POLICE COMPANIONThe sergeants' promotion exam is the NPPF Step Two legal exam. It is the national legal knowledge exam that a constable in England and Wales must pass before going on to the rest of the promotion process for sergeant. It replaced OSPRE Part I.
Some forces are trialling a different promotion route with its own legal test (SIPP), held at the same time as the NPPF exams. Check with your force examinations officer which one applies to you.
Where the exam fits in the promotion process
The National Police Promotion Framework (NPPF) has four steps:
- Step one: competence in your current rank.
- Step two: the legal knowledge exam.
- Step three: assessment against rank-specific competencies and matching to vacancies, run by your force.
- Step four: temporary promotion and a work-based assessment.
Who can sit it
You must meet the Step One criteria, which include competence in your current rank shown through your PDR (or equivalent), no live written improvement notice, no live written warning and keeping to your force's attendance policy. By the date of the exam you must also:
- be a regular constable with two years' service
- have completed your probation
- not already hold a pass in a recognised police promotion exam (for example, not already be an OSPRE Parts I and II qualified sergeant)
Anyone who sits the exam before they are eligible has their result voided.
Exam format
- One three-hour exam of 150 multiple-choice questions, taken online.
- Questions cover crime, evidence and procedure, and general police duties.
- Ten questions are removed at marking, so you are scored on 140.
- You can sit it on any day within the three-day exam window, between 8am and 8pm. There is no national requirement to use a test centre.
- Using AI tools such as ChatGPT during the exam is prohibited.
Pass mark
| Result | Score |
|---|---|
| Pass | 55% (77 correct out of 140) |
| Exceptional grade | 75% or above |
| Low-band fail | Below 30% |
Results and a feedback report broken down by subject area are due within three weeks of the exam. A pass is valid for five years (less one day), within which you need to reach Step Three.
What to study
Questions are drawn only from the 2027 edition of the Blackstone's Police Manuals, the only resource the College of Policing endorses for the exam. All of the syllabus applies to both the sergeants' and inspectors' exams, except chapter 1.8, which is for the sergeants' exam only. The College advises against relying on older editions.
Police officers and staff in England and Wales can get 30% off the manuals through College Learn. Free practice questions are available on the College's Candidate Online Examination Guidance group on the Knowledge Hub.
2027 sergeants' exam dates
| Exam | Registration | Exam window | Results by |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 2027 | 18 January to 6pm, 18 February 2027 | 16 to 18 March 2027 | 8 April 2027 |
| October 2027 | 3 August to 6pm, 9 September 2027 | 5 to 7 October 2027 | 28 October 2027 |
Your force may close registration earlier. See all 2027 police promotion exam dates.
Source: College of Policing, NPPF step two legal examinations candidate handbook (2027), updated 10 September 2026. Checked on 30 September 2026. The handbook is the official source, and every candidate must read it.
Planning your revision
The College publishes a subject area breakdown after each sitting, showing what came up. It is only an indication, and any part of the syllabus can be tested. A common approach is to work through the manuals first, then use notes, flashcards and practice questions to test yourself.
The law in your pocket on shift
The Police Companion app puts 1,250+ powers and offences and everyday policing tools on your phone, with core reference available offline.