California Guard Card Practice Test 2026: Practice test 3

1. Question 1 of 20

   A crime has just happened in a store office. Until police arrive, what should the security officer do?

   • APick up important items and keep them safe in your pocket
   • BLet staff walk through to see what happened
   • CKeep people out of the area and avoid touching anything
   • DClean up so the office looks normal
   Show answer

   Answer: C. Keep people out of the area and avoid touching anything

   Protecting the scene preserves evidence. Officers should note who was there and anything they saw.

2. Question 2 of 20

   On patrol you find a door open that should be locked, with no sign of a break-in. What should you do?

   • ACheck the area if it is safe, secure the door and report it
   • BLeave it open and mention it to the next officer at shift change
   • CIgnore it because nothing seems wrong
   • DLeave it open in case someone needs it
   Show answer

   Answer: A. Check the area if it is safe, secure the door and report it

   An unlocked door is a security risk. Securing it and reporting it lets the client fix the cause.

3. Question 3 of 20

   How should a security officer decide whom to watch more closely?

   • ABy their race, ethnic background or accent
   • BBy the language they speak
   • CBy what people do, not by how they look
   • DBy their age or how they dress
   Show answer

   Answer: C. By what people do, not by how they look

   Watching behavior is fair and effective. Profiling people by appearance is unfair and can break anti-discrimination laws.

4. Question 4 of 20

   A visitor asks how to find an office in the building. What should you do?

   • AAsk the visitor to leave the building
   • BIgnore the visitor, because giving directions is not security work
   • CHelp politely and clearly, or find someone who can
   • DTell the visitor to find it alone
   Show answer

   Answer: C. Help politely and clearly, or find someone who can

   Officers are often the first person a visitor meets. Helpful, polite service is part of the job.

5. Question 5 of 20

   Police arrive at an active shooter scene. What should you do?

   • AKeep your hands empty and visible and follow their commands
   • BRun toward the officers to hug them
   • CPoint toward the shooter with your radio or phone in your hand
   • DAsk the officers to show their badges
   Show answer

   Answer: A. Keep your hands empty and visible and follow their commands

   Police may not know who the attacker is. Empty, visible hands and following orders keep you safe.

6. Question 6 of 20

   Which example best describes negligence?

   • AHitting a person on purpose during an argument
   • BNot checking a fire exit you were told to check, and someone is hurt because it was blocked
   • CRefusing to work an extra shift when a coworker calls in sick
   • DAsking a visitor to sign in at the front desk
   Show answer

   Answer: B. Not checking a fire exit you were told to check, and someone is hurt because it was blocked

   Negligence means failing to use the care a reasonable person would use, and that failure causes harm.

7. Question 7 of 20

   The PASS method for using a portable fire extinguisher stands for:

   • APull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep
   • BPoint, Activate, Squeeze, Stop
   • CPush, Aim, Spray, Stop
   • DPull, Alert, Spray, Shut
   Show answer

   Answer: A. Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep

   Pull the pin, aim at the base of the fire, squeeze the handle and sweep from side to side.

8. Question 8 of 20

   You see a spill on the floor of a busy hallway. What should you do?

   • ATell a few people nearby to be careful and do nothing else
   • BWait until someone slips, then report it
   • CWalk around it and continue your patrol
   • DGuard or mark the area, report it for cleanup and note it
   Show answer

   Answer: D. Guard or mark the area, report it for cleanup and note it

   Slips are a common cause of injury. Officers should make hazards safe and report them right away.

9. Question 9 of 20

   How should you record what a witness said in a report?

   • AWrite their exact words in quotation marks when you can
   • BWrite only the parts you agree with
   • CReplace their words with your opinion of what they meant
   • DChange their words so they sound more professional
   Show answer

   Answer: A. Write their exact words in quotation marks when you can

   Exact quotes are more accurate and more useful as evidence than a summary.

10. Question 10 of 20

    Before helping an injured person, what should you check first?

    • AWhether you can take photos for the report
    • BWhether the person has ID
    • CWhether the client is on site
    • DThat the scene is safe for you
    Show answer

    Answer: D. That the scene is safe for you

    If the scene is dangerous, you could become a second victim. Check for hazards before you approach.

11. Question 11 of 20

    What is the main job of most private security officers?

    • AObserve, deter and report problems to the right people
    • BInvestigate crimes and arrest suspects in the same way as the police
    • CPunish people who break site rules
    • DEnforce traffic laws on public roads
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Observe, deter and report problems to the right people

    Security officers protect people and property mostly by being visible, watching carefully and reporting what they see. Law enforcement is the job of the police.

12. Question 12 of 20

    Which of these sentences should go in an incident report?

    • AI think the night cleaner probably forgot to lock the loading dock door again.
    • BThis building is always a mess.
    • CThe east loading dock door was propped open with a brick at 2:15 a.m.
    • DProbably nothing important happened.
    Show answer

    Answer: C. The east loading dock door was propped open with a brick at 2:15 a.m.

    Reports should record facts you saw or heard, with times and places, not personal opinions.

13. Question 13 of 20

    When using a fire extinguisher, where should you aim it?

    • AAt the base of the fire
    • BInto the smoke
    • CAt the ceiling above the fire
    • DAt the top of the flames
    Show answer

    Answer: A. At the base of the fire

    Aiming at the base puts the extinguishing agent on the fuel that is burning.

14. Question 14 of 20

    Which statement about a security uniform is true?

    • AIt gives the officer the right to search anyone on the client's property
    • BIt allows the officer to direct traffic on any public street
    • CIt shows the officer works for the site, but it gives no police powers
    • DIt allows the officer to hold people for questioning
    Show answer

    Answer: C. It shows the officer works for the site, but it gives no police powers

    A uniform makes an officer easy to find and can deter crime. It does not turn the officer into a law enforcement officer.

15. Question 15 of 20

    Why must a security officer never say or suggest that they are a police officer?

    • APolice officers may ask the officer to work for them
    • BClients only allow it during night shifts when the police are busy elsewhere
    • CPretending to be a police officer is a crime and can lead to lawsuits
    • DIt makes incident reports harder to write
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Pretending to be a police officer is a crime and can lead to lawsuits

    Impersonating a law enforcement officer is a criminal offense. It also exposes the officer and employer to civil lawsuits.

16. Question 16 of 20

    What does "active listening" mean?

    • AInterrupting to correct the person's facts
    • BAgreeing with everything the person says so that they calm down faster
    • CPaying full attention, letting the person speak and repeating back what you heard
    • DWaiting quietly for your turn to argue
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Paying full attention, letting the person speak and repeating back what you heard

    People calm down when they feel heard. Repeating back what they said shows you understand.

17. Question 17 of 20

    While on duty you learn private information about a client's employees. What should you do with it?

    • APost it on social media as a warning
    • BUse it later to ask employees for favors in return for keeping quiet
    • CKeep it confidential and share it only with people who need to know
    • DTell friends and family about it
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Keep it confidential and share it only with people who need to know

    Security officers are trusted with sensitive information. Keeping it private is a basic duty.

18. Question 18 of 20

    Why must security reports be accurate and complete?

    • APolice, insurers, lawyers and courts may rely on them
    • BThey are only read by the officer who wrote them, as a memory aid
    • CThey are used mainly for advertising
    • DThey are thrown away after each shift
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Police, insurers, lawyers and courts may rely on them

    A report may become a legal record. Mistakes or missing details can hurt an investigation and the officer's credibility.

19. Question 19 of 20

    During a fire evacuation, what should people NOT use?

    • AEmergency lighting
    • BStairs
    • CMarked exits
    • DElevators
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Elevators

    Elevators can stop working or open onto a fire floor. People should use the stairs.

20. Question 20 of 20

    Which body language helps calm an angry person?

    • ACrossed arms and a hard stare
    • BStanding close to the person's face to show confidence
    • COpen hands, a relaxed stance and a safe distance
    • DPointing your finger at the person
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Open hands, a relaxed stance and a safe distance

    Calm, non-threatening body language helps lower tension. Keeping a safe distance also protects the officer.

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The real test: 100%