NTN Cheat Sheet 2026

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

1. An officer is asked to describe a vehicle's direction of travel after a pursuit. Which directional reference is MOST precise? → Northbound on Main Street
2. You are dispatched to a domestic disturbance. Upon arrival you find both parties calm and the involved individuals say nothing happened. What should you do? → Conduct a thorough investigation, interview parties separately, and document your findings
3. Which option correctly fixes the sentence fragment: 'While the officer was on patrol.' → While the officer was on patrol, a call came in.
4. An officer observes a suspect for 30 seconds before losing sight of them. Which physical detail is MOST important to note for identification? → Clothing color and description
5. Which word correctly completes this sentence: 'The team decided to _______ the meeting until Thursday.' → postpone
6. You stop a vehicle for a broken tail light. The driver offers you cash to 'forget about it.' You should: → Decline the cash, issue the citation, and report the bribery attempt
7. An officer sees a vehicle involved in a hit-and-run. Which detail is MOST critical to relay to dispatch? → License plate number
8. You are writing a report about an incident and realize you made a factual error in your initial report. What should you do? → Submit a supplemental report correcting the error and note the change
9. What is a "data warehouse"? → A database optimized for the storage and retrieval of large volumes of data
10. A first responder is treating a patient who was exposed to an organophosphate chemical. Which medication is the primary antidote? → Atropine
11. An officer is asked to recall the color of a suspect's shoes after viewing a scene. This tests which cognitive ability? → Short-term visual memory
12. If 3 officers can search 9 rooms in 90 minutes, how long would it take 1 officer to search 9 rooms? → 270 minutes
13. What is the primary purpose of the observation and memory section on the NTN exam? → To assess an applicant's ability to accurately recall details needed in law enforcement
14. When a coworker approaches you with a personal conflict, the most professional first step is to: → Listen calmly and acknowledge their feelings
15. Which sentence correctly uses 'its' and 'it's'? → The department updated its policy manual.
16. A subject you have detained becomes unresponsive. What is your MOST immediate priority? → Check for responsiveness and begin life-saving measures immediately while calling for EMS
17. Which sentence correctly uses an apostrophe? → The officer's badge was returned.
18. Which sentence correctly uses a semicolon? → The officer filed the report; the supervisor approved it.
19. When observing a suspect, an officer should avoid which common error? → Tunnel vision that focuses on one detail and ignores others
20. What process do plants use to convert sunlight into food? → Photosynthesis
21. Which of the following is a common method for visualizing data in data analytics? → Bar charts
22. Which communication approach is most effective when delivering bad news to a coworker? → Be clear, respectful, and compassionate in your delivery
23. In a scientific experiment, the 'control group' is used to: → Provide a baseline for comparison with no experimental variable applied
24. Which law explains the mechanical advantage gained by using a lever? → Law of the lever (Archimedes' principle)
25. When completing an NTN observation test, you are shown a photograph for a limited time. You should focus on: → People, vehicles, signs, and unusual objects
26. Which element is essential for human red blood cells to carry oxygen? → Iron
27. An officer notices a coworker showing signs of burnout and declining performance. What is the BEST response? → Express concern privately and encourage them to seek support
28. An officer drove 250 miles in 5 hours. What was the average speed? → 50 mph
29. A recruit class started with 45 cadets. After training, 80% graduated. How many cadets graduated? → 36 cadets
30. An officer encounters a person in a mental health crisis. Which approach is MOST appropriate? → Use calm, non-threatening language and listen actively