Preparing for Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) Written Selection Test (WST), Group Assessment and Personality tests - timed practice WST tests with real questions, detailed answer explanations, online courses & 1-on-1 personal tutoring 2025
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If you are applying to join Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV), you will be required to undergo several challenging Psychometric tests with Pearson’s Vue:
1. In your initial screening you will be asked to complete a Written Selection Test (WST) by ACER which includes several timed cognitive tests:
- Abstract test.
- Literacy (Verbal) test.
- Numeracy test.
- Mechanical test.
2. Then, you will be asked to participate in a group assessment, which would measure how well you work with others.
3. Then, you will be asked to complete a Clinical personality test to ensure no personality issues that might hinder your performance as a firefighter.
What to expect in your verbal reasoning test in FRV's Written Selection Test (WST) ACER:
The Verbal reasoning test questions in WST ACER’s verbal reasoning test are multiple-choice test questions. These questions are designed to measure your verbal comprehension skills which includes your ability to process verbal information in an effective and efficient manner, identify critical issues and master the English language as a way to communicate and comprehend instructions.
FRV tailored example verbal reasoning test questions:
FRV's verbal test is designed to measure your ability to use the English language. In your Pearson's VUE verbal test you will have a list of verbal test questions to complete in a given time. The timer is set for the entire test. The verbal test question style typically includes pairs of words that are associated in some way (i.e. an analogy) and a list of options. Your task is to select which of the options is most like the given word association.
Let’s look at a typical verbal reasoning test example:
n epistemology, the Munchausen trilemma is a thought experiment used to demonstrate the impossibility of proving any truth, even in the fields of logic and mathematics. If it is asked how any knowledge is known to be true, proof may be provided. Yet that same question can be asked of the proof, and any subsequent proof. The Munchausen trilemma is that there are only three options when providing proof in this situation: (a) the circular argument, in which theory and proof support each other; (b) the regressive argument, in which each proof requires a further proof, ad infinitum; and (c) the axiomatic argument, which rests on accepted precepts. The trilemma, then, is the decision among the three equally unsatisfying options.
The name Munchausen Trilemma was coined in 1968 by the German philosopher Hans Albert in reference to a trilemma of “dogmatism versus infinite regress versus psychologism” used by Karl Popper. It is a reference to the problem of ‘bootstrapping’, based on the story of Baron Munchausen pulling himself and the horse on which he was sitting out of a mire by his own hair.
Answer the following question:
Which one of the following does NOT follow based on the content of the text?
a. Karl Popper was a German philosopher.
b. There are three argument options when providing proof of whether any knowledge is true.
c. The axiomatic argument is one which rests on accepted precepts.
d. When each proof requires further proof ad infinitum, it is called a regressive argument.
e. Baron Munchausen rode a horse.
To answer this question, we need to quickly read the passage. From a quick read we can conclude that nowhere in the text does it mention Karl Popper’s origins. The text only says that Hans Albert was a German philosopher. Therefore, the correct answer is a.
What to expect in your abstract reasoning test in FRV's Written Selection Test (WST) ACER:
The Abstract test questions in WST ACER’s test are also timed and are forced-choice (which means that each question has between 4 to 5 answer options and only one is correct). All Abstract test questions are non-verbal problems, which means that there is no text to read. Each Abstract test question displays a group of shapes that have some common patterns or rules. Your task is to quickly identify the patterns and logical rules for each group of shapes and then use them to select the correct answer. Each Abstract test question in the Cognitive test has a different group of shapes and different patterns and logical rules.
FRV tailored example abstract reasoning test question:
Let's review a second example for a 3 by 3 matrix abstract question. In this question there are 8 shapes in a 3 by 3 table. The 9th shape is missing and your task is to find what it is based on the other shapes.
To solve this question, we need to find the logical rules that apply to the shapes going from left to right or top to bottom. We can see that in each cell in each row contains a black rectangle or box. The last cell in each row is a combination of the first two boxes of the first and second cells. So, if we look at our top row, the first two black boxes in first and middle cells are combined in the last cell to create a vertical black rectangle. Therefore, the missing shape is a full black box which is a combination of the two horizontal black rectangles.
What to expect in your numerical test in FRV's Written Selection Test (WST) ACER:
In your ACER's type numerical test you will be asked to demonstrate the capability to add, subtract, divide and multiply two numbers with two digits each. You will also be asked to use algebra to group variables. The variables can be a simple variable such as X or Y and it can also be X squared or Y squared.
FRV example numerical test question:
Emma worked 4 times as long as Sharon; and Anne worked for one-third as long as Sharon. If Emma worked for 24 hours, how long did Anne work?
Brian = Emma, Tracy=Sharon, Bill=Anne
How to answer this question
There are many ways to approach such a test question. You might wish to solve it intuitively, but if you are not someone for whom intuitive answers come in to mind, then we would suggest converting the text in the question to an equation in the following way:
From the first sentence of the question you can come up with the following two equations:
Equation 1: Emma = Sharon x 4
Equation 2: Sharon = Anne x 3
The two equations include 3 unknown variables: Emma, Anne and Sharon (each variable represents the number of hours each person worked). Then, based on the last sentence in the question we can conclude that Emma = 24. Using this fact, we can plug in Emma’s number of hours worked into Equation 1 to find that Sharon worked: 24 / 4 = 6 hours. Then, we can plug Sharon’s number of hours worked into Equation 2, and we will find that Anne worked: 6 / 3 = 2 hours.
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What to expect in your mechanical test in FRV's Written Selection Test (WST) ACER:
FRV's mechanical comprehension test includes a set of mechanical problems that must be completed in a predefined time.Each mechanical comprehension test question offers you a mechanical scenario that can include acceleration, gravity, friction, pressure, moments, energy transformation, kinetic and potential energy, work and power, levers, pulleys, screws, gears or springs. Your task is to use mechanical principles to find the correct answer.
You should expect to have around 30 seconds to complete each mechanical comprehension test question.
Let's review the following mechanical comprehension test question example:
A man weighing 75kg is standing on bathroom scales inside a moving elevator. The scales show that he weighs 60kg.
Which way is the elevator travelling?
- the elevator is accelerating upwards
- it is impossible to tell
- the elevator is accelerating downwards
- the elevator is spinning
To answer this mechanical comprehension test question, you must consider a mechanical principle relating to gravity. When the elevator is still, the pull of gravity is equalised by the ‘upward’ push of the floor and the scales will show the normal weight. However, while the elevator is accelerating downwards, the pull of gravity is temporarily reduced (because there is less upward equalisation) and the scales will show a lighter weight. As the man's weight drops when in the elevator from 75kg to 60kg, we can conclude that the elevator is accelerating downwards.
FRV's next step assessments:
Once you completed your initial tests you will be asked to participate in a group assessment. The group assessment will include some additional tests and a group exercise. These are used to measure your personality and behaviour in a group setting.
1. FRV's Work Safety test
The Work Safety test is a non timed personality test that has just over 30 test questions. Each test question has a statement and you are asked to select the degree to which you agree with the statement about you.
The test measures risks in your work safe behaviour that might impact your ability to be a firefighter. The test measures your work safe behaviour using 5 scales:
Scale 1 – Risk Avoidance, or Risk Averse, or Cautious
Scale 2 – Safety and Personal Accountability/Responsibility
Scale 3 – Managing Stress, Emotional Resilience, or Being Strong
Scale 4 – Aggressive or Violent Behaviour
Scale 5 – Compliance and Obedience
Let's review the following example of a work safety test statement:
If a person is insulted then he is entitled to be angry
- Strongly disagree
- Disagree
- Neutral
- Agree
- Strongly agree
The statement is designed to measure your ability to manage your anger and frustration in the work place. If you were to choose “agree” to this statement, then this would indicate that you are likely to approve of aggressive behaviour in the work place, which is likely to lead to accidents.
2. FRV's personality profile test
FRV use a special clinical personality test that measures personality disorders. The test includes more than 300 items and is not timed. The test report offers FRV a full clinical personality profile of you. this report focuses on personality disorders such as anti-social behaviour, borderline personality, assertiveness and aggressive behaviour.
Each test question includes a statement and you are asked to state to what extent this statement is you on a 4-points scale (from strongly disagree to strongly agree). Each question only measures one scale but there are several questions measuring the same scale. All questions are measuring the scales in a covert manner. This means that you will not know what the question measures. Here, is the risk. Many people wrongly assume that what each test question measures. They assume that a question measures one personality scale while, in reality, it measures another scale. Then, they answer the questions in the wrong way.
Example personality test question:
I have a lot of brilliant ideas.
- Strongly disagree
- Disagree
- Neutral
- Agree
- Strongly agree
While this question may seem very simple to answer, it measures a manic-depressive personality disorder, If you answer strongly agree then this is one indicator that you have a manic personality disorder.
How we prepare you for FRV's Written Selection Test (WST), Personality profile and Group Assessment:
The Institute of Psychometric Coaching has developed a variety of tailored preparations to ensure you are ready for your tests with Fire and Rescue Victoria..
Our professional preparations include:
FRV tailored practice tests - FRV's Written Selection Test (WST) ACER - Abstract reasoning, Verbal reasoning, Numerical calculations & Mechanical comprehension tests:
- A large pool of reasoning timed practice FRV tailored with real timers - Abstract Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, Numerical Reasoning & Mechanical Comprehension tests.
- Based on real WST ACER's test questions.
- Step by step answer explanations at the end of each test.
- Test scores in comparison to others.
- Timers are used to mimic test pressure.
- Guidance about how to improve.
- Immediate access.
Practice FRV's clinical personality tests
- A full scale practice personality test..
- Based on FRV's personality test
- Test scores in comparison to others.
- Guidance on how to improve.
- Immediate Access.
Online FRV courses for Written Selection Test (WST) ACER - Abstract reasoning, Verbal reasoning, Numerical Reasoning & Mechanical comprehension tests:
- Mechanical reasoning tests courses online with all the knowledge you need to pass Fire Rescue Victoria tests.
- Abstract Reasoning Test Course online with some example test questions.
- Verbal Reasoning Test Course online with some example test questions.
- Numerical Reasoning Test Course with some example test questions.
- Immediate Access.
1-on-1 personal tutoring for FRV's Written Selection Test (WST), Personality profile and Group Assessment:
- Delivered by Australian psychometricians who are experienced with WTS Pearson VUE's tests.
- Face to face or via Teams live or in our Caulfield north office..
- Includes an analysis of your weaknesses.
- Working with you to ensure you know how to demonstrate your capabilities in all FRV test questions.
