California Guard Card Practice Test 2026: Practice test 2

1. Question 1 of 20

   What is a security officer's role during a building evacuation?

   • AGo back inside to collect belongings
   • BGuide people to exits and the assembly point and help account for everyone
   • CUse the elevators to move people faster
   • DLock the exit doors behind people so no one can go back inside the building
   Show answer

   Answer: B. Guide people to exits and the assembly point and help account for everyone

   Officers help people leave calmly by the nearest safe exit and report anyone missing to emergency responders.

2. Question 2 of 20

   When should a security officer consider making a citizen's arrest?

   • AOnly when state law allows it, employer policy permits it, and it is safe and necessary
   • BWhenever someone breaks a site rule
   • CAny time the officer has a feeling someone is guilty
   • DWhenever a customer or the client asks for it and agrees to sign a written statement
   Show answer

   Answer: A. Only when state law allows it, employer policy permits it, and it is safe and necessary

   Citizen's arrest rules differ by state and carry real legal risk. Many employers tell officers to observe and report and let police make arrests.

3. Question 3 of 20

   What is good practice when using a two-way radio?

   • AHold long personal conversations
   • BShout into the microphone
   • CUse code words you made up so others cannot understand you
   • DThink before you speak and keep messages short and clear
   Show answer

   Answer: D. Think before you speak and keep messages short and clear

   Others may need the channel for an emergency. Clear, brief messages are easier to understand.

4. Question 4 of 20

   You made a mistake in your field notebook. What is the correct way to fix it?

   • ACover it with correction fluid, then neatly write the right words over the top
   • BTear the page out
   • CDraw a single line through it, write the correction and add your initials
   • DScribble over it until it cannot be read
   Show answer

   Answer: C. Draw a single line through it, write the correction and add your initials

   Notes can be used as evidence. A single line keeps the original words readable and shows the change was honest.

5. Question 5 of 20

   Why should security officers change the times and routes of their patrols?

   • ASo no one can predict when the officer will come by
   • BBecause the same route is boring
   • CTo shorten the patrol
   • DSo the officer can skip checking some doors and windows
   Show answer

   Answer: A. So no one can predict when the officer will come by

   A predictable patrol is easy for a criminal to plan around. Varying the pattern makes patrols a stronger deterrent.

6. Question 6 of 20

   A security officer holds a person in a room against their will with no legal right to do so. The officer may be sued for:

   • ALoitering
   • BBreach of contract
   • CNegligent hiring
   • DFalse imprisonment
   Show answer

   Answer: D. False imprisonment

   Unlawfully restricting someone's freedom to leave is false imprisonment. It can lead to a lawsuit and sometimes criminal charges.

7. Question 7 of 20

   At shift change you find that a key to a secure area is missing. What should you do?

   • AWait for the monthly key count to see if it turns up
   • BHave a copy made from another key
   • CReport it right away and record it in the log
   • DSay nothing and hope it turns up
   Show answer

   Answer: C. Report it right away and record it in the log

   A missing key can let someone into a secure area. Reporting it quickly allows the client to change locks if needed.

8. Question 8 of 20

   You feel very tired during a night shift. What is the professional choice?

   • ATurn off your radio so you can rest
   • BLeave early without telling anyone
   • CTake a short nap in your car during a quiet part of the shift
   • DTell your supervisor and use approved ways to stay alert
   Show answer

   Answer: D. Tell your supervisor and use approved ways to stay alert

   An officer who is asleep cannot protect anyone. Sleeping on duty can lead to dismissal and liability.

9. Question 9 of 20

   Which description is best for an incident report?

   • AA suspicious-looking guy hanging around
   • BA man who looked like he was up to no good, hanging around the loading dock
   • CA man about 6 feet tall, wearing a red hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans
   • DA tall person wearing normal clothes
   Show answer

   Answer: C. A man about 6 feet tall, wearing a red hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans

   Reports should give facts and details that someone else can use, not opinions or vague words.

10. Question 10 of 20

    In most situations, when may a private security officer look inside a person's bag?

    • AAny time a person refuses to answer the officer's questions politely
    • BWhen the person agrees or it is a posted condition of entry
    • CWhenever the officer has a feeling about them
    • DOnly after the officer takes off the uniform
    Show answer

    Answer: B. When the person agrees or it is a posted condition of entry

    Private officers do not have police search powers. Searches usually depend on consent and the site's posted rules.

11. Question 11 of 20

    A store manager offers you free merchandise if you "look the other way" now and then. What should you do?

    • AAsk for cash instead
    • BRefuse and report it to your supervisor
    • CAccept it but keep doing your job properly
    • DAccept it if the items are small
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Refuse and report it to your supervisor

    Accepting gifts in return for ignoring problems is unethical and may be a crime. Officers must stay honest and neutral.

12. Question 12 of 20

    Why do security officers use the phonetic alphabet (Alpha, Bravo, Charlie) on the radio?

    • ATo spell letters clearly so they are not misheard
    • BTo show the officer's rank
    • CBecause it makes messages shorter
    • DTo keep every message secret from people listening in
    Show answer

    Answer: A. To spell letters clearly so they are not misheard

    Letters like B, D and P sound alike on a radio. Words such as Bravo, Delta and Papa prevent mistakes.

13. Question 13 of 20

    You find an unattended, suspicious package. What should you do?

    • AOpen it to see what is inside
    • BPick it up gently and shake it to hear what is inside
    • CCarry it outside to a safer place
    • DDo not touch it, move people away and report it
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Do not touch it, move people away and report it

    A suspicious item may be dangerous. Keep people away and let trained responders deal with it.

14. Question 14 of 20

    Why do many sites make visitors sign in and wear visitor passes?

    • ATo slow visitors down
    • BBecause a single federal law requires it at every building with security officers
    • CSo security knows who is on site, why they are there and when they leave
    • DTo collect personal data to sell
    Show answer

    Answer: C. So security knows who is on site, why they are there and when they leave

    Visitor logs and passes help staff spot people who do not belong and help account for everyone in an emergency.

15. Question 15 of 20

    What is the main purpose of a security patrol?

    • ATo prevent and detect problems such as fires, hazards, theft and intruders
    • BTo find people to arrest
    • CTo check the quality of employees' work and report anyone who does not seem busy
    • DTo keep the officer busy until the shift ends
    Show answer

    Answer: A. To prevent and detect problems such as fires, hazards, theft and intruders

    Patrols let officers spot and report problems early, and a visible officer deters crime.

16. Question 16 of 20

    In most states, a private security officer's power to arrest is:

    • AGreater than a police officer's while on private property
    • BThe same as any private citizen's, as set by state law
    • CUnlimited while the officer is in uniform
    • DThe same as a police officer's
    Show answer

    Answer: B. The same as any private citizen's, as set by state law

    Unless a state law gives special powers, a security officer has only the arrest powers that any private person has. These rules differ from state to state.

17. Question 17 of 20

    A person walks through a secure door right behind an employee without using their own card. What is this called?

    • ASkimming
    • BTailgating
    • CShoplifting
    • DLoitering
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Tailgating

    Tailgating (also called piggybacking) lets unauthorized people slip into secure areas. Officers should watch for it and challenge it politely.

18. Question 18 of 20

    What are "post orders"?

    • AWritten instructions that describe an officer's duties at a specific site
    • BOrders given by police officers to security staff at a crime scene they control
    • CA list of people who are banned from all stores
    • DLetters that arrive in the mail for the client
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Written instructions that describe an officer's duties at a specific site

    Post orders tell officers what to do at their post, such as patrol times, access rules and emergency contacts.

19. Question 19 of 20

    A person who was struggling stops resisting and is now calm. What should happen to the officer's use of force?

    • AIt should increase so the person does not try again
    • BIt should stay exactly the same
    • CIt should stop or be reduced right away
    • DIt should continue until the police arrive
    Show answer

    Answer: C. It should stop or be reduced right away

    Force must end when the threat ends. Force used after a person stops resisting is not reasonable and may be a crime.

20. Question 20 of 20

    You find a fire in a storage room. What should you do first?

    • AFinish your patrol first and report it when you get back to the security desk
    • BRaise the alarm and call the fire department, following site procedures
    • CTry to put it out alone, no matter how big it is
    • DOpen all the windows to let the smoke out
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Raise the alarm and call the fire department, following site procedures

    Early warning saves lives. Only try to fight a small fire if you are trained, it is safe and you have a clear way out.

Keyboard: 1–4 to answer, Enter for the next question.

The real test: 100%