You must use the Windows Internet Explorer for your browser. The Practice Test works best on the Windows Operating System.
Video streaming over the internet is still in its infancy. Generally, the faster your connection, the better playback will be. A DSL line or cable internet connection is best and the video portions of the test should play well. The test may play well over a 56k modem, however, the download time for the streaming video on a dial up connection can be as long as 4 hours.
Determining internet speed is your responsibility. Ergometrics prefers not to give refunds for bandwidth issues.
Your computer must be multimedia capable with audio speakers. The video portion of the test requires Windows Media Player, version 7.1 or higher. Click Here to download a free version of Windows Media Player. *
The most important test for your system is to play the Sample Question. If that plays well over your system, so that you can see and hear the small details and the buffering time (the time it takes the video to download before it will play), is not too long, then you can be assured of completing the test. Click here to play the Sample Question.
* If you need help with the installation of Microsoft’s Windows Media Player, go to the Microsoft web site.
Ergometrics and fireteamtest.com accept no responsibility for conflicts that may arise from the installation of Windows Media Player on your system.
On a fast connection, the practice test takes 30 to 45 minutes to complete. Once you start the test by logging onto the server with your password, it will run through to completion. You are purchasing a password that will allow you to take the FireTEAM Practice Test twice. After you complete the practice test, you will be given your score. After the second time, your password will be de-activated. You will get to play through twice, each time in one sitting. So it is very important that you schedule a distraction free time to complete the test. You will get two run throughs and each will take 30 to 45 minutes on a high speed internet connection.
If your system crashes during the practice test, log back on with your username and password. You will restart the test where you left off.
In the FireTEAM Practice Test, the video plays, then the narrator reads the written, multiple-choice answers. After the reading of the answers, you will have 10 seconds to choose an answer. In designing and giving video-based tests like FireTEAM to tens of thousands of people, Ergometrics has found that 10 seconds is long enough for an applicant to make a choice.
If you are not sure of the answer, go ahead and guess. There is no penalty for guessing.
Candidates are asked to use common sense and make quick judgments about how to handle various situations related to working with people. Each item of the test portrays a realistic scenario in vivid detail. All answers can be readily derived without prior fire fighting experience or training. FireTEAM tests for nothing more than what is usually described as common sense. On the job, you will have to make many important decisions on a daily basis. No two situations you face will be the same. You will have to decide what you want to achieve. You will have to weigh the pros and cons of various things that you could do.
This is a video-based test specifically designed for firefighters. You will watch a video segment, then choose the best course of action in a multiple-choice format. After you choose the best course of action, you will be asked to choose what would be the worst answer to the situation.
Mechanical aptitude is measured by troubleshooting an animated brick factory. You will watch a video segment, then choose the best course of action in a multiple-choice format. This new test addresses:
Analytical problem solving, adapting and improvising.
This test is designed specifically for firefighters, a job requiring on-going study of difficult and technical materials. This will be an online version of a paper and pencil test. There will be several paragraphs of information with every 7th to 9th word left blank. You must choose the correct word to complete the sentence from the multiple-choice answers given.
In this video based segment, you will be asked to make the kind of quick calculations firefighters must do every day. No paper and pencil, you will do this math “in your head”.
Some candidates may have prior experience in fire fighting or may have taken college level courses in emergency services. Experience may help you on this test. But be careful! Sometimes candidates with experience will read too much into a situation and start thinking “what if” or perhaps think about similar situations in which they participated. Also, an experienced candidate may be trying to apply departmental policies and procedures, with which they are familiar to this test. Since this is only a test of common sense and not policy, this kind of thinking can lead to poor decisions. Remember, most questions are asking about the first thing you should do or how to initially approach a problem. We are not asking about longer term solutions or follow-up on the incident. Since this is a test designed for those without prior experience, there are not going to be any “tricky” questions that only an experienced candidate would know.
This practice test should be just as valuable to you.
No potential employer or testing agency will ever see your FireTEAM Practice Test score. Your score on this practice test will be retained by Ergometrics in a secure database. The practice test scores are retained for the purposes of test validation research. Only Ergometrics' employees who need the information to perform a specific research-related task will have access to the practice test scores. The only party outside of Ergometrics who will see your score is yourself at the end of the test. For more information, Click Here to see our Privacy Policy.
What fire departments are testing applicants with FireTEAM?
More fire departments are using FireTEAM every week. Contact the personnel department of the agency you are applying to for information on what test they currently are using.
