- The FACT has 110 multiple-choice items split across General Aptitude (45%) and Personal Characteristics (55%).
- Maximum testing time is three hours; General Aptitude covers Reading, Math, Map Reading, and Writing Ability.
- The exam costs CAD 75 plus HST and results are pass/fail only, delivered within three business days.
- A failed first attempt requires a 15-day wait to retest; later fails require 30 days.
Format Snapshot
The Firefighter Aptitude and Character Test (FACT) is Stage One of the selection process developed by Fire & Police Selection, Inc. and administered in Ontario by Ontario Fire Administration Inc. at the FESTI testing facility. Before you memorize a single fact, get the shape of the test locked in your head, because the format dictates how you pace yourself on test day.
The official assessment is 110 multiple-choice items with a maximum testing time of three hours. There is no essay, no interview component, and no simulation stations at this stage - it is entirely paper-and-pencil (or computer-based, depending on the sitting) multiple choice. If you want the deeper mechanics of how the sections interact and how scoring is applied, the FACT Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 2 Content Areas breaks it down section by section.
Domain Breakdown
The FACT is built from two scored areas, and understanding how they're divided is the single most useful piece of information on this cheat sheet.
Domain 1: General Aptitude Test (45%)
This domain measures the cognitive skills firefighters use daily - reading incident reports, calculating hose flow or ladder angles, navigating unfamiliar streets, and writing clear documentation.
- Reading Ability - 15 items
- Mathematical Reasoning - 15 items
- Map Reading - 10 items
- Writing Ability - 10 items
Domain 2: Personal Characteristics Section (55%)
This is the larger of the two domains and carries the majority of the weight. It consists of 60 items designed to assess behavioral tendencies, judgment, and traits associated with successful firefighters - things like teamwork, honesty, stress tolerance, and reliability.
- 60 scenario- and self-report-style items
- No "correct" academic answer - consistency and honesty in responses matter
- Weighted more heavily than the aptitude section overall
Key Takeaway
Because the Personal Characteristics section is worth 55% versus 45% for General Aptitude, candidates who only drill math and reading are studying the smaller half of the test. Review how character-based items are framed before test day.
For a full walkthrough of how difficult candidates find each domain relative to the other, see How Hard Is the FACT Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026.
Registration, Fees & Retesting
The logistics around the FACT are simple but strict, and missing a detail here can cost you weeks of delay.
- Fee: CAD 75 plus HST, paid at registration.
- Testing location: FESTI testing facility, administered by Ontario Fire Administration Inc.
- Results: Pass or fail only - there is no numeric score report given to candidates.
- Turnaround: Successful certificates are uploaded within three business days.
- Validity: Certificates remain valid for 24 months from the pass date.
- Retesting: A 15-day wait applies after a first unsuccessful attempt; a 30-day wait applies after any later unsuccessful attempt.
If you're budgeting for the process, including prep materials and potential retest fees, the full cost picture is laid out in FACT Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown.
Topics You Must Master
Each subsection of the General Aptitude domain tests a distinct skill. Here is what actually shows up.
Reading Ability (15 items)
Passages resemble incident summaries, policy excerpts, or short informational texts. Questions ask you to identify the main idea, draw inferences, or locate specific details quickly under time pressure.
Mathematical Reasoning (15 items)
Expect word problems involving ratios, unit conversions, basic geometry, and arithmetic applied to practical scenarios - the kind of calculations a firefighter might do estimating hose length, water pressure, or response distances.
Map Reading (10 items)
You'll be given a small map or grid and asked to determine the fastest route, identify directions, or interpret symbols and landmarks. This section rewards spatial reasoning more than memorized facts.
Writing Ability (10 items)
These items test grammar, sentence structure, and clarity - often through error-identification or sentence-correction formats rather than free writing.
Personal Characteristics (60 items)
Scenario-based questions probe how you'd respond to workplace situations, conflicts, or ethical dilemmas. There's no cramming vocabulary here; the goal is consistent, honest self-assessment aligned with traits fire services value.
One-Week Review Plan
If your test date is close, you don't need a sprawling multi-month plan - you need a focused week that respects the 45/55 weighting between domains. Because Personal Characteristics carries more weight but requires reflection rather than drilling, and General Aptitude requires skill practice, split your week accordingly.
General Aptitude Fundamentals
- Work through Reading and Writing Ability sample items for pacing
- Review basic math operations, ratios, and unit conversions
Map Reading & Timed Drills
- Practice interpreting grids, symbols, and route questions
- Run a timed mixed-section drill to simulate the three-hour limit
Personal Characteristics Reflection
- Review sample scenario-based questions and think through honest, consistent responses
- Read through the official 40-question orientation guide in full
Full Review & Rest
- Light review of weak areas only - avoid new material
- Confirm testing location and required ID for FESTI
For a longer-range version of this plan built around your actual test date, see the FACT Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt.
Quick-Reference Table
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total Items | 110 multiple-choice questions |
| Max Testing Time | 3 hours |
| Reading Ability | 15 items |
| Mathematical Reasoning | 15 items |
| Map Reading | 10 items |
| Writing Ability | 10 items |
| Personal Characteristics | 60 items |
| General Aptitude Weight | 45% |
| Personal Characteristics Weight | 55% |
| Fee | CAD 75 plus HST |
| Results Format | Pass/Fail only |
| Certificate Turnaround | Within 3 business days |
| Certificate Validity | 24 months |
| Retest Wait (1st fail) | 15 days |
| Retest Wait (subsequent fails) | 30 days |
Last-Minute Mistakes to Avoid
A few avoidable errors show up repeatedly among candidates preparing for the FACT:
- Ignoring the Personal Characteristics section: At 55% of the test and 60 of 110 items, this domain deserves at least as much attention as the four aptitude subsections combined.
- Misjudging the retest timeline: Waiting periods of 15 or 30 days can push you past a hiring deadline if you don't plan your first attempt with margin for a possible retest.
- Skipping the official orientation guide: The 40 practice questions from Fire & Police Selection, Inc. are the closest thing to real question style available - don't substitute unrelated practice materials for it entirely.
- Not confirming eligibility before paying the fee: Check the full list of prerequisites in FACT Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify before registering.
- Assuming a numeric score exists: Since results are pass/fail only, there's no "high score" to chase - focus your prep on consistently clearing the passing threshold rather than perfection. Details on that threshold are in FACT Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass.
Key Takeaway
Since the FACT reports pass/fail only, your prep goal is consistency across both domains - not maximizing a score that doesn't exist. Spend proportional time on the 55%-weighted Personal Characteristics section.
To understand who actually uses a FACT certificate in hiring and how it fits into a broader firefighter career path, review FACT Jobs and Is the FACT Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026. You can also run a full simulated attempt on our practice test platform to get a feel for the three-hour pacing before test day.
Frequently Asked Questions
The FACT contains 110 multiple-choice items, and you have a maximum of three hours to complete the full test.
The Personal Characteristics section is worth 55% of the test (60 items), while the General Aptitude Test is worth 45% (split across Reading, Math, Map Reading, and Writing).
The fee is CAD 75 plus HST. Results are reported as pass or fail only, and successful certificates are uploaded within three business days.
You must wait 15 days after a first unsuccessful attempt before retesting, or 30 days if a later attempt is also unsuccessful.
A successful FACT certificate remains valid for 24 months from the date results are issued.
Keep this cheat sheet bookmarked as your quick-glance reference, but pair it with deeper reading on What Is FACT Certification? and FACT Certification to make sure every registration detail and domain expectation is fully covered before you sit for Stage One.