F80 Practice Test

F80 Exam at a Glance

What changed for F80 in 2026

• Oct 16, 2026: Number of questions changed to 50 multiple-choice questions (previously The F-80 exam has 50 multiple-choice questions, a 75-minute time limit and a passing score of 70% (35 correct); it is given on a touch-screen computer at FDNY Headquarters, 9 MetroTech Center, Brooklyn. No Alternative Issuance Procedure exists, so the exam cannot be taken remotely (study material revised January 2026).).^[1]
• Oct 16, 2026: Validity changed to Up to 3 years (previously Before testing, every applicant must complete an approved F-80 course at an FDNY-accredited school and upload the school graduation diploma (valid for one year), plus a notarized F-80 verification letter and a notarized F-80 application form from the employer, shelter director or DHS. No F-01 or F-02 certificate is a prerequisite.).^[1]
• Oct 16, 2026: Exam fee changed to $25 application fee (previously The application fee is $25, paid online with the COF application (credit/debit card with a 2% convenience fee, check or money order; cash is not accepted). Each retest needs a new application and fee, same-day retesting is not permitted, and applicants who fail twice must repeat the approved course before a third attempt.).^[2]

Many homeless shelters will reimburse the F80 test cost for their employees. Check with your supervisor about reimbursement policies before scheduling your exam. Try our DELF practice test. Practice with the free F80 practice test on PracticeTestGeeks (7 questions with answer explanations).

If you are searching for a F80 practice test online, start with the free questions on this page: every answer comes with an explanation, and the study notes below cover the F80 exam topics in order.

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According to Fire Department of the City of New York, “The F-80 exam will consist of 50 multiple-choice questions, administered on a “touch”^[1]

Worked examples: how to reason through F80 questions

These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.

Example 1

Question: Which of the following is the PRIMARY purpose of a Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) in fire prevention?

1. To assign blame after an incident
2. To systematically identify potential hazards associated with each step of a task
3. To determine insurance premiums for a facility
4. To schedule routine maintenance activities

Answer: B. To systematically identify potential hazards associated with each step of a task

Explanation:

The correct answer is that a Job Hazard Analysis systematically identifies the hazards in each step of a task. It works by splitting a job into steps and asking what could go wrong at each one, so controls can be put in place before anyone is hurt.

Assigning blame after an incident is wrong because a JHA is done beforehand and is not an investigation. Setting insurance premiums is an underwriting matter, not a safety method. Scheduling routine maintenance may use some of the findings, but it is not the purpose of the analysis.

Rule to remember: when a question asks for the primary purpose of a hazard analysis, choose the answer about finding hazards early, step by step, and not about blame, cost or scheduling.

Example 2

Question: What quality metrics are most important in Code Requirements?

1. Measurable outcomes, process compliance, and stakeholder satisfaction
2. Only financial metrics
3. Only speed of completion
4. No metrics are needed

Answer: A. Measurable outcomes, process compliance, and stakeholder satisfaction

Explanation:

The correct answer is measurable outcomes, process compliance and stakeholder satisfaction. Quality is judged on several dimensions together: whether the result was achieved, whether the required process was followed, and whether the people affected are satisfied.

Only financial metrics is wrong because cost says nothing about whether requirements were met. Only speed of completion is wrong because fast work can still be non-compliant. No metrics are needed is wrong because without measurement you cannot show compliance or find problems.

Rule to remember: answers with words like only or no are usually too narrow. This is a general question, so use it for the habit of weighing options. Take the specific code content from the official FDNY study materials.

Example 3

Question: When a sprinkler head activates, what causes the release of water?

1. Manual valve operation by building staff
2. A signal from the fire alarm control panel
3. Heat melting or breaking a fusible element or glass bulb
4. Smoke entering the sprinkler deflector

Answer: C. Heat melting or breaking a fusible element or glass bulb

Explanation:

The correct answer is that heat melts or breaks a fusible element or glass bulb. Each sprinkler head holds its own seal closed until the heat near it is high enough to release it, and then water flows from that head.

Manual valve operation by building staff is wrong because heads open automatically on their own. A signal from the fire alarm control panel is wrong because a standard sprinkler head does not wait for a panel to tell it to open. Smoke entering the deflector is wrong because heads respond to heat, not smoke.

Rule to remember: a sprinkler head is a heat-triggered device, and only the heads near the fire normally open.

How to use these practice tests

Start with the official F-80 study materials from FDNY and read them through once, so you know the topics and the way the exam is run. Then take one of the broad practice sets, such as Fire Safety Procedures, Regulations and Codes or Equipment Operation, without notes, to see where you stand.

Work through the topic sets that match your weak spots, for example Fire Safety Systems, Inspection Procedures and Emergency Protocols. After each set, read the explanation for every question you missed, then go back to the official material and find the matching passage. Write a short note in your own words for each one.

Closer to test day, retake the sets you did worst on, and do a few in one sitting against the clock so the 75-minute limit feels familiar. Our questions are not real exam questions, so treat them as practice for recalling and applying the material, and trust the FDNY documents when anything differs.

Free F80 Study Tools

Interactive F80 resources on PracticeTestGeeks, free to start:

• F80 flashcards — review key terms and concepts card by card
• F80 study guide — topic-by-topic overview of what the exam covers
• F80 cheat sheet — one-page printable summary for last-minute review

Ready to Pass the F80 Exam?

Join thousands of certified Fire Guards who used our free F80 practice test to ace their certification. Try our IELTS practice test.

Renew your F80 certification up to 90 days before expiration. If your certification expires for more than 90 days, you will have to retake the full FDNY F80 test.

Sources & last verified

1. Fire Department of the City of New York — number of questions, time limit, passing score, retake policy (official source). “The F-80 exam will consist of 50 multiple-choice questions, administered on a “touch” Verified Oct 16, 2026.
2. Fire Department of the City of New York — exam fee, renewal (official source). “The fee is $25.” Verified Oct 17, 2026 · source checked Oct 17, 2026.

How we verify: editorial & fact-checking policy. Report an error: contact us.

Pros and Cons at a Glance

Official Resources

• FDNY Certificate of Fitness F-80 (Coordinator of Fire Safety and Alarm Systems in Homeless Shelters) — official program page
• FDNY F-80 Notice of Examination and Study Material (official PDF)
• FDNY Certificates of Fitness — full program directory

Sample F80 Practice Questions

Try these questions from our free F80 practice tests. The correct answer and an explanation follow each question.

1. A vehicle undergoes an OBD-II emissions test and returns two ready monitors set to 'not ready.' What happens?

   • A. The vehicle passes — only one monitor is required
   • B. The vehicle fails the OBD portion — most states allow a maximum of one incomplete monitor
   • C. The vehicle is exempt if it was manufactured before 2000
   • D. The vehicle is retested immediately with no penalty

Answer: B. The vehicle fails the OBD portion — most states allow a maximum of one incomplete monitor

Most US states allow a maximum of one incomplete OBD-II monitor (two for older vehicles); two incomplete monitors is a failure.

Answer: C. Annually

NFPA 25 requires an annual main drain test to verify that water supply pressure and flow are adequate.

Answer: B. Pressure remaining in the water distribution system while water is actively flowing

Residual pressure is the pressure remaining in the water supply system while water is flowing at the test hydrant, indicating available supply during firefighting operations.

Answer: B. Place vehicle on rollers, apply brakes at a specified speed, and measure brake force on each wheel

A brake dynamometer test places driven wheels on rollers, applies brakes at a set speed, and measures individual wheel brake force.

Take the full F80 practice test