Firefighter Aptitude Test Practice for Ontario Candidates

Where the written test fits in Ontario firefighter hiring

Many Ontario municipal fire services ask applicants for valid certificates from Ontario Fire Administration Inc. (OFAI) Candidate Testing Services. OFAI testing is split into stages. Everyone starts with Stage One, the written test. Stage Two covers hearing, vision and an encapsulated treadmill test, and Stage Three covers the Firefighter Physical Aptitude Job-Related Tests (FPAT) and a technical skills assessment. Some recruitments also need a swim test. Testing takes place at the GTAA Fire and Emergency Training Institute (FESTI) in Mississauga.

OFAI says each successful assessment gives you a certificate with its own validity period, and you then apply to participating municipalities through their own hiring process. Check each job posting for the stages it needs.

What the Stage One written test covers

The Stage One written assessment is the Firefighter Aptitude and Character Test (FACT). OFAI describes it as 110 multiple-choice items, weighted 45% aptitude and 55% character, taken on a computer in a proctored lab, with up to three hours to finish. OFAI lists these parts:

OFAI does not publish separate time limits for each part, a pass mark, or sample items. Results are pass or fail only: you do not get a mark, and OFAI says municipal fire services are not given your results. If you pass, your certificate is posted to your OFAI account within three business days and stays valid for 24 months.

How our practice test works

Our bank has 198 original questions: 47 reading, 52 math, 33 map reading, 36 writing and 30 character and judgement scenarios. The timed simulation gives you 50 aptitude questions in the same mix as the real aptitude part: 15 reading, 15 math, 10 map reading and 10 writing. Because OFAI gives up to three hours for all 110 items and does not time the parts separately, we use 80 minutes for the 50 aptitude questions, which is roughly the same pace. Every question has four choices and an explanation.

A note on two sections. Our site shows no images, so our map questions describe a street grid in words, and you work out routes, distances and turns from that description. The real map items will look different, so practise reading real street maps too. Our character and judgement scenarios each have one best answer and are for practice only. OFAI does not publish how its personal characteristics items are written or scored, so we keep them out of the timed simulation.

How to prepare for each part

Reading ability

Expect short work-style passages such as procedures, memos and incident summaries. Read the question first, then find the exact line in the passage that answers it. Watch for "NOT" questions and for answers that sound sensible but are not actually stated.

Mathematical reasoning

Practise everyday calculations quickly: percentages, fractions, averages, area and volume, unit conversions, flow and time problems, and elapsed time on the 24-hour clock. Write your working down and check that your answer makes sense.

Map reading

Know your compass points and how left and right turns change your direction. A simple habit: picture yourself in the vehicle. Heading north, a right turn takes you east; heading south, a right turn takes you west. Count blocks carefully and watch for one-way streets and closures.

Writing ability

Review common spelling traps, words that sound alike (their, there, they're; affect, effect), subject and verb agreement, and clear sentences for reports. A good report sentence says who did what, and sticks to facts you observed.

Personal characteristics

OFAI says this part measures interpersonal skills, teamwork, commitment, honesty, integrity and emotional stability. The best preparation is to answer honestly and consistently, and to think about how the job really works: close teamwork on long shifts, public service and safety first.

Retests and certificates

If you do not pass, OFAI says you can retake the test after 15 days the first time, and after 30 days on later attempts. OFAI does not offer a free printable study guide; it points candidates to an optional orientation guide sold by the test publisher, FPSI, which includes a 40-question practice test. Accommodation requests go through your OFAI account at least 6 to 8 weeks before your planned test date.

Aptitude Tests Canada is an independent practice platform. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by Ontario Fire Administration Inc., FPSI, the Office of the Fire Marshal or any fire service, and our questions are original practice items, not real test questions.

Three worked examples

One question from different sections of the full pack, with the answer and explanation.