USPS.com FAQs (2024)

FAQs

Is the post office exam difficult? ›

If you're looking to join the United States Postal Service, you'll need to pass the Postal Exam first. If you've never taken it before, you may be surprised to learn how difficult the exam can be; most people don't pass the exam in a given session.

If the customer doesn't come out and the house/delivery point is within 1/2 mile of the line of travel AND has a passable road, the carrier should attempt to deliver it. Otherwise, the carrier will leave PS Form 3849 and the customer will have to make arrangements to obtain the item.

USPS Postal Exam 474

This is a 45 minutes long self-administered test given to those who are applying for city and rural mail carrier positions. After you submit your application for an open position, if you are deemed a good fit you will be sent an email inviting you to take a Virtual Entry Assessment - MC 474.

Only 10-20% of applicants pass the exam's passing grade of 70% and go on to receive a job offer. Failing the Postal Exam isn't just a matter of not getting that one job and being able to apply for other USPS positions.

Key skills needed to succeed in this process include strong attention to detail, proficiency in basic mathematics, and the ability to quickly and accurately sort mail, which are tested through various assessments listed below: USPS Postal 474 Exam: Mail Carrier (MC) Positions, USPS Postal 475 Exam: Mail Handler (MH) ...

PTF: Has a schedule guarantee of 24 hours per pay period, and is guaranteed at least 4 hours of work (or pay in lieu of work), when requested or scheduled to work.

A city letter carrier who actually works more than 7 hours but less than 8 hours of a regular scheduled day and who is officially excused from the completion of the 8-hour tour is credited with 8 hours of work time for pay purposes. This is known as the 7:01 rule (see 443.212). See 444.

During emergencies or to address service needs, the U.S. Postal Service may require employees to perform work in excess of eight paid hours in a day or 40 paid hours in a week.

Both the application and any exams are free – if you see any websites that are charging a fee they are not legitimate and should be reported to the United States Postal Inspection Service.

How do I know if I passed my USPS assessment? ›

VEA exams. Your results will be on your eCareer profile, on the “Roadmap” and “Assessments” page.

A non-proctored assessment is one that you can take on your own, at any location of your choosing (for example, using a computer at home or at the library). A proctored assessment is one that you must take at a specified test center.

If you are not able to complete the VEA within 72 hours, then you will be removed from consideration for that position. However, you will be able to apply to other positions and take the test in the future. You must score at least 70% to pass the VEA.

When will I get my results for an assessment process that I completed? Immediately. An e-mail message will be sent to the e-mail address listed in your Candidate Profile following completion of the assessment at the testing center.

If you fail, you'll be notified of your score and whether you meet the minimum requirements for the position you applied for. Eligibility for Reattempt: In most cases, USPS allows candidates to retake the exam after a waiting period. This waiting period can vary, but it is usually at least 120 days.

You have 3 days (72 hours) to complete the VEA. It will take about 30-45 minutes to complete. Please start the exam as soon as possible. If you do not complete the exam by the deadline, then you will no longer be considered for the job you applied to.

Can I Retake the 474 Postal Exam? If you fail the 474 Postal Exam and get an ineligible status, you'll be allowed to retake the test only after one year. If you've passed the exam and want to retake it to improve your score, you'll have to wait 24 months before you can do so.

The test covers such subjects as Work Situations, Describe Your Work Style, Tell Us Your Story, Check for Errors and What Motivates You.

This exam does not measure your knowledge, but your aptitude. You can easily improve your score if you prepare for the exam in advance. However, not every applicant passes this exam in the first attempt. As a result, the postal examination 473 has a failure rate of 80%.