Educational resource: Civil Service Exam Preparation.

Premium guides

Professional & office · National

Investigator / Investigative Assistant practice test

Investigator and Investigative Assistant civil service exams test evidence-handling policy, chain-of-custody rules, caseload math, and judgment around objectivity and confidentiality. This free 30-question practice test helps you build familiarity with the format before the real exam.

Independent prep from Civil Service Exam. We are not affiliated with any city, county, state, or agency. Your official exam announcement defines subjects, timing, and passing scores.

Start free practice testSee sample questions ↓Official PDFs by state →General practice test →

Start practicing

Take a free practice test

30 questions · about 35 minutes · evidence, reading, math, and judgment

Start timed testStart untimed

Answer review examples

Sample Investigator / Investigative Assistant exam questions with answers

Investigator and Investigative Assistant civil service exams test evidence-handling policy, chain-of-custody and confidentiality rules, and objective judgment under pressure from supervisors, sources, or subjects.

A strong prep routine practices applying a stated policy exactly to a scenario, caseload and percentage math, conditional reasoning, and situational judgment that favors following evidence over defending an original theory.

Start the full interactive test
ReadingSample question 1

Policy states: "All physical and documentary evidence must be logged into the case file with date, time, and source before being analyzed or referenced in a report." An investigator receives a document from a witness and wants to reference it in a report immediately. What must happen first?

Choose an answer to reveal the explanation.

ReadingSample question 2

Policy states: "An investigator may not disclose the identity of a confidential informant except to a supervisor or as required by a court order." A defense attorney informally asks an investigator to reveal the identity of an informant. What should the investigator do?

Choose an answer to reveal the explanation.

ReadingSample question 3

Policy states: "Interview notes must be written or finalized within 24 hours of the interview to preserve accuracy." An investigator conducts an interview Monday morning and plans to write notes Wednesday. Is this consistent with policy?

Choose an answer to reveal the explanation.

ReadingSample question 4

Policy states: "A case file may be closed only after a supervisor reviews the findings and approves closure in writing." An investigator believes a case lacks sufficient evidence and wants to close it without supervisor review. Is this permitted?

Choose an answer to reveal the explanation.

ReadingSample question 5

Policy states: "Chain-of-custody documentation must record every person who has handled a piece of evidence, with no gaps in time or possession." An investigator hands evidence to a colleague without documenting the transfer. What is the problem?

Choose an answer to reveal the explanation.

Save your scores and track your progress

Create a free account to save every attempt and see your readiness score and lowest topic in your dashboard. Pro adds every weak area and a daily study plan.

Create free account →

Exam skills

What does the Investigator test cover?

The exact subjects vary by agency and announcement. These are the skills represented in this practice set, not a universal exam blueprint.

  • Evidence and confidentiality
  • Reading case facts
  • Report writing and detail
  • Caseload and percentage math
  • Planning and logic
  • Objective judgment

Keep preparing

Build a study routine for the Investigator / Investigative Assistant exam

Build a repeatable process for evidence, confidentiality, written reports, caseload math, and objective judgment. Check the announcement for the exact competencies and exam format.

Reading comprehension strategy sheet Math quick reference Situational judgment guide Exam day checklist Check official exam information Browse all practice tests

Related reading

More on this exam

Investigator and Investigative Assistant Exam Prep

Prepare for Investigator civil service exams with practice in evidence, reports, research, confidentiality, problem solving, and objective judgment.