Ontario Security Guard Test Practice 2026: Practice test 3

1. Question 1 of 25

   Self-defence under section 34 of the Criminal Code has three conditions. Which is one of them?

   • AThe act was reasonable in the circumstances
   • BThe other person was larger
   • CThe person gave three warnings
   • DThe person was on duty
   Show answer

   Answer: A. The act was reasonable in the circumstances

   Section 34(1) requires a reasonable belief that force or a threat of force is being used, an act done to defend against it, and an act that is reasonable in the circumstances.

2. Question 2 of 25

   You work alone on night shifts. Which is a good safety practice?

   • ACheck in with your supervisor or monitoring centre at set times
   • BInvestigate every alarm alone, even when you feel unsafe
   • CTell no one where you are patrolling
   • DTurn off your radio to save battery
   Show answer

   Answer: A. Check in with your supervisor or monitoring centre at set times

   Regular check-ins mean someone will notice quickly if you are hurt or in trouble. Follow your site's working-alone plan.

3. Question 3 of 25

   Under section 494(1)(a) of the Criminal Code, anyone may arrest without a warrant a person they find committing which kind of offence?

   • AAn indictable offence
   • BA parking violation
   • CAny provincial offence
   • DAny municipal bylaw offence
   Show answer

   Answer: A. An indictable offence

   Section 494(1)(a) lets any person arrest someone they find committing an indictable offence.

4. Question 4 of 25

   Which federal law sets privacy rules for private businesses that collect personal information in commercial activities?

   • AThe Criminal Code
   • BPIPEDA (Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act)
   • CThe Canada Labour Code
   • DThe Access to Information Act
   Show answer

   Answer: B. PIPEDA (Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act)

   PIPEDA covers personal information collected, used or shared by private-sector organizations in commercial activities, unless a similar provincial law applies.

5. Question 5 of 25

   During a fire evacuation, how should people leave a multi-storey building?

   • ABy the stairs and marked exits, not the elevators
   • BBy the elevators, because they are faster
   • CBy staying at their desks until told to move
   • DBy going up to the roof
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   Answer: A. By the stairs and marked exits, not the elevators

   Elevators can stop or open onto a fire floor. Use stairwells and exits, and help people who need assistance according to the fire safety plan.

6. Question 6 of 25

   A visitor with a service dog wants to enter a building with a "no pets" sign. What should the guard do?

   • AAsk them to tie the dog up outside
   • BRefuse entry because the sign says no pets
   • CLet them enter with the service dog, following human rights rules and site policy
   • DDemand to see their medical records
   Show answer

   Answer: C. Let them enter with the service dog, following human rights rules and site policy

   Service dogs are not pets. Human rights laws require reasonable accommodation of people with disabilities.

7. Question 7 of 25

   What does WHMIS stand for?

   • AWorker Hazard Management and Inspection System
   • BWarehouse Hazardous Materials Inventory Standard
   • CWorkplace Health and Medical Information Service
   • DWorkplace Hazardous Materials Information System
   Show answer

   Answer: D. Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System

   WHMIS is Canada's national system for information on hazardous products at work: labels, safety data sheets and worker training.

8. Question 8 of 25

   Who does the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms mainly apply to?

   • AOnly federal judges
   • BOnly people born in Canada
   • CEvery private business in every situation
   • DGovernments and those acting for them, such as police
   Show answer

   Answer: D. Governments and those acting for them, such as police

   Section 32 says the Charter applies to Parliament, the provincial legislatures and government. Private guards are usually not covered unless they act for the state.

9. Question 9 of 25

   A guard sees a person trying car door handles in a parking lot. What is usually the best first action?

   • ARun up and tackle the person
   • BIgnore it because the cars do not belong to the client
   • CKeep watching from a safe spot and report it to police or a supervisor
   • DPost the person's photo on social media
   Show answer

   Answer: C. Keep watching from a safe spot and report it to police or a supervisor

   Observing and reporting is the core of the job. Rushing in can put the guard and others in danger, and there may not yet be grounds for an arrest.

10. Question 10 of 25

    An upset customer is shouting at you. Which approach is most likely to calm the situation?

    • ATurn your back and walk away
    • BLaugh to lighten the mood
    • CStay calm, listen, speak slowly and offer options
    • DShout back to show authority
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Stay calm, listen, speak slowly and offer options

    A calm voice, active listening and real choices help an upset person come back down. Matching their anger usually makes things worse.

11. Question 11 of 25

    You receive a bomb threat by phone. What should you do?

    • AStay calm, keep the caller talking, and write down their exact words, voice and background sounds
    • BHang up immediately
    • CTell the caller the building is empty
    • DTreat it as a joke and do nothing
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Stay calm, keep the caller talking, and write down their exact words, voice and background sounds

    Details about the caller and the threat help police judge it. Then follow your site's bomb threat procedure and report it right away.

12. Question 12 of 25

    A guard arrests someone without legal grounds. What could happen?

    • ANothing, because guards cannot be sued
    • BThe person arrested must pay the guard's costs
    • CPolice must charge the person anyway
    • DThe guard and employer could face criminal charges or a lawsuit, for example for false imprisonment
    Show answer

    Answer: D. The guard and employer could face criminal charges or a lawsuit, for example for false imprisonment

    An unlawful arrest can be an assault and false imprisonment. Always be sure of your grounds, and follow your employer's arrest policy.

13. Question 13 of 25

    A person is inside a mall after closing without permission but is not committing a crime. What should a guard usually do first?

    • AIdentify yourself, tell them they must leave, and give them a chance to go
    • BLock them inside until morning
    • CTake their phone as a security deposit
    • DArrest them for a criminal offence
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Identify yourself, tell them they must leave, and give them a chance to go

    Most trespass situations end when the person is told to leave. Trespass laws generally expect notice or a direction to leave before stronger action.

14. Question 14 of 25

    Workers in Canada generally have three basic health and safety rights. Which set is correct?

    • AThe right to overtime, to holidays, and to a uniform
    • BThe right to choose shifts, to work alone, and to skip training
    • CThe right to sue, to strike at any time, and to carry a weapon
    • DThe right to know, to participate, and to refuse unsafe work
    Show answer

    Answer: D. The right to know, to participate, and to refuse unsafe work

    Occupational health and safety laws across Canada give workers the right to know about hazards, to take part in safety activities, and to refuse dangerous work.

15. Question 15 of 25

    After a private person makes an arrest without a warrant, what does section 494(3) require?

    • ADeliver the person to a peace officer right away
    • BRelease the person after taking a photo
    • CHold the person until the next business day
    • DDrive the person home
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Deliver the person to a peace officer right away

    Section 494(3) says anyone other than a peace officer who arrests without a warrant must forthwith (immediately) deliver the person to a peace officer.

16. Question 16 of 25

    Section 10(b) of the Charter gives a person who is arrested or detained the right to…

    • Aone free phone call to family only
    • Bhire and instruct a lawyer without delay and be told of that right
    • Cleave whenever they want
    • Drefuse to give their name in court
    Show answer

    Answer: B. hire and instruct a lawyer without delay and be told of that right

    Section 10 also gives the right to be told promptly why you are arrested or detained. Many employers tell guards to explain both rights after an arrest.

17. Question 17 of 25

    On the radio, which word means "I have received your message"?

    • AMayday
    • BBreak
    • COver and out
    • DRoger
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Roger

    "Roger" (or "copy" at many sites) confirms you received the message. "Mayday" is a distress call.

18. Question 18 of 25

    When should notebook entries be made?

    • AOnly when a supervisor asks
    • BOnly if police are involved
    • CAt the end of the week
    • DAt the time of the event or as soon as possible after
    Show answer

    Answer: D. At the time of the event or as soon as possible after

    Write notes while details are fresh. Notes made long after the event carry less weight.

19. Question 19 of 25

    You arrive first at a break-in. The suspect is gone and nobody is hurt. What should you do?

    • ALet staff walk through to look at the damage
    • BKeep people out of the area, avoid touching anything, and call police
    • CClean up the broken glass right away
    • DLift fingerprints with tape
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Keep people out of the area, avoid touching anything, and call police

    Protect the scene for police. Every person who walks through can destroy or add evidence. Keep a log of anyone who must enter.

20. Question 20 of 25

    On patrol you find a door unlocked that should be locked. What should you do?

    • ALock it and forget about it
    • BCheck the area with care, secure the door if safe, and record and report it
    • CLeave it, since it is not your job
    • DProp it open so you can get back in
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Check the area with care, secure the door if safe, and record and report it

    An unlocked door may mean a break-in or a staff mistake. Check safely, call for backup if something seems wrong, and record what you found.

21. Question 21 of 25

    Section 35 of the Criminal Code covers defence of property. A guard acting for the property's possessor can rely on it only if the act is…

    • Ameant to punish the person
    • Breasonable in the circumstances
    • Cdone after the person has left the property
    • Dapproved by police beforehand
    Show answer

    Answer: B. reasonable in the circumstances

    Section 35 protects a person acting for someone in peaceable possession of property, but the act must be reasonable in the circumstances.

22. Question 22 of 25

    Why should you keep a safe distance (a reactionary gap) from an agitated person?

    • ABecause the law forbids standing close to the public
    • BSo the person cannot read your name tag
    • CSo you do not have to write a report
    • DIt gives you time and space to react if they become violent
    Show answer

    Answer: D. It gives you time and space to react if they become violent

    Distance buys reaction time. Stand at an angle, out of arm's reach, with a clear way out.

23. Question 23 of 25

    When is a court most likely to apply the Charter to a private security guard?

    • ANever, under any circumstances
    • BOnly when the guard works nights
    • COnly when the guard is off duty
    • DWhen the guard acts as an agent of the police, for example on police instructions
    Show answer

    Answer: D. When the guard acts as an agent of the police, for example on police instructions

    A guard who acts at the direction of police can be treated as a state agent, and then Charter rules such as protection from unreasonable search apply.

24. Question 24 of 25

    Theft under $5,000 is a hybrid offence. For citizen's arrest purposes, how is it treated?

    • AAs an indictable offence, until the Crown decides how to proceed
    • BAs a summary offence that never allows an arrest
    • CAs a civil matter only
    • DAs a provincial offence
    Show answer

    Answer: A. As an indictable offence, until the Crown decides how to proceed

    Under section 34(1)(a) of the federal Interpretation Act, a hybrid offence is treated as indictable until the Crown elects, so it can support an arrest under section 494.

25. Question 25 of 25

    Why should a guard write reports in the first person ("I saw…") and in plain language?

    • AIt hides who wrote the report
    • BIt lets the guard include rumours
    • CIt makes the report longer
    • DIt makes clear what the guard personally saw and did, and is easy to understand
    Show answer

    Answer: D. It makes clear what the guard personally saw and did, and is easy to understand

    Clear first-person writing shows which facts come from your own senses. Simple words reduce mistakes when others read the report.

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