The Postal Exam is a general name given to a series of four assessments used by the USPS to screen its candidates.
Each batch of positions in the USPS is required to take a separate assessment that evaluates different skills and personality traits.
The sections that are included in these assessments are Work Scenarios / Work Situations, Check for Errors, Move the Mail, What Drives You, Tell Us Your Story, Describe Your Approach, Verify Customer Information, Help Your Customers, and Work Your Register.
Please note that this USPS Free test does not cover the USPS 955 assessment. For the USPS 955 examples and preparation, click here.
The sample test below has 1-2 sample questions for each of these sections. So, let's dive right into the test:
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Work Scenarios
Used in all USPS exams.
1. You are doing a big task that is urgent. One of your colleagues proposes a work method that will shorten the time, but you think it may be unsafe.
What will you most and least likely do?
- Don’t change your method since it might be unsafe. Inform your supervisor if you see that you'll have a delay with finishing the task.
- Share your thoughts with the colleague and explain why you think it might be unsafe. Make sure she doesn’t endanger herself.
- Give the colleague's idea a try, but resume with your previous method if it seems unsafe.
- Consult with your supervisor. He may have an idea of how to do the job safely.
Answer:
Most likely: C
Least likely: A
There are two contradicting values in this question: meeting deadlines and working safely. Safety should always be your top priority; however, in the presented situation, you are not 100% sure that the suggested method is unsafe, and therefore it is something you should probe.
Let’s review each answer separately.
Option A: This response is careful, maybe even too careful. It shows that you are not flexible and cannot adjust to situations like those in which you must deal with a lot of work quickly. In such a situation, fixation might harm your performance, while being open to new ideas can progress you.
Option B: This response is very caring and careful, but it does not help you achieve your goal of completing the task.
Option C: This response is both flexible and careful. Before trying your colleague's idea, you only think that it might be unsafe, but you don’t know for sure. Trying it sounds like a perfect solution – if it turns out to be unsafe, you won't use it, but if it turns out to be just fine, you will be able to complete the big task much faster. This kind of behavior shows you are open to change and have a flexible working style. In addition, it shows your judgment skills, as you are only testing the idea to judge it yourself later.
Option D: This response is also active but currently irrelevant. You are expected to use your own judgment and critical thinking. Besides, you already have two possible methods, so it is more reasonable to choose one and not waste more expensive time consulting.
2. It’s one of the busiest days of the month in the office, and the list of tasks only gets longer.
What will you most and least likely do?
- Counsel with a colleague known for his efficacy in time and ask for productivity tips.
- Define which tasks are the most important ones and focus on doing them first.
- Immediately inform your supervisor that you will not meet all of your goals since the workload is extremely high.
- Keep doing your best and most efficient work, but acknowledge that not everything will be done today, and some work will be completed tomorrow.
Answer:
Most likely: B
Least likely: C
This question is designed to measure your ability to handle a high workload and your prioritization skills. Having a busy day requires you to organize the upcoming tasks from most important and urgent to least. Not doing so means that you lack the ability to prioritize or separate the wheat from the chaff.
Let’s review each answer separately.
Option A: This option is very proactive – you try to come up with solutions that may enable you to increase the number of tasks that you will complete today. However, you don’t show any prioritization skills.
Option B: In this response, you act with self-control and restraint and do not get nervous because of the high workload. Additionally, you show prioritization skills by starting with the most important tasks. This is a professional behavior, and therefore this option is considered as "most likely".
Option C: In this response, you get stressed very easily and allow the stress to manage you. It’s true that if you can not complete your tasks, you should inform the supervisor, but not right away. Take a moment to come up with creative solutions for the situation before surrendering to the current situation.
Option D: Although doing your best and making a big effort, you take a passive approach since you are not trying to come up with a solution as those presented in options A and B. The unusual situation requires you to adopt a new strategy, but instead, you stay naïve and accept the situation as it is.
The Work Scenarios are a type of Situational Judgement test – some of the most difficult questions in work assessment.
By presenting you with an everyday dilemma, these questions evaluate your decision-making, personal values, and ethics, in accordance with those required of postal office employees.
The first example correlates with the USPS 474 and 475 exams, while the second example correlates with the USPS 476 and 477 exams.
Since there's no absolute right or wrong answer, the best practice for this test is to study the values and expectations of USPS and practice utilizing them in different scenarios.
Thorough guides and hundreds of practice questions including complete explanations can be found in our USPS PrepPack.
Next, we will cover a few sections of the professional aspect of the USPS positions. We'll begin with Verify Customer Information – which aims to test your ability to analyze hand-written forms.
Verify Customer Information
Mostly used in USPS 474, 476, and 477 exams.
1. Decide whether the information below is correct or not in accordance with the hand-written form.
Last Name: Espinoza
Old City: Garden Grove
New Street: 2438 Cimmaron Rd
New State: AR
Answer:
Last Name: Correct.
Old City: Correct.
New Street: Mistake. 2438 Cimmaron Rd is the old street. 4239 Wright Ct is the new street.
New State: Mistake. AL versus AR.
2. Decide whether the information below is correct or not in accordance with the hand-written form.
Old City: Arlington
New City: Lake Buena Vista
New Zip: 32380
Answer:
First Name: Mistake. Jennifer versus Jenifer
Old City: Correct.
New Street: Correct.
New Zip: Mistake. 32830 versus 32380
The Verify Customer information may initially look easy, but it can be very confusing, especially when working too fast and without practice. The questions may change slightly – which changes the answer completely and require focus for each piece of information.
Furthermore, USPS recommends completing the section as quickly as possible – which means that time may be a big factor in the overall score. Practice tests with different forms and a variety of questions can be found in our USPS Postal Exam PrepPack.
Next in the more profession-specific sections, is the Move the Mail section, which includes reading and analyzing addresses to allocate mail accordingly.
Move the Mail
Mostly used in USPS 474 and Postal Exam 476.
1. Envelopes are sorted into mailboxes according to the house number on the envelope.
Packages are sorted into boxes according to the last three digits of the package zip code.
Choose the correct answer. Which mailbox does the envelope belong to?
Answer:
Sorting envelopes into mailboxes is done according to the HOUSE NUMBER on the envelope, in this case - 5214.
2. Envelopes are sorted into mailboxes according to the house number on the envelope.
Packages are sorted into boxes according to the last three digits of the package zip code.
Choose the correct answer. Which box does the package belong to?
Answer: Sorting packages into boxes is done according to the LAST THREE DIGITS of the package's zip code, in this case, the correct answer is 582.
The Move the Mail section requires quick work, focus, and initial practice. Not only is the change between letters and parcel boxes random, but the options are usually very similar and confusing.
Like the previous sections, Move the Mail does not have a time limit – but is recommended to complete quickly. Practice tests that simulate the section, with a narrow time limit that will help you improve your speed can be found in our USPS preparation.
Next up – Check for Errors, another professional section meant to assess your ability to find differences between nearly similar ID numbers.
Check for Errors
Mostly used in USPS 475 and the 476 Postal Exam.
1. Determine whether each row matches or has an error in the Printed ID column – compare to the Original ID.
Answer:
Checking Errors, like the previous two sections, measures your ability to quickly analyze information and determine whether it's applicable or not to the rules of the section.
It is also recommended to work quickly and finish as soon as possible. Practice tests that simulate the section, with a narrow time limit to improve fast work can be found in our USPS PrepPack.
There are two more sections that are specific to the USPS 477 (Customer Service) position – Help Your Customers and Work Your Register. Mainly concerning skills required for customer-oriented positions, these questions evaluate your ability to read tables, analyze data, and perform quick calculations.
Work Your Register
This exercise is used in the 477 Postal Exam.
1. Use the fewest number of bills and coins possible to make the exact change.
Total Amount: $27.65
Amount Paid: $50
Change Due: $22.35
Answer
The correct answer is 1($20) 0($10) 0($5) 2($1) 1($0.25) 1($0.10) 0($0.05) 0($0.01)
The smallest number of coins needed to reach the correct change of $22.45 is adding one $20 bill and two $1 bills to reach $2. Add to this one quarter ($0.25) and one dime ($0.10) to reach the correct total of $22.45.
$20 × 1 + $1 × 2 + $0.25 × 1 + $0.10 × 1 = $22.35
2. Use the fewest number of bills and coins possible to make the exact change.
Total Amount: $64.74
Amount Paid: $104
Change Due: $39.26
Answer
The correct answer is 1($20) 1($10) 1($5) 4($1) 1($0.25) 0($0.10) 0($0.05) 1($0.01)
The smallest number of coins needed to reach the correct change of $39.26 is adding one $20 bill, one $10 bill, one $5 bill, and four $1 bills to reach $39. Add to this one quarter ($0.25) and one cent ($0.01) to reach the correct total of $39.26.
$20 × 1 + $10 × 1 + $5 × 1 + $1 × 4 + $0.10 × 2 + $0.05 × 1 + $0.01 × 1 = $39.26
The section requires you to perform basic math and quick calculations. While the change due is given, you are not only required to calculate how to accumulate to the number with bills and coins, but you must use the minimal amount possible – As a result, this section of our USPS PrepPack is one of the most challenging, as it requires a variety of information and data.
Help Your Customers
1.
Mrs. Blake shipped her package on Monday via Priority Mail. It’s Wednesday, and she tells you that her client didn’t get the box yet. Therefore, she wants to know where the package is. How would you respond?
- The package should have arrived yesterday.
- The package should arrive today.
- The package should arrive tomorrow.
- The package should arrive on Friday.
Answer:
The correct answer is C; The package should arrive tomorrow.
Since Mrs. Blake used Priority Mail, her package should arrive within 1-3 days. It was shipped on Monday, meaning it should arrive on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday.
Since today is Wednesday, if the package hasn't arrived yet, it will arrive by tomorrow (Thursday).
2.
It is Wednesday and Mr. Smith wants to send a package to his daughter. He wants the package to arrive on Sunday, but Monday is okay as well. Which is the best option?
- Priority Mail.
- Media Mail.
- Priority Mail Express.
- First-Class Mail.
Answer:
The correct answer is D; First-Class Mail.
Count the number of days from Mr. Smith's delivery (Wednesday) to the desired date of arrival (Sunday-Monday), which is 4-5 days. Therefore, the cheapest option that follows Mr. Smith's demands is First Class Mail.
The section requires you to read and analyze a table with different information regarding delivery options, after which you must understand what is required in the question and find the correct piece of information. Tables and data may change between each question.
You can find more practice questions with different data and required information in our USPS PrepPack.
We will now continue with the Personality sections – a series of sections designed to assess the candidate's personality and experience. We will begin with What Drives You – a motivational assessment.
What Drives You
Used in all USPS exams.
1. I'd like to work where...
- I am solely responsible for my own outcomes, not those of others.
- To complete tasks and goals, I often collaborate with others.
Answer:
I am solely responsible for my own outcomes, not those of others – ACCOUNTABILITY
To complete tasks and goals, I often collaborate with others - TEAMWORK
One of USPS's core values is TEAMWORK. This should be your immediate choice. The other option proves your ACCOUNTABILITY and indicates that you prefer independent work.
2. I'd like to work where...
- Every day, I take part in many different positions.
- I have a clear set of responsibilities that I follow.
Answer:
Every day, I take part in many different positions. - VERSATILITY
I have a clear set of responsibilities that I follow. - INFLEXIBILITY
VERSATILITY and FLEXIBILITY are both values that USPS appreciates. This question is an easy one – one statement expresses VERSATILITY and the other expresses INFLEXIBILITY. Therefore, the VERSATILITY statement is the preferred choice.
'What Drives You' is a motivation test that is designed to reveal what fulfills you in your workplace. Each question is meant to assess the level you relate to two different sources of motivation.
You may encounter the same motivation sources in various questions, so to stay consistent with your answers, examine each question thoroughly before you pick an answer.
Please note, that As a general rule, personality tests do not have an absolute correct answer. While we do recommend answering honestly, we believe that understanding which value each answer represents helps in deciding with which answer you most sympathize.
You can find a comprehensive USPS What Drives You guide and practice test in our All-Inclusive USPS PrepPack.
Next up, is the Tell Us Your Story section. Your experience, ambitions, and opinions regarding how previous employers would assess you are asked.
Tell Us Your Story
Used in all USPS exams.
1. If you were a manager, after how many times an employee missed work (per year) would you deliver a warning?
- This shouldn't happen at all
- 1-2
- 3-4
- 5-7
- 8-10
- 11-15
- More than 15
Answer:
The preferred answers are (A) This shouldn’t happen at all or (B) 1–2, since they portray you as a serious employee who arrives every day at work.
This question indirectly measures your diligence and seriousness regarding your job. The question uses a technique that leads you to think like a manager, but it actually measures you: After how many times you miss work without informing your manager would you be fine with being warned?
People tend not to like being warned, meaning that they may often choose answers that enable them to miss work without notifying a manager. However, this means that they tend to skip work sometimes without notification.
Choosing answers A or B indicates that you don’t tend to miss work without informing your manager; this implies, therefore, that you would understand your managers if they warn you after only a few times.
Answer A might be placating and radical, therefore we recommend choosing it if you haven’t chosen too many placating answers already.
You will encounter a few similar questions throughout this test, so keep that in mind. This is because in the actual test, your answers to all questions are measured against each other and other candidates.
2. Think of your future at USPS. For how long do you wish to work here?
- Up to 6 months
- 6 months to 1 year
- 1 to 2 years
- 2 to 5 years
- 5 to 10 years
- More than 10 years
Answer:
The preferred answers are C, 1 to 2 years or D, 2 to 5 years or E, 5 to 10 years.
This question measures your diligence and seriousness regarding your job. As an employee, the company invests money, time, and effort into training you to do the job the best you can.
Therefore, they wish to keep their employees for the long term and reduce the likelihood of unexpected turnover.
Choosing answers, A and B show that you are not serious enough about the job. On the other hand, answer F is too placating, and it is also difficult to forecast what will happen within 10 years.
On the actual test, your answers to all questions are measured compared to each other and other candidates. When answering the Tell Us Your Story section, think about how you see yourself in a USPS position, and what would USPS like to see in their candidates.
Remember to answer each question in relation to work. If needed, recall past events that occurred to you in your previous workplaces. Once you choose an answer, you will automatically advance; so, choose your answer carefully. Each position in USPS may have slightly different questions – as well as different answers to each question.
i.e., questions regarding customer service should require more strict answers for USPS 474 or USPS 477, which are more customer oriented. Practice a full Tell Us Your Story and read thorough guides for each specific position in our USPS All-Inclusive Preparation.
Finally, the last section is Describe Your Approach. This is a more straightforward personality question, with two sentences meant to describe you, and you should choose which question is more like you.
Describe Your Approach
Used in USPS 474, 475, 476, and 477 exams.
The following questions will be given without answers, as they are part of a wider 62-question personality practice test that provides a personalized summary report at the end. This summary report will outline the personality traits and behaviors that your answers reflected and will suggest how to modify your answers so that you increase your chances of passing this section.
1.
2.
This final section is meant to analyze specific traits and compare them to a professional profile preferred by USPS. While it is recommended to answer honestly, understanding the questions, the traits measured, and the overall score can help you increase your chances of succeeding.
A comprehensive guide, USPS Professional Profile guide, and a full practice test can be found in our USPS PrepPack. Now that you're familiarized with the different USPS tests and sections, and you have been introduced to different solving techniques, it is time to begin your practice.
Practicing multiple times for each section, in narrow time frames to reach a high score in the real test will increase your ability like nothing else. Without knowledge of all solving techniques and tips, and methodical practice, it is very difficult to achieve high scores.
All-Inclusive USPS Postal Exam PrepPack
Our PrepPack includes comprehensive preparation material, including:
- USPS practice tests simulating the real exam.
- Exclusive practice for the new sections added in 2022.
- Extra drills to ensure you pass with a high score.
- Step-by-step explanations for every question.
- Inside info & expert tips seen nowhere else.
Continue Practicing for the USPS Assessment Test with Accurate Preparation Materials
Get instant access to realistic practice tests that resemble the actual assessments, thorough study guides with inside information, and useful answer explanations for every question. Learn more about your desired assessment's preparation on these dedicated pages:
- Complete Prep for All the USPS Assessments - 474, 475, 476, and 477
- Postal Exam 474 (Mail Carrier)
- Postal Exam 475 (Mail Handler)
- Postal Exam 476 (Mail Processing)
- Postal Exam 477 (Customer Service)
If you are looking for a different test, or are not sure which test is relevant for your position, check out our Civil Service practice test questions or contact us, and we'll do our best to ensure you get the most accurate preparation for your upcoming exam.
