What are the British Transport Police tests?

For police officer roles, the application form includes a situational judgement test. Shortlisted candidates then take online ability tests covering maths, word usage and verbal reasoning, unless they upload qualifying English and maths certificates. All applicants also complete a video assessment in which they write a factual account of a short clip.

Are the British Transport Police tests hard?

How hard you find them depends on your strengths and how much you have practised. They are used to check you meet the standard for the role, and BTP warns that an application with an unreasonable number of spelling or grammatical errors will be unsuccessful, so careful written English matters from the first stage.

How do I prepare for British Transport Police tests?

Preparing for British Transport Police tests starts with practice. The more you familiarise yourself with the types of questions asked, the better your performance can be. Psychometric Tests provides a suite of practice tests designed to help you prepare.

How long does the recruitment process take at British Transport Police?

BTP says the police officer recruitment process can be fairly lengthy and can take a considerable amount of time before you join an intake. After a conditional offer you stay in a recruitment pool until an intake is identified for you.

What are British Transport Police's core values?

British Transport Police lists five values: we are proud to protect, we care, we do the right thing, we strive to be better every day, and we are one BTP.

British Transport Police Assessments

Practise for the kinds of test used in British Transport Police recruitment.

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Application process

Online Application and SJT
Online Ability Tests
Video Assessment
Assessment Centre
Pre-employment Checks

Published 21 August 2024 · Updated 13 October 2026

Careers at British Transport Police

British Transport Police is the police force for the railways of Great Britain, protecting the people who travel and work on it. Career opportunities within the force range from frontline response officers to roles in counter-terrorism and community policing. BTP looks for people with good judgement and communication who want to serve the public, and it assesses applications against the Competency and Values Framework (CVF).

British Transport Police Application Process

For police officer roles, the selection process has five main stages: an online application with a situational judgement test, online ability tests, a video assessment, an assessment centre, and pre-employment checks.

1. Online Application and SJT

2. Online Ability Tests

3. Video Assessment

4. Assessment Centre

5. Pre-employment Checks

British Transport Police Online Application

The initial step in the hiring process at British Transport Police is the online application. This is where you make your first impression. The form includes an application question and a situational judgement test, and you can upload qualifying English and maths certificates. BTP assesses your answers against the Competency and Values Framework (CVF), so give specific examples from your own experience that show those behaviours. A high standard of written English is required: an application with an unreasonable number of spelling or grammatical errors will be unsuccessful.

Ensure that all information provided is accurate and up-to-date. This stage is also an opportunity to think critically about your reasons for pursuing a career with British Transport Police, as these may be explored further in subsequent phases of the recruitment process.

British Transport Police Online Assessments

The online application includes a situational judgement test. If your application is shortlisted, you are invited to online ability tests covering maths, word usage and verbal reasoning. If you hold qualifying English and maths qualifications and upload the certificates, you skip these tests. All applicants then complete a video assessment: you watch a short clip and write a factual account of what you saw.

Practising situational judgement, maths and verbal reasoning questions can help you get used to the format. Psychometric Tests provides general practice tests of these kinds; they are not BTP's own tests.

Presentation and Interview

The interview takes place at the assessment centre, straight after a 10-minute presentation. Your presentation and interview answers are assessed against the Competency and Values Framework (CVF). Structured answers built on real examples work well for competency questions, and the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) is a common way to organise them. Practise the presentation aloud so that it fits comfortably within 10 minutes.

British Transport Police Assessment Centre

At the assessment centre you give a 10-minute presentation followed by an interview, assessed against the competency and values framework. You also take the job-related fitness test (a 15-metre bleep test to level 5.4), give a mouth swab and fingerprints for biometric vetting, and are measured for uniform. Candidates who receive a conditional offer then go through vetting, a medical and reference checks.

The fitness test is a 15-metre bleep test to level 5.4, so if you are unsure you can reach that level, start training for it well before the assessment centre.

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British Transport Police Assessments Tips

Understand the Format: Get familiar with the type and format of tests used by British Transport Police to streamline your study process.
Practice Regularly: Consistency is key! Regular practice hones your skills and prepares you for the actual test environment.
Free Practice Tests Available: Psychometric Tests offers free practice tests in situational judgement, maths and verbal reasoning, the kinds of test used in BTP recruitment. They are general preparation, not BTP's own tests.
Time Management: Learn to manage your time wisely on each section of the test to ensure you can demonstrate your full potential.
Stay Informed: Check the BTP careers site before each stage, as the recruitment process and the tests used can change.

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British Transport Police Assessments FAQs

What are the British Transport Police tests?: For police officer roles, the application form includes a situational judgement test. Shortlisted candidates then take online ability tests covering maths, word usage and verbal reasoning, unless they upload qualifying English and maths certificates. All applicants also complete a video assessment in which they write a factual account of a short clip.
Are the British Transport Police tests hard?: How hard you find them depends on your strengths and how much you have practised. They are used to check you meet the standard for the role, and BTP warns that an application with an unreasonable number of spelling or grammatical errors will be unsuccessful, so careful written English matters from the first stage.
How do I prepare for British Transport Police tests?: Preparing for British Transport Police tests starts with practice. The more you familiarise yourself with the types of questions asked, the better your performance can be. Psychometric Tests provides a suite of practice tests designed to help you prepare.
How long does the recruitment process take at British Transport Police?: BTP says the police officer recruitment process can be fairly lengthy and can take a considerable amount of time before you join an intake. After a conditional offer you stay in a recruitment pool until an intake is identified for you.
What are British Transport Police's core values?: British Transport Police lists five values: we are proud to protect, we care, we do the right thing, we strive to be better every day, and we are one BTP.