Applying to London Fire Brigade?
Practise the NFA firefighter selection tests — Working with Numbers, Understanding Information, and Situational Awareness — with timed simulations built for London Fire Brigade candidates.
London Fire Brigade
London Fire Brigade (LFB) is the busiest fire and rescue service in the UK and one of the largest in the world, protecting over 8 million people across 32 London boroughs. Competition for wholetime firefighter roles is fierce — LFB regularly receives thousands of applications for a limited number of vacancies.
London Fire Brigade administers its own written aptitude tests rather than the standard NFA process used by most English brigades. The tests assess the same core competencies — numerical reasoning, reading comprehension, and situational judgement — so practising with NFA-format simulations provides strong, transferable preparation.
The LFB selection process includes an online application and shortlisting stage, written ability tests, a physical fitness assessment (including a role-related fitness test and equipment carry), and a structured interview assessing the Brigade's core values. All stages must be passed before a conditional offer is made.
The role-related fitness standard requires candidates to run 8.9 metres back and forth on a 10-metre shuttle — equivalent to a bleep test level of around 8.6. Physical preparation should run in parallel with your written test practice.
The three NFA tests
All three simulations are included for £14.99. Each is timed, scored, and comes with full answer explanations.
Working with Numbers
45 min · 32 questions
Numerical reasoning using fire-service data. No calculator.
Understanding Information
35 min · 25 questions
Read a passage and answer True / False / Cannot Say questions.
Situational Awareness
35 min · 30 questions
Fire-service SJT scenarios — most and least appropriate responses.
London Fire Brigade — common questions
Which NFA tests will I sit?
The National Firefighter Ability (NFA) tests include Working with Numbers (45 min, 32 questions), Understanding Information (35 min, 25 questions), and Situational Awareness & Problem Solving (35 min, 30 questions). All are multiple-choice. Some services may use variants — always confirm with your specific brigade.
Can I use a calculator in the Working with Numbers test?
No — calculators are not permitted. You will be given rough working paper. Practise mental arithmetic and written working as part of your preparation.
How much does it cost to practise?
Full access to all three NFA test simulations is £14.99, one-time. No subscription, no recurring charges, and access never expires.
Does London Fire Brigade use the NFA tests?
No — LFB administers its own written ability tests rather than the national NFA process. However, the tests cover the same competencies (numerical reasoning, verbal reasoning, situational judgement), so NFA-format practice is directly relevant preparation.
What is the London Fire Brigade firefighter salary?
Trainee firefighters with LFB start on approximately £29,000, rising to around £37,000 once trained and qualified. Station officers and watch managers earn significantly more. LFB salaries include London weighting.
How competitive is London Fire Brigade recruitment?
Extremely competitive. LFB receives tens of thousands of expressions of interest and thousands of full applications for each recruitment round. Thorough preparation for all stages — written tests, fitness, and interview — is essential.
How long does the LFB recruitment process take?
From application to conditional offer typically takes several months. Initial training (recruit training) lasts around 17 weeks, followed by on-watch development before you are signed off as a competent firefighter.