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The [[United States Postal Service]] administers a number of examinations for employee applicants to be considered for employment. Exams are administered as needed on a regional or service-area basis.

== Exams ==
=== Postal Exam 460 ===
This is the exam given to [[Rural Letter Carrier]]s, usually for part-time positions.  
The Postal Exam Battery 460 is broken down into the following categories:

'''Part A: Address Checking'''
You will be given 95 addresses to compare in 6 minutes. You will be expected to determine if the addresses are identical in every way or different in any way.

'''Part B: Memory for Addresses'''
You will be shown a table with 25 names and addresess divided into 5 columns.  You will expected to answer 88 questions in 5 minutes on correctly identifying which column a name/address belongs in.

'''Part C: Number Series'''
You will be shown a "number series" and expected to identify which two numbers would come next.  You will answer 24 questions in 20 minutes.

'''Part D: Following Oral Directions'''
You will be given oral directions and expected to follow the directions by writing in the test book.

=== Postal Exam 473 / 473-C ===
This exam is also known as the '''Battery 473''' and replaced the '''Battery 470''' in 2004. It is given to potential [[letter carrier]]s and postal processing jobs. A score of 70 is required to pass, and applicants are considered for hire based on their scoring. Historically, point bonuses of 5-10 points were awarded to applicants based on military [[veteran]] / disabled veteran status.
The Postal Exam Battery 473 and 473-C exams are actually the same test; it is designated as the 473 when given for various positions, and as the 473-C when given exclusively for the Carrier position. The exam is broken down into the following categories:

'''Part A: Address Checking'''
You will be given 60 addresses to compare in 11 minutes. You will be expected to determine if the addresses are identical, if the zip codes are different, or if the street/city addresses are different.

'''Part B: Forms Completion'''
You will be shown various forms and expected to answer 30 questions on correctly completing the forms in 15 minutes.

'''Part C-1: Coding'''
You will be shown a "coding guide" and expected to answer 36 questions in 6 minutes while looking at the guide.

'''Part C-2: Memory'''
Based on the same "coding guide" used in part C-1, you will be expected to answer 36 questions in 7 minutes.

'''Part D: Personal Characteristics and Experience Inventory'''
You will be asked 236 questions in 90 minutes on your personal characteristics, tendencies, or experiences related to performing effectively as a Postal Service Employee. Completed on-line during application process.

=== Postal Exam 710 ===
This exam is given to temporary [[data entry]] workers. These staffers are known as '''Data Conversion Operators''', and are hired based on their scoring.

=== Postal Exam 916 ===
This exam is given to potential [[custodian]]s. Testing may be restricted to military veterans.
All individual test scores remain on file for 2 years.

=== Postal Exam 931 ===
This exam is given to skilled maintenance workers. Inexperienced applicants are discouraged from testing.

=== Postal Exam 932 ===
This exam is given to potential [[Electronics|electronic]] [[technician]]s. Inexperienced applicants are discouraged from testing.

=== Postal Exam 933 ===
This exam is given to potential Mail Processing Equipment Mechanics. Inexperienced applicants are discouraged from testing.

=== Postal Exam 943/944 ===
This exam obsoleted the '''Battery 940''' and is given to experienced automotive [[mechanics]]. Inexperienced applicants are discouraged from testing.

== References ==June 2010}}

Applicants for all [[United States Postal Service]] entry-level career positions and for some part-time/temporary jobs are required to take employment exams. There are different exams used to fill different types of jobs.

== Application Process ==
Thanks to recent sweeping revisions to the Postal hiring and testing program, applicants are no longer forced to wait for erratically scheduled test dates. Under the new system, those seeking Postal employment are able to apply for jobs and take exams virtually anytime. More specifically, the steps involved are (1) find an open job posting, (2) apply for that job, and (3) take the required exam within a limited number of days. All these processes are electronic under the new system. Applicants search for job postings online, apply online, and take most exams online. 

== Exams ==
=== Postal Exam 230/238/240 ===
Even though the Postal Service calls them exams, these are not truly tests in the traditional sense. They are actually identical questionnaires that ask about an applicant’s driving record and experience. These exams/questionnaires are used to fill the below professional driving jobs:

Exam 230: Motor Vehicle Operator
Exam 238: Motor Vehicle Operator / Tractor Trailer Operator
Exam 240: Tractor Trailer Operator

=== Postal Exam 473-E ===
This new electronic mega test replaced old exams 460, 470, 473, and 473C. It is used to fill over 90% of all entry level Postal jobs. In addition to the front counter clerk position, most jobs having to do with handling mail, sorting mail, and delivering mail are filled from this one exam. It is broken down into five sections as detailed below. Except for the first section, this exam requires applicants to perform obscure tasks at an exceptional rate of speed. Many applicants are able to enhance their performance on the exam via extensive practice with realistic electronic practice tests. 

'''Personal Characteristics and Experience Inventory'''
This self-administered section is taken first without supervision. There are 150 questions to be answered in 90 minutes. This section is used to build a profile of the applicant to determine his/her potential as an employee. Applicants who pass this section are scheduled to take the remaining sections at a designated facility under supervision.

'''Address Checking'''
This section has 60 questions to be answered in 11 minutes. Each question is a pair of items consisting of an address (street/P.O. Box, city, and state) and a ZIP code. Applicants are to compare the items to determine if they are exactly alike, if the addresses are different, if the zip codes are different, or if both the addresses and the zip codes are different. 

'''Forms Completion'''
In this section applicants are shown various Postal forms and asked how they should be completed. There are 30 questions to be answered in 15 minutes.

'''Coding'''
A Coding Guide for delivery routes is presented in this section. Applicants are required to answer 36 questions about the Coding Guide in 6 minutes. Since the Coding Guide is made available during this section, it is basically an open book test.

'''Memory'''
In this section applicants have 7 minutes to answer 36 questions about the same Coding Guide described above, but the questions must be answered from memory. The Coding Guide is not made available. Applicants are given several minutes to memorize the Coding Guide before answering the questions. This section is generally viewed as the hardest part of the exam.

=== Postal Exam 710 ===
This exam is generally used to fill only one specific job, Data Conversion Operator, which is available at only two locations - Salt Lake City, UT and Wichita, KS. 

=== Postal Exam 916 ===
This exam is used to fill custodial/janitorial jobs, and it is typically restricted to preference eligible military veterans.

=== Postal Exam 943/944 ===
This exam is used to fill Automotive Mechanic/Technician jobs that require extensive prior training and/or experience.

=== Postal Exam 955 ===
This new mega test that replaced old exams 931, 932, and 933 is used to fill highly technical maintenance jobs such as Building Equipment Mechanic, Maintenance Mechanic, Electronic Technician, Mail Processing Equipment Mechanic, Area Maintenance Technician, etc. This deeply technical exam demands very extensive prior training and or experience in a number of different technical fields.

== References ==
* [http://www.postalexam.com Highly ranked site with exhaustive info on Postal jobs and exams]
* [http://www.usps.com/employment/welcome.htm Employment welcome page at the USPS website]
<!-- Many other exams are described there -- expand this article if desired -->

[[Category:Postal system]]
[[Category:Standardized tests in the United States]]