NYC Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield NYC facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. What is the typical duration for which a civil service eligible list remains active in New York City? → 4 years
2. An agency's headcount increased from 240 to 300 employees. What is the percentage increase in headcount? → 25%
3. Which NYC agency is responsible for administering civil service examinations? → Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS)
4. In October 2010, which nation unveiled a five-year plan for advancing renewable energy? → South Korea
5. An inference in reading comprehension is: → A conclusion drawn from information in the passage
6. A supervisor receives four memos dated: March 3, February 28, March 1, and February 27. Which order should they be processed, from most recent to oldest? → March 3, March 1, February 28, February 27
7. Which sentence correctly uses 'who' versus 'whom'? → Who did you speak with about the complaint?
8. A filing system arranges names by last name first. Which list is in correct alphabetical order? → Adams, Brown, Taylor
9. Complete the analogy: Inductive is to probable as deductive is to ___? → Certain
10. While reviewing case files, you discover an error made by a former employee that could affect a client's benefits. What should you do? → Report the error to your supervisor and document the correction
11. Which sentence correctly uses a semicolon? → The deadline passed; however, we requested an extension.
12. No city employee may accept gifts valued over $50 from vendors. A vendor offers Inspector Lee a gift card worth $75. What must be true based on this rule? → Inspector Lee must refuse the gift card
13. Choose the sentence that is grammatically correct and most clearly written. → The manager submitted a comprehensive report.
14. A records office has 2,400 files. If 35% are archived digitally, how many files remain in physical storage? → 1,560
15. You are working at the front desk of a busy city agency. At the same moment, the following four events occur. Which of these should you address first? → An elderly visitor trips on a rug and appears to be in pain.
16. What is 'veterans preference' in NYC civil service exams? → Eligible veterans receive additional points added to their passing exam scores
17. What is the least appropriate thing to say in an email telling a job applicant they didn't get the job after you interviewed them? → Instead of using your email address, email the department's general address
18. When a question asks for the 'best title' of a passage, you should choose one that: → Captures the main idea in a brief phrase
19. A social services caseworker receives four new client files. Which client situation should be flagged as the HIGHEST priority concern? → A child whose teacher reported unexplained bruising on his arms
20. A clerk must enter the date 'November 14, 2024' in standard US format. Which entry is correct? → 11/14/2024
21. Study the following addresses: 142 Oak St, 287 Pine Ave, 334 Elm Blvd, 456 Maple Dr, 519 Cedar Ln. Which address was NOT on the list? → 423 Elm Blvd
22. If no government contracts are awarded without competitive bidding, and Contract X was awarded without competitive bidding, what must be true? → Contract X was not a government contract
23. A department has 5 employees. Their weekly salaries are $820, $950, $780, $1,100, and $850. What is the average weekly salary? → $900
24. Which document legally governs civil service employment for New York City workers? → New York State Civil Service Law
25. On a NYC civil service exam, what does a 'notice to appear' (NTA) indicate? → The candidate is scheduled for a physical or medical test
26. A city worker completes a task in 45 minutes. If she has 6 similar tasks to complete, how many hours will it take to finish all of them? → 4.5 hours
27. Read the argument: 'Response times improved after new radios were issued. Therefore, the new radios caused the improvement.' What is the flaw in this reasoning? → Correlation is mistaken for causation
28. The main idea of a passage is BEST described as: → The overall point or message the author is conveying
29. A vehicle description reads: Blue sedan, license plate NYK-4492, dented rear bumper, broken left taillight, missing front hubcap. Which feature is mentioned? → Missing front hubcap
30. A clerk must alphabetize the following street names: Zerega, Atlantic, Burnside, Allerton. What is the correct order? → Allerton, Atlantic, Burnside, Zerega