Problem Sensitivity
Problem sensitivity is an ability to predict or get a sense of why, where or when something might be about to go wrong. It’s that innate sense that tells you something isn’t quite right — and in the field of traffic enforcement, it could even be life-saving.
An example of this would be an individual’s ability to spot an impending problem to traffic flow, that could then be mitigated or totally avoided by acting quickly.
The information ordering section of the test seeks to better understand the logical side of your brain. You’ll be asked to follow a rule or a set of rules to arrange numbers, pictures, words, letters or sentences in a particular order.
This is a valued skill in the field and will come in handy for jobs such as placing summonses in order by infraction type, among many other things.
Spatial Orientation
Spatial orientation is all about how conscious you are of your location in relation to other important objects or situations. For a traffic enforcement agent, this could mean understanding your proximity to traffic in order to best direct and control it.
Deductive Reasoning
Deductive reasoning is the practice of taking general rules and applying them to specific problems or challenges, to arrive at a logical conclusion.
Deductive reasoning tests are common in many fields. For traffic enforcement, they can give a good idea of whether a candidate would be able to cope with the demands of the multiple rules and regulations they’ll need to enforce daily.
Inductive Reasoning
While deductive reasoning is about taking general rules and applying them to specific scenarios, inductive reasoning is about taking specific rules and using them to solve more general challenges. Inductive reasoning practice can train the brain to quickly arrive at logical conclusions.
Traffic enforcement agents will often be required to listen to multiple accounts of the same problem, before being asked to come up with a specific answer to solve the challenge at hand.
Mathematical Reasoning
A strong grasp of mathematical principles is useful in almost any job.
The mathematical reasoning test examines how effective a candidate is at using mathematical formulas or rules to solve problems. It’s about knowing which skills and rules to use when, and it can be really helpful on the job when quick and accurate decisions are needed.
Number Facility
The number facility section of the test ensures that candidates have the necessary numerical skills to cope with the everyday demands of being a traffic enforcement agent. This could involve anything from simple mental arithmetic while out and about, to logging and understanding more complex data.
Five tips on how to prepare for traffic enforcement agent tests
1. Do your homework
Doing your research and finding out as much as you can about the role of a traffic enforcement agent is a really good way to better equip yourself for success throughout the application process.
It’ll also help to ensure you’ve thought carefully about whether it’s the right job for you. This is important as the application and training process is long, and it’s essential you feel invested and dedicated throughout.
2. Read the instructions carefully
It’s really important to take a deep breath and read the instructions carefully before starting each section of the test. It can be tempting to rush into answering in a bid to beat the clock, but this can lead to silly errors you might not have made otherwise.
If something doesn’t make sense, try reading it again slowly and carefully.
3. Practice lots of tests
Practicing lots of tests is one of the best ways you can help yourself. Not only will you get quicker and better at answering the questions, you’ll also have a lot more confidence on the day of the real test, as you’ll know what to expect.
Remember to review your answers every time you take a practice test. This will help you to identify any weaker areas, ensuring you know where to best spend your practice time.
4. It is okay to guess
The worst thing you can do is leave a blank answer field. Instead, try and make an educated guess if you’re unsure of the answer to a question. At least you have a chance of getting it right then.
5. Master the timings
Taking mock tests under timed conditions is a great way to mimic exam conditions, and ensure you get a sense of the pace at which you need to move through the questions.
A good rule of thumb with exam timings is to divide the number of questions by the minutes you have to complete the test. This will give you a rough guide as to how long to spend on each question and can be helpful in pushing you onto the next one if you’re struggling.
