The Postal Service, established in the 17th century, has operations that are integral to the country. With roughly 503,100 jobs in the industry, the postal service work includes selling postal products and collecting, sorting, and delivering mail. Depending on position and job description, working for the Postal Service means being inside the office or spending most of your days outdoors.
Just like other civil service positions in the federal government, a postal service profession also cites passing a specialized exam for the job qualification. The US Postal Service administers the exam, which is a prerequisite of entry-level positions for interested applicants. Jobs include distribution associate, rural carrier, mail handler, city carrier, and mail processing clerk.
In the old format, the exam for the postal Service is called postal exam 473. However, recently, they have scrapped the old format and revised the whole procedure. They have created four new pre-employment assessments for the Postal Service, namely Postal Exams 474, 475, 476, and 477.
The organization aims to shift the focus on the new exams. While the old exam emphasizes the need to master responsibilities like matching addresses and routes designations, the new procedure prioritizes customer satisfaction. This means postal service workers must focus more on strategies that enrich personal interaction more than task competencies.
The new tests do away with time restrictions. Two of the test sections encourage swift answers to gain a higher score.
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What is in the US Postal Service Exam?
Exam 474 – Virtual Entry Assessment MC 474 or Mail Carrier VEA Exam
Exam 475 – Virtual Entry Assessment MH 475 or Mail Handler VEA Exam
Exam 476 – Virtual Entry Assessment MP 476 or Processing Clerk VEA Exam
Exam 477 – Virtual Entry Assessment CS 477 or Customer Service VEA Exam
What Other Postal Exams are There?
* Postal Exam 916
*Postal Exam 944 (Postal Automotive Technicians)
Who Takes the Postal Exam?
What is the Ideal Score for the Postal Exam?
What Happens When Applicants Fail?
When Should Applicants Take the Postal Service Exam?
Preparing for the Postal Service Exam
Top Online Sites for Practice Tests
* Job Test Prep
* Tests.com
* PSE-NET
* Practice Reasoning
* Prep Terminal
What is in the US Postal Service Exam?
Since there are now a total of four exams, interested applicants might be wondering which one they should apply for. This is where it gets tricky because one needs to apply first before they know which test they will take.
In this new process, applicants must look at the job listings for the Postal Service first. Once they have chosen an available position, they must go through the application process before receiving an email notification that will let them know they are selected as one of the candidates, along with the link to the test. Qualified applicants are given 72 hours to complete the exam online.
Applicants need not worry, though, because the exam will be related to the job they applied for. So, in essence, the tests differ according to the position. Mail carriers are expected to take a different test from the mail processing clerk.
While it is impossible to know for certain which test applicants will be given before the email notification, they can have a fair idea of what is in store for them by looking at the following:
Exam 474 – Virtual Entry Assessment MC 474 or Mail Carrier VEA Exam
A self-administered test takes more or less 45 minutes to complete. Exam 474 is usually required for the city and rural mail carrier positions. Assistant rural carrier, city carrier assistant, casual city carrier, and rural carrier associate all fall under the mail carrier category.
The possible test sections might include work scenarios in which applicants must set out how they respond to work-related situations that mail carrier encounters. Another section aims to encourage applicants to share their work experience and background. While this section of the exam is personal, the answers must match what’s on the resume. Another section covers the applicants’ approach to work through a personality questionnaire. This is where they can showcase how well they could adapt to a situation and handle stress, giving the organization an idea of whether their personality fits for the position they applied for.
Exam 475 – Virtual Entry Assessment MH 475 or Mail Handler VEA Exam
For mail handlers, Exam 475 is usually required. This is where the mail processing clerk, assistant mail handler, and casual mail handler positions fall into. The same sections as Exam 474 are expected to be covered in this exam. However, they have an additional section that focuses on checking for errors.
Exam 476 – Virtual Entry Assessment MP 476 or Processing Clerk VEA Exam
Exam 476 is for Mail Processing positions. This test is practically the same as Exam 475. The same sections are also found here. However, the work scenarios and approaches are tailored to this specific position.
Exam 477 – Virtual Entry Assessment CS 477 or Customer Service VEA Exam
For customer service clerk jobs, Exam 477 is usually required. This is applicable for those who apply for the customer, sales, service, and distribution positions. The test sections are the same as the two previous exams, with work scenarios and approaches tailored to the given position. The Describe Your Approach section deals more with the way applicants deal with people and how they work under pressure and stress.
A word of caution for the applicants should finish the exam within that window once their 72 hours start at the receipt of the email. It is important because the Postal Service does not give an alternative nor extension. Failure to complete the exam on time will render applicants ineligible for the position. They might need to start the application process all over again.
What Other Postal Exams are There?
Apart from those applying for the conventional postal service positions, prospective postal custodians and postal automotive technicians to take a postal exam tailored for their job description.
Postal Exam 916
Postal custodians are responsible for maintaining and cleaning postal facilities, including the buildings and surroundings. They are often skilled in using power-assisted tools and power-driven equipment. Postal custodians need to be capable of doing manual labor, including lifting and carrying heavy objects and working with ladders and scaffolds.
The Postal Exam 916 is only offered as needed. It comprises four parts, including reading/vocabulary, general cleaning, basic safety, and the ability to follow written instructions. In the vocabulary section, applicants’ vocabulary and reading comprehension skills are tested. They must demonstrate that they can understand written passages. This includes reading and understanding material data safety sheets, product labels, and equipment instructions.
For basic safety, applicants are expected to be knowledgeable about various safety information. This covers principles on safety, health hazards, and maintenance, among many others.
The general cleaning section requires them to know the ins and outs of cleaning and disinfecting materials and equipment and tools. Lastly, the following written instructions section measures how well applicants can carry out written instructions that they encounter on the job.
Overall, the Postal Exam 916 is considered more a test of common sense than stock knowledge. It focuses more on practical applications than theories.
Postal Exam 944 (Postal Automotive Technicians)
The Postal Exam 944 is given to applicants interested in Postal Automotive technician positions. This particular job requires demonstrated knowledge and skills in operating a variety of vehicles in the postal fleet. This might entail being able to troubleshoot and diagnose a vehicle with the use of tools and test equipment. They might also be asked to conduct visual and auditory inspections.
Just like Postal Exam 916, Postal Exam 944 is also given on an as-needed basis. It is used to determine applicants’ knowledge of automotive technology. The exam is mostly in multiple-choice format. On top of passing the postal exam, applicants must undergo technical training and demonstrate experience in automotive repair and maintenance.
Who Takes the Postal Exam?
Everyone is free to apply for federal and postal jobs. The entry-level postal service positions’ available jobs include city carrier, rural carrier associate, mail handler, mail processor, among many others.
Postal service workers fulfill a variety of responsibilities, depending on their position and job description. Typically, they are the ones collecting letters and parcels and sorting out those that are incoming. They also take care of selling stamps and other postal products. Some positions might require knowledge of operating different types of postal equipment. Others are tasked to distribute incoming mail from the postal truck.
Entry-level positions for this job require a high school diploma or equivalent. Those who are interested in applying for these positions are often required to take the Postal Service exam.
What is the Ideal Score for the Postal Exam?
Exam scores are posted on the website. Applicants will also get an email with their test results. Just like its predecessor, Exam 473, the new postal service exams set the passing score at 70. Those who fail to hit the mark will not be eligible for the US Postal Service position. However, the organization follows a ranking process wherein those who score higher will have more chances of nailing an interview.
The ideal score to get the opportunity for the interview is at least 85. Those who are in the lower range might need to wait a little longer. Applicants must therefore aim for higher scores when they take the exam so they can be prioritized for an interview.
What Happens When Applicants Fail?
Failing the Postal Service exam is not the end of one’s dream for the position. While they will get an ineligibility status, they are allowed to retake the exam after 12 months. Those who are not fond of waiting must pass the exam the first time to get the job right away. Those who fail to make it can always use the waiting time to prepare rigorously for the second time. Remember, passing the exam is one thing; getting a higher score is another as it raises your chances of landing your desired position.
When Should Applicants Take the Postal Service Exam?
Unlike other exams, the Postal Service exam does not follow a specific schedule for the exam date. A large part of the exam date depends on the availability of the position. If the job has a pre-determined number of applicants, it might mean waiting for the job availability once the job’s limit has been reached.
After applying to the job office, applicants will be sent an assessment invitation through the email they provided. This invitation includes the link to the specified postal exam. As mentioned before, the exam period is 72 hours, so applicants must constantly check their emails.
Preparing for the Postal Service Exam
Since the Postal Service exam is not easy to pass, it is only sensible for applicants to thoroughly prepare before submitting their application for the job position they are aiming for. Passing the test will not guarantee a sure position. To be given a priority interview, they must at least score 85 or above. They should also keep the following in mind:
Not a walk in the park
While most of the exams involve situational judgment scenarios and questions that pertain to their personalities, it is not good to underestimate the whole thing. This means they should not fool the system and give answers that employers want to hear. It requires knowledge and understanding of the nature of the job.
Sticking to the truth
Much of the test is devoted to learning about the candidate, hence the section that delves into the applicant’s background or history. To avoid mismatching information or accuracy issues and discrepancies, applicants must stick to the truth. The data on your resume must mirror your answers on this part of the test.
Flexible Study Schedule
Like any other forms of studying, the Postal Service Exam preparation requires some form of scheduling. Ideally, one must study when their mind is at the most active. Some people might work better at night and others in the morning. Whichever it is, applicants must keep their schedule flexible to avoid getting pressured and stressed.
Those who are preparing for the exam can find a wealth of resources online, both for free and fee. While the US Postal Service does not provide study guides or practice tests for applicants, many websites do so.
Some of these sites provide practical tips and sample questions for free. Others might require a subscription fee, whether weekly or monthly. It is important to note that when choosing these sites and before paying for gated practice tests, one must check if their content is still valid. Previous practice tests for Exam 473 can no longer help applicants in the new test procedure.
Top Online Sites for Practice Tests
Job Test Prep
Those who want to practice for Exam 474, the Job Test Prep website offer an accurate test to help applicants prepare and pass the exam. They offer thorough preparation for the three sections included in the postal exam, utilizing the same question types to give them a feel of the real deal. They can also expect additional practice drills as well as exclusive study guides for the personality test questions.
The site breaks down the three sections of Exam 474, giving applicants a better understanding of what is in store for them. They also give out tips on how to best approach the questions and other useful tips. Sample questions are given along with the full solution and explanation.
Their practice pack includes a full-length USPS VEA-style Personality test, full-length USPS VEA-style SJT practice test, personality drills, test guides, and even a situational study guide. Applicants have the option of choosing the best package deal for them, with prices ranging from weekly to monthly.
Tests.com
Another website that offers a postal service practice test is Tests.com. One can find a free practice test for the 473 exams, which has been updated for 2020. They have a total of 50 questions that tackle checking for errors. There are also work scenarios laid out for other questions. Applicants have the option of getting the answers as they go or viewing one question at a time.
Apart from the free practice test, they also offer a full-length practice exam with full answer explanations. The price starts at $24.95 for this.
PSE-NET
PSE-NET offers a host of resources and practice guides for applicants aiming to take the postal exam. Aside from these resources, they also provided brief sample test questions for checking errors.
Practice Reasoning
In Practice Reasoning, a study guide and sample questions are provided. They tackle the basics of the Virtual Entry Assessment tests. This part covers the postal exam’s main sections, mainly the Work Scenarios, Tell Us Your Story, Describe Your Approach, and Check for Errors. Each of these sections is explained and accompanied by several sample questions that give applicants an idea of the format and the question type. They also included a thorough explanation for each of the questions.
Prep Terminal
For postal service applicants, Prep Terminal offers a course that will help applicants prepare and succeed for the Postal Exam. The course starts at $138. It contains six realistic practice sets that cover Postal Exam 474, 475, 476, and 477, core modules, and specialized guides for different USPS positions. There are also specialized USPS modules included. The good thing about this course is that it provides lifetime access to those who buy it.