OACP Cheat Sheet 2026

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

1. An officer witnesses an event and is later asked to testify. Their courtroom testimony should be based primarily on: → Their contemporaneous notes made at the time of the event
2. Which of the following scenarios best illustrates a police officer's duty of 'maintaining the public peace'? → Mediating a loud, non-violent dispute between two neighbours regarding a property line.
3. Which two terms signify something different? a) Shy b) Careful c) Honest d) Outgoing → a & d
4. Which word is a synonym for 'confiscate'? → Seize
5. Which word means 'to officially clear someone of blame or criminal charges'? → Exonerate
6. What does 'incarcerate' mean? → To confine someone in a prison or correctional facility
7. During foot patrol, an officer notices a youth sitting alone on a park bench at midnight, appearing distressed. The officer's best initial response is to: → Approach the youth calmly, introduce themselves, and ask if the youth needs assistance
8. A bystander reports seeing a suspect enter a building. The officer should ask the witness to describe the suspect's gait because it: → Can help identify a person even when their face is obscured
9. A graph shows that robbery incidents in a city decreased from 400 to 300 over one year. What fraction represents this decrease? → 1/4
10. A constable must write a report about a minor traffic collision with no injuries. Which writing principle is most important? → Write in clear, plain language that accurately records the facts
11. In the pattern below, what is the missing number? -4, ?, -1, 2, 6, 11... → None of the above
12. We absorbed a number of new prisoners into unit C. Most nearly integrated means: → Amalgamated
13. An officer is writing a report about a traffic stop. Select the sentence that uses the correct word. → The driver's demeanor did not seem to affect his ability to operate the vehicle.
14. If an officer earns $52,000 annually and receives a 5% raise, what is the new annual salary? → $54,600
15. An officer responding to a theft is told the suspect left in a 'dark-colored sedan.' How should the officer handle this imprecise description in their report? → Record it exactly as stated and note the uncertainty
16. What does the principle of proportionality mean in policing? → Force used must be appropriate and proportionate to the threat faced
17. What does 'affidavit' mean? → A written statement confirmed by oath, used as legal evidence
18. Under Ontario's Police Services Act, which of the following is listed as a core function of a police service? → Crime prevention
19. An officer is watching a busy intersection for traffic violations. Which approach best supports accurate recall of multiple observed events? → Making brief notes immediately after each observation
20. An officer is completing a description of a stolen vehicle. Which detail would be LEAST useful for a broadcast to other officers? → The vehicle's mileage at time of theft
21. What is the meaning of 'discrepancy'? → A difference or inconsistency between two or more facts or statements
22. A patrol car travels at 60 km/h for 45 minutes. How far does it travel? → 45 km
23. If 3 officers each file 4 reports per shift over 5 shifts, what is the total number of reports filed? → 60
24. Which of the following describes the standard narrative perspective and voice that should be used in a modern police report? → First-person, active voice (e.g., 'I placed the subject in my vehicle.')
25. On the Sigma written communication section, which sentence is correctly punctuated? → The suspect, who was wearing a red jacket, fled the scene.
26. A patrol area covers 240 square kilometres. Three officers share the area equally. How many square kilometres does each officer cover? → 80 km²
27. Four suspects each had different amounts of stolen goods valued at $200, $350, $150, and $500. What is the mean value of stolen goods? → $300
28. When structuring the narrative of a standard police incident report, what is the most widely accepted and effective method? → In chronological order, documenting events as they occurred from beginning to end.
29. Which of the following best defines 'reasonable grounds' as used in Canadian law? → An honest belief based on objective facts that would satisfy a reasonable person
30. When interviewing a witness who saw a crime from across the street at night, the officer should weigh the observation by considering: → The distance, lighting conditions, and duration of observation