After you apply for a position with USPS and are accepted, you will receive an email with a link to complete the assessment. You have 72 hours to submit the test online.
The exam consists of subjective sections like Work Scenarios, Tell Us Your Story, and Describe Your Approach. It is important to prepare and study before taking this exam.
1. Studying
If you want to work for the USPS, you will need to pass its Postal Exam. The minimum score for any of the postal exams is 70, but if you want to be a top contender, you will need to get at least an 85 or higher. You can retake the test after a year, but it is best to do so early and make sure you have enough time to study for it.
The Postal Exam is designed to measure three main areas. The first is your ability to handle various work scenarios. The second is your ability to answer questions related to your career history and experience. The third area is a general test to assess your personality and fitness for the position. The exam is also designed to flag any discrepancies in your answers, so you should always be honest.
As the competition is fierce, it’s important to take your time and thoroughly prepare for the test. This will increase your chances of passing and landing a job with the USPS. To make the most of your preparation, you should focus on those parts of the assessment that are most relevant to your job role. For instance, if you are applying for a job as a mail carrier, it would be helpful to study the sections that pertain to your duties and responsibilities.
It’s also essential to know what to expect on the day of the test. The USPS provides a lot of details about the exam, including how it is scored and what to do if you don’t pass. You can also find the 473 postal exam practice test online. However, be careful when choosing a study guide as some of them may not be up to date.
To ensure that you have the most accurate and up-to-date information about the Postal Exam, you should look for a guide that is produced by a reputable company. They should also be able to provide you with full-length practice tests that are aligned to the latest versions of the assessments. In addition, they should include a comprehensive explanation of the answers that are most likely to help you score highly on the test.
2. Practice Tests
The Postal Exam is a challenging assessment to take, and most people don’t pass on their first try. The good news is that you can improve your chances of passing by preparing well, practicing and understanding how the test works. In addition, you can also learn the strategies that will help you perform your best during the exam itself.
The assessment is taken online, and you will receive an email with a link to the exam once you have been selected as a candidate for the position you’re applying for. You will have 72 hours to complete the assessment, and you can do this from anywhere with internet access. Each section of the assessment is different, and the questions will relate to the job you’re applying for. For example, the mail carrier and processing clerk assessments will have different sections that examine your skills in different areas.
Some of the most important areas to focus on during preparation include gaining an understanding of the format and structure of each section, and learning how long you should spend on each question. This will give you an idea of how much time you should budget for each section and allow you to practice under the conditions of the real test.
For example, the check for errors test is a relatively short section that involves looking at two pairs of eight digit numbers and deciding whether they match or not. This test is only included in USPS Exams 475 and 476, and it tests your ability to check for mistakes quickly. By studying and practicing, you can develop the speed and accuracy required for this type of question.
Other important areas to work on during your preparations include the Work Scenario and Describe Your Approach to Work sections, which are designed to assess your problem-solving abilities and general work attitudes. You can prepare for these by reading the job description for the role you’re applying for, and focusing your answers on what the company will expect from employees in the role. This will help you to score higher in these sections, and you’ll be more likely to be invited for interviews sooner than a person who didn’t prepare.
3. Attend Interviews
If you are applying for any role in the Postal Service, it is essential that you attend interviews. This is because your assessment score won’t be enough alone – you will need to perform well in the interview and demonstrate that you are an excellent fit for the company. It can be easy to panic and worry about the interview, but it is important that you remain calm and focus on your preparation. You can use our interview tips to help you perform the best that you can.
The USPS virtual entry assessment contains four sections, each focusing on different aspects of the job. The first, which consists of 79 questions, is titled “Your Approach to Work.” This section looks at your personality and how you would react to certain situations, as well as what your attitude is towards working with others. This is one of the more difficult sections, and it can be very tempting to give answers that match your own beliefs or opinions, rather than the ones that the USPS wants.
In the next part of the test, there are questions based on your work history and experiences, so you will need to pay close attention to the information that you provide. Make sure that it is all correct – even a small error such as an employment date discrepancy could reduce your score.
Finally, there is a spatial reasoning section which focuses on your ability to identify the various elements in an image and then put them together to create a solution. It can be a challenging section, especially for those who are not used to solving problems in this way. It is also worth remembering that this part of the exam can be timed, so it is important to prepare and practice before taking it. You can find a wide range of practice tests and study guides online, both free and paid. When choosing a study guide, ensure that it is up-to-date and includes recommended answers that will maximize your score and boost your chances of being selected for the job.
4. Interview Skills
The Postal Exam is a vital part of the recruitment process and should not be taken lightly. The USPS employs thousands of people in their various roles and the competition for jobs is fierce, so applicants need to ensure that they prepare themselves thoroughly for the exam and are ready for whatever the interview throws at them.
Postal Exam 473 is designed to assess your aptitude for roles such as postal carriers and mail handlers, so is a very important test for any candidate. The test has four sections and you are given 72 hours to complete it once you receive the link from USPS. The first three parts of the exam will assess your abilities in address checking, form completion and coding from memory. The fourth section is a personality questionnaire which will examine your characteristics and how you are likely to respond in work situations.
In the Work Scenario and Describe Your Approach sections, you should aim to answer questions honestly. However, you should be mindful of the fact that the USPS is looking for candidates who will fit well into their workplace culture, so slightly directing your answers to reflect this can improve your overall score.
There is no time limit for the postal exam but you should try to finish each question in around five minutes or less. This will help you keep your pace and avoid the temptation to rush through questions and make mistakes. During the test, you can also use the calculator to check your progress and this will give you an idea of how long you should spend on each section.
There is no official study guide for the postal exam but there are many online resources available. It is important to make sure that the study guides you use are up to date and provide accurate information as it can be misleading if the information is incorrect. Using practice tests can also be helpful as they will help you familiarize yourself with the type of questions that are asked on the USPS postal exam.