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Pass the correction officer written exam.
5 PDFs. 200 practice questions. A 30-day plan. Everything you need to pass the correction officer written exam — in one instant download.
5
PDFs included
200+
Practice questions
30
Day study plan
5
Exam formats covered
PDF download · print unlimited copies · no expiry
What's in the bundle
Five PDFs. Every one designed to do a specific job.
Complete Study Guide
60+ pages8 sections covering every topic on the written exam — with corrections-specific passages, worked examples, and strategies throughout.
- Reading comprehension: passage strategy + 3 worked examples (facility procedures, policy, incident reports)
- Writing & grammar: incident report and log entry focus, punctuation, spelling, sentence structure
- Math: headcounts, staff-to-inmate ratios, commissary word problems, step-by-step solutions
- Memory & observation: SCAN method for cell-block and housing-unit scenes — heavily weighted on CO exams
- Logical reasoning / applying rules: count procedures, classification rules, policy interpretation
- Situational judgment & inmate interaction: 10 fully worked scenarios + the 8 Cardinal Rules + manipulation tactics
- Agency-specific formats: NY DOCCS, California CDCR, Federal BOP, county jails, IO Solutions, Stanard & Associates
- Exam day strategy: the week before, morning of, time management, eligibility list explained
200 Practice Questions
40+ pagesNo answers in this booklet — designed for real exam conditions. Print it out and go.
- 30 reading comprehension questions (passages: facility procedures, inmate rules, legal language, incident reports)
- 30 writing & grammar questions (punctuation, sentence correction, spelling)
- 30 math questions (counts, headcounts, commissary, ratios, algebra)
- 25 memory & observation questions — cell block scene + post-order passage (heavily weighted format)
- 25 logical reasoning / applying rules questions (deductive, pattern, count procedures, policy application)
- 30 situational judgment & inmate interaction questions (10 scenarios, 3 questions each)
- Bonus: 30-question timed mock exam — 45 minutes, mirrors a common national CO exam format
- Scoring sheet to track your percentage by section
Answer Key & Explanations
35+ pagesEvery answer explained — not just what's right, but why the wrong answers are wrong.
- Full explanation for all 200 practice questions
- Trap answer analysis: the "tough guy" and "buddy" answer traps called out by name
- SJT: best answer, worst answer, and the corrections principle being tested
- Step-by-step math solutions — full working shown
- Grammar rule referenced for every writing question
- "If you got this wrong, review:" callout on every question
- Mock exam answer key + score interpretation table
- Pattern tracker: mark which section types you miss most
30-Day Study Schedule
3–4 pagesA day-by-day plan that works with 1–2 hours per day. No guessing what to study next.
- Week 1 — Foundation: reading comprehension, grammar, math sections
- Week 2 — Core skills: memory & observation, logical reasoning, situational judgment
- Week 3 — Agency prep + full practice test graded
- Week 4 — Final push: drill weak areas, timed mock exam
- Exact resource reference for each day (which page, which questions)
- Collapsible to a 2-week plan if your exam is sooner
- Checkbox format — print and track daily
Quick Reference Cheat Sheet
2 printable pagesStick it on the wall. Review it the morning before your exam. Everything that matters, one sheet.
- Key math formulas: percentage, distance, rate, average, ratio
- Top grammar rules: commas, apostrophes, its/it's, affect/effect
- The 8 Cardinal Rules for Corrections SJT — tested on virtually every CO exam
- Inmate manipulation grooming progression: small favors → shared secrets → contraband request
- Complete exam day checklist: what to bring, when to arrive
- Score interpretation: 70%+ to pass, 90%+ to top the eligibility list
Every section of the exam, covered
The practice test booklet follows the same breakdown used by agencies nationwide.
Reading Comprehension
Facility procedures, inmate rules/policy, legal language, incident reports
Writing & Grammar
Incident reports, log entries, punctuation, spelling
Math
Counts, headcounts, staff-to-inmate ratios, commissary word problems
Memory & Observation
Cell block/housing unit scenes and post-order passages — heavily weighted
Logical Reasoning / Applying Rules
Count procedures, classification rules, policy interpretation
Situational Judgment & Inmate Interaction
Contraband, boundaries, use-of-force, reporting misconduct
Practice questions total
200 + 30 mockFree guide vs. this bundle
The free guide is a solid start. This takes it all the way to test day.
Inside the cheat sheet
The 8 Cardinal Rules for Corrections
Situational judgment is where candidates lose the most points — not because the concepts are hard, but because they don't know the principles going in. These 8 rules are tested, directly or indirectly, on virtually every correction officer written exam in the country.
- 1Security and the count come first — never compromise either
- 2Maintain professional boundaries — no personal relationships or favors with inmates
- 3Never introduce contraband and never let yourself be compromised
- 4Always report misconduct — by inmates AND by fellow staff
- 5De-escalate before escalating; use only necessary force
- 6Be consistent and fair — enforce rules the same way every time
- 7Document everything accurately
- 8Never abandon your post
The cheat sheet also includes math formulas, top grammar rules, the inmate manipulation grooming progression, and a complete exam day checklist.
Which agencies does this cover?
Section 7 of the study guide covers the major CO exam formats by agency. Whether you're applying to a state DOC, a federal facility, or a county jail, you'll know exactly what format to expect.
NY State DOCCS
Correction Officer Trainee exam format and section breakdown
California CDCR
CASE exam overview and what to expect
Federal BOP
Bureau of Prisons hiring process and written assessment
County Jails / Sheriff Depts
Correctional deputy exam formats vary by county
IO Solutions
National CO exam vendor used by many agencies
Your agency
How to find out which exam format your employer uses
Ready to start?
5 PDFs. $7.99. Instant download.
Everything you need to pass the written exam — study guide, 200 practice questions, full answer key, 30-day plan, and cheat sheet. One price. No subscription.