Guides
Failed the Prison Officer Test? The 6-Month Rule and Reapplying
Failed the prison officer online test, assessment centre or fitness test? How the 6-month wait works, the Aspire OSG route, and a plan to pass next time.
How to Pass the Prison Officer Scenario-Based Test (SBT)
Practical strategy for the prison officer SBT: most/least-effective logic, the four HMPPS behaviours, common traps, timing and a two-week practice plan.
NIPS Custody Prison Officer Recruitment: Process and Pay
How Northern Ireland Prison Service custody prison officer recruitment works: pay and allowances, selection stages, the 12-week induction and how to prepare.
Prison Custody Officer Jobs: Serco and Sodexo Assessments
What Sodexo and Serco custody officer assessments involve: English and maths tests, scenario exercises, role play, interview, pay and vetting, and how to prepare.
Prison Officer Application Process: 2026 Timeline (HMPPS)
Every stage of the HMPPS prison officer application in order, how long each takes, what pass and merit vacancies mean, and what to do at each step.
Prison Officer Fitness Test: Bleep 5.4, Grip, Shield, Agility
The HMPPS prison officer fitness test standards: 15 m bleep test to level 5.4, 25 kg grip, 7 kg shield hold and agility run, plus medical checks and training tips.
Prison Officer Interview Questions and Answers (UK Guide)
How the prison officer interview works: strengths and behaviour questions, the STAR method, ten example questions with answer outlines and two full answers.
Prison Officer Maths Test: Numeracy Examples With Answers
What the prison officer numeracy test covers – roll counts, canteen money, shift times, percentages – with ten worked examples and quick mental-maths tips.
Prison Officer Pay 2026/27: Salary by Hours and Location
Prison officer pay from 1 April 2026: Band 3 rates for 37, 39 and 41 hours, London and national pay, market supplements, and OSG to custodial manager.
Prison Officer Role Play Scenarios: Examples and Tips (UK)
How the 10-minute prison officer role play works, what assessors score, a simple structure to follow, and eight example scenarios with what good looks like.
Prison Officer Scenario-Based Test (SBT): Format and Samples
What the prison officer scenario-based test involves, how long it takes, what it measures, and worked sample questions with answers explained.
Prison Officer Values-Based Assessment (VBA) Explained
What the prison officer values-based assessment measures, how long it takes, the four HMPPS behaviours behind it, example item styles and how to prepare honestly.
Prison Officer Written Exercise: Incident Form Model Answer
How the 25-minute prison officer written exercise works, what it is marked on, how to structure an incident report, and a full model answer to study.
SPS Prison Officer Recruitment: Tests, Exercises and Intakes
How Scottish Prison Service residential officer recruitment works: SJT, cognitive test, group and written exercises, interview, fitness test, pay and intakes.
Youth Justice Worker Application: Tests, Role Plays and Pay
The HMPPS youth justice worker application: online tests, the assessment centre with two role plays, training, the Level 4 qualification and pay by YOI.