Civil Service Tests

The Civil service tests are mandatory for some professions and sectors such as Foreign Service, postal service, law enforcement air traffic control, customs, and some secretarial and clerical jobs; however in most government sector jobs civil service tests are not necessary. A competitive assessment of the applicants back ground, education, and work experience is what is required in 80% of the job vacancies available in the civil service.

Most administrative and secretarial exams have been replaced with what is called “Occupational questionnaires” The Office of Personal Management and various other job posting sites such as USA jobs announce their vacancies online. Interested candidates may apply to the positions directly. They have to complete the application, a federal style resume- which is a standardize resume expected of candidates applying for jobs in the US Government, and a questionnaire, all these nay be submitted online with the respective job agency. When or if the civil service tests are required of the applicant the agency will notify the time and the venue.

Most of these civil service tests pertain to jobs in the clerical and administrative area, Samples of the clerical and other civil service tests are available in The Book of U.S. Government Jobs, there is also in this books examples of tests of reading, vocabulary, arithmetic reasoning etc, however most such exams are now being replaced by the Occupational Questionnaire which measure ones educational and professional experience for the job at hand. Clerical job announcements are usually found in The Admintrative & Clerical GS-300 Job series, you have to identify the clerical job announcements available in your state, city or town before applying online. If civil service tests are required the agency will alert the applicant and you have to bring with you to the test center the following items of a three median No.2 led pencils, eraser, a pen and the forms and documents required of you.

The clerical civil service tests consists of two sections, the civil service tests usually measures clerical aptitude and verbal ability, to pass the test the candidate has to score a minimum of 33 in the verbal ability section and have a combined score of 80 on both sections of verbal clerical aptitude. The score is then converted to a numerical rating which will be the final score of the test. Other than sitting for the exam applicants also have to complete the Occupational Supplement for Clerical Positions (OPM form 1203- A1). With this application the reviewer will have an insight in to the academic and professional qualifications along with ones performance at the exam. A final result will be arrived to with the test and the supplements and notification will be given within five to ten working days.