Prison Officer Exam Study Guide (2026)
Everything the Prison Officer (HM Prison Service, England and Wales) tests, topic by topic: what each section covers, the facts that come up most, and how to study it. Pair it with the free 15-question practice test.
The exam at a glance
| Questions | Stage 1 scenario-based test (SBT): behavioural and numerical scenarios a prison officer might face. Stage 2 values-based assessment (VBA): a variety of question styles covering three behaviours, one technical area and one strength. HMPPS does not publish question counts |
|---|---|
| Time | SBT about 25 to 40 minutes; VBA up to about 20 minutes with no time limit. Online assessment centre about 2 hours 30 minutes: interview up to 30 minutes, 10-minute role play, 25-minute written exercise |
| Passing score | No pass mark is published. You must pass each stage. For 'merit' vacancies, offers go in order of online assessment centre performance; a pass is valid for 12 months. Fitness: grip 25 kg in both hands, 7 kg shield at shoulder height for 1 minute, 15 m bleep test to level 5.4 (35 shuttles), agility run within 34 seconds |
| Format | Unsupervised online tests; HMPPS offers a free official SBT practice test and example VBA questions. The written exercise is typed into an incident form in 25 minutes. Our practice questions are single-best-answer with four options |
| Certifying body | HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS), an executive agency of the Ministry of Justice |
| Test provider | Online: application on Prison and Probation Jobs, a scenario-based test and a values-based assessment at home, then a video online assessment centre (laptop with webcam). The medical and fitness test is in person at Swindon, Cambridge, South London (Croydon), Rugby (Newbold Revel), Leeds or Manchester |
Mind map: the whole exam on one screen
Read the complete Prison Officer study notes for “The Prison Officer Role, Eligibility and Pay”
Our first full set of comprehensive notes, about 11 minutes of reading: The job · Who can apply · Pay by location (Band 3, 39-hour week) · Choosing where to apply, a worked exam example, the traps examiners use and a one-minute recap. Create a free account to read it and see how premium notes work before you decide.
1. The Prison Officer Role, Eligibility and Pay
What a prison officer does, who can apply to HMPPS, and Band 3 starting pay by location. No qualifications are needed, but you must pass a medical, fitness test and security checks.
Key facts
- Prison officers keep prisons safe, secure and decent: supervising landings, searching, roll checks and escorts, de-escalating conflict, and supporting prisoners to learn skills and change. HMPPS describes officers as 'peacekeepers, teachers, counsellors'.
- You must be at least 18 when you start, have the right to work in the UK and meet Civil Service nationality rules. No qualifications are required.
- To work in a high security (category A) prison you must have lived in the UK for the 3 years immediately before you apply.
- Tattoos are allowed, including visible ones, unless offensive, discriminatory, violent or intimidating. Facial tattoos are generally not acceptable except for cultural, religious or medical reasons.
- Band 3 starting pay on a 39-hour week including a 20% unsocial hours allowance: Inner London £43,453; Outer London £41,290 to £43,290; South and South East £38,316 to £40,316; other locations £36,816 (some figures include a market supplement).
- You start on a 37-hour contract until initial training is complete, then can choose 39 or 41 hours a week.
- Many prisons are rural with limited transport and shifts may start around 7am. You pay your own travel to work and any relocation costs.
- If there is no vacancy near you, HMPPS runs a First Time Prison Officer Recruitment Scheme for people happy to work away from home for their first 23 months, or you can register interest.
Flashcards
Exam tip: Before you apply, find your nearest prisons on a map and check how you would get there for a 7am start. HMPPS says this is one of the most common reasons new officers struggle.
2. Scenario-Based Test: Numeracy and Behaviour
Stage 1 of the online tests: a scenario-based test (SBT) presenting behavioural and numerical scenarios a prison officer might face. It takes about 25 to 40 minutes. HMPPS offers a free official practice test.
Key facts
- HMPPS uses the SBT to check you have 'the basic numeracy skills and behaviours expected of a prison officer'.
- Numeracy matters because officers account for prisoners: counting movements between locations and signing roll checks to confirm everyone is where they should be.
- Expect arithmetic in context: adding and subtracting movements, grouping prisoners for escorts (round up), working with times and shifts, and simple money (prisoner accounts).
- Behavioural scenarios ask how you would act in realistic prison situations; judge them against the four assessed behaviours and HMPPS values.
- There is a free practice SBT linked from the How to apply page; HMPPS does not see your practice results.
- Passing the SBT unlocks Stage 2, the values-based assessment.
- HMPPS publishes no question count or pass mark for the SBT.
Flashcards
Exam tip: Practise mental arithmetic with times (shift lengths, minutes between movements) and running totals. Write each step down rather than holding numbers in your head.
3. Values-Based Assessment and HMPPS Values
Stage 2: an online values-based assessment (VBA) for applications after 29 April 2026, replacing the task-based assessment. It takes up to about 20 minutes, has no time limit and covers three behaviours, one technical area and one strength.
Key facts
- Communicating and Influencing: communicate confidently and respectfully, adapt your style, manage disagreements and challenge constructively while making people feel listened to.
- Managing a Quality Service: professionalism and integrity, lead by example, make realistic commitments and see them through, act on feedback.
- Making Effective Decisions: use a wide range of information, consider options, be alert to risks, decide with confidence and know when to involve others.
- Caring: positive, meaningful interactions built on trust and respect; compassion with clear boundaries; motivate and support others.
- HMPPS values: Purpose (justice matters), Humanity (treat others as we would like to be treated), Openness (innovate, share and learn), Together (listen, collaborate and contribute).
- Professional standards: be honest and act with integrity, take responsibility, be courteous, reasonable and fair, and treat people with decency and respect. HMPPS has zero tolerance of bullying, harassment and discrimination.
- Boundaries are central: never pass items or messages for prisoners, and report attempts to manipulate (condition) staff.
- The VBA uses a variety of question styles; complete the example questions first so the formats are familiar.
Flashcards
Exam tip: For each scenario ask: is it safe, is it fair and respectful, does it follow the rules, and does it involve the right people? The best answer usually meets all four.
Test yourself on these topics
Take the free 15-question Prison Officer test, then save your results to unlock your Readiness Score and the mistakes bank.
4. Online Assessment Centre: Role Play and Written Exercise
The online assessment centre takes about 2.5 hours by video (laptop with webcam) and has three parts: a blended interview, a 10-minute role play and a 25-minute written exercise. Scenarios can contain strong language and sensitive topics.
Key facts
- Role play (10 minutes): you play a prison officer dealing with a prisoner (a role actor) after reading background information. It is scored on Communicating and Influencing, Managing a Quality Service, Making Effective Decisions and Caring.
- You are not expected to know prison procedures; HMPPS wants your natural, appropriate response. Treat it exactly as a real situation.
Flashcards
Exam tip: Practise writing a 300-word incident response in 20 minutes: what you saw, immediate safety actions, who you told, and how you supported the people involved. Check it reads clearly to someone outside prisons.
5. Medical, Fitness Test and Vetting
After a provisional offer you attend a medical and fitness test at one of six UK centres, while HMPPS completes security, identity, employment and health checks (8 to 10 weeks).
Key facts
- Eyesight: minimum uncorrected distance vision 6/36 with both eyes open, and corrected vision of at least 6/12 with both eyes open.
- Hearing: hear normal conversation at 10 feet (3 m) without hearing aids, checked by a whisper test.
Flashcards
Exam tip: Download the HMPPS fitness guidance booklet and practise with the official bleep and agility app. Level 5.4 is modest, but the shield hold catches out people who skip shoulder endurance work.
6. The Blended Interview: Strengths and Behaviours
The online assessment centre interview lasts up to 30 minutes and blends strength questions with behaviour questions. It also assesses your spoken English.
Key facts
- Three strengths are assessed, with up to two questions each. The specific strengths are not disclosed; HMPPS points to the Civil Service Strengths Dictionary.
- Strength questions explore what you enjoy and do naturally, for example whether it matters to you to explain things so others understand, or how you would plan a day of urgent tasks.
Flashcards
Exam tip: Prepare two STAR examples for each interview behaviour (four in total), from different parts of your life. For strengths, reflect on what genuinely energises you and why you want this job.
7. Application Strategy and Timeline
The process averages 6 to 7 months from application to first day. Choosing the right prison and vacancy type, and keeping your documents ready, avoids the most common delays.
Key facts
- The application takes about 10 minutes and needs your National Insurance number. You can apply to more than one prison; your first application is your main one and scores are reused.
- You can also opt to be considered for an operational support grade (OSG) role at the same time (the Aspire programme).
Flashcards
Exam tip: Apply to a 'pass' vacancy where possible if you want speed, and list only prisons you can reach for early shifts. Keep passport, driving licence, bank statement and P45 ready for vetting.
8. Foundation Training and the First Year
New officers have a 10-day induction at their home prison, then a 7-week foundation course at a learning centre, followed by on-the-job learning with local support.
Key facts
- Weeks 1 and 2: 10-day induction at your home prison, meeting your colleague mentor and line manager, touring areas and learning basic security; e-learning on rehabilitative culture, keys and security processes.
- Weeks 3 to 9: 7-week foundation training at a designated learning centre, usually close to your home prison; if not commutable you stay Monday to Friday.
Flashcards
Exam tip: Ask your recruitment contact early whether your learning centre is commutable, so you can plan for Monday to Friday stays if needed.
How to pass
- Take the free official scenario-based test practice on the HMPPS How to apply page first. The SBT checks basic numeracy (roll counts, movements, times) as well as behaviour, so practise quick, accurate arithmetic without a calculator.
- Learn the four assessed behaviours word for word: Communicating and Influencing, Managing a Quality Service, Making Effective Decisions, and Caring. The role play, written exercise and interview are all scored against them.
- In the 25-minute written exercise, spend about 2 minutes reading and 23 writing (HMPPS's own advice). Write clear, factual sentences and focus most of your time on the actions you would take.
- Train for the fitness test early: 15 m bleep test to level 5.4, a 7 kg shield held at shoulder height for 1 minute, 25 kg grip and a 34-second agility run. Use HMPPS's fitness guidance booklet and practice app.
Frequently asked questions
How long should I study for the Prison Officer exam?
Most working candidates need 4 to 8 weeks at 45 to 60 minutes a day. Book your exam once your Readiness Score has stayed at 80 or higher for about a week.
Can I take the Prison Officer exam online?
Partly. Applications and the first online tests are usually online; interviews, assessment days, fitness tests, medicals and vetting are often in person. The job advert for Prison Officer sets out each stage.
What score do I need to pass the Prison Officer exam?
No pass mark is published. You must pass each stage. For 'merit' vacancies, offers go in order of online assessment centre performance; a pass is valid for 12 months. Fitness: grip 25 kg in both hands, 7 kg shield at shoulder height for 1 minute, 15 m bleep test to level 5.4 (35 shuttles), agility run within 34 seconds. The exam has stage 1 scenario-based test (sbt): behavioural and numerical scenarios a prison officer might face. stage 2 values-based assessment (vba): a variety of question styles covering three behaviours, one technical area and one strength. hmpps does not publish question counts and a time limit of sbt about 25 to 40 minutes; vba up to about 20 minutes with no time limit. online assessment centre about 2 hours 30 minutes: interview up to 30 minutes, 10-minute role play, 25-minute written exercise.
What are the most tested topics?
The outline covers the prison officer role, eligibility and pay, scenario-based test: numeracy and behaviour, values-based assessment and hmpps values, online assessment centre: role play and written exercise, medical, fitness test and vetting, the blended interview: strengths and behaviours, application strategy and timeline, foundation training and the first year. Use the free practice test to see which ones you need most.
The premium Prison Officer study path
Premium Prison Officer prep is studied one topic at a time. Each step starts with that topic's key notes and flashcard deck, then its own question sets of 25, so you master one topic before you move to the next. When every topic is strong, the 6 full mock exams show you're ready.
Your step-by-step study path
- 1The Prison Officer Role, Eligibility and Pay8 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25Notes free with an account
- 2Scenario-Based Test: Numeracy and Behaviour8 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25Premium
- 3Values-Based Assessment and HMPPS Values8 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25Premium
- 4Online Assessment Centre: Role Play and Written Exercise8 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25Premium
- 5Medical, Fitness Test and Vetting7 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25Premium
- 6The Blended Interview: Strengths and Behaviours7 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25Premium
- 7Application Strategy and Timeline7 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25Premium
- 8Foundation Training and the First Year7 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25Premium
- Final step: 6 full mock exams50 questions each, timed like test day. Pass them, then book your exam.Premium
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Summarized from recruiting organisations' official candidate information and the rules cited, checked November 2026. Confirm current requirements with HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS), an executive agency of the Ministry of Justice.