TEST PREP CONTINUED FROM PAGE 71
components added and the former components retitled, com-
bined or eliminated. The newest components include: critical
thinking, decision making and problem solving. The changes
made to the scoring “weight” for each component and recent
revisions include the following:
• report writing/reviewing: 18.75%
• interpersonal relations/supervision: 18.75%
• NJ Title 2C: 12.50%
• attorney general guidelines: 12.50%
• critical thinking: 18.75%
• decision making/problem solving: 18.75%
Changes for lieutenants and captains
The sheriff’s lieutenant and captain examinations will again
see the most significant changes for 2018. To start, the scoring
“weight” assigned to the components, which was removed in
2017, is back and differs for lieutenants and captains in three ar-
eas: Title 2C, supervision and interpersonal relations. According
to the NJ CSC, each component has the following weight with
respect to scoring:
• supervision: 17.5 percent (Capt.), 15 percent (Lt.)
• interpersonal relations: 17.5 percent (Capt.), 15 percent
(Lt.)
• Title 2C: 10 percent (Capt.), 15 percent (Lt.)
• New Jersey Attorney General Guidelines: 10 percent
• search procedures: 10 percent
• arrest procedures: 10 percent
• critical thinking: 10 percent
• problem solving: 10 percent
• written communication: 10 percent
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NEW JERSEY COPS
■ NOVEMBER 2017
The 2018 changes also include an examination format
change. This is the second time that the format of the sheriff’s
lieutenant and captain examinations has changed in the last
two years. According to the NJ CSC, the 2018 examination for
these ranks will consist of “an essay and multiple-choice for-
mat.” The “essay will involve the review of a scenario related to
the duties” of the tested rank. Candidates will now respond to
multiple-choice questions and complete their essay response,
which will be hand-written.
A final word
Since essay response questions can consist of any of the cit-
ed sources and can be configured in many ways, candidates
should study a variety of formats typically utilized for this type
of examination format. This will ensure that candidates will be
able to respond effectively and efficiently to the questions, re-
gardless of structure, that appear on the examination.
Although the administration and scoring of the 2018 exam-
inations have yet to occur, any changes made by the NJ CSC are
likely to become a part of the examination process for years to
come. Therefore, it is beneficial for promotional candidates to
become familiar with and to understand the changes that have
been made. Candidates who are aware of recent changes and
incorporate these changes into their studies will be better pre-
pared for their examinations. d
Lieutenant Edward Esposito of the Essex County Sheriff ’s Office
owns and operates ESPOS Test Prep in New Jersey. He has earned
the highest final average in the state and received the highest
written score in the state on all three of his promotional exams.