California POST Basic Certificate Exam
Practice Questions And Correct Answers
(Verified Answers)
This comprehensive 200-question practice exam is designed to align with the
California POST (Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training) Basic
Course curriculum. It covers California-specific penal, vehicle, and government
codes, as well as constitutional law, tactical concepts, and ethics.
Domain 1: Criminal Law & Procedures (CA Penal Code)
1. What are the two essential elements of a crime?
A) Motive and Opportunity
B) Act (Actus Reus) and Intent (Mens Rea)
C) Weapon and Victim
D) Malice and Forethought
Answer: B
2. Under California Penal Code (PC) 240, Assault is defined as:
A) Any willful and unlawful use of force upon another
B) An unlawful attempt, coupled with present ability, to commit a violent injury
C) Placing another in fear of imminent harm
D) Striking another person
Answer: B
3. Under PC 242, Battery is defined as:
A) An attempt to commit a violent injury
B) Any willful and unlawful use of force or violence upon the person of another
C) Threatening to harm another
D) Displaying a weapon
Answer: B
4. Which PC section defines "Assault with a Deadly Weapon" (ADW) or force
likely to produce great bodily injury (GBI)?
A) PC 240
B) PC 242
C) PC 245
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,D) PC 243
Answer: C
5. Murder (PC 187) requires which specific mental state?
A) Negligence
B) Recklessness
C) Malice aforethought
D) Premeditation
Answer: C
6. Manslaughter (PC 192) is distinguished from murder by the absence of:
A) Intent
B) Malice aforethought
C) A weapon
D) A victim
Answer: B
7. Robbery (PC 211) requires the taking of property from a person's immediate
presence by means of:
A) Stealth
B) Force or fear
C) Deception
D) Trespass
Answer: B
8. Burglary (PC 459) is committed when a person enters any structure with the
intent to commit:
A) Any felony or theft
B) Assault
C) Vandalism
D) Trespass
Answer: A
9. Under PC 148(a)(1), it is a misdemeanor to:
A) Threaten a peace officer
B) Resist, delay, or obstruct a public officer in the performance of their duties
C) Assault a peace officer
D) Refuse to identify oneself
Answer: B
10. PC 69 makes it a felony to resist an executive officer by:
A) Passive resistance
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,B) Running away
C) Using force or violence, or making threats of force/violence
D) Refusing to answer questions
Answer: C
11. Battery on a peace officer (PC 243) requires that the officer was:
A) In uniform
B) Engaged in the performance of their duties, and the suspect knew or reasonably
should have known the victim was an officer
C) Off-duty
D) Armed with a firearm
Answer: B
12. PC 422 defines the crime of:
A) Extortion
B) Criminal Threats
C) Stalking
D) Harassment
Answer: B
13. PC 273.5 makes it a crime to inflict a corporal injury resulting in a traumatic
condition on:
A) Any person
B) A spouse, cohabitant, or former spouse/cohabitant
C) A peace officer
D) A minor
Answer: B
14. Which Health and Safety Code (HSC) section generally covers the possession
of a controlled substance?
A) HSC 11350
B) HSC 11352
C) HSC 11377
D) HSC 11378
Answer: A
15. Under PC 17, a crime punishable by death or imprisonment in the state
prison is a:
A) Misdemeanor
B) Infraction
C) Felony
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, D) Wobbler
Answer: C
16. Under PC 836, a peace officer may make a warrantless arrest for a
misdemeanor only if:
A) The officer has probable cause
B) The offense was committed in the officer's presence
C) The suspect is a known gang member
D) The suspect refuses to identify themselves
Answer: B
17. A private person may arrest another for a felony (PC 837) if:
A) They suspect the person committed a felony
B) A felony has actually been committed, and they have reasonable cause to
believe the person arrested did it
C) The person confesses
D) The person is fleeing
Answer: B
18. Under PC 841, before making an arrest, the officer must inform the arrestee
of:
A) Their Miranda rights
B) The officer's authority and the cause of the arrest
C) The maximum penalty for the crime
D) The name of the victim
Answer: B
19. PC 844 is known as the "Knock and Notice" law, which requires officers to:
A) Knock and wait 10 seconds before entering
B) Announce their purpose and demand admittance before breaking a door to
execute a warrant
C) Knock only on commercial buildings
D) Never knock when serving a search warrant
Answer: B
20. Kidnapping (PC 207) is defined as:
A) Taking, holding, or detaining another person by force or fear and moving them
a substantial distance
B) Holding someone for ransom
C) Taking a child without parental consent
D) False imprisonment
Answer: A
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Practice Questions And Correct Answers
(Verified Answers)
This comprehensive 200-question practice exam is designed to align with the
California POST (Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training) Basic
Course curriculum. It covers California-specific penal, vehicle, and government
codes, as well as constitutional law, tactical concepts, and ethics.
Domain 1: Criminal Law & Procedures (CA Penal Code)
1. What are the two essential elements of a crime?
A) Motive and Opportunity
B) Act (Actus Reus) and Intent (Mens Rea)
C) Weapon and Victim
D) Malice and Forethought
Answer: B
2. Under California Penal Code (PC) 240, Assault is defined as:
A) Any willful and unlawful use of force upon another
B) An unlawful attempt, coupled with present ability, to commit a violent injury
C) Placing another in fear of imminent harm
D) Striking another person
Answer: B
3. Under PC 242, Battery is defined as:
A) An attempt to commit a violent injury
B) Any willful and unlawful use of force or violence upon the person of another
C) Threatening to harm another
D) Displaying a weapon
Answer: B
4. Which PC section defines "Assault with a Deadly Weapon" (ADW) or force
likely to produce great bodily injury (GBI)?
A) PC 240
B) PC 242
C) PC 245
Page 1 of 37
,D) PC 243
Answer: C
5. Murder (PC 187) requires which specific mental state?
A) Negligence
B) Recklessness
C) Malice aforethought
D) Premeditation
Answer: C
6. Manslaughter (PC 192) is distinguished from murder by the absence of:
A) Intent
B) Malice aforethought
C) A weapon
D) A victim
Answer: B
7. Robbery (PC 211) requires the taking of property from a person's immediate
presence by means of:
A) Stealth
B) Force or fear
C) Deception
D) Trespass
Answer: B
8. Burglary (PC 459) is committed when a person enters any structure with the
intent to commit:
A) Any felony or theft
B) Assault
C) Vandalism
D) Trespass
Answer: A
9. Under PC 148(a)(1), it is a misdemeanor to:
A) Threaten a peace officer
B) Resist, delay, or obstruct a public officer in the performance of their duties
C) Assault a peace officer
D) Refuse to identify oneself
Answer: B
10. PC 69 makes it a felony to resist an executive officer by:
A) Passive resistance
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,B) Running away
C) Using force or violence, or making threats of force/violence
D) Refusing to answer questions
Answer: C
11. Battery on a peace officer (PC 243) requires that the officer was:
A) In uniform
B) Engaged in the performance of their duties, and the suspect knew or reasonably
should have known the victim was an officer
C) Off-duty
D) Armed with a firearm
Answer: B
12. PC 422 defines the crime of:
A) Extortion
B) Criminal Threats
C) Stalking
D) Harassment
Answer: B
13. PC 273.5 makes it a crime to inflict a corporal injury resulting in a traumatic
condition on:
A) Any person
B) A spouse, cohabitant, or former spouse/cohabitant
C) A peace officer
D) A minor
Answer: B
14. Which Health and Safety Code (HSC) section generally covers the possession
of a controlled substance?
A) HSC 11350
B) HSC 11352
C) HSC 11377
D) HSC 11378
Answer: A
15. Under PC 17, a crime punishable by death or imprisonment in the state
prison is a:
A) Misdemeanor
B) Infraction
C) Felony
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, D) Wobbler
Answer: C
16. Under PC 836, a peace officer may make a warrantless arrest for a
misdemeanor only if:
A) The officer has probable cause
B) The offense was committed in the officer's presence
C) The suspect is a known gang member
D) The suspect refuses to identify themselves
Answer: B
17. A private person may arrest another for a felony (PC 837) if:
A) They suspect the person committed a felony
B) A felony has actually been committed, and they have reasonable cause to
believe the person arrested did it
C) The person confesses
D) The person is fleeing
Answer: B
18. Under PC 841, before making an arrest, the officer must inform the arrestee
of:
A) Their Miranda rights
B) The officer's authority and the cause of the arrest
C) The maximum penalty for the crime
D) The name of the victim
Answer: B
19. PC 844 is known as the "Knock and Notice" law, which requires officers to:
A) Knock and wait 10 seconds before entering
B) Announce their purpose and demand admittance before breaking a door to
execute a warrant
C) Knock only on commercial buildings
D) Never knock when serving a search warrant
Answer: B
20. Kidnapping (PC 207) is defined as:
A) Taking, holding, or detaining another person by force or fear and moving them
a substantial distance
B) Holding someone for ransom
C) Taking a child without parental consent
D) False imprisonment
Answer: A
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