CERTIFIED FBI AGENT EXAM QUESTION
AND CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED
ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES 2026 Q&A
INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. What is the primary mission of the FBI?
A. Investigate tax fraud
B. Monitor weather systems
C. Protect and defend the United States against terrorist and foreign intelligence
threats
D. Regulate interstate commerce
Rationale: The FBI’s primary mission is national security and law enforcement to
protect the U.S. from threats.
2. Which amendment protects against unreasonable searches and seizures?
A. First Amendment
B. Fourth Amendment
C. Fifth Amendment
D. Eighth Amendment
Rationale: The Fourth Amendment guards personal privacy against
unreasonable searches and seizures.
3. The legal standard required for an arrest is:
A. Beyond a reasonable doubt
B. Probable cause
C. Preponderance of evidence
D. Reasonable suspicion
Rationale: Probable cause is needed to make a lawful arrest.
,4. The process of determining whether a suspect should be charged is called:
A. Filing a complaint
B. Charging decision
C. Grand jury indictment
D. Arraignment
Rationale: The charging decision is when prosecutors determine what charges, if
any, will be filed.
5. The FBI uses which database for criminal history records?
A. CODIS
B. NCIC
C. NICS
D. IAFIS
Rationale: The National Crime Information Center (NCIC) holds criminal history
and other law enforcement data.
6. Who has the authority to issue a search warrant?
A. Police chief
B. Judge or magistrate
C. Prosecutor
D. FBI agent
Rationale: Only a judge or magistrate can issue a warrant based on probable
cause.
7. Miranda rights are required when:
A. A suspect is cited
B. Any interview takes place
C. A suspect is in custody and being interrogated
D. A suspect requests an attorney
Rationale: Miranda warnings are required during custodial interrogation.
8. What does the term mens rea refer to?
A. Physical act of a crime
B. Criminal intent
C. Motive
, D. Evidence
Rationale: Mens rea is the mental state or intent to commit a crime.
9. The burden of proof in a criminal trial is:
A. Reasonable suspicion
B. Probable cause
C. Preponderance of evidence
D. Beyond a reasonable doubt
Rationale: Criminal prosecutions require proof beyond a reasonable doubt.
10. The standard for probable cause is:
A. Absolute certainty
B. 51% certainty
C. Reasonable belief based on facts
D. Beyond a reasonable doubt
Rationale: Probable cause is a reasonable belief grounded in facts.
11. The FBI belongs to which U.S. department?
A. Department of Homeland Security
B. Department of Defense
C. Department of Justice
D. Department of State
Rationale: The FBI is under the Department of Justice.
12. National security threats include:
A. Traffic violations
B. Tax fraud
C. Terrorism and espionage
D. Civil litigation
Rationale: National security threats relate to terrorism and espionage impacting
U.S. safety.
13. Which system stores DNA profiles?
A. NCIC
B. IAFIS
AND CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED
ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES 2026 Q&A
INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. What is the primary mission of the FBI?
A. Investigate tax fraud
B. Monitor weather systems
C. Protect and defend the United States against terrorist and foreign intelligence
threats
D. Regulate interstate commerce
Rationale: The FBI’s primary mission is national security and law enforcement to
protect the U.S. from threats.
2. Which amendment protects against unreasonable searches and seizures?
A. First Amendment
B. Fourth Amendment
C. Fifth Amendment
D. Eighth Amendment
Rationale: The Fourth Amendment guards personal privacy against
unreasonable searches and seizures.
3. The legal standard required for an arrest is:
A. Beyond a reasonable doubt
B. Probable cause
C. Preponderance of evidence
D. Reasonable suspicion
Rationale: Probable cause is needed to make a lawful arrest.
,4. The process of determining whether a suspect should be charged is called:
A. Filing a complaint
B. Charging decision
C. Grand jury indictment
D. Arraignment
Rationale: The charging decision is when prosecutors determine what charges, if
any, will be filed.
5. The FBI uses which database for criminal history records?
A. CODIS
B. NCIC
C. NICS
D. IAFIS
Rationale: The National Crime Information Center (NCIC) holds criminal history
and other law enforcement data.
6. Who has the authority to issue a search warrant?
A. Police chief
B. Judge or magistrate
C. Prosecutor
D. FBI agent
Rationale: Only a judge or magistrate can issue a warrant based on probable
cause.
7. Miranda rights are required when:
A. A suspect is cited
B. Any interview takes place
C. A suspect is in custody and being interrogated
D. A suspect requests an attorney
Rationale: Miranda warnings are required during custodial interrogation.
8. What does the term mens rea refer to?
A. Physical act of a crime
B. Criminal intent
C. Motive
, D. Evidence
Rationale: Mens rea is the mental state or intent to commit a crime.
9. The burden of proof in a criminal trial is:
A. Reasonable suspicion
B. Probable cause
C. Preponderance of evidence
D. Beyond a reasonable doubt
Rationale: Criminal prosecutions require proof beyond a reasonable doubt.
10. The standard for probable cause is:
A. Absolute certainty
B. 51% certainty
C. Reasonable belief based on facts
D. Beyond a reasonable doubt
Rationale: Probable cause is a reasonable belief grounded in facts.
11. The FBI belongs to which U.S. department?
A. Department of Homeland Security
B. Department of Defense
C. Department of Justice
D. Department of State
Rationale: The FBI is under the Department of Justice.
12. National security threats include:
A. Traffic violations
B. Tax fraud
C. Terrorism and espionage
D. Civil litigation
Rationale: National security threats relate to terrorism and espionage impacting
U.S. safety.
13. Which system stores DNA profiles?
A. NCIC
B. IAFIS
