PELLET-B Practice Test 2026: all four item types, on the clock
The PELLET-B is California POST’s reading and writing test for peace officer applicants: clarity, spelling, vocabulary and reading, 65 to 78 items in 1 h 45, without CLOZE since 2025.1,3 Take a free practice test of 12 questions at that pace, then train each item type on its own clock in the PELLET-B path of Police Prep 2026.
- How the PELLET-B works: guide and lesson video7 min read
- Simulation 1: your diagnostic, 71 items1 h 45
- Written expression and clarity3 timed drills
- Vocabulary and spelling3 timed drills
- Reading comprehension3 timed drills
- Simulation 2: check your progress1 h 45
- 12 questions, all four item types
- 17:00 on the clock, the real pace
- Clarity as a-or-b pairs, like the test
- Score by item type, every answer explained
Free · no account, no email · questions from the course, not POST’s own items
Look inside PELLET-B Prep 2026
See the course the PELLET-B path is part of before you buy. Clarity pairs, spelling, vocabulary and a reading passage are in the free practice test above.
Course trailer · the PELLET-B path inside Police Prep 2026
What is the PELLET-B test?
The PELLET-B (POST Entry-Level Law Enforcement Test Battery) is California POST’s written test of reading and writing for entry-level peace officer applicants. It has no police-knowledge and no math items: every point comes from written English, in four item types.1
| Section | Item type | Items | What you do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Writing | Clarity | 15–18 | Two versions of a sentence, (a) and (b). Pick the one that is clearer and correct.1 |
| Writing | Spelling | 15–18 | A word is left out of a sentence. Pick its correct spelling from four options.1 |
| Writing | Vocabulary | 15–18 | Pick the word closest in meaning to the given word, from four options.1 |
| Reading | Reading comprehension | 20–24 | Short passages, then questions on what they say and what follows from them. The answer is always in the text.1 |
Since January 1, 2025, the PELLET-B has no CLOZE section (the passage with missing letters).3 Older guides and videos still teach it. If a source does, it is out of date: spend that time on clarity, spelling, vocabulary and reading.
PELLET-B test facts at a glance (2026)
Checked October 23, 2026 against POST’s own documents- What it is
- The POST Entry-Level Law Enforcement Test Battery, published by California POST and used by California agencies for entry-level peace officer applicants. It is a paper test.1,2
- Sections
- A writing section (clarity, spelling, vocabulary) and a reading section. No CLOZE since January 1, 2025.1,3
- Number of items
- 65 to 78 items: writing 45 to 54 (15 to 18 per type), reading 20 to 24. The exact count depends on the form.1
- Time
- 1 hour 45 minutes of testing, plus about 30 minutes of instructions. Plan for more than two hours in the room.1,2
- Scoring
- A T-score, not a percentage. On the T-scale 50 is the reference-group average, 60 one standard deviation above it, 40 one below.1
- Passing score
- POST sets no pass mark. Its research shows the chance of completing the academy rises with each point above 42. Each agency sets its own cut.1,2
- Retest
- If you need a better score, you can retake the test after 30 days.2
- Answering
- Answer every item unless your test-day instructions say otherwise.
- Official practice
- POST’s free Applicant Preparation Guide shows the official instructions and sample items. Read it once before test day.1
PELLET-B, NPOST or another test?
Both the PELLET-B and the NPOST are entry-level written police tests, and some agencies list the NPOST as the “POST”, so the two get mixed up. Your job posting names the test. These are the tests and steps candidates most often confuse with it.
| Test or step | Who uses it | How it differs from the PELLET-B |
|---|---|---|
| PELLET-B (this page) | California agencies, for entry-level peace officer applicants1 | Writing and reading only, T-score, on paper1 |
| NPOST practice test | Agencies that choose Stanard & Associates’ test, for example Texas civil service cities | Adds arithmetic and incident report writing, four parts on their own clocks, pass mark set by the agency |
| Police psychological exam | Agencies, after a conditional job offer | Not a skills test: questionnaires and an interview with a psychologist |
| Police fitness test | Almost every agency, before or during the academy | Physical events against the agency’s standards, not a written test |
Applying to agencies with different tests? See police exam prep for all 13 tests.
Which PELLET-B item types cost the most points?
Each item type has its own trap: clarity pairs turn on a misplaced modifier or a pronoun that could point to two people, spelling on doubled letters and ie or ei, vocabulary on a word that only looks related, reading on an option that adds what the passage does not say. Each type has a unit in the course with a lesson video, a written method and three timed drills.
How does PELLET-B Prep 2026 work?
The PELLET-B path follows the test’s own split: a full 71-item battery first, then the writing section unit by unit (clarity, then spelling and vocabulary), then reading, then a second battery before test day.
3:48The lesson video from the PELLET-B guide · 3:48
- 1Guide with video
The 2025 format in 7 minutes
A 7-minute guide and a 3:48 lesson video: the four item types, the a-or-b clarity choice, why CLOZE is gone, how T-scores work and what to do on test day.
- 2Simulation 1
A cold 71-item battery
Clarity, spelling and vocabulary, 17 items each, in 55 minutes, then four reading passages with 20 questions in 50 minutes. The report gives a raw score per part, so you see whether writing or reading costs you more before you drill.
- 3Units W, V and R
Drills on PELLET-B clocks
Clarity and grammar at 40, 35 and 30 seconds a question, spelling and vocabulary at 30, 25 and 20, reading at 75, 65 and 55. Every answer is explained right after you click, so a missed clarity pair names the problem you overlooked.
- 4Simulation 2
New items, same battery
A second 71-item simulation a few days before the test. Compare its raw score per part with Simulation 1; the report names the unit to repeat if one part is still behind.
Applying outside California too?
Agencies in other states use other tests, such as the NPOST, the CJBAT or the LEAB. Police Prep 2026 has 13 paths, 12 written tests and the psych evaluation; the W, V and R units you train for the PELLET-B are the same units on the other reading-and-writing paths.
How long should you study for the PELLET-B?
Pick how much time you have before test day and see the route through the PELLET-B path.
One battery, then the item type that costs most.
Simulation 1 shows whether clarity, spelling, vocabulary or reading loses you points. Spend the remaining days in that unit, and read POST’s applicant guide once.
- GuideHow the PELLET-B works, with the lesson video7 min
- SIM 1Simulation 1, cold: writing, then reading1 h 45
- UnitsThe unit your report names first: W, V or R, drill by drilldaily
- DailyTen minutes of vocabulary and spelling10 min
W, V and R: one unit a week.
Simulation 1 on day one, then clarity, then spelling and vocabulary, then reading, then Simulation 2 a few days before the test.
- Day 1The PELLET-B guide and Simulation 1~2 h
- Week 1W: written expression and clarity, three drills~30 min/day
- Week 2V: vocabulary and spelling, three drills, then ten minutes a day~30 min/day
- Week 3R: reading comprehension, three drills~30 min/day
- ThenSimulation 2, then the drills for any part that is still weakbefore test day
Start with words. They take the longest.
Spelling and vocabulary improve slowly, so start the V unit early. If another agency uses a different test, switch paths: the units are shared.
- NowGuide, then Simulation 1 to see where you stand~2 h
- WeeksV drills and the word list, a little every day10 min/day
- Date setW and R units, then Simulation 2before test day
What is on the PELLET-B path?
Seven steps in the order the course shows them, from the format guide to the second battery and the steps after the written test.
Is free PELLET-B practice enough?
Start with POST’s free applicant guide: it has the official instructions and sample items.1 Here is what it and most free question sets do not give you.
| Free practice | PELLET-B Prep 2026 | |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Older free sets still teach CLOZE | Only the 2025 parts: clarity, spelling, vocabulary, reading |
| Clarity items | Often four options | Two sentences, a or b, as on the test |
| Timing | Untimed lists | Writing 51 items in 55 minutes, reading 20 questions in 50, as in the simulations |
| Volume | A few samples per type | Two 71-item batteries and 9 timed drills |
| Explanations | An answer key | Which clarity problem, which spelling rule, which sentence of the passage |
| Cost | $0 | $68 once, 90 days of access |
PELLET-B FAQ: format, scores, retakes
Is this a free PELLET-B practice test?
Yes. The practice test on this page is free, with no account and no email: 12 questions in 17 minutes from all four item types, about 85 seconds a question. That is within the real test’s range of 81 to 97 seconds per item (1 hour 45 minutes for 65 to 78 items). You get your score by section and an explanation for every answer. The questions were written for our course in the PELLET-B format; they are not POST’s items.
What is on the PELLET-B test?
Two sections. Writing has three item types: clarity (pick the clearer of two sentences, a or b), spelling (pick the correct spelling of a missing word from four options) and vocabulary (pick the word closest in meaning). Reading has short passages with questions answered only from the text.1 Since January 1, 2025, there is no CLOZE section.3
How many questions are on the PELLET-B test?
65 to 78 items in all: 45 to 54 in the writing section (15 to 18 each of clarity, spelling and vocabulary) and 20 to 24 in reading, depending on the form. Testing time is 1 hour 45 minutes, plus about 30 minutes of instructions.1
Is the CLOZE section still on the PELLET-B?
No. POST removed the CLOZE sub-test effective January 1, 2025.3 Study material that still teaches it is out of date. The course trains only the current parts.
Is there a PELLET-B score chart, and what is a good score?
The PELLET-B reports a T-score, not a percentage, so there is no fixed chart from right answers to a pass. On the T-scale, 50 is the reference-group average, 60 is one standard deviation above it and 40 one below. POST sets no pass mark; its research shows the chance of completing the academy rises with each point above 42. Each agency sets its own cut, so ask yours and aim well above it.1,2
How many times can you take the PELLET-B?
If you need a better score, you can retake the test after 30 days.2 Your agency decides how it uses the result.
Is there an official PELLET-B practice test PDF?
Yes. POST publishes a free Applicant Preparation Guide with the official instructions and sample items.1 Read it once before test day. The course adds what the guide does not have: timed drills, two full simulations and explanations for every item.
What is the difference between the PELLET-B and the NPOST?
The PELLET-B is California POST’s test of writing and reading only, scored as a T-score.1 The NPOST is a test from Stanard & Associates that individual agencies choose; it adds arithmetic and incident report writing, and the agency sets the pass mark. Some agencies list the NPOST as the “POST”, which is why the two get confused. Your job posting names the test.
How should I study for the PELLET-B?
Start with a diagnostic, not with a word list. In the course that is Simulation 1, right after the format guide. Then work through the units for your weakest sections: clarity first if you lose points there, vocabulary and spelling ten minutes a day, reading with the passage method. Take Simulation 2 a few days before the test.
Does the course cover the steps after the written test?
Yes. The PELLET-B path ends with guides and videos on the oral board, the background investigation, the polygraph and physical fitness tests. The psych evaluation has its own path in the course.
What do I get, and how fast?
One payment of $68 opens Police Prep 2026 on the PELLET-B path: the format guide and lesson video, units W, V and R with 9 timed drills, two 71-item simulations with a report by part, and the guides for the oral board, background, polygraph and fitness test. Access starts right after checkout and lasts 90 days. If it is not right for you, email support within 7 days for a full refund.
Is Prepterminal affiliated with POST?
No. Prepterminal is independent test prep and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST). All practice items are written by us in the format of the real test.
Everything for the PELLET-B
- Clarity pairs (a or b), spelling, vocabulary and reading passages: all four PELLET-B item types
- Units W, V and R, a lesson video each, and 9 drills on PELLET-B clocks
- Two 71-item batteries, writing in 55 minutes and reading in 50, with a raw score per part
- The PELLET-B guide and lesson video: the 2025 format, T-scores, test day
- Guides for the oral board, background, polygraph and fitness test
- The NPOST, CJBAT, LEAB and nine more paths in the same course
Two sentences. One is clearer. Train the choice.
Take Simulation 1 tonight and see which section costs you the most points.
Get PELLET-B Prep 2026: $68P.S. Not ready to buy? Take the free PELLET-B practice test first, then decide.
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