Firefighter Aptitude and Character Test (FACT)
FACT – FIREFIGHTER APTITUDE AND CHARACTER TEST
| VERIFIED ANSWERS AND QUESTIONS - MOST RECENT
EDITION 2026/2027
FIREFIGHTER APTITUDE AND CHARACTER TEST (FACT)
1. Which statement best expresses the main idea of the passage?
A. Fire departments install smoke alarms free of charge.
B. Smoke alarms need correct placement and regular upkeep to protect
occupants.
C. Sealed batteries make testing unnecessary.
D. Smoke alarms are only necessary in bedrooms.
B. Smoke alarms need correct placement and regular upkeep to
protect occupants. The passage covers where alarms belong and how
they must be maintained.
2. According to the passage, how often should a smoke alarm be
tested?
A. Monthly
B. Every six months
C. Weekly
D. Once a year
A. Monthly The passage states alarms should be tested monthly.
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, Firefighter Aptitude and Character Test (FACT)
3. Why does the passage recommend replacing the whole alarm every
ten years?
A. New homes require new alarms.
B. The alarm cover fades in colour.
C. The sensors degrade over time.
D. Batteries cannot be replaced after ten years.
C. The sensors degrade over time. Sensor degradation is the reason
given, even when the alarm looks fine.
4. Which statement is supported by the passage?
A. Every alarm needs a new battery every month.
B. Alarms are needed only on the ground floor.
C. An alarm that still sounds never needs replacing.
D. A unit with a sealed ten-year battery does not need yearly battery
replacement.
D. A unit with a sealed ten-year battery does not need yearly
battery replacement. The passage exempts sealed ten-year battery
units from yearly replacement.
Read the passage and answer Questions 5 to 8.
At the start of each shift, crews inspect their apparatus and equipment. The
driver checks fluid levels, tires, lights, and the pump, while other crew
members verify that ladders, hose, breathing apparatus, and medical supplies
are in place and working. Any defect is logged and reported to the officer
immediately; a defect that affects safety may place the apparatus out of service
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, Firefighter Aptitude and Character Test (FACT)
until repaired. Thorough checks take time, but they prevent equipment
failures during emergencies, when seconds matter.
5. According to the passage, who checks the fluid levels, tires, lights,
and pump?
A. The officer only
B. The driver
C. Every crew member equally
D. The dispatcher
B. The driver The passage assigns these checks to the driver.
6. What may happen if a defect affects safety?
A. The apparatus may be taken out of service until repaired.
B. The shift is cancelled.
C. The defect is ignored until the next inspection.
D. The crew must repair it during a call.
A. The apparatus may be taken out of service until repaired. The
passage says a safety defect may place the apparatus out of service.
7. Which title best fits the passage?
A. Why Medical Supplies Expire
B. Reporting Emergencies to Dispatch
C. How to Drive a Fire Engine
D. The Importance of Start-of-Shift Equipment Checks
D. The Importance of Start-of-Shift Equipment Checks The entire
passage explains why and how equipment is checked at shift start.
8. In the passage, the word "verify" most nearly means:
A. replace
B. clean
C. confirm
D. borrow
C. confirm To verify is to confirm that something is correct or present.
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, Firefighter Aptitude and Character Test (FACT)
Read the passage and answer Questions 9 to 12.
Firefighters working in heavy protective gear lose fluids rapidly through
sweat. Dehydration can reduce strength, slow thinking, and raise the risk of
heat-related illness. Drinking water before, during, and after physical work
helps maintain performance. Waiting until you feel thirsty is a poor guide,
because thirst appears after the body has already lost a meaningful amount of
fluid. Sugary or highly caffeinated drinks are less effective than water for
rehydration.
9. What can be inferred about thirst from the passage?
A. It is caused by drinking too much water.
B. It is a late signal that fluid has already been lost.
C. It is the most reliable sign to start drinking.
D. It only occurs in cold weather.
B. It is a late signal that fluid has already been lost. The passage
calls thirst a poor guide because it appears after fluid loss.
10. Which of the following is NOT listed in the passage as an effect of
dehydration?
A. Reduced hearing
B. Reduced strength
C. Higher risk of heat-related illness
D. Slower thinking
A. Reduced hearing Hearing is never mentioned in the passage.
11. The author's main purpose is to:
A. describe a firefighter's daily schedule
B. compare protective gear brands
C. persuade readers to buy sports drinks
D. inform readers about the importance of hydration
D. inform readers about the importance of hydration The passage
gives factual guidance on hydration.
Page 4 of 57
FACT – FIREFIGHTER APTITUDE AND CHARACTER TEST
| VERIFIED ANSWERS AND QUESTIONS - MOST RECENT
EDITION 2026/2027
FIREFIGHTER APTITUDE AND CHARACTER TEST (FACT)
1. Which statement best expresses the main idea of the passage?
A. Fire departments install smoke alarms free of charge.
B. Smoke alarms need correct placement and regular upkeep to protect
occupants.
C. Sealed batteries make testing unnecessary.
D. Smoke alarms are only necessary in bedrooms.
B. Smoke alarms need correct placement and regular upkeep to
protect occupants. The passage covers where alarms belong and how
they must be maintained.
2. According to the passage, how often should a smoke alarm be
tested?
A. Monthly
B. Every six months
C. Weekly
D. Once a year
A. Monthly The passage states alarms should be tested monthly.
Page 1 of 57
, Firefighter Aptitude and Character Test (FACT)
3. Why does the passage recommend replacing the whole alarm every
ten years?
A. New homes require new alarms.
B. The alarm cover fades in colour.
C. The sensors degrade over time.
D. Batteries cannot be replaced after ten years.
C. The sensors degrade over time. Sensor degradation is the reason
given, even when the alarm looks fine.
4. Which statement is supported by the passage?
A. Every alarm needs a new battery every month.
B. Alarms are needed only on the ground floor.
C. An alarm that still sounds never needs replacing.
D. A unit with a sealed ten-year battery does not need yearly battery
replacement.
D. A unit with a sealed ten-year battery does not need yearly
battery replacement. The passage exempts sealed ten-year battery
units from yearly replacement.
Read the passage and answer Questions 5 to 8.
At the start of each shift, crews inspect their apparatus and equipment. The
driver checks fluid levels, tires, lights, and the pump, while other crew
members verify that ladders, hose, breathing apparatus, and medical supplies
are in place and working. Any defect is logged and reported to the officer
immediately; a defect that affects safety may place the apparatus out of service
Page 2 of 57
, Firefighter Aptitude and Character Test (FACT)
until repaired. Thorough checks take time, but they prevent equipment
failures during emergencies, when seconds matter.
5. According to the passage, who checks the fluid levels, tires, lights,
and pump?
A. The officer only
B. The driver
C. Every crew member equally
D. The dispatcher
B. The driver The passage assigns these checks to the driver.
6. What may happen if a defect affects safety?
A. The apparatus may be taken out of service until repaired.
B. The shift is cancelled.
C. The defect is ignored until the next inspection.
D. The crew must repair it during a call.
A. The apparatus may be taken out of service until repaired. The
passage says a safety defect may place the apparatus out of service.
7. Which title best fits the passage?
A. Why Medical Supplies Expire
B. Reporting Emergencies to Dispatch
C. How to Drive a Fire Engine
D. The Importance of Start-of-Shift Equipment Checks
D. The Importance of Start-of-Shift Equipment Checks The entire
passage explains why and how equipment is checked at shift start.
8. In the passage, the word "verify" most nearly means:
A. replace
B. clean
C. confirm
D. borrow
C. confirm To verify is to confirm that something is correct or present.
Page 3 of 57
, Firefighter Aptitude and Character Test (FACT)
Read the passage and answer Questions 9 to 12.
Firefighters working in heavy protective gear lose fluids rapidly through
sweat. Dehydration can reduce strength, slow thinking, and raise the risk of
heat-related illness. Drinking water before, during, and after physical work
helps maintain performance. Waiting until you feel thirsty is a poor guide,
because thirst appears after the body has already lost a meaningful amount of
fluid. Sugary or highly caffeinated drinks are less effective than water for
rehydration.
9. What can be inferred about thirst from the passage?
A. It is caused by drinking too much water.
B. It is a late signal that fluid has already been lost.
C. It is the most reliable sign to start drinking.
D. It only occurs in cold weather.
B. It is a late signal that fluid has already been lost. The passage
calls thirst a poor guide because it appears after fluid loss.
10. Which of the following is NOT listed in the passage as an effect of
dehydration?
A. Reduced hearing
B. Reduced strength
C. Higher risk of heat-related illness
D. Slower thinking
A. Reduced hearing Hearing is never mentioned in the passage.
11. The author's main purpose is to:
A. describe a firefighter's daily schedule
B. compare protective gear brands
C. persuade readers to buy sports drinks
D. inform readers about the importance of hydration
D. inform readers about the importance of hydration The passage
gives factual guidance on hydration.
Page 4 of 57
