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- USPS VEA-style SJT practice test
- USPS VEA-style Check for Errors practice test
- Exclusive USPS Biodata Guide
- 14 additional SJT drills
- 9 Additional personality drills
- 4 Additional Error Checking drills
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Postal Exam 475 (Virtual Entry Assessment - MH 475): Get Realistic Practice Tests & 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 - MH (475) for Mail Handlers, aka Postal Exam 475, is a crucial hurdle you must cross to get hired.
While the minimum passing score is 70, the USPS mentions that only 80%-90% of the test-takers manage to reach it.
The stakes are high. Candidates who fail to achieve the minimum score, receive an ineligible status and will get a chance to retake the test only after 12 months.
That's why JobTestPrep gives you an accurate prep that will help you score high and get invited for an interview ASAP. It includes:
- Tailored practice tests for all four sections of the exam (SAME question types)
- Exclusive study guides with foolproof tips to help you master the test
- Extra prep drills that will give you the edge you need to surpass the passing score
If you’d like to learn how to pass the USPS Mail Handler Test, I’m certain you’ll find this prep super useful.
Let’s do it!
What Is the Virtual Entry Assessment MH 475?
The Virtual Entry Assessment MH 475 is an exam that anyone who wishes to become a USPS Mail Handler or Mail Handler Assistant has to pass. The test is one of the four new assessments the USPS uses since April 2019, following the retirement of the old 473 exam.
You have only 72 hours to complete the test from the moment you received the invitation email.
Note: Some users have reported technical glitches when they took the actual exam on their smartphones, such as having trouble reading instructions, tapping on answers, and more. In some annoying cases, it even caused a few to fail the assessment. Therefore, I highly recommend taking the exam on your computer.
Watch this short video to get some useful tips and insights on the test:
Are you applying for other jobs at the USPS? Try looking here:
What Does the Postal Exam 475 Consist of?
The Postal Exam 475, also named the Mail Handler Test, consists of four sections: Work Scenarios (a Situational Judgment Test); Check for Errors (verifying information test); Tell Us Your Story (Biodata questionnaire); and Describe Your Approach (personality test).
Here’s a breakdown of the test sections:
|
Section Name |
Number of Questions |
Time Limit (approx.) |
|
Work Scenarios |
9 | 11 minutes |
|
Check for Errors |
12 – 4 rows, each with 3 questions | 2 minutes |
|
Tell Us Your Story |
22 | 3 minutes |
|
Describe Your Approach |
79 | 8 minutes |
Let’s expand on each of the test sections a little bit:
- Work Situations – This section of the test consists of 9 questions presenting different situations you may encounter while on the job. You will need to select two (2) out of four (4) answers to determine which you would be most and least likely to do to resolve the issue at hand.
- Check for Errors – This is the only truly objective section found on the Postal Exam 475. It consists of 12 questions, each containing a pair of 8-digit numbers. If these pairs are the same, you should select “Match” as your answer. If the pair is not an exact match, you should select “Error.”
- Tell Us Your Story – In this section, which is a Biodata questionnaire, you will find 22 questions designed as a review of your work experience and background.
- Describe Your Approach – You will encounter 79 questions in this section of the test. Each question is used to evaluate different aspects of your personality. Many applicants tend to trip up on both the personality and the Work Scenarios sections, due to the unfamiliar question style and answer choices.
Note: Once you select ‘Next’ in the questions, you cannot go back. So, read the questions carefully and don’t be tempted to rush with your answers.
Virtual Entry Assessment MH 475 Sample Question
The following is a Check for Errors sample question (taken from the complete PrepPack™). Give it a try:
For each item, decide if it's Match or Error based on the location information.
| Original ID | Computer ID | |
| Location A | 96380273 | 96830273 |
| Location B | 63984201 | 63984201 |
| Location C | 68326741 | 68326741 |
| Location D | 96357514 | 96367514 |
- Location A - Match/Error
- Location B - Match/Error
- Location C - Match/Error
- Location D - Match/Error
Did you manage to spot the matching and unmatching IDs?
Here are some useful tips to help you answer such questions quickly and accurately.
Since long sequences of numbers are hard to remember, we recommend that you “break up” each sequence when comparing it to the other. Try comparing the first two to four digits first, then the next two to four digits, and so on.
For example, if the sequence is 12345678, only look at 1234 first and compare it to the first four digits of the other sequence. If you find a digit that is not identical between them, mark Error, and move on to the next pair.
If the first four digits are identical, move on and compare the next four in the sequence. Don’t feel weird to mouth or even verbalize the digits when comparing the pairs – hearing the sounds can help you spot the differences between the sequences.
How to Pass the Postal Exam 475 (and Get an Interview ASAP)?
The passing score for the Mail Handler Exam, as with all the USPS VAE exams, is quite high.
You have to score at least 70 out of 100 points to move to the next hiring stage. If you fail to reach this score, you’ll immediately get an ineligible status. The result is disqualification from retaking the test for a full year.
In addition to the passing score, there’s another crucial point to consider:
The USPS ranks each of its candidates based on their score, and these rankings affect how fast one is going to get an interview.
In short, it means that a candidate who scored 80 will be placed ahead of someone who got 70, and the former will likely get invited for an interview much faster.
To surpass the minimal passing score, you have to master every question type on the test, including tricky personality and situational judgment test (SJT) questions.
Here’s an example of an SJT question that highly resembles questions you’ll face on the real USPS 475 Exam:
One of your colleagues is slacking, skipping important steps in the outlined procedures of his job. For a while now you find yourself correcting his mistakes.
A. Talk to your postmaster about the situation.
B. Caution and tell him you will speak with the postmaster if he doesn't change his ways.
C. Don’t get involved. His behavior is his own concern, not yours.
D. Talk to your colleague and explain how the situation is affecting you.
What would you be most and least likely to do?
Competencies: Teamwork; proactivity; communication skills; and problem-solving.
Response A: This response shows poor teamwork and communication skills. You fail to communicate the problem to your fellow employee. Instead, you immediately turn to your supervisor. In doing so, you fail to alert your co-worker to the situation or give him the chance to correct his behavior.
Response B: This response may seem proactive as you address the problem directly with your colleague. However, it is aggressive and lacks teamwork skills, as you caution your colleague - threatening to go to your postmaster, rather than discussing the issue in a friendly manner. This response is likely to offend your work colleague, and could escalate the situation, thus being the worst response to the situation.
Response C: This response is passive, avoids offending your colleague, and aims at maintaining good relations; however, it doesn’t provide a solution to the problem. Moreover, this response is irresponsible since your colleague fails to follow work procedures, and in doing so, is harming your own work productivity
Response D: This is a good response to the situation. It is important to be able to communicate with your colleagues about work conflicts. This is a proactive response that tries a cooperative approach to solving problems. Furthermore, pointing out your colleague's mistakes and explaining the impact they have on you is likely to elicit behavioral change in your colleague, and improve both his and your own work productivity.
Each practice question in the complete PrepPack™ is coupled with a detailed, step-by-step explanation, similar to what you’ve seen above.
These practice questions are designed to help you familiarize yourself with every question type that appears on the real exam. Moreover, the solutions will help you understand the logic behind each question (and why it’s there in the first place) and enable you to choose the best answer every time.
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Virtual Entry Assessment MH 475 FAQ
What Is a Mail Handler VEA?
The Mail Handler VEA is the Virtual Entry Assessment - MH (475) for Mail Handlers and is one of the four new exams the USPS uses since April 2019. Each VEA applies to a different set of USPS roles, when the MH 475 is used to screen candidates for various Mail Handler positions.
What Does a Mail Handler Assistant Do?
As the USPS mentions, Mail Handlers are responsible for loading and unloading mail trucks, moving bulk mail, operating equipment and machinery, and occasionally making simple parcel distributions. Mail Handler must be physically able to perform all these duties, including handling heavy containers of mail and parcels up to 70 pounds.
Which Exam Does a USPS Mail Handler Take?
Candidates for Mail Handler positions (including Mail Handler Assistants) take the Virtual Entry Assessment - MH (475), also known as the Postal Exam 475.
What Is Good Score on the USPS Assessment 475?
The passing score for the USPS Virtual Entry Assessment 475 is a 70, and any score above that is considered good. Yet, the higher you score, the higher your chances to get an interview invitation as soon as possible.
How Do You Become a USPS Mail Handler?
To become a Mail Handler at USPS, you must be 18 years old, have a U.S. citizenship, pass the Virtual Entry Assessment – MH (475), and go through a background check. Additionally, you must be able to handle mail and parcels weighing up to 70 pounds.