SDPD Study Guide 2026
Everything you need to pass the SDPD exam in one place: the exam format, every topic to study, real practice questions with explanations, flashcards, and full-length practice tests. Free, no sign-up needed.
SDPD exam key facts
- The SDPD Police Recruit written test uses multiple-choice questions to assess general aptitude to become a police officer. Source
- To pass the SDPD Police Recruit written test, candidates must score at least 70%. Source
- Candidates who fail the SDPD Police Recruit written test may retest after 30 days, provided the examination is open. Source
- A passing SDPD Police Recruit written test result is good only for the City of San Diego for two years. Source
📋 SDPD Exam Format at a Glance
📚 SDPD Topics to Study (13)
✍️ Sample SDPD Questions & Answers
1. A flying object has traveled a total distance of 1,800 miles in 20 days flying 12 hours each day. What is the average speed that the flying object was traveling
1,800 miles divided by 20 days gives us an average of 90 miles per day.The object flew for 12 hours each day,90 miles per day divided by 12 hours = 7.5 miles per hour
2. When treating a victim for shock, which position is generally recommended if no spinal injury is suspected?
Elevating the legs of a shock victim (Trendelenburg-modified position) helps return blood to the core organs, provided no spinal injury is suspected.
3. An officer uses a departmental AED on a cardiac arrest victim. After the AED delivers a shock, what should the officer do immediately?
Current guidelines direct rescuers to resume CPR immediately after AED shock delivery rather than pausing to check for a pulse.
4. When broadcasting an 'Attempt to Locate' (ATL) for a wanted suspect, which of the following is the most critical information to provide immediately after the initial alert?
Immediately after alerting units to an ATL, broadcasting the reason the person is wanted (e.g., 'wanted for 211 PC, armed with a handgun') is most critical for officer safety. This information allows responding officers to understand the potential threat level and adjust their tactics accordingly before they even receive a physical description.
5. Which of the following actions by an SDPD officer is the clearest example of building a 'community partnership'?
Community partnership, a core component of community policing, involves law enforcement and community members working together proactively to solve problems. Collaborating with neighborhood groups and businesses is a prime example of this partnership, whereas the other options describe standard, and often reactive, police duties.
6. What is the first step in a criminal investigation conducted by the San Diego Police Department?
Securing the crime scene is the first step to preserve evidence and maintain the integrity of the investigation.
🎯 Free SDPD Practice Tests
📖 SDPD Guides & Articles
- SDPD K9 Unit: Inside San Diego Police Department's Canine Program
- SDPD Pay Scale: Complete Salary Guide for San Diego Police Officers
- SDPD Website Guide: How to Use sdpd.com for Hiring, Services & Recruitment
- SDPD Shelter in Place: What San Diego Residents and Recruits Need to Know
- SDPD Alarm Permits: Registration, Fines & How It Works
- SDPD News: San Diego Police Department Updates, Hiring, and What Recruits Need to Know
- SDPD Non-Emergency Number: When and How to Contact San Diego Police
- SDPD Practice Test PDF (Free Printable 2026)
What Practice Test Geeks adds beyond an AI chat for SDPD
An AI chatbot can quiz you, but it can't reproduce the exam conditions or keep your record. Here you get:
- A timed, full-length SDPD mock exam — 100 questions in 150 minutes with a 70% pass mark, modeled on the official exam's question count and time limit, followed by a score report broken down by exam domain.
- A fixed SDPD question bank: the same test every attempt, so your score is comparable from one try to the next instead of changing with every regenerated quiz.
- Progress saved on your device: completed tests, scores and missed questions stay in My Progress, so you can retake only what you got wrong.
- A printable SDPD cheat sheet you can print or save as a PDF.
- SDPD flashcards built from the same question bank.
- Free SDPD practice tests with the correct answer shown after each question.
How this page was made: written with AI tools and published by Nathan Beja, founder of Practice Test Geeks, who is responsible for its content. Exam facts are checked against the official sources listed below. Not reviewed by a subject-matter expert. Editorial policy
Sources & references
Exam facts on this page (fees, format, dates, passing scores) are checked against these official sources; the date is our last check. Editorial policy
- sandiego.gov — Test delivery, eligibility, score validity, exam format, passing score, retake policy · verified Oct 2026