How Hard Is CritiCall? Difficulty, Passing Tips and Prep Guide

The Criticall practice test can be hard because it tests several dispatcher skills at the same time.

Many candidates expect a normal written exam, but Criticall practice is different. It is designed to measure whether you can process emergency information quickly, type accurately, remember details, prioritize calls, follow rules and multitask under pressure.

The test is not usually difficult because of advanced knowledge. It is difficult because of:

• strict timing;
• multitasking;
• data entry accuracy;
• memory recall;
• map reading;
• listening comprehension;
• decision-making under pressure;
• unfamiliar test format;
• exact attention to detail.

Recommended prep:

CritiCall modules, time limits, passing scores and retest rules vary by agency. Always follow your official test invitation.

Is the CritiCall Test Hard?

Yes, CritiCall can be hard, especially if you have never practiced dispatcher-style tasks before.

The hardest part is usually not one individual question. The hard part is combining multiple skills quickly and accurately.

For example, you may need to:

• read a caller scenario;
• enter details into the correct fields;
• remember an address or phone number;
• choose Police, Fire, EMS or Public Utility;
• prioritize the call;
• respond before time runs out.

That combination can feel stressful even when the information itself is simple.

Why Is CritiCall Difficult?

1. It Is Not a Normal Written Exam

Many employment tests are mostly reading, math or multiple choice.

CritiCall is more dispatcher-specific.

It may include:

• data entry;
• multitasking;
• decision-making;
• memory recall;
• map reading;
• listening;
• call summarization;
• cross-referencing;
• spelling;
• reading comprehension;
• typing or keyboarding.

If you only practice normal written test questions, you may be underprepared.

2. Accuracy Matters

CritiCall rewards exact information.

Small errors can cost points.

Examples:

Original	Wrong Entry	Error
318 West Pine Street	318 East Pine Street	Wrong direction
Apartment 4C	Apartment 4B	Wrong apartment
555-219-8046	555-291-8046	Reversed digits
7KQX214	7KQX241	Reversed plate digits
Black backpack	Blue backpack	Wrong description

Dispatcher work depends on accuracy, so the test often includes detail traps.

3. The Test Is Timed

CritiCall modules may be timed separately.

This creates pressure because you must:

• read instructions quickly;
• process information fast;
• avoid typing errors;
• choose the correct response;
• keep moving.

Candidates often lose points because they spend too long on one task or panic after one mistake.

4. Multitasking Is Stressful

Dispatcher work requires divided attention.

CritiCall-style tasks may require you to:

• type while reading;
• remember details while answering another question;
• switch between calls;
• update information after new details appear;
• classify incidents quickly;
• respond to multiple prompts.

Even strong candidates can struggle if they are not used to multitasking tests.

5. Decision-Making Requires Rule Application

CritiCall decision questions often require you to choose which service should respond:

• Police;
• Fire;
• EMS;
• Public Utility;
• more than one agency.

The challenge is applying the rules exactly.

Example:

A caller reports a crash. One driver is injured, and smoke is coming from a vehicle.

A strong answer may require:

Police + Fire + EMS

because the call includes a traffic incident, injury and smoke.

6. Memory Questions Require Exact Recall

You may need to remember:

• caller name;
• address;
• callback number;
• suspect description;
• vehicle description;
• license plate;
• direction of travel;
• injury status;
• hazard details.

Many candidates remember the general story but forget exact details.

7. Map Reading Can Be Unfamiliar

Some candidates rarely use map grids or direction questions.

Map reading may ask you to identify:

• north, south, east or west;
• shortest route;
• closest unit;
• number of blocks;
• cross streets;
• direction of travel.

If you confuse east and west or count blocks incorrectly, you can lose easy points.

Hardest CritiCall Sections

The hardest sections vary by candidate, but these are commonly difficult.

Section	Why It Is Hard
Multitasking	Requires attention switching under pressure
Data entry	Small errors matter
Memory recall	Exact details must be remembered
Decision-making	Multiple agencies may apply
Map reading	Direction and block counting can be confusing
Listening	Audio may be fast or detailed
Call summarization	Requires identifying only important facts
Cross-referencing	Similar names, numbers and codes create traps

Is CritiCall Harder Than a Police Written Exam?

CritiCall is different from a police written exam.

CritiCall	Police Written Exam
Dispatcher-specific	Law enforcement candidate-focused
Heavy on multitasking and data entry	Heavy on reading, judgment, writing and reasoning
May include typing, listening and memory	May include report writing, observation and police judgment
Simulates emergency communications tasks	Tests broader law enforcement aptitude
Speed and accuracy are critical	Reading and policy-based judgment are critical

CritiCall may feel harder if you are not comfortable typing, multitasking or remembering details under pressure.

Related guide:

• Police Written Exam

Is CritiCall Harder Than a Normal 911 Dispatcher Test?

CritiCall is one type of 911 dispatcher test.

Some agency-specific dispatcher exams are more like written civil service exams. CritiCall is often more interactive and dispatcher-task focused.

CritiCall	General 911 Dispatcher Test
Computer-based dispatcher modules	May be written, computer-based or agency-specific
Often includes data entry and multitasking	May include reading, memory, map reading and clerical skills
Modules vary by agency	Format varies widely
Strong simulation feel	May feel more like a traditional exam

Related guide:

• 911 Dispatcher Test

Why Do People Fail CritiCall?

Candidates often fail because they underestimate the test.

Common reasons include:

• poor typing accuracy;
• not practicing data entry;
• weak multitasking;
• panicking during timed modules;
• missing caller details;
• confusing Police, Fire, EMS and Utility rules;
• failing to select multiple agencies when needed;
• poor map reading;
• weak memory recall;
• not reading instructions carefully;
• practicing only generic dispatcher questions;
• assuming the test will be easy.

Common CritiCall Mistakes

Mistake 1: Typing Too Fast

Speed helps only if your entries are accurate.

A wrong address or phone number can cost points.

Better strategy:

Accuracy first, then speed.

Mistake 2: Missing the Location

The location is usually the most important detail.

Always capture:

• street number;
• street name;
• street direction;
• apartment or unit;
• intersection;
• landmark.

Mistake 3: Forgetting Multiple Agencies

Many calls require more than one response.

Examples:

Scenario	Agencies
Fight with injury	Police + EMS
Crash with injury and smoke	Police + Fire + EMS
Downed wire across road	Police + Public Utility
Person trapped in burning room	Fire + EMS
Stabbing with suspect nearby	Police + EMS

Mistake 4: Adding Assumptions

Use only the facts given.

If the scenario says smoke but no injuries, do not assume injuries unless the rules say smoke automatically triggers medical response.

Mistake 5: Ignoring Module Instructions

CritiCall modules can differ.

Do not assume every section works the same way.

Read each instruction screen carefully.

Mistake 6: Panicking After One Error

One mistake does not mean you failed.

Recover quickly and keep working.

Mistake 7: Practicing Only Reading Questions

CritiCall is not only reading comprehension.

You should also practice:

• data entry;
• typing;
• multitasking;
• memory;
• map reading;
• decision-making;
• listening.

What Is the Easiest Part of CritiCall?

The easiest part depends on your strengths.

Many candidates find these sections easier after practice:

• basic reading comprehension;
• spelling;
• simple decision-making;
• basic map directions;
• simple data entry.

However, even easy sections can become difficult under time pressure.

What Is the Hardest Part of CritiCall?

For many candidates, the hardest part is multitasking.

That is because multitasking may combine:

• reading;
• typing;
• memory;
• decision-making;
• changing information;
• time pressure.

A candidate may understand each skill individually but struggle when they are combined.

Related guide:

• Dispatcher Multitasking Test

How Long Does It Take to Prepare for CritiCall?

Preparation time depends on your current skills.

Starting Point	Suggested Prep Time
Strong typist, good memory, calm under pressure	3–7 days
Average typing and no CritiCall experience	1–2 weeks
Weak typing or weak multitasking	2–4 weeks
Very anxious under timed tests	3–4 weeks with timed drills

If your test is soon, focus on the highest-impact skills:

typing accuracy
data entry
decision-making
memory
multitasking
map reading

How to Make CritiCall Easier

Step 1: Learn the Module Types

Start by understanding what may appear on the test.

CritiCall may include:

• data entry;
• decision-making;
• multitasking;
• memory;
• listening;
• map reading;
• cross-referencing;
• call summarization;
• reading comprehension;
• spelling.

Related guide:

• CritiCall Test

Step 2: Practice Dispatcher Data Entry

Practice entering:

names
addresses
phone numbers
license plates
vehicle descriptions
suspect descriptions
incident summaries

Check every field for accuracy.

Related guide:

• Dispatcher Typing Test

Step 3: Practice Dispatch Decisions

Use the core categories:

Agency	Common Triggers
Police	Crime, threat, suspect, weapon, fight, traffic hazard
Fire	Fire, smoke, explosion, gas smell, trapped person, rescue
EMS	Injury, illness, unconscious, not breathing, medical help
Public Utility	Downed wire, power outage, water main break, gas leak

Always apply the rules shown in the test.

Related guide:

• Dispatcher Decision-Making Test

Step 4: Practice Memory Recall

Use structured memory:

WHO
WHERE
WHAT
DANGER
DESCRIPTION
DIRECTION
CALLBACK

Example:

Caller: Maria Lopez
Location: 318 West Pine St, Apt 4C
Incident: chest pain / trouble breathing
Callback: 555-219-8046

Related guide:

• Dispatcher Memory Test

Step 5: Practice Map Reading

Review:

North = up
South = down
East = right
West = left

Practice:

• counting blocks;
• identifying intersections;
• choosing shortest routes;
• selecting closest units;
• tracking direction of travel.

Related guide:

• Dispatcher Map Reading Test

Step 6: Practice Multitasking

Create drills where you must:

• read a call;
• enter data;
• classify the call;
• remember a detail;
• answer an update;
• prioritize several calls.

Start slow, then add time limits.

Related guide:

• Dispatcher Multitasking Test

Step 7: Use Timed Practice

CritiCall is easier when time pressure feels familiar.

Use short timed drills:

Drill	Time
Address data entry	5 minutes
Phone number entry	5 minutes
Dispatch decisions	10 minutes
Memory recall	10 minutes
Map reading	10 minutes
Mixed multitasking	15 minutes

CritiCall Difficulty by Skill Area

Data Entry Difficulty

Data entry is usually simple in concept but hard under pressure.

Common traps:

• digit reversals;
• wrong street direction;
• missing apartment numbers;
• misspelled names;
• wrong license plate;
• typing into the wrong field.

Difficulty level:

Medium

Harder if you type quickly but make mistakes.

Multitasking Difficulty

Multitasking is often the hardest area.

Common traps:

• losing the location;
• missing updates;
• forgetting earlier details;
• panicking after an error;
• selecting the wrong priority.

Difficulty level:

High

Decision-Making Difficulty

Decision-making is manageable if you understand the rules.

Common traps:

• selecting only one agency;
• forgetting EMS for injuries;
• forgetting Fire for smoke;
• forgetting Utility for downed wires;
• adding assumptions.

Difficulty level:

Medium

Memory Difficulty

Memory can be difficult if you do not use a structure.

Common traps:

• remembering the story but not details;
• reversing numbers;
• forgetting direction of travel;
• confusing caller and suspect;
• forgetting apartment numbers.

Difficulty level:

Medium to high

Map Reading Difficulty

Map reading is usually learnable with practice.

Common traps:

• confusing east and west;
• counting blocks incorrectly;
• ignoring street order;
• missing route restrictions.

Difficulty level:

Medium

Listening Difficulty

Listening can be hard if audio is fast or detailed.

Common traps:

• missing location;
• writing too much;
• forgetting callback number;
• confusing suspect description;
• missing weapons or injuries.

Difficulty level:

Medium to high

CritiCall Practice Questions

These are original CritiCall-style questions.

Question 1: Data Entry

Original:

Caller: Elena Morales
Address: 2718 West Oak Street
Phone: 619-384-9027

Which entry is correct?

• A. Elena Morales, 2718 West Oak Street, 619-384-9027
• B. Elena Morales, 2178 West Oak Street, 619-384-9027
• C. Elena Moreles, 2718 West Oak Street, 619-384-9027
• D. Elena Morales, 2718 East Oak Street, 619-384-9027

Answer and Explanation

Correct answer: A.

Only option A matches the name, address and phone number exactly.

Police exam practice can help candidates become familiar with common question formats before the live assessment.

Question 2: Decision-Making

Use these rules:

Police = crime, threat, fight, weapon, suspect or traffic hazard.
Fire = fire, smoke, explosion, gas smell or trapped person.
EMS = injury, unconscious, not breathing or medical help.
Utility = downed wire, power outage, water main break or utility hazard.

A caller reports a two-car crash. One driver has chest pain and smoke is coming from one vehicle.

Who should be dispatched?

• A. Police only
• B. EMS only
• C. Fire and EMS only
• D. Police, Fire and EMS

Answer and Explanation

Correct answer: D. Police, Fire and EMS

The crash is a traffic hazard, so Police are needed.

Chest pain requires EMS.

Smoke requires Fire.

Before test day, situational judgment test practice can help you rehearse timed sections and build answer consistency.

Question 3: Priority

Which call is highest priority?

• A. Wallet stolen three days ago
• B. Child not breathing
• C. Caller wants a police report copy
• D. Noise complaint from last night

Answer and Explanation

Correct answer: B. Child not breathing

A child not breathing is an immediate life-safety emergency.

For additional preparation, pre-employment assessment practice may be useful when your invitation includes similar question types.

Question 4: Memory

Read once:

Caller: Sofia Grant
Location: 92 Elm Court
Incident: suspicious person
Description: male, black hoodie, tan backpack
Direction: south toward River Road

What was the suspect carrying?

• A. Black backpack
• B. Tan backpack
• C. Red bag
• D. Blue backpack

Answer and Explanation

Correct answer: B. Tan backpack

The suspect had a tan backpack.

Police exam practice can support extra practice with explanations when you want more timed drills.

Question 5: Map Reading

A unit is at 2nd Avenue and Pine Street. The emergency is at 5th Avenue and Cedar Street.

Avenues increase east. Street order from north to south is:

Oak
Pine
Maple
Cedar

Which direction should the unit travel?

• A. East and south
• B. East and north
• C. West and south
• D. West and north

Answer and Explanation

Correct answer: A. East and south

From 2nd Avenue to 5th Avenue is east.

From Pine Street to Cedar Street is south.

Yes. Situational judgment test practice can offer practice materials for similar assessment formats.

CritiCall Passing Tips

Tip 1: Read Instructions Carefully

Each module may have different rules.

Do not assume the same strategy applies to every section.

Tip 2: Prioritize Accuracy

Speed without accuracy is dangerous.

Slow down slightly on:

• addresses;
• callback numbers;
• license plates;
• apartment numbers;
• street directions.

Tip 3: Use Rule-Based Thinking

For decision questions, apply the rules exactly.

Do not overthink.

Tip 4: Expect Multiple Agencies

When more than one rule applies, choose all required agencies.

Tip 5: Practice Under Time Pressure

Timed practice reduces panic.

Use shorter drills first, then full mixed practice.

Tip 6: Learn to Recover

If you make a mistake, keep going.

One error should not become five errors.

Tip 7: Use Dispatcher-Specific Practice

Generic typing or reading practice is not enough.

You need dispatcher-style:

• addresses;
• phone numbers;
• emergency calls;
• maps;
• memory tasks;
• decision rules;
• multitasking drills.

Best Prep for CritiCall

JobTestPrep is useful for CritiCall preparation because it provides dispatcher-style practice across the skills commonly tested on CritiCall-style exams.

Use JobTestPrep for:

• CritiCall-style practice;
• data entry;
• typing accuracy;
• multitasking;
• decision-making;
• memory;
• listening;
• map reading;
• call prioritization;
• full dispatcher simulations.

Recommended prep:

Free vs Paid CritiCall Prep

Prep Type	Best Use
Free CritiCall-style questions	Learn basic formats
Official candidate resources	Understand test purpose and modules
Typing drills	Improve speed and accuracy
Map reading drills	Build direction skills
Memory scripts	Practice detail recall
Paid JobTestPrep	More realistic simulations and practice volume
Timed mixed drills	Build pressure tolerance

Free prep is useful for orientation. Paid prep is more useful when CritiCall is a serious hiring filter.

7-Day CritiCall Prep Plan

Day	Study Focus
Day 1	Learn modules and take a diagnostic
Day 2	Data entry and typing accuracy
Day 3	Dispatch decision-making
Day 4	Memory and listening
Day 5	Map reading and cross-referencing
Day 6	Multitasking and timed mixed drills
Day 7	Review mistakes and complete final practice

24-Hour CritiCall Prep Plan

If your test is tomorrow:

1. Read your official test invitation.
2. Review Police / Fire / EMS / Utility categories.
3. Practice typing addresses and phone numbers.
4. Practice 20 dispatch decision questions.
5. Practice 5 memory scenarios.
6. Practice 10 map reading questions.
7. Complete one timed mixed drill.
8. Review common mistakes.
9. Prepare headphones, keyboard and test space if needed.
10. Rest.

CritiCall Test-Day Checklist

Before the test, confirm:

[ ] I know whether the test is CritiCall.
[ ] I know the testing platform or location.
[ ] I know whether headphones are needed.
[ ] I know whether typing is included.
[ ] I have practiced data entry accuracy.
[ ] I have practiced decision-making rules.
[ ] I have practiced memory recall.
[ ] I have practiced map reading.
[ ] I have practiced multitasking.
[ ] I will read each module’s instructions carefully.
[ ] I will recover quickly after mistakes.

When your hiring step includes mixed sections, pre-employment assessment practice can support broader review before test day.

Yes. Situational judgment test practice can offer practice materials for similar assessment formats.

Police exam practice can support extra practice with explanations when you want more timed drills.

For additional preparation, pre-employment assessment practice may be useful when your invitation includes similar question types.

Before test day, situational judgment test practice can help you rehearse timed sections and build answer consistency.

Police exam practice can help candidates become familiar with common question formats before the live assessment.

When your hiring step includes mixed sections, pre-employment assessment practice can support broader review before test day.

Related Dispatcher Test Guides

Use these related pages to continue preparing:

Guide	Best For
CritiCall Test	Full CritiCall format guide
CritiCall Practice Test	Free CritiCall-style questions
911 Dispatcher Practice Test	Full dispatcher practice
911 Dispatcher Test	Dispatcher exam overview
Dispatcher Typing Test	Typing and data entry
Dispatcher Listening Test	Audio comprehension
Dispatcher Memory Test	Detail recall
Dispatcher Multitasking Test	Multitasking practice
Dispatcher Decision-Making Test	Dispatch rules
Dispatcher Map Reading Test	Map and direction skills
How to Pass Dispatcher Test	Dispatcher strategy

Sources / Information to Verify Before Publication

Before publication, verify CritiCall difficulty, format and prep details with current official and agency sources.

Use sources such as:

• CritiCall official website;
• CritiCall applicant resources;
• CritiCall test descriptions;
• CritiCall Candidate Test Preparation Guide;
• TestGenius / Biddle CritiCall resources;
• agency dispatcher test invitations;
• city or county dispatcher hiring pages;
• California POST dispatcher materials if relevant;
• Public Safety Testing dispatcher information if relevant;
• JobTestPrep CritiCall test prep;
• PoliceTest.info dispatcher prep resources.

Verify:

• whether the agency uses CritiCall;
• selected modules;
• typing requirement;
• audio requirement;
• whether multitasking is included;
• whether map reading is included;
• whether memory recall is included;
• whether call summarization is included;
• passing score;
• retest rules;
• current JobTestPrep product contents;
• current affiliate URL;
• access duration and refund terms.

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