Applying to West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue?
What West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue says about its firefighter selection process, and how to prepare — with practice for reasoning tests, situational judgement, questionnaires and interviews.
West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue
West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service (WYFRS) covers Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield. Its recruitment website sets out a dated 2026 campaign, which gives a clear picture of the stages and the order they run in.
The 2026 campaign opened with an online task-based psychometric assessment from Arctic Shores, which WYFRS says can be completed on a desktop, mobile or tablet. Candidates who progress then sit numerical and verbal reasoning ability tests, which WYFRS describes as timed per question and 15–20 minutes long.
After the ability tests come the application form, a day of practical physical selection tests (including casualty evacuation, a Chester Treadmill test, ladder carry, ladder extension, ladder lift, equipment carry, ladder climb, a breathing apparatus crawl and a practical station), and an assessment centre with behavioural-style interview questions, role-play scenarios and a teamwork task. Medical and HR checks follow, with a 16-week course due to start in March 2027.
WYFRS's FAQ also refers to a bleep test at level 8.8, so check your invitation for which aerobic test applies. Its eligibility page mentions a behavioural styles questionnaire, and applicants must live at a West Yorkshire postcode when they register.
Per-question timers make verbal and numerical reasoning feel very different from untimed practice, so rehearse under time pressure. Our verbal and numerical reasoning practice, situational judgement and questionnaire practice and interview preparation cover the written and interview stages.
What full access includes
Fire services use different tests, so one £14.99 payment covers all 9 practice tests on the site — over 700 questions with answer explanations, and unlimited attempts.
New to selection? Read our guide to the online firefighter tests or the National Firefighter Ability tests.
Reasoning tests
Verbal · numerical · mechanical
Timed practice in the style of the online reasoning tests many services use.
Judgement & questionnaires
SJT · behavioural styles · NFA-style
Situational judgement scenarios, questionnaire practice and the NFA-style tests.
Interview preparation
Leadership Framework · Code of Ethics
Model STAR answers plus guidance on written questions, role-plays and presentations.
West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue — common questions
Is this page official?
No. Firefighter Tests is independent and not affiliated with West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue. This page summarises what the service's own recruitment pages said when we checked them (September 2026); processes change between campaigns, so always follow the official information linked below.
How much does it cost to practise?
Full access to every practice test — verbal, numerical and mechanical reasoning, situational judgement, the behavioural styles questionnaire, NFA-style tests and interview preparation — is £14.99, one-time. That is 9 full-length tests and over 700 questions with explanations. No subscription, and access never expires.
What online tests does West Yorkshire Fire use?
For the 2026 campaign, WYFRS described an Arctic Shores task-based psychometric assessment first, followed by numerical and verbal reasoning ability tests that are timed per question and last 15–20 minutes.
Do I have to live in West Yorkshire to apply?
WYFRS's recruitment site says applicants must live permanently at a West Yorkshire postcode when they register. Check the current campaign page for the latest rules.
What is the WYFRS firefighter salary?
When we checked, WYFRS's benefits page quoted £30,384 rising to £38,881 (the July 2025 national rates). A 3.8% national increase applied from July 2026, so check the live vacancy.
Official sources
Checked September 2026. Recruitment processes change, so the official pages always take priority over this summary.
Preparing for West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue
Practise every test they could set you
West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue sets its own selection tests and they change between campaigns, so full access covers every type — one payment, no subscription.
No subscription. Access never expires. Unlimited attempts.
What you get — 9 full-length practice tests, over 700 questions with explanations:
- Mechanical Reasoning177 diagram questions on gears, levers, pulleys and pressure — 20 per timed test
- Numerical Reasoning9 fire-service data scenarios, freshly generated each attempt — calculator allowed
- Verbal Reasoning30 passages and 120 True / False / Cannot Say statements
- Situational Judgement25 scenarios and 100 rated actions, each explained
- Behavioural Styles Questionnaire66 statements with a full reflective profile — no pass or fail
- Working with NumbersNFA-style — 12 scenarios and 96 questions; each sitting draws 32, 45 minutes, no calculator
- Understanding InformationNFA-style — 25 passage questions, 35 minutes
- Situational AwarenessNFA-style — 30 questions, 35 minutes
- National Firefighter QuestionnaireNFQ-style — 77 statements across the 7 PQA areas, with feedback
- Interview Preparation28 NFCC-style questions with model STAR answers, plus 6 preparation guides
14-day money-back guarantee · secure payment via Stripe · instant access
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