Have questions about the PELLET B exam? Click below to find the answers you need.

++ANSWERWhat is the PELLET B?

The PELLET B is a test used by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) to measure test takers’ writing and reading abilities and to determine the likelihood of an examinee’s success in law enforcement. The PELLET B is designed to evaluate your communication skills and does not cover police procedure.ANSWER++

++ANSWERDo I need to take the PELLET B?

In California, taking—and passing—the PELLET B exam is the gateway for admittance into the basic academy. Once at the academy, you will learn about police procedure and the law.ANSWER++

++ANSWERHow is the PELLET B administered? 

The PELLET B is a pencil-and-paper test; it is not offered as a computer-administered test, nor is it available online. You must test at a location in the state of California.ANSWER++

++ANSWERHow do I register for the PELLETB?

The PELLET B exam is not administered by POST itself but rather by POST-participating law enforcement agencies and academies. To register for the exam, you must directly contact the participating agency or academy to which you are applying.ANSWER++

++ANSWERWhat should I expect on the day of the PELLET B Exam?

Arrive early on test day. Check with the facility or participating agency to make sure you know what type of identification to bring (usually government-issued photo identification). Bring at least two sharpened No. 2 pencils. Personal belongings, cell phones, and other electronic, photographic, recording, or listening devices are not permitted in the testing center. Many testing centers offer lockers to secure your personal items, but you should check beforehand with the facility to be sure storage is available.ANSWER++

++ANSWERCan I take the PELLET B online?

Currently, the PELLET B is only offered as a pencil-and-paper exam in person.ANSWER++

++ANSWERHow is the PELLET B Scored?

Your raw score (the number of questions you answer correctly) will be converted into your T-score. The T-score reflects how well you did against everyone else who took the test. POST provides a distribution, or a bell-shaped curve, with a midpoint, or average, of 50 and a standard deviation of 10. A T-score of 50 reflects average performance compared to all the other applicants who took the test. A score of 40 or below would be considered below average. A T-score of 60 or above is considered above average. 

You will receive a score report that details the number of questions you answered correctly in each section and provides your percentile rank, which shows how you did in comparison with other test takers. Each agency has its own entrance requirements, so be sure to check the requirements of the institutions you want to attend so you can set appropriate goals for yourself.ANSWER++

++ANSWERHow do you get your PELLET B score?

You should receive your results from the agency with which you take your exam; exam results should be provided to you within 30 days from the date you sat for the text. If you have yet to receive your score report after 30 days, you may contact the agency directly to inquire about your results.ANSWER++

++ANSWERCan you fail the PELLET B?

There is no “passing” score on the PELLET B. Agencies and academies require different scores, so check with yours to determine your target T-score.ANSWER++

++ANSWERCan I retake the PELLETB?

You may test only once in a thirty-day period, and you may retest on the thirty-first day or later. If you retest within thirty days with a different agency, your test results will be invalidated.ANSWER++