New York Security Guard Practice Test 2026: Practice test 2

1. Question 1 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.

2. Question 2 of 20

   An employee forgot their ID badge and says, "Everyone knows me, just let me in." What should you do?

   • ALet them in because they look familiar
   • BLet them in if they promise to bring the badge tomorrow and sign the log
   • CTell them to go home for the day
   • DFollow site procedure to confirm who they are before letting them in
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   Answer: D. Follow site procedure to confirm who they are before letting them in

   Access rules apply to everyone. Confirming identity the approved way protects the site from people who only pretend to belong.

3. Question 3 of 20

   What three things does a fire need to burn?

   • AHeat, fuel and oxygen
   • BGas, smoke and oxygen
   • CWater, wood and wind
   • DSmoke, flames and heat
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   Answer: A. Heat, fuel and oxygen

   This is the fire triangle. Remove any one of the three and the fire goes out.

4. Question 4 of 20

   What is the best way to ask a trespasser to leave?

   • AShout at them in front of other people
   • BTake their ID card and keep it until they leave
   • CExplain politely and clearly that they must leave, and give them time to go
   • DTake their arm firmly and walk them out the nearest door without saying much
   Show answer

   Answer: C. Explain politely and clearly that they must leave, and give them time to go

   A clear, polite request gives the person a chance to comply and reduces the chance of a fight.

5. Question 5 of 20

   A good incident report answers which questions?

   • AOnly who and when
   • BOnly what happened to the officer
   • CWho, what, when, where, why and how
   • DOnly what the client wants to hear about
   Show answer

   Answer: C. Who, what, when, where, why and how

   The six basic questions make sure the reader understands the full incident.

6. Question 6 of 20

   When should a security officer write notes about an incident?

   • AOnly if the police come to the site
   • BAt the end of the week
   • CAs soon as possible, while the details are fresh
   • DOnly if a supervisor asks for them at the end of the shift
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   Answer: C. As soon as possible, while the details are fresh

   Memory fades quickly. Notes written right away are more accurate and more believable in court.

7. Question 7 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.

8. Question 8 of 20

   A trespasser refuses to leave and becomes angry. What should the officer usually do?

   • AKeep a safe distance and call the police, as the post orders say
   • BBlock the exit so the person has to stay there until the police arrive
   • CLock the person in an office
   • DDrag the person off the property
   Show answer

   Answer: A. Keep a safe distance and call the police, as the post orders say

   Officers should avoid physical confrontation. Police can deal with a person who will not leave.

9. Question 9 of 20

   What should a security officer do after any use of force?

   • AAsk the person to sign a paper saying they were not hurt
   • BSay nothing unless the person who was hurt makes a formal complaint to the client later
   • CLeave the site before anyone asks questions
   • DGet medical help if needed, tell a supervisor and write a detailed report
   Show answer

   Answer: D. Get medical help if needed, tell a supervisor and write a detailed report

   Every use of force must be reported in detail. Medical care comes first if anyone is hurt.

10. Question 10 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.

11. Question 11 of 20

    In "run, hide, fight," when is fighting appropriate?

    • AWhen you want to protect the building and its valuable property
    • BBefore trying anything else
    • CEvery time you see the attacker
    • DOnly as a last resort, when your life is in immediate danger
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Only as a last resort, when your life is in immediate danger

    Escaping or hiding comes first. Fighting is for when there is no other choice and your life is at risk.

12. Question 12 of 20

    Which federal agency sets workplace safety rules for most US employers?

    • AFBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation)
    • BFEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency)
    • CTSA (Transportation Security Administration)
    • DOSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)
    Show answer

    Answer: D. OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)

    OSHA sets and enforces safety and health standards for most private-sector workplaces.

13. Question 13 of 20

    When force is allowed, how much force may a security officer use?

    • AAny amount of force the client approves in writing in the post orders
    • BAs much force as it takes to win
    • CTwice as much force as the other person uses
    • DOnly the force that is reasonable and necessary for the situation
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    Answer: D. Only the force that is reasonable and necessary for the situation

    The law allows only reasonable force. Using more than is needed can make the officer guilty of assault and liable for damages.

14. Question 14 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.

15. Question 15 of 20

    On patrol you find a broken window and signs that someone forced their way in. What should you do first?

    • AGo inside alone to catch the intruder
    • BStay outside, call the police and your supervisor, and watch from a safe place
    • CClean up the broken glass so no one is hurt
    • DWait until morning so the day shift supervisor can decide what to do next about it
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Stay outside, call the police and your supervisor, and watch from a safe place

    An intruder may still be inside. Entering alone is dangerous and can destroy evidence.

16. Question 16 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.

17. Question 17 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.

18. Question 18 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.

19. Question 19 of 20

    What does federal guidance tell people to do in an active shooter situation?

    • ARun, hide, fight
    • BStop, drop and roll
    • CDuck, cover and hold
    • DStay, call and wait
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Run, hide, fight

    The Department of Homeland Security advises running if there is a safe way out, hiding if not, and fighting only as a last resort.

20. Question 20 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.

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