Virtual Entry Assessment – MC (474): Get Accurate Practice and Pass the Test [2020 Edition]

What is the Virtual Entry Assessment MC (474)?

The Postal Exam 474, also called the Virtual Entry Assessment – MC (474), is used for evaluating candidates applying for both city and rural mail carrier positions. This test is one of the four new USPS exams that replaced the retired postal 473 exam in 2019.

If your application and resume for the mail carrier position you’ve applied for getting selected, you’ll receive an email inviting you to take Postal Exam 474.

You will then have only 72 hours from the time you receive the email to complete and submit your test. This test is administered online and can be completed using a computer, smartphone, or tablet.

Note: Some users have reported technical glitches when they took the actual assessment on their phones, which even caused some to fail it. So, we highly recommend taking the exam on your computer.

Check out the video below to get some more tips and insights on the assessment:

What Does the Mail Carrier Test Consist of?

Here’s an overview of the Virtual Entry Assessment – MC (474) structure:

Let’s dive into each one of the test sections, to get a better understanding of what you’re about to face:

Work Scenarios: This section of the test includes eight questions and is used to evaluate how you respond to a variety of situations. While the cases are fictitious, they represent the types of situations that Mail Carriers encounter daily on the job.

Note: Once you select ‘Next’, you cannot go back. So, read the questions carefully and don’t be tempted to rush with your answers.

Tell Us Your Story: This section is a Biodata questionnaire that consists of 20 multiple-choice questions that review your work experiences and background. You can only go back one question, and once you respond, you’ll automatically advance to the next question.

Describe Your Approach: This section includes a personality-based test consisting of 56 questions to be completed in approx. 6 minutes. On this section, the USPS will try to evaluate your preferred style and approach to work.

Important: Just like with the previous section, you can only go back one question and once you click on a response, you’ll automatically move on.

Here’s an example of a personality question that may appear in the Describe Your Approach test section:

A tricky one, right?

The purpose of the personality test practice in this PrepPack™ is to familiarize you with these question types and present your personality profile based on the answers you provide. At the end of the test you get a report that is tailored to your position.

From our experience, the best way to ensure your ability to pass such personality tests is through practice.

How to Ace the USPS Assessment 474 (and Avoid Waiting MONTHS for the Interview)?

As I’ve mentioned before, the passing score for the 474 Postal Exam is 70. Any score below that will immediately put you in the ineligibility list, and you’ll be allowed to retake the test only 12 months later, unfortunately.

But except for this passing score, there is one more crucial thing to take into account:

The USPS ranks applicants based on their scores.

This means that someone who scores a 90 will be placed ahead of someone who scored 80. Thus, a candidate for a certain position can wait as little as several days for an interview, while another candidate who scored lower can wait even months.

If you’ve passed the exam but wish to retake it to improve your score, you’ll have a waiting period of 2 years.

With this in mind, we’re here to help you place yourself in the top candidates’ list and get scheduled for an interview as quickly as possible.

Thus, our test experts have created an accurate prep for every section of the 474 Virtual Entry Assessment (verified to be as similar to the real test as possible).

This prep will ensure you know how to properly answer EVERY question type on the test. Also, you’ll get equipped with effective solving techniques, so no scenario or personality question will catch you by surprise.

Remember, the purpose of this test is to learn more about you, your working style, and your previous work experience. By practicing for the behavioral and situational sections of this test beforehand, you will know how to convey your best qualities and ultimately jumpstart your career at USPS.

Ready for another sample question?

Here’s an example of a scenario that highly resembles some of the question types you’ll encounter on the real Work Scenarios test section:

How would you act in this situation?

These questions may seem straightforward at first, however, their hypothetical nature can be quite confusing if you aren’t sure what they are evaluating.

How you respond to each scenario will give the USPS insight into your working style, how you interact with coworkers, your customer service abilities, and your ability to cope with stress. Thus, it is imperative that you first understand what you are being asked prior to selecting your response.

Each practice question on the complete 474 practice pack is coupled with a clear and detailed explanation, just like you’ve seen above. The explanations will teach you exactly how to approach each question and what are the best practices for answering it.

How to Get the Most Out of the 474 USPS Practice Tests

After extensive research and after learning from hundreds of USPS job candidates, we’ve carefully created this professional practice pack.

To make the best use of your PrepPack™, we recommend following these steps:

Step #1:

Start your prep with a USPS Virtual Entry Assessment Work Scenarios practice test. This practice test includes scenarios that depict situations that are likely to occur in a city carrier or rural carrier job role.

Situations will include customers, co-workers, and superiors, and the questions will focus on the competencies and skills that are needed in these positions.

An SJT Guide accompanies this practice test. The guide includes thorough information about the test different formats and the assessed competencies, as well as suggested strategies for solving and some helpful tips.

We strongly recommend that you use the guide alongside your practice. If you read this guide carefully, you’ll gain all the information you need to succeed on this test section.

Step #2:

Don’t stop here; continue practicing with the USPS Virtual Entry Assessment Personality Practice Test. When taking this test for the first time, it is absolutely vital that you answer exactly as you would have when applying for a job. This will allow us to give you the best feedback and train you properly.

The report at the end of the test provides a detailed analysis of your personality profile, based on the entirety of your responses, so try to answer each and every question.

Step #3:

If you have time left (remember you have only 72 hours to take the actual test), use the 'Extra Practice’ sub-category in each practice section. This will give you an extra boost and will sharpen your skills, to ensure you stay calm and confident and master the exam.

What Our Customers Have to Say:

Henry Commager, US

Verified Reviewer

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"I am applied for at least four positions at the US post office; holiday clerk assistant, casual clerk position, assistant city carrier, and a mail processing clerk. With the help of the JobTestPrep’s test preparation, I passed the 474 with a 73%, 475 with a 77%, and the 476 with a 79%. The practice scenarios helped me to consider the whole environment of the workplace at the post office, including customers and co-workers, the production goals, and formulate good decisions. I recommend this assessment test to anyone who wants to take the test for US post office. "

Virtual Entry Assessment – MC (474) FAQ