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Cheat sheet

NYPD Police Officer DCAS Cheat Sheet

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Memory + Observation

  • 20-25% of exam
  • Scene Recall Face + Clothing Plate Recall Narrative Facts Memory Drill

Spatial Orientation

  • 15-20% of exam
  • Manhattan Grid Going to Address Subway Lines Borough Nav Direction Picker

Written Comprehension

  • 15-20% of exam
  • Patrol Guide NY Penal Law Passage Facts Procedure Read Inference Rules

Ordering + Reasoning

  • 40-45% of exam
  • Event Ordering Problem Sensitivity Inductive Patterns Deductive Rules Sequence Picker

Quick Facts

  • Exam NYPD Officer
  • Body NYC DCAS
  • Time 1-2 hours
  • Items ~55 MC
  • Pass 70%
  • Fee $54 filing
  • List 4 years valid
  • Series 6312-6322

Memory Drill ME

  • Read once; lock time place color direction.
  • Time Place Color Direction Who

Memory vs Inference ME

Memory

  • Exact recall
  • Stated detail
  • No guessing

Inference

  • From passage
  • Must be true
  • Derived fact
  • Recall vs derive

Exam Facts ME

  • DCAS NYC test admin Body
  • ~55 Multiple choice
  • 70% Passing score
  • $54 Filing fee
  • 6312-6322 2026 exam series
  • 4 years List validity
  • 21-35 Age at appointment

Memory Tactics ME

  • Study first Read fully once Core
  • Exact recall No guessing detail
  • Color + clothing Track apparel
  • Time + place Lock when/where
  • Plate chars Letter order matters
  • Direction fled N S E W
  • Suspect count Who did what
  • Weapon type Match to person

Manhattan Grid SP

  • Streets east-west; avenues north-south; uptown north.
  • Streets: E-W Avenues: N-S Uptown: north Higher: north/west

Uptown vs Downtown SP

Uptown

  • North
  • Higher streets
  • Lower Manhattan behind

Downtown

  • South
  • Lower streets
  • Toward Battery
  • North vs south

Address Picker SP

  • Higher street number → Go north ( Uptown )
  • Lower street number → Go south ( Downtown )
  • Higher avenue number → Go west ( West side )
  • Lower avenue number → Go east ( East side )
  • Target behind you → Turn around ( Reverse )
  • Facing north → East is right ( Turn map )
  • Shortest path → Fewest blocks ( Direct )
  • Subway direct → No transfer line ( One train )

Manhattan Grid SP

  • Streets Run east-west Grid
  • Avenues Run north-south
  • Uptown North; higher streets
  • Downtown South; lower streets
  • 1st Ave East side
  • 10th Ave West side
  • Facing north East is right
  • Facing south East is left

Street vs Avenue SP

Street

  • East-west
  • Numbered
  • Cross town

Avenue

  • North-south
  • Numbered east-west
  • Long blocks
  • E-W vs N-S

Subway Navigation SP

  • 4/5/6 Lexington Ave line
  • A/C/E 8th Ave line
  • L train 14th to Brooklyn
  • E train Jamaica express
  • Union Sq 4/5/6 hub
  • Grand Central 4/5/6 hub
  • Times Sq Major transfer
  • Barclays Brooklyn hub

Borough Navigation SP

  • Bronx North of Manhattan
  • Brooklyn South of Manhattan
  • Queens East of Manhattan
  • Staten Island Southwest ferry
  • Coney Island South Brooklyn tip
  • Grand Concourse Bronx artery
  • Atlantic Ave Brooklyn corridor

Comprehension Rule CO

  • Passage only; no outside knowledge.
  • Text only No prior Exact words Eliminate extras

Fact vs Opinion CO

Fact

  • Passage states
  • Objective
  • Verifiable

Opinion

  • Not in text
  • Subjective
  • Eliminate
  • Stated vs assumed

Comprehension Picker CO

  • What passage says → Fact answer ( Text only )
  • Must be true → Inference ( Derived )
  • Procedure question → Follow passage ( Not prior )
  • Time math → Count hours ( 24-hr rule )
  • Violation check → Compare rule ( Deductive )
  • Not listed → Eliminate extras ( Boundary )

Patrol Guide Read CO

  • Passage only Text is truth Rule
  • UF-250 Stop report form
  • Level 3 stop Needs worksheet
  • Aided case Sick or injured
  • 10-13 Officer needs help
  • Memo book Chronological log
  • No erasures Line + initial
  • Vouchering Same tour property

Statute Facts CO

  • PL 140.20 Burglary 3rd
  • PL 155.30 Grand larceny 4th
  • PL 120.00 Assault 3rd
  • VTL 1192 DWI statute
  • Terry frisk Outer clothing only
  • DAT Desk appearance ticket
  • Probable cause Arrest threshold

Ordering Rule JU

  • Safety aid secure investigate document.
  • Safety Aid Secure Investigate Document

Inductive vs Deductive JU

Inductive

  • Many facts
  • Find pattern
  • Likely conclusion

Deductive

  • Given rule
  • Apply to case
  • Violation or OK
  • Pattern vs rule

Sequence Picker JU

  • Crime scene → Safety then aid ( Secure first )
  • Vehicle stop → Observe then lights ( Plate first )
  • Arrest process → Cause then cuff ( PC first )
  • 911 dispatch → Answer then locate ( Call first )
  • Domestic call → Knock then separate ( Announce )
  • Property recovery → Photo then tag ( Document )
  • Shoplifting → Observe detain transport ( Chronological )
  • Missing child → Report photo notify ( AMBER last )

Ordering Steps JU

  • 911 first Call starts timeline Order
  • Observe first Before detain
  • Safety first Scene secure
  • Aid before canvas Help injured
  • Knock announce Before entry
  • Separate parties Domestic first
  • Chronological Earliest event first

Chronology vs Priority JU

Chronology

  • Time sequence
  • Earliest first
  • Event order

Priority

  • Safety first
  • Then aid
  • Then investigate
  • When vs what first

Problem Indicators JU

  • Casing Surveillance pattern
  • Diversion One distracts owner
  • Pre-attack Waistband check
  • Out-of-season Heavy clothes heat
  • Coercion Partner speaks for
  • Pry marks Forced entry sign
  • Pinpoint pupils Opioid overdose

Reasoning Rules JU

  • Inductive Pattern to conclusion
  • Deductive Rule to scenario
  • Same MO Likely one offender
  • Apply rule Exact conditions
  • Violation Rule not followed
  • 24 hours Watch time math

Common Traps

Memory vs guess

  • Recall exact detail ≠ Do not infer color

Uptown vs downtown

  • Higher street is north ≠ Lower is south

East vs west

  • Higher avenue is west ≠ Lower is east

Text vs prior

  • Answer from passage ≠ Not NYPD knowledge

Order vs priority

  • Chronology is time ≠ Safety overrides

Inductive vs deductive

  • Pattern from facts ≠ Rule to case

Last Minute

  • 1. Pass = 70%; ~55 questions
  • 2. $54 filing; series 6312-6322
  • 3. Memory: exact recall only
  • 4. Streets E-W; avenues N-S
  • 5. Higher street = north
  • 6. Higher avenue = west
  • 7. Comprehension: passage only
  • 8. Order: earliest event first
  • 9. Safety before investigation
  • 10. Inductive = pattern; deductive = rule

NYPD Police Officer Exam (DCAS)

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