Amount of time between questions?

[Revolver]

I've read that a polygraph can take anywhere from 45 minutes to 2 hours, but only entails being asked 10-15 questions.

Given that I am asked 11 questions in 120 minutes, that would mean I have almost 11 minutes between each question. Since I assume you are being judged the whole time you are hooked up to the polygraph, does this mean I would have to employ my control/relevant question countermeasures for 11 minutes?

[Revolver]

Upon further investigation, I see that some of the time is allocated to the intro, questionaire, positioning, etc.

However, please give me a timeline for the actual questions asked. Thanks.

[Bill Crider]

you will probably be asked about 10-15 questions in a series, with about 15-20 seconds between each question, so the actual test part takes about 3-5 minutes per series + break time in between. you will probably be asked several series of qurestions

the pre test schmoozing lasts about 45 min to 1 hour in most cases.

count on 2-3 hrs total i would guess

[polyfool]

Revolver,

I'll answer your question, but first, I have to put my two cents in about your situation, though you may not want to hear it. You should really think about waiting the required ten years and applying to be a LEO then. You're only 2-4 years from that now. May seem like a long time, but really it's not. If you waited, then applied, you could move forward with a clean conscience without having to look over your shoulder. If you're caught lying, you won't be able to overcome it. Anyway, the decision is yours.

Now, on to your question. A large part of the polygraph is actually the pre-interview phase, in which the examiner tries to get to know you to form the basis for his control questions and to limit your responses to them. If your test goes as badly as mine did, the longest part of the exam will end up being the post test interrogation. I can tell you from experience-you want no part of that. My denials were truthful, I couldn't imagine being subjected to all that had I been lying. There's no way I could have held out--something you might want to think about. Anyway, the actual part of the test in which the examinee is hooked up to the poly doesn't last as long--maybe a few minutes per question series. Even though there are not that many questions, they are each asked several times. Questions are spaced seconds apart, not minutes--I think it's like 15-20 seconds or so, maybe 30. I think the normal duration for polys is about an hour and a half to two hours. Mine was about three hours, but like I said, things didn't go very well and I had nothing to hide. I think some on this site have reported their polys went on for hours, but those are for some federal intel agencies. You should read TLTLD on this site. It will answer your questions.  

[Revolver]

Revolver,

I'll answer your question, but first, I have to put my two cents in about your situation, though you may not want to hear it.  

I welcome any advice or suggestions, regardless if I favor it or not.

You should really think about waiting the required ten years and applying to be a LEO then. You're only 2-4 years from that now. May seem like a long time, but really it's not.

I have, and due to my situation, I feel that I cannot lose 2-4 years. I am in my twenties, and feel that I may be passed over at any time if I do reveal my charge due to there being more qualified applicants without any record.


 

If you waited, then applied, you could move forward with a clean conscience without having to look over your shoulder. If you're caught lying, you won't be able to overcome it. Anyway, the decision is yours.

I will use the existance of this website as justification for my reasoning. Completely honest applicants have been betrayed by this test due to being uninformed or disinformed about the procedure. I believe I can beat this machine, due in no small part to the book published by the owner of this site.

I may be less qualified now and remain less qualified for the rest of my life. It's better to lie now and find out my destiny, instead of being disappointed 2-4 years from now.

If your test goes as badly as mine did, the longest part of the exam will end up being the post test interrogation. I can tell you from experience-you want no part of that. My denials were truthful, I couldn't imagine being subjected to all that had I been lying. There's no way I could have held out--something you might want to think about.  

I am not concerned with interrogation tactics or barrage questioning. Please understand my reasons for being vague, but I have been through (and passed/enjoyed) a resistance training course given by the DoD. It is, in my humble opinion, an impossibility for someone to gain a confession from me on a subject that I know cannot be proven.

This is the reason I am researching my past. I should have my fingerprint check back in 6-8 weeks. If it comes back clear, I will no longer actively post until I pass the polygraph test. I just don't feel guilty about what I've done in the past, since I do not feel that it delegates me to being a second-teir LEO applicant.

I'm still going to buy lottery tickets, with the hope to avoid this issue altogether.

Thanks for the post.