Private Investigator Exam Cheat Sheet 2026

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

1. Which type of evidence is considered 'direct evidence' in an investigation? → Evidence that directly proves a fact without requiring inference
2. What is the first step in identifying a photo lineup? → Include only one suspect in each procedure.
3. Which public records source would BEST reveal whether a subject has had a professional license revoked, suspended, or subject to disciplinary action? → State professional licensing board records
4. Anything that tries to verify or invalidate an alleged truth is known as ______. → Evidence
5. When is it appropriate to abort a surveillance operation? → When the investigator believes they have been detected
6. A client asks a PI to find out where a person lives without disclosing why. The PI should: → Determine the purpose and ensure it is lawful before proceeding
7. Before asking you to describe what happened, the investigator first notes that there were two witnesses present. → Stick to your story anyway
8. In a workers' compensation fraud investigation, what type of surveillance is most commonly used? → Mobile and fixed video surveillance
9. When writing an investigation report, which writing style should a PI use? → Objective, factual, and free of personal conclusions or opinions
10. Choose the statement about private investigators that is most accurate. → A Private Investigator must follow all laws Federal, Provincial and Municipal.
11. Which of the following hearsay types is most likely to be admitted as evidence in court? → All of the above
12. Which best describes a "false informant"? → This individual intentionally provides misleading information.
13. The act or process of thoroughly investigating a crime, situation, or statement in order to determine the truth. → Investigation
14. Which public record can reveal whether a subject owns real estate and at what address? → County assessor or property tax records
15. This type of search pattern is used for very large areas. The area is divided into pie-shaped pieces that are searched individually using the Strip/Line method. → Pie/Wheel
16. Which type of lien appearing in a property records search would indicate that a subject has unpaid federal or state taxes? → Tax lien filed by a government authority
17. The oral statement of a witness who testifies to what they know about the case is this form of admissible evidence: → Testimony
18. Which of these is not a rule for how to deal with informants? → Investigators should pay informants without a signed statement.
19. Which of the following is NOT a permissible purpose for accessing someone's driver's license record under the Driver's Privacy Protection Act (DPPA)? → Satisfying personal curiosity about an acquaintance
20. Which one best illustrates indicative intelligence? → The police have uncovered a plan to manufacture a potent illicit drug.
21. Who handled the evidence, when, why, and what, if any, alterations were made are documented in the ______. → Chain of Custody
22. Why should a PI avoid editorializing in their written reports? → Opinions can undermine credibility and may be challenged or stricken in legal proceedings
23. In skip tracing, a 'cold address' refers to: → An address that was previously associated with the subject but is no longer current
24. What is the 'funnel technique' in witness interviewing? → Starting with broad open-ended questions and narrowing to specific details
25. In the context of background investigations, 'due diligence' is best defined as which of the following? → A thorough and reasonable investigation proportional to the risk level of the situation
26. When verifying a subject's claimed military service, which agency or repository should a PI contact to obtain official confirmation? → National Personnel Records Center (National Archives)
27. Under what circumstance may a US private investigator legally carry a firearm while working? → When they hold the appropriate state firearms permit/license for armed PIs
28. This provincial law establishes the procedures for gathering, preserving, and presenting evidence under Ontario's provincial and municipal bylaws. → Ontario evidence act
29. What exactly is a "demand account"? → A banking checking account
30. Which federal law governs how consumer reporting agencies may collect, disseminate, and use consumer information for background check purposes? → Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)