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Postal Exam 477 (Virtual Entry Assessment - CS 477): Practice Realistic Test Questions & Boost Your Score
Hi, I'm Tal, JobTestPrep's expert for the Postal Exams. Have a question? Feel free to contact me at tal_questions@jobtestprep.co.uk
The Virtual Entry Assessment (VEA) – CS (477) is an exam you must go through to become a Customer Service Clerk in the USPS.
But if you want to be considered for this job, you must score at least 70, which is not that easy. According to the USPS, only 10%-20% of candidates reach that goal.
And if you fail, you have to wait a whole YEAR before you can retake it.
That's why JobTestPrep gives you accurate preparation that can make all the difference between failing and getting hired.
- Accurate questions that simulate the real thing – familiarize yourself with all the sections and question types.
- A lot of practice – more questions to strengthen your weak spots and get a truly high score.
- Expert study guide – full explanations and tips to get the right answers.
Start preparing now or read on to get more information about the test.
What is the Virtual Entry Assessment CS (477)?
The Postal Exam 477, aka VEA – CS (477), is an assessment used to screen candidates for the Customer Service Clerk job.
If you want to get hired, you first have to apply for the job on the USPS website. If your application is selected, you will get an e-mail with an invitation to take the Postal Exam 477.
Once you get this e-mail, you have only 72 hours to take the test.
Note: The test is online and can be taken via your smartphone, tablet or computer with an internet connection. But know that using a computer is recommended. Candidates have reported some technical issues using other devices.
This assessment is one of the four new USPS tests, that replaced the old 473 test. Searching online for information about the tests can be confusing. The most important thing to know is that the 473 exam is NOT used by the USPS anymore.
For more information about the new exams, including the CS (477), check out this video:
Are you applying for other jobs at the USPS? Try looking here:
Customer Service Clerk Exam Sections (Sample Questions and Guides)
Once you start the Postal Exam 477 you will find four different sections:
- Work Situations
- Work Your Register
- Tell Us Your Story
- Describe Your Approach
Each section has a different number of questions, and a recommended time to complete it:
| Section Name | Number of Questions | Recommended Time to Complete Section (approx.) |
| Work Situations | 10 | 8 minutes |
| Work Your Register | 3 | 2 minutes |
| Tell Us Your Story | 21 | 2 minutes |
| Describe Your Approach | 56 | 6 minutes |
Note: Officially there is no exact time limit for each section, BUT it is very important to act fast. In the table above I have mentioned how long you are advised to spend on each section. Later I will explain why this is VERY important.
Let’s dive into each of the sections and understand the question types.
Work Situations – As a Customer Service Clerk you are the face of the USPS. You are the one the public interacts with the most. The USPS wants to make sure that you know how to be a good server, which is exactly what this section is all about.
In every question you will be presented by a situation and four different actions you might take. Your task is to mark which action you will be most likely to take AND which is the least likely.
Note: USPS employees have said that the situations presented in this exam are really very similar to what they face every day. If you want a glimpse of how your day will look like, pay close attention.
The questions here might be very tricky. As a customer yourself, you probably already know that it is not always black and white.
Try figuring out what you would do in the next scenario.
Postal Exam CS (477) Sample Question – Work Situations:
A customer is interested to know if he may ship pesticide products by post. You are uncertain of the answer, especially as the restricted goods policy was updated yesterday, and you haven’t yet had a chance to go over it.
Please select the action you would be most likely to take and the action you would be least likely to take in response to the described situation.
- Apologize to the customer. Tell him you are uncertain of the answer due to a recent change in policy.
- Ask a colleague to take over, as they may know the answer to the customer's query.
- Apologize for your uncertainty. Suggest that he check the restricted goods list on the USPS website.
- Check the restricted good's list on the USPS website and provide the customer with an answer.
Not as straightforward as you thought…
Try answering the question as best as you can.
After you’ve established your answer, check out this full solution and explanations.
Competency: Service Orientation; Problem Solving; Independence
Most Likely: 4
Least Likely: 1
Response 1: You make no effort to assist the customer or answer his query. You do not take it upon yourself to see whether you or anyone else can help the customer; rather, you give him excuses as to why you cannot help.
Response 2: You pass the customer's problem on to another team member as you feel they may be able to provide him with the answer. However, you do not ensure that your colleague does, in fact, know the answer before doing so, which could leave the customer in the same situation of not receiving the service he required.
Response 3: You make no effort to assist the customer or resolve his query. Instead, you are “taking the easy way out” by suggesting that he look this up himself on the company website. Though you guide the customer to the site where he may find the answer, this response shows a lack of effort and thus poor service orientation on your behalf.
Response 4: You take the responsibility upon yourself to help the customer and take the necessary steps to ensure the customer's needs are addressed, checking the relevant information for the customer in order to answer his query and serve him effectively.
Work your register – In this section you will be presented with one of the aspects of the job – using the register. The USPS wants to make sure you can use it fast, accurately, and efficiently. In each question, you will be told how much the total amount is, how much the customer payed and what change is due back. You would then have to mark the fewest amount of bills and coins possible to make the exact change.
Note: The USPS will know how long you’ve spent on each and every question! They might be scoring you by how fast you can complete this important task.
Try one for yourself.
Postal Exam CS (477) Sample question – Work Your Register:
Use the fewest number of bills and coins possible to make the exact change.
Total amount: $53.82
Amount paid: $60.25
Change due: $6.43
The correct answer is 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 3
The smallest number of bills and coins needed to reach the correct change of $6.43 is one $5 bill and one $1 bill to reach $6. Add to this one of each type of coin except cents ($0.01), of which you need three, and you get the correct change of $6.43.
$5 × 1 + $1 × 1 + $0.25 × 1 + $0.10 × 1 + $0.05 × 1 + $0.01 × 3 = $6.43
Tell Us Your Story – this section lets the USPS know a little bit more about your professional background. Although it seems like a walk in the park, you actually can get this section wrong. Again, a lot of gray area here.
Check out this question to see how confusing this might be.
Postal Exam CS (477) Sample question – Tell Us Your Story:
If contacted, how would your recent supervisor describe your customer service skills compared to other team members?
- The very best
- Among the best
- Above average
- Average
- Needing some development
- Needing substantial development
These questions are far from being technical and straightforward. You need to know what stands behind them to get it right.
To better understand how to answer correctly, use our full guide included in the PrepPack.
It is important to be consistent with your answers and your CV. Different questions can evaluate the same information. Your personality profile has to make sense. You must make sure to avoid contradictions in your test answers.
Describe Your Approach – This section is all about your personality. You should answer this one honestly, no? Well, yes, but not quite. The questions here are a bit vague and basically, test your consistency and your personality traits.
Note: The right answer is the one that emphasizes the traits that are most suitable for this specific job. It would help if you had that in mind while answering each and every question.
Take a look at this sample question for better understanding.
Postal Exam CS (477) Sample question – Describe Your Approach:
Please indicate to which extent you agree or disagree with the following statement.
a) I enjoy theoretical discussions and thinking about abstract concepts.
b) Thinking too hard about a problem frustrates me.
- Most like (b)
- Somewhat like (b)
- Somewhat like (a)
- Most like (a)
As you’ve seen all along, this section as well is confusing. If you want to know how to answer this kind of questions, use the full guides in our PrepPack.
Most clerical work is routine. Tasks require adherence to a company’s provisions and protocols, as well as a lot of paperwork. The job requires a great deal of concentration over time and the ability to meet objectives. It is therefore advisable to emphasize features such as: Perseverance, Thoroughness, and Good Organization. It is also essential to show you have no problem with routine work, so you should get a low score on the Boredom Intolerance trait.
Now that you know what to expect from the test, it is time to figure out all about the scoring.
Why Bother Getting a REALLY High Score in the USPS Test and How?
As I’ve said earlier, you need to score at least 70 to pass the Virtual Entry Assessment – CS (477). But as we have come to understand about the USPS already, it is not all black and white. If you pass, the job is not at all promised to you!
Note: If you fail the exam, you have to wait 12 months before taking it again. If you passed but want to improve your score, you would have to wait 24 months.
The USPS ranks the candidates by their score. Once there is a job opening, they will go through the candidates by order. The higher you score, the higher you will be on the list.
But what is considered a good score? That depends. If you are applying for a job at a small branch, you have less competition, and the bar will be lower. If you apply for a bigger branch with more candidates for each position, and you would have to score MUCH higher.
Note: Your score can affect how long you wait for a job. Candidates with high scores can be called in for an interview after a week, while others can wait months. Very frustrating.
To play it safe, you better get a high score as high as possible. This will ensure you beat your competition, small branch or big, and get hired. Fast.
How to Get That High Score?
- Be fast – the USPS knows exactly how long you spend on every question, and they even might score you accordingly! The more you practice, the faster you are. As simple as that.
- Know what to expect – this exam is not your typical test, and the questions can be odd and confusing. The only way to get it right is to know exactly what question to expect. This is achieved by practicing over and over again, until you can answer them in your sleep.
- Emphasize the right traits for this job – use our full guide, written by experts, to know how to answer the personality questions.
How will our PrepPack help you with that?
How to Get the Most Out of the 477 USPS Practice Test and Guides?
- Step 1: practice with questions that will look exactly like the ones you will get on the exam. Each question is accompanied by a solution and full explanation.
- Step 2: to get the personality assessment right, use the experts’ guides. It is filled with tips and strategies to do it the right way.
- Step 3: practice even more with a question bank for all sections of the exam. This will give you the extra push to score higher than other candidates.
What Happens Once You Submit the Postal Exam 477?
After you submit the exam, the status in your USPS candidate profile online will be updated:
- In Process – you have submitted the test but did not get a score yet.
- Ineligible – you did not pass the assessment (you scored below 70).
- Eligible – you passed the assessment and now waiting for updates.
- Pre-Hire – the USPS is interested in you and will send you an invitation for an interview.
If everything goes smoothly, you will be called in for an interview (if you get a really high score, you might skip this step). Once you’ve passed that, you’re Hired!
FAQ
I heard that to get this job, I have to take the 473 test. Has it changed?
Yes, it has changed! The USPS has NOT use the 473 test since April 2019. Instead, there are four new exams, for different job applicants. Beware, there are many websites out there offering “2020 updated” preparation for the 473 test. There is no such thing. The only updated versions are the new tests.
The postal exam 477 is mainly a personality assessment. Why do I have to practice?
This personality assessment is designed to see if your personality is right for this specific job or not. The right way to answer the questions is to emphasize Customer Service Clerk job traits. A good way to get it right is to practice with similar questions, and understand which trait is emphasized in every answer.
The USPS wants me to answer honestly. Should I answer what I really think?
Well, it is a bit tricky. Every person has a few personas. When you are at home with your family you are a different person than when you are at work. And you would act differently when you hang with your friends or when in the middle of your workday. When you are applying for a job, it is better to present your work persona, and leave the everyday persona at home. All the personas are a part of you. Even if you only present
Are there right and wrong answers? How is my personality being scored?
The USPS does not score your personality itself, but your personality as it relates for this specific job. In that sense, the right answers will emphasize the traits that are needed for the Customer Service Clerk job.
If 70 is the passing score, why should I work hard and score higher than that?
Getting a high score is important! The higher your score, the better your chances are to be called for an interview, and fast. If you score really high, they might offer you the job without even coming in for an interview.