2023 Edition

Postal Service Practice Test

Take this free practice test to see how prepared you are for the United States Postal Service Exam 474, 475, 476 and 477 for mail carriers, mail handlers, mail processors and customer service postal clerks. The test covers such subjects as Work Scenarios, Describe Your Approach, Tell Us Your Story, Check for Errors and Money Change. .

To score high and improve your chances to get the job, use this 1000 question U.S. Postal Service Practice Exam and Study Guide.

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Work Scenarios

1.	One of the customers on your route moved to a different unit at the same apartment complex. You know he has moved but you have not received a change of address. He flags you down one day and wants to know why he is not getting his mail. What would you most likely do?
		A. Inform him that until you receive a change of address, you cannot deliver to the new address.
		B. Tell him that you are holding it at the station until you receive the change of address, which is postal policy.
		C. Tell him you will bring it all to him tomorrow but if he has not submitted a change of address, he should do so soon.
		D. Give him a change of address card that you keep in your truck and tell him he must submit it soon or they will send his mail back to the sender after a certain time.
Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

2.	One of the customers on your route moved to a different unit at the same apartment complex. You know he has moved but you have not received a change of address. He flags you down one day and wants to know why he is not getting his mail. What would you least likely do?
		A. Inform him that until you receive a change of address, you cannot deliver to the new address.
		B. Tell him that you are holding it at the station until you receive the change of address, which is postal policy.
		C. Tell him you will bring it all to him tomorrow but if he has not submitted a change of address, he should do so soon.
		D. Give him a change of address card that you keep in your truck and tell him he must submit it soon or they will send his mail back to the sender after a certain time.
Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

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3.	It is time for your break, but the work is unfinished, and you are behind schedule. What would you most likely do?
		A. Go to break.
		B. You are almost finished, so ask your supervisor if you can finish and go on your break later.
		C. Remind your supervisor that it is your break time in case she wants someone to work the mail while you are gone.
		D. Ask someone to finish up so you can go on break.
Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

4.	It is time for your break, but the work is unfinished, and you are behind schedule. What would you least likely do?
		A. Go to break.
		B. You are almost finished, so ask your supervisor if you can finish and go on your break later.
		C. Remind your supervisor that it is your break time in case she wants someone to work the mail while you are gone.
		D. Ask someone to finish up so you can go on break.
Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

5.	You find a stamped letter on the ground next to the mail box that appears to be outgoing mail. The flag on the mail box is up. What would you most likely do?
		A. Leave the letter on the ground, as its outside the scope of your responsibility.
		B. Put the letter back in the mail box and leave the flag up to let the owner know the mail was not picked up, so she can examine it.
		C. Pick up the letter and process it as if it was posted to be mailed.
		D. Knock on the mail box owner's door and ask if it's her mail.
Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

6.	You find a stamped letter on the ground next to the mail box that appears to be outgoing mail. The flag on the mail box is up. What would you least likely do?
		A. Leave the letter on the ground, as its outside the scope of your responsibility.
		B. Put the letter back in the mail box and leave the flag up to let the owner know the mail was not picked up, so she can examine it.
		C. Pick up the letter and process it as if it was posted to be mailed.
		D. Knock on the mail box owner's door and ask if it's her mail.
Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

7.	You are manually casing mail and you hear two co-workers gossiping about another co-worker who is close enough to hear them. What would you most likely do?
		A. Quietly tell the two gossiping co-workers that the person they are talking about can hear them.
		B. Mind your own business and keep it to yourself.
		C. Join the conversation and try to change the subject.
		D. Later tell the person that was being talked about that those two people gossip about everyone and not to let it bother her.
Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

8.	You are manually casing mail and you hear two co-workers gossiping about another co-worker who is close enough to hear them. What would you least likely do?
		A. Quietly tell the two gossiping co-workers that the person they are talking about can hear them.
		B. Mind your own business and keep it to yourself.
		C. Join the conversation and try to change the subject.
		D. Later tell the person that was being talked about that those two people gossip about everyone and not to let it bother her.
Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

9.	A container of mail from your machine has been taken to the dock to be loaded on a truck, and you realize you may have put a tub of mail in it which does not belong there. This means that it could go to the wrong postal station. What would you most likely do?
		A. Leave your station and run to the dock to see if the truck has left to fix your mistake.
		B. Ask your supervisor if you can run to the dock to see if you can rectify the mistake.
		C. Tell your supervisor what you suspect and ask if she can call the dock to find out if the truck is still there.
		D. There's no need to do anything. No one will know it was you that made the mistake.
Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

10.	A container of mail from your machine has been taken to the dock to be loaded on a truck, and you realize you may have put a tub of mail in it which does not belong there. This means that it could go to the wrong postal station. What would you least likely do?
		A. Leave your station and run to the dock to see if the truck has left to fix your mistake.
		B. Ask your supervisor if you can run to the dock to see if you can rectify the mistake.
		C. Tell your supervisor what you suspect and ask if she can call the dock to find out if the truck is still there.
		D. There's no need to do anything. No one will know it was you that made the mistake.
Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

11.	Two co-workers get into a heated argument on the workroom floor. One of them is a friend of yours. What would you most likely do?
		A. Take your friend's side and join the argument.
		B. Get a supervisor in case punches are thrown.
		C. You are there to do your job, so you avoid the situation.
		D. Approach the two and ask them to calm down.
Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

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12.	Two co-workers get into a heated argument on the workroom floor. One of them is a friend of yours. What would you least likely do?
		A. Take your friend's side and join the argument.
		B. Get a supervisor in case punches are thrown.
		C. You are there to do your job, so you avoid the situation.
		D. Approach the two and ask them to calm down.
Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

13.	A customer asks for a book of stamps. When you tell her the amount, she says she does not have enough money. What would you most likely do?
		A. Tell her you are sorry, but you must collect all the money.
		B. Find out how much she is short and pay it for her.
		C. Offer to sell her fewer stamps that are within the amount of money she has.
		D. Give her the stamps and ask her to drop the money off later.
Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

14.	A customer asks for a book of stamps. When you tell her the amount, she says she does not have enough money. What would you least likely do?
		A. Tell her you are sorry, but you must collect all the money.
		B. Find out how much she is short and pay it for her.
		C. Offer to sell her fewer stamps that are within the amount of money she has.
		D. Give her the stamps and ask her to drop the money off later.
Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

15.	A customer complains to you about another clerk saying that the clerk was rude and uninformative. What would you most likely do?
		A. Apologize to the customer for the clerk's behavior and ask how you can assist her.
		B. Tell the customer that she must have been mistaken because the clerk is a nice person.
		C. Tell the clerk about the complaint and leave it at that.
		D. Tell the supervisor about the clerk's behavior.
Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

16.	A customer complains to you about another clerk saying that the clerk was rude and uninformative. What would you least likely do?
		A. Apologize to the customer for the clerk's behavior and ask how you can assist her.
		B. Tell the customer that she must have been mistaken because the clerk is a nice person.
		C. Tell the clerk about the complaint and leave it at that.
		D. Tell the supervisor about the clerk's behavior.
Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

17.	A customer presents a package in an old box with multiple addresses on it. It's not clear which is the delivery address and which is the sender's address. What would you most likely do?
		A. Offer the customer a marker to indicate the delivery address and sender address.
		B. Ask the customer to identify the delivery and return addresses and mark them yourself.
		C. Reject the package for not being in a condition to mail.
		D. Accept the package as is using the most distant address to calculate the postage.
Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

18.	A customer presents a package in an old box with multiple addresses on it. It's not clear which is the delivery address and which is the sender's address. What would you least likely do?
		A. Offer the customer a marker to indicate the delivery address and sender address.
		B. Ask the customer to identify the delivery and return addresses and mark them yourself.
		C. Reject the package for not being in a condition to mail.
		D. Accept the package as is using the most distant address to calculate the postage.
Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Describe Your Approach

19.	I prefer to decide on a plan and stick to it. I like to be spontaneous.
		A. Most like (a)
		B. Somewhat like (a)
		C. Somewhat like (b)
		D. Most like (b)
Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

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20.	I usually go with the flow. I prefer to be my own boss.
		A. Most like (a)
		B. Somewhat like (a)
		C. Somewhat like (b)
		D. Most like (b)
Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

21.	I like to hear different perspectives when making decisions. I prefer to decide matters for myself.
		A. Most like (a)
		B. Somewhat like (a)
		C. Somewhat like (b)
		D. Most like (b)
Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

22.	I will help co-workers after I get my own work done. If a co-worker needs help, I'll stop what I'm doing to help them.
		A. Most like (a)
		B. Somewhat like (a)
		C. Somewhat like (b)
		D. Most like (b)
Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

23.	I always complete my work responsibilities. I try to go beyond what's expected of me.
		A. Most like (a)
		B. Somewhat like (a)
		C. Somewhat like (b)
		D. Most like (b)
Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

24.	How a co-worker feels is important to me. It's best if people keep their feelings to themselves.
		A. Most like (a)
		B. Somewhat like (a)
		C. Somewhat like (b)
		D. Most like (b)
Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Tell Us Your Story

25.	How many jobs have you left involuntarily in the past 5 years?
		a. 0
		b. 1
		c. 2 - 5
		d. Over 5
		e. Not applicable - this is my first job
Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

26.	Have you ever received discipline for being tardy?
		a. Yes
		b. No
		c. Not applicable - this is my first job
Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

27.	What is the shortest time before you got a raise after you were hired at any of your former workplaces?
		a. Less than 6 months.
		b. 6 months to 1-year
		c. 2 - 3 years
		d. 4 - 5 years
		e. Not applicable - this is my first job
Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

28.	How many times have you received discipline for not following rules?
		a. 0
		b. 1 - 2
		c. 3 - 4
		d. Over 5
		e. Not applicable - this is my first job
Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

29.	How would your most recent supervisor rate your judgment or ability to make well-reasoned decisions?
		a. Excellent
		b. Good
		c. Average
		d. Poor
Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

30.	If you had supervisory responsibilities at your most recent job, how would your supervisor rate your ability to help employees develop their skills?
		a. Excellent
		b. Good
		c. Fair
		d. Poor
		e. I did not have supervisory responsibilities.
Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.