are not sure which is correct. What should you do?
- Enter the first address mentioned
- Enter both addresses and note the discrepancy, then clarify with the caller (Correct answer)
- Leave the address blank until confirmed
- Use the address from the previous call from this number
Correct answer: Enter both addresses and note the discrepancy, then clarify with the caller
When conflicting data is provided, both should be logged and the discrepancy flagged, then confirmed with the caller for accuracy.
Entering conflicting addresses without resolution risks sending units to the wrong location. Logging both and noting 'caller provided conflicting addresses — primary confirmed as X' allows supervisors and officers to understand the situation. Always attempt to confirm before dispatch, but do not delay dispatch indefinitely — use best available information.
Question 4: Which keyboard technique helps dispatchers maintain data entry speed while simultaneously monitoring their screen?
- Hunt-and-peck typing
- Touch typing (home row method) (Correct answer)
- Using only one hand on the keyboard
- Copy-pasting standard phrases
Correct answer: Touch typing (home row method)
Touch typing allows dispatchers to enter data without looking at the keyboard, freeing their eyes to monitor CAD screens, maps, and incoming calls.
Touch typing — keeping fingers anchored on the home row (ASDF/JKL;) and using muscle memory — is essential for dispatchers who must simultaneously type, read screens, and listen to callers. Hunt-and-peck forces the typist to look at the keyboard, breaking attention from critical visual information on screens.
Question 5: A dispatcher is entering a license plate number and hears '7 F N B 3'. What is the correct entry?
- 7FNBS
- 7FNB3 (Correct answer)
- 7-FNB-3
- SEVEN F N B THREE
Correct answer: 7FNB3
License plates are entered in their exact alphanumeric sequence without spaces, dashes, or spelling out numbers.
CAD systems and NCIC (National Crime Information Center) database queries for license plates require exact alphanumeric entry without separators. '7FNB3' entered directly matches the plate format and is searchable. Adding dashes or spaces can break database lookups, while spelling out 'SEVEN' would render the entry useless for automated matching.
Question 6: What is the MOST important quality in dispatch data entry?
- Speed above all else
- Accuracy, even if it slightly reduces speed (Correct answer)
- Using abbreviations to save time
- Matching the previous dispatcher's entry style
Correct answer: Accuracy, even if it slightly reduces speed
Accuracy is the top priority in dispatch data entry. Errors in addresses, names, or descriptions have direct consequences for officer safety and emergency response.
While typing speed matters, accuracy is the non-negotiable standard. A wrong street number can send officers to an empty block while an emergency unfolds elsewhere. A wrong suspect description can lead to dangerous mistaken identity stops. Dispatchers are evaluated on accuracy-per-keystroke, not raw WPM alone.
CritiCall Dispatcher Test Data Entry and Typing 2
A dispatcher types a vehicle description as 'Blu Chevy Impla' instead of 'Blue Chevy Impala'.
What type of error is this?