Firefighter Aptitude Lab
Online preparation focused on the skills you need for your firefighter aptitude test. Find out where you need practice, work through lessons with explained answers and prepare with timed practice exams.
We write every question in the lab ourselves, built around the job you're testing for.
Firefighter Aptitude Lab
- Twelve months of lab access from purchase. The downloads remain yours afterwards.
- 63 lessons with interactive drawings.
- Set it to your test: FireTEAM, FACT, or Calgary, Edmonton, Airdrie, Red Deer or Lethbridge.
- Email us within 7 days of buying and the whole $129 comes back.
When you first open the lab on this device, Airdrie Fire Department (FACT) will be ready to choose.
Get the Aptitude LabTry three questions from the lab
Pick an answer and you'll see how it's worked out.
Mechanical reasoning
The bar is rigid and its own weight is ignored. What effort at the right end, pushing straight down, just balances the 300 N load?
Moments balance about the pivot: load × load arm = effort × effort arm. 300 × 2 = effort × 6, so effort = 100 N. The longer arm needs less force.
The rule: Load × load arm = effort × effort arm, both measured from the pivot.
Pick an answer to see the working.
Spatial reasoning
On this map the north arrow points to the left side of the page. The hydrant is up and to the right of the station on the page. In which compass direction is the hydrant from the station?
Turn the whole compass with the arrow. If north is left, east is up, south is right and west is down. Up is east and right is south, so the hydrant is southeast of the station.
The rule: Label all four compass points from the arrow before reading any position.
Pick an answer to see the working.
Reading and written comprehension
The morning consists of three stations. Station 1 runs from 09:00 to 09:35. A ten-minute transition follows. Station 2 runs for 40 minutes. After a 15-minute break, Station 3 begins and runs for 30 minutes. All groups must be back in the classroom by 11:20.
When does Station 3 begin?
Station 2 ends at 10:25 and a fifteen minute break follows, so Station 3 begins at 10:40.
The rule: Where a passage gives two different gaps, use the one that belongs to this step.
Get the Aptitude LabPick an answer to see the working.
Gear direction
Every lesson has a drawing like this one
Add or remove gears, choose which way the first one turns, and watch each mesh reverse the direction of the gear after it.
How the lab works
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Choose your test
Pick your department or the test it uses. For Calgary (FireTEAM), Airdrie (FACT) and Red Deer, your plan, diagnostic and exams narrow to the sections that test covers.
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Diagnose
The diagnostic, 24 to 56 questions depending on your test, marks itself and ranks your areas, weakest first.
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Learn
Every weak numerical, mechanical, spatial, logic, attention, reading and listening skill has a lesson: the method, a drawing you work yourself, the common trap, then practice until you have it right on two different days.
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Practise
Tell the lab when you test. It fills each day with your weakest area first, and a question you miss comes back on a later day as a new question on the same skill, while that skill has a fresh one.
“If you are looking to start a career in emergency services, this is where I would start.”
What our candidates are saying
“Reasonable price. Great information and assistance.”
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“I would highly recommend working with River as an interview coach!”
“I was fortunate to work with River in preparation for my interview with Calgary Fire and with his support and expertise, I was able to score high in the interview process. River was thorough with helping me understand exactly what I could expect, setting me up with success early on. His feedback during interview prep was very helpful and allowed me to make some important changes to elevate my interview style and answers. I would highly recommend working with River as an interview coach!”
Ashleigh Baker Calgary Fire Department interview preparation. -
“I had a 10/10 experience with the consulting they provided me in preparation for my STAR format interview.”
“I had a 10/10 experience with the consulting they provided me in preparation for my STAR format interview. Logan & River are professionals that leverage years of experience in their respective fields to give you an edge going into STAR format interviews.
I couldn’t recommend them enough, these two gentlemen will have you ready to succeed.”
Dustin Magee Calgary Fire Department interview preparation. -
“…played an integral role in my success at this stage!”
“This was my second time applying for the Calgary Fire Department. I made it to the interview process my first time and I did not perform well. I wanted to make sure that this wasn’t the case my second time around so I did my research and I signed up for the Firefighter Interview Intensive Course with Northline.
Working with River was a game changer. His help throughout the preparation process gave me a lot of confidence walking into the interview. The time and effort River put in to making sure that I understood the process and that I was properly prepared for whatever questions were asked played an integral role in my success at this stage!
If you are an aspiring firefighter looking for someone who truly cares and wants you to succeed, I highly recommend reaching out to Northline!”
Graham MacDonald Calgary Fire Department interview preparation. -
“I would highly recommend Northline Emergency to anyone who is preparing for an interview in the fire service.”
“I used Northline Emergency Training & Consulting to prepare for an upcoming interview. River was great to work with, and ensured that I was prepared even with the limited time that I had. I would highly recommend Northline Emergency to anyone who is preparing for an interview in the fire service.”
Bryce Duke Calgary Fire Department interview preparation. -
“When we got to the delivery portion of the course, Logan walked me through the grading process so I could come in aware of what was expected.”
“I took my 1041 Level 1 and 2 through Logan, and had a wonderful experience. He was able to answer all questions, and was available when I needed help. When we got to the delivery portion of the course, Logan walked me through the grading process so I could come in aware of what was expected. I will be taking future courses here for sure.”
Nikolas Krushelnicki NFPA 1041 Fire Service Instructor I and II. -
“Exceptional instruction and care when teaching the red cross first aid course!”
“Exceptional instruction and care when teaching the red cross first aid course!”
Ethan Quirk Intermediate/Standard First Aid, group training. -
“Evaluation process was well defined and run, with clear performance based expectations.”
“Evaluation process was well defined and run, with clear performance based expectations.”
Dave Cran Team Lead & Training Coordinator, Foothills Search & Rescue -
“Logan was great to work with. Very prompt and thorough. Helpful and professional in the delivery of our NFPA courses.”
“Logan was great to work with. Very prompt and thorough. Helpful and professional in the delivery of our NFPA courses.”
Andy V Rope Team Member, Foothills Search & Rescue -
“Great training, awesome instructors!”
“Great training, awesome instructors!”
Sean Kozachenko Firefighter, Rockyview County Fire Services Fire Service Instructor I, NFPA 1041. -
“Fantastic instructors and very well run.”
“Fantastic instructors and very well run.”
Ryley Dimmer Firefighter, Calgary Fire Department -
“Excellent Instructors, extremely knowledgeable!”
“Excellent Instructors, extremely knowledgeable!”
Kevin Murray Firefighter/Paramedic, Rockyview County Fire Services -
“Great instructor, thorough, knowledgeable and professional.”
“Great instructor, thorough, knowledgeable and professional.”
Shelby Hammond Firefighter, Diamond Valley Fire Rescue NFPA 1002 Aerial Apparatus. -
“I have taken this course many times and was pleased to get new knowledge as well as a great reinforcement of existing skills”
“Logan brought a very interesting and relatable program to our group
I have taken this course many times and was pleased to get new knowledge as well as a great reinforcement of existing skills
I would highly recommend this group as trainers!”
GoGravel Canada Intermediate/Standard First Aid, group training. -
“Outstanding course. Meticulously delivered, detail-oriented, and incredibly knowledgeable.”
“Outstanding course. Meticulously delivered, detail-oriented, and incredibly knowledgeable. Highly recommend Logan and the Northline team!”
Steve Erickson Intermediate/Standard First Aid, group training. -
“Logan is an excellent teacher who is intentional with every story he tells and lesson he teaches.”
“Logan is an excellent teacher who is intentional with every story he tells and lesson he teaches. 100% would recommend to any large group hoping to get Intermediate First Aid Red Cross certified!”
Josie Webber Intermediate/Standard First Aid, group training. -
“Very fun and informative”
“Very fun and informative”
Logan Quirk Intermediate/Standard First Aid, group training. -
“Very enjoyable and thorough!”
“Very enjoyable and thorough!”
Andrew Rasmussen Intermediate/Standard First Aid, group training.
Twelve months in the lab
- 63 lessons, each with an interactive drawing.
- 280 marked practice questions and a diagnostic of 24 to 56 questions, every one explained.
- Practice Exams A and B: 66 questions each, marked when you submit and timed at 66 minutes of Northline's own practice pacing.
- 151 recheck questions held in reserve, so each recheck is a question you are seeing for the first time.
- An oral information section: a spoken briefing you hear once, then answer from memory.
Every lesson in the course
Numerical reasoning 12 lessons
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Units and time
Convert hours, minutes and metric units into the unit the question asks for.
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Decimals and fractions
Compare, add, divide and round decimals, fractions and percentages.
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Multi-step problems
Break a word problem into stages and choose which way to round the answer.
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Percentages
Build any percentage of a number from 10%, 5% and 1% blocks.
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Percentage change
Work out a percentage increase or decrease, and apply one to a value.
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Reverse percentages
Find the original amount from a value after a percentage rise or cut.
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Ratios
Split a total, or a difference, into shares by a given ratio.
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Rates, speed and time
Work out time, amount or rate from the other two, including rates acting together.
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Averages
Find an average, the total behind it, or the missing value that gives it.
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Area and perimeter
Work out area and perimeter, including L shapes and how many pieces cover a floor.
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Estimation
Round to easy numbers to estimate a product or a quotient.
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Friendly numbers: math in your head
Round, split and count up to do arithmetic in your head, holding no more than two things at once.
Mechanical reasoning 20 lessons
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Levers
Find the effort that balances a lever, measuring every arm from the fulcrum.
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Balance and counterweights
Find the missing mass or distance that balances a beam on its pivot.
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Work
Work out the work done as force times distance, in joules.
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Simple machines
Name which of the six simple machines a tool is by what it does.
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Ramps and wedges
Work out the push a ramp needs and its mechanical advantage.
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Pulleys
Count the supporting rope runs to find the pull and the rope needed to lift a load.
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Gear direction
Tell which way any gear in a train turns by counting the meshes.
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Gear ratios and speed
Work out a driven gear's speed or turns from the teeth on both gears.
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Idler gears
Work out speed and direction through an idler gear, which changes only the direction.
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Gears sharing a shaft
Work a compound gear train stage by stage across a shared shaft.
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Gear torque
Trade torque against speed across a gear pair using the teeth ratio.
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Hydraulics
Work out the force a hydraulic press gives and how far each piston travels.
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Pressure
Work out pressure from force and area, and how it grows with depth in water.
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Springs
Work out a spring's stretch on its own, side by side or end to end.
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Friction
Work out the push needed to start a load sliding, and what raises or lowers friction.
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Inertia
Predict how a loose load moves when a vehicle brakes or turns, and compare mass times speed.
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Stability
Tell when an object will tip from its base width and centre of gravity.
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Floating and sinking
Tell whether an object floats or sinks, and how deep it floats.
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Flow
Work out how water speeds up through a narrower pipe, and what lowers the flow.
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Circuits
Tell which bulbs stay lit in series and parallel circuits, and add series resistances.
Spatial reasoning 10 lessons
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Compass turns
Track which way you face after a series of left and right turns.
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Bearings
Read and turn bearings clockwise from north, and find the opposite bearing.
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Grid moves
Net a run of grid moves into how far north or south and east or west you end up.
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Left and right from where you stand
Tell left from right from the walker's point of view, not the map's.
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Maps with north turned
Label east, south and west on a map whose north arrow is turned.
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Facing a way on a turned map
Turn a heading into a direction on a turned map, and back again.
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Reading a street map
Give the direction from one place to another on a street map, and follow a route.
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Mirror images
Draw a shape's mirror image across a vertical or horizontal line.
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Turned, not flipped
Tell a turned shape from a mirror image by the order of its features.
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Folding cube nets
Tell whether a net of six squares folds into a cube, and which faces are opposite.
Logic and problem solving 7 lessons
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Number sequences
Find the rule in a number sequence from its gaps or ratios, and give the next term.
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Letter and number codes
Find a letter shift from an example and use it to code or decode a word.
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Putting events in order
Put events in order from before, after and fixed position clues.
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Overlapping groups
Work out how many are in both, either or neither of two overlapping groups.
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Who goes where
Work out who goes where with a grid of ticks and crosses, one rule at a time.
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If, then, and only
Tell what an if, then rule lets you conclude, and when you cannot tell.
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Chains of rules
Follow a chain of rules forwards and backwards without reversing a rule.
Memory and attention 5 lessons
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Checking a copy against the original
Find every row where a copied list differs from its original, and say what slipped.
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Spotting the exact match
Find the one exact copy among near copies by checking every character in order.
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Counting how many times something appears
Count how often a symbol appears without counting its look alikes or losing your place.
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Remembering what you read once
Hold the facts of a card read once, each number tied to what it belongs to.
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Alphabetical and number order
Put names in alphabetical order letter by letter, and times, dates and decimals by their largest unit.
Reading and written comprehension 8 lessons
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Finding what a passage states
Find the one sentence that answers a question, and answer from it rather than from memory.
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Words in context
Work out which meaning of a word a sentence uses from the words around it.
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Precise wording
Find the exact figure a vague word hides, and tell when a small word says more or less than the source.
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Conditions in an instruction
Find every condition an instruction depends on and test a situation against each one.
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Following written instructions
Work through a written procedure step by step, in the order written, tracking every count.
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Schedules and timetables
Work out end times and lengths across the hour and past midnight, and find clashing bookings.
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Seen or judged
Tell what was seen, heard or measured from what was judged in a report.
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What a passage supports
Tell whether a conclusion is stated in a passage, supported by it, or not supported.
Oral information 1 lesson
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Hearing a briefing once
Hear a briefing once and keep who, what, where, when and the numbers, each with its owner.
Practised in the lab, with worked answers
- Fire service situational reasoning23 practice questions
What you get
$129 CAD plus applicable GST/HST
- 63 interactive lessons.
- Twelve months of lab access from purchase. The downloads remain yours afterwards.
- Email us within 7 days of buying and the whole $129 comes back.
- After you pay, set a password with the email you paid with.
Frequently asked questions
Does it cover my department's test?
It covers seven reasoning areas and an oral information section, where a spoken briefing plays once and you answer from memory. You can set it to your department or its test: for Calgary (FireTEAM), Airdrie (FACT) and Red Deer, the plan, diagnostic and exams narrow to the areas that test covers. Check your department's current test before you start: our department pages show what each department publishes about it.
How does it teach?
63 lessons, one skill at a time, each built the way the Learn step above describes. Fire service situational reasoning is taught through the worked explanation after every question.
Can I get my money back?
Try it for a week. Email info@northlineemergency.com within 7 days of buying and the whole $129 comes back, for any reason.
What happens after I pay?
If you bought while signed in, you go straight to your preparation page in My Account, with the Open the Lab button. Otherwise you set a password with the email you paid with, or log in if that email already has a Northline account, and land on the same page.
Can I use it on my phone?
Yes. The lab runs in the browser on your phone, tablet or computer.