United States Postal Service (USPS) is the second-largest employer in the US. USPS does not only offer postal service jobs; within the USPS, you will find different career opportunities for all experience levels.
The career portal lists all the jobs currently available at the company. However, the most sought-after job is a mail carrier. The basic requirements to become a part of USPS are to be a US citizen and have a high-school diploma or equivalent. If you successfully pass the test, you will need to pass a criminal background check and undertake a medical assessment. Moreover, if you are applying for a job that includes driving, you must have a safe driving record.
If you decide to test your luck in USPS, you will need to pass the postal exam. A lot of people ask me about what is the best way to learn the USPS postal exam. If you have never appeared for a test like USPS before, you may be surprised to know that it can be very difficult, and many people flunk at the first attempt.
More than 80% of the candidates fail the exam because they don’t prepare for the exam correctly or panic on the exam day.
In this article, I will discuss the best way to learn the Postal Exam and what mistakes you must avoid while taking the test. This article will help you streamline the learning process and help avoid any mistakes. Please note that this article is not a study guide and doesn’t include any test or study material.
What is the Best Way to Learn the Postal Exam?
USPS has updated its hiring process by retiring exam 473 and replacing it with 4 different exams. You will be taking one of the following 4 tests.
- Exam 474: Mail Carrier Position (also known as Virtual Entry Assessment MC 474 or Mail Carrier VEA Exam)
- Exam 475: Mail Handler (also known as Virtual Entry Assessment MH 475 or Mail Handler VEA Exam)
- Exam 476: Mail Processor (also known as Virtual Entry Assessment MP 476, Mail Processor VEA Exam or Processing Clerk VEA Exam)
- Exam 477: Customer Service, Distribution, Sales Roles (also known as Virtual Entry Assessment CS 477 or Customer Service VEA Exam)
The best way to ace any exam in the world is to understand what is on the test, focus on what you don’t already know, think critically, and stay calm on the evaluation day. Moreover, taking some practice exams timed as per the real exam duration helps you get used to the test day pressure. It also develops time management and analyzes your strengths and weaknesses.
What is on the Postal Exam?
It is pertinent to know what is on the exam if you want to prepare it in the best possible way.
Exam 474
It contains 3 sections
Section 1: Work Scenario: This section presents different working scenarios and will evaluate your reaction to each scenario. It contains 8-10 questions.
Section 2: Your Story: The questions in this section will inquire about your background and work experience. This section has 20-22 questions.
Section 3: Your Approach: These questions will determine how you approach everyday tasks. This is the lengthiest section among the 3 and has 56-79 sections about your personality and how you react to certain situations.
Exam 475 and 476 have the three sections described above, plus the one below.
Error Check Section: It consists of 12 questions asking you to compare pairs of 8-digit numbers. You will have to identify if the pair of numbers are identical.
Exam 477 has the 3 sections from exam 474, and an additional section explained below.
Work your Register/Cash Management: You will have to answer 13 questions that will require you to make a specific amount of change using the fewest bills and coins.
Since USPS postal job involves interacting with countless people daily, it is very important for recruiters to know about your personality.
So now that you know what is on the exam! I will briefly guide you on how you can pass the postal exam.
Study Schedule: USPS exam is hard. The success rate is 10-20% in each exam. You must prepare well for the exam to crack it. USPS is not just any ordinary company. It is the second-largest employer in the US and employed 495,941 people in 2021. It also pays very well and offers career development and growth opportunity. Moreover, it offers career opportunities to everyone, so you better get yourself prepared well.
Up-to-Date Study Guides: Make sure you use an up-to-date study guide. You may pass the exam on your own and get information from free online resources, but it is a wise decision to invest in an up-to-date authentic study guide. Study guides are available online and in many brick-and-mortar bookstores.
Take Practice Tests: Don’t forget to ensure that the practice tests are included in the guide. These tests will be very helpful in making you understand the format of the test and familiarize yourself with the test. Giving the test at your home is much less stressful than appearing for the test in real-time.
Don’t apply until you are ready: I have seen countless people regretting wasting their attempts because they were underprepared. You need to get at least a score of 70 out of 100 to pass the test. If you don’t get this score, you will be wasting your attempt.
Moreover, this is a competitive exam. Even if you score 70, you may miss out on the job. You must aim for at least 80 marks to have a shot at the prestigious and high-rewarding position.
Mistakes to Avoid for USPS Postal Test Day
- Don’t be overstressed on the test day. The best way to keep relaxed is to get a full night’s sleep before the test and get up early so you can arrive timely for the test.
- Don’t eat junk food before the test, and don’t come empty stomach. Your regular breakfast that suites your stomach well is the best option.
- Be calm on the test day; remember that you have prepared for the test and nothing can go wrong. If you are confident about the test and the result, everything will go as planned.
- Don’t spend too much time on one question. If you can’t answer a particular question, just skip it and complete the rest. You can come back to that question later on when you have free time.
- Read the test instructions and listen to the staff very carefully.
FAQs
Why exam 473 was retired?
Exam 473 was retired because it was oriented towards address matching and route designations. It lacked in-depth personality analysis. Exams 474 – 477 focus on personality aspects as well and don’t have a time limit.
How long is the exam score valid for?
The test score is valid for 2-6 years. The exact time depends on the position you applied for.
Is the exam long?
No. The test is not too long. If you are well prepared, you can solve the test in an hour or two.
Can you reappear for the exam?
Yes. You can retake the exam. If you fail the exam, you can take the exam next year. However, if you pass the test and don’t get hired, you will have to wait for at least 2 years.
Where can I know about USPS job openings?
The best place to know about the job openings at USPS is its official website. You can visit the careers page and get up to date information about vacancies.
What is the starting pay at USPS?
USPS pays a competitive salary and offers various incentives to its employees. The salary range varies from one position to another, but the starting pay is around $30,000.
How long does USPS take to get back?
USPS declares the exam result immediately, but it may take up to several weeks to hear back from the USPS about your selection and next phase assessment.
Final Words
USPS is one of the best employers in the country. It offers career development, growth, good salary, and incentives. USPS puts its workers first and terms the mail carriers as the country’s backbone. The competition is very hard. So, if you are planning to become a part of the USPS, I recommend you pull up your socks and get down to work.
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