Victoria Police EST
Numeracy Preparation
The Victoria Police Entrance Exam (VPOL, previously known as the Employment Suitability Test or EST) includes a 30-question numeracy component administered by ACER. Whether you're applying as a Police Officer, Protective Services Officer or Police Custody Officer: it's the same numeracy test, with different pass requirements per role.
Same numeracy test. Different pass requirements.
Police Officer, PSO and Police Custody Officer applicants all sit the identical ACER numeracy test. The difference is the minimum result each role requires.
Source: ACER and Victoria Police candidate information. Police Officer and PSO marks confirmed as of 2026; custody officer minimums are set per component and not published. Check the Victoria Police recruitment website for current requirements.
What the EST numeracy section covers
Number & Operations
- Whole numbers and integers
- Fractions, decimals, percentages
- Ratio and proportion
- Rates and unit conversion
Measurement & Spatial
- Length, area, volume, mass
- Time and schedules
- Reading maps and scales
- Basic geometry
Data & Statistics
- Reading tables and graphs
- Interpreting statistical data
- Averages and spread
- Probability basics
Deep dive
Each strand, in detail
Three strand deep-dives sourced from the Vic Police EST numeracy guide. Worked examples, common mistakes and operational contexts for each topic.
Strand 1
Number & Algebra
~46% of the EST · ~14 questions
- Subtopics
- fractions, percentages, rates, ratios, BODMAS and algebra
- ACSF range
- Levels 2–4
- Why it matters
- Fractions and percentages alone account for roughly a third of all questions.
Strand 2
Statistics & Probability
~30% of the EST · ~9 questions
- Subtopics
- graphs, mean/median/mode, probability, scatter plots and interpreting data
- ACSF range
- Levels 2–4
- Why it matters
- Roughly a third of the EST. The same skills you'll use reading incident data, response time logs, and operational reports.
Strand 3
Measurement & Geometry
~24% of the EST · ~7 questions
- Subtopics
- area, perimeter, volume, time, scale, angles and Pythagoras
- ACSF range
- Levels 2–4
- Why it matters
- Strong overlap with operational tasks: reading plans, calculating distances on maps, interpreting equipment specifications, working in 24-hour time.
On-screen calculator
Practise the EST calculator
Same as the real test · Browser-based
- Order of operations
- BODMAS — not left-to-right like a pocket calculator
- Buttons available
- + − × ÷ · ( ) · % · x² · √ · Ans · Memory
- ACER recommendation
- Practise with it before the test
Everything you need to prepare
4 full EST-style practice papers
30 questions each, 35 minutes: mirroring the format and difficulty of the real ACER Employment Suitability Test numeracy component.
Dual pass mark tracking
Your results show both the Police Officer (111) and PSO (105) benchmarks: so you always know exactly which threshold you're targeting and how close you are.
ACSF-mapped diagnostic report
Every question mapped to ACSF levels and ACER's three process domains. The same diagnostic depth as our LANTITE product: applied to the EST.
Adaptive preparation pathway
Full Prep Package includes Mathspace Premium with a custom EST pathway built from your diagnostic results. Target your specific gaps, not generic content.
Common questions
Do Police Officers and PSOs sit the same numeracy test?
Yes: confirmed by ACER. Both roles sit the identical Employment Suitability Test. The only difference is the minimum score required: 111 for Police Officers, 105 for PSOs. This also means that if you later wish to transfer from PSO to Police Officer, you already have a strong numeracy foundation.
Do Police Custody Officers sit the same numeracy test?
Yes. Police Custody Officer (PCO) applicants sit the same ACER-administered entrance exam, including the identical numeracy component. The PCO version swaps the report-writing task for a verbal reasoning section, and each component has a minimum pass mark (the exact custody-officer minimums aren't published). The numeracy preparation on this site covers all three roles.
Is it called the EST or the Victoria Police Entrance Exam (VPOL)?
Both names refer to the same ACER-administered exam. Victoria Police's testing was long known as the Employment Suitability Test (EST); ACER's current portal brands it the Victoria Police Entrance Exam (VPOL). The numeracy component is unchanged: 30 questions, 35 minutes, on-screen calculator.
Is the EST the same as the LANTITE?
No: they are different tests, both administered by ACER. The LANTITE is specifically for pre-service teachers and is mapped to the Australian Curriculum. The EST is designed for employment suitability assessment and has a different question style and content focus. However, the underlying numeracy skills overlap significantly at ACSF Levels 3–4.
How often can I sit the EST?
Victoria Police recruits year-round, so there is no fixed test window. You can apply and sit the EST at any time. This means you can prepare at your own pace and sit when you're ready.
What is the $275 exam fee?
ACER charges a $275 fee to sit the Employment Suitability Test. This covers the full test suite (not just numeracy). Given this cost, thorough preparation before sitting is strongly recommended.
How many practice papers are available?
There are 4 full practice papers, each with 30 questions and 35 minutes. Every paper is free to attempt and includes a detailed score report showing your performance by strand, process domain, and ACSF level. Optional video walkthroughs and 1-on-1 coaching with Andrew are available if you want extra support.
Preparing for the literacy component too?
The Victoria Police Entrance Exam assesses literacy alongside numeracy, for Police, PSO and Custody Officer applicants alike. Literacy practice is coming on our sibling site: join the waitlist to be first in.
Vic Police literacy at passLiteracy →Start practising today
Sit the free diagnostic test and unlock your personalised score report with strand and ACSF level breakdown.
About
Why this exists
I'm a mathematician and educator with over a decade of experience: from primary numeracy through to VCE and SACE Specialist Mathematics and Physics. Before teaching, I worked as an engineer.
Some of the most rewarding work has been with students who were significantly behind through no fault of their own: gaps caused by circumstance, not ability. Getting the fundamentals right, and rebuilding confidence alongside them, makes a real difference.
That's why this exists.