NYC Civil Service Exam — Questions and Answers

Question 1: Which type of NYC civil service examination is open only to current city employees who meet specific service and title requirements?

Continuous recruitment examination
Open-competitive examination
Qualifying examination
Promotional examination (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Promotional examination

Promotional examinations are restricted to current civil service employees who meet the time-in-title and other eligibility requirements. Open-competitive exams, by contrast, are available to all qualified members of the public.

Question 2: Which NYC document establishes the structure of city government, the powers of the Mayor, and the roles of city agencies?

The NYC Administrative Code
The NYC Zoning Resolution
The New York State Constitution
The New York City Charter (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The New York City Charter

The New York City Charter is the fundamental governing document that defines the structure and powers of NYC government.

Question 3: A records clerk numbers new case files using this rule: two-digit year, then three-digit sequential number, then one-letter department code. The year is 2026, this is the 47th case, from Department B. What is the correct file number?

26-047-B (Correct answer)
26-B-047
047-26-B
B-047-26

Correct answer: 26-047-B

Applying the rule in order — year (26), sequential number (047), department code (B) — produces file number 26-047-B.

Question 4: A sanitation crew collects waste from 3 routes. Route A takes 2.5 hours, Route B takes 3.75 hours, and Route C takes 1.25 hours. What is the total time for all three routes?

7.5 hours (Correct answer)
8 hours
6.5 hours
7 hours

Correct answer: 7.5 hours

2.5 + 3.75 + 1.25 = 7.5 hours total.

Question 5: A clerk processes 45 forms per hour. If she works for 6 hours, how many forms will she process?

270 (Correct answer)
240
300
315

Correct answer: 270

45 forms/hour × 6 hours = 270 forms.

Question 6: A fire marshal reviews incident reports from the past six months and observes that most fires in residential buildings started in kitchens. He recommends enhanced kitchen inspections city-wide. What kind of reasoning supports his recommendation?

Formal logical proof
Inductive reasoning from observed data (Correct answer)
Hypothetical syllogism
Deductive reasoning from a universal law

Correct answer: Inductive reasoning from observed data

Using observed data trends to support a general recommendation is the essence of inductive reasoning.

Question 7: If no patrol officers work the night shift alone, and Rodriguez works the night shift, what must be true?

Rodriguez works day shifts as well
Rodriguez supervises the night shift
Rodriguez is not a patrol officer
Rodriguez works with at least one other officer (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Rodriguez works with at least one other officer

Since no patrol officer works the night shift alone, Rodriguez must be accompanied by at least one other officer.

Question 8: Incident report numbers must be filed in the following order based on priority code (1=highest) then report number. Given reports 2-1045, 1-0832, 3-0711, 1-1203, 2-0910, which comes first?

1-1203
2-0910
2-1045
1-0832 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 1-0832

Priority code 1 is the highest, and between 1-0832 and 1-1203, the lower report number 0832 comes first.

Question 9: You are an intake clerk at the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP). A resident comes to your window and describes several issues they wish to file complaints about. Based on the potential for significant, direct financial harm, which issue should you prioritize for immediate processing?

A) A 'going out of business' sale at a local store seems to have been going on for over a year.
B) A contractor took a $5,000 deposit for a home renovation six months ago and has not started work or returned calls. (Correct answer)
D) A used car dealership sold them a car without disclosing that it had been in a minor flood.
C) A local grocery store is consistently overcharging by 15 cents for a gallon of milk.

Correct answer: B) A contractor took a $5,000 deposit for a home renovation six months ago and has not started work or returned calls.

This issue involves the largest potential financial loss and a complete failure to provide a paid-for service, which likely constitutes fraud. While the other issues are valid complaints for the DCWP, the contractor scenario represents the most significant and unrecoverable financial harm to the consumer, making it the highest priority.

Question 10: In a report on public transportation, a sentence reads: 'The antiquated signaling system is a primary contributor to subway delays, and its replacement is imperative for improving service reliability.' What is the meaning of the word 'imperative' as used in this sentence?

Recommended
Essential (Correct answer)
Gradual
Optional

Correct answer: Essential

The context suggests that replacing the 'antiquated' system is crucial for fixing the problem of delays and improving reliability. Therefore, 'imperative' means absolutely necessary or essential.

Question 11: A city block has 24 buildings. Exactly 1/3 have fire escapes and exactly 1/4 have sprinkler systems (no building has both). How many buildings have neither feature?

8
14
6
10 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 10

Fire escapes = 8; sprinklers = 6; neither = 24 − 8 − 6 = 10.

Question 12: Choose the version of the sentence that is grammatically correct and most clearly written.

Each of the proposed city ordinances, which address issues from zoning to public health, is controversial. (Correct answer)
Each of the proposed city ordinances, which address issues from zoning to public health, are controversial.
Each of the proposed city ordinances, addressing issues from zoning to public health, were controversial.
Each of the proposed city ordinances, which address issues from zoning to public health, have been controversial.

Correct answer: Each of the proposed city ordinances, which address issues from zoning to public health, is controversial.

The subject of the sentence is 'Each,' which is a singular pronoun. Therefore, it requires a singular verb, 'is.' The phrases 'of the proposed city ordinances' and 'which address issues...' modify the subject but do not change its number.

Question 13: A policy reads: 'Employees who have completed at least five years of continuous service are eligible for enhanced retirement benefits, provided they have not received a disciplinary suspension within the last two years.' An employee with six years of service who received a suspension 18 months ago is:

Ineligible because they need ten years of service
Ineligible because the suspension was within the last two years (Correct answer)
Eligible because the suspension was minor
Eligible because they have over five years of service

Correct answer: Ineligible because the suspension was within the last two years

The employee meets the service requirement but fails the second condition, as the suspension occurred 18 months ago—within the two-year window.

Question 14: A city parks supervisor observes the following: In July, the sprinklers in Central Park were activated 15 times and the grass remained green. In August, the sprinklers were activated 20 times and the grass remained green. In September, due to heavy rainfall, the sprinklers were only activated 5 times, and patches of grass turned brown. Based on these observations, which of the following is the most logical inductive conclusion?

The sprinklers are the only source of water for the grass in Central Park.
Activating the sprinklers at least 15 times per month is likely necessary to keep the park grass green during the summer. (Correct answer)
The grass in Central Park will always be green if the sprinklers are used more than 10 times a month.
Heavy rainfall is the only cause of brown grass in city parks.

Correct answer: Activating the sprinklers at least 15 times per month is likely necessary to keep the park grass green during the summer.

Inductive reasoning involves making a generalization based on specific observations. The observations show a correlation between a higher number of sprinkler activations and green grass, and fewer activations (coupled with rain, but still resulting in less water overall) with brown grass. The conclusion that activating sprinklers a certain amount is 'likely necessary' is a reasonable generalization based on the data provided, without claiming absolute certainty.

Question 15: While processing applications, you notice that a recently hired coworker is consistently making the same procedural error that results in applicants being incorrectly denied benefits. What should you do FIRST?

Immediately escalate the matter to agency leadership as a formal complaint
Document every error and wait until the end of the month to submit a report
Correct the errors yourself without informing anyone to avoid embarrassing the coworker
Privately and respectfully point out the error pattern to the coworker and offer guidance (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Privately and respectfully point out the error pattern to the coworker and offer guidance

The first step should be to address the issue directly and constructively with the coworker, as the errors may stem from a misunderstanding of procedures. This approach supports public service quality while giving the colleague a fair opportunity to correct the mistake before escalation.

Question 16: All city inspectors must pass a background check. Officer Torres passed a background check. Which conclusion is most valid?

Officer Torres may or may not be a city inspector (Correct answer)
All people who pass background checks are city inspectors
Officer Torres is a city inspector
Officer Torres failed his background check

Correct answer: Officer Torres may or may not be a city inspector

Passing a background check is required for inspectors but does not exclusively identify someone as one.

Question 17: Which sentence is written in the most formal, professional tone appropriate for a civil service report?

The guy in accounting messed up the figures real bad.
There were some big mistakes made by the accounting team, like always.
The accounting personnel made significant errors in the financial figures. (Correct answer)
Accounting really blew it with those numbers again.

Correct answer: The accounting personnel made significant errors in the financial figures.

Professional writing uses neutral, precise language; 'The accounting personnel made significant errors in the financial figures' meets that standard.

Question 18: On a civil service reading test, 'NOT true according to the passage' questions require you to:

Choose the answer that contradicts or is not mentioned in the passage (Correct answer)
Find what IS true and eliminate it
Pick the most unusual answer
Always select 'none of the above'

Correct answer: Choose the answer that contradicts or is not mentioned in the passage

Find the answer that contradicts the passage or is not mentioned — all other choices are supported.

Question 19: You study a table showing five employees and their badge numbers: Adams/1042, Brown/1187, Chen/1063, Davis/1204, Evans/1078. Which employee has a badge number between 1063 and 1078?

Brown
Adams
Davis
None of the above (Correct answer)

Correct answer: None of the above

No employee has a badge number strictly between 1063 (Chen) and 1078 (Evans).

Question 20: A department budget of $84,000 is divided among 4 units in a ratio of 3:2:2:1. How much does the largest unit receive?

$42,000
$21,000
$31,500 (Correct answer)
$28,000

Correct answer: $31,500

Total parts = 8; largest unit = 3/8 × $84,000 = $31,500.

Question 21: Read the following passage and answer the question. "NYC agency heads must ensure that all employees complete mandatory ethics training within 60 days of hire and every two years thereafter. Training may be completed online through the citywide learning management system or in person at a scheduled session. Employees who fail to complete the required training by the deadline may have their access to city systems suspended until compliance is achieved." According to the passage, how often must city employees complete mandatory ethics training after their initial session?

Once a year on a date set by their agency.
Every two years. (Correct answer)
Every 60 days.
Once every five years, unless otherwise directed.

Correct answer: Every two years.

The passage states training is required 'within 60 days of hire and every two years thereafter,' so the recurring interval is every two years, as stated in option B.

Question 22: Memorize the following names and badge numbers: Officer Reyes #4417, Officer Huang #2853, Officer Patel #6631, Officer Monroe #3309, Officer Okafor #5178. Which officer has badge number 2853?

Officer Reyes
Officer Monroe
Officer Patel
Officer Huang (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Officer Huang

Badge number 2853 is assigned to Officer Huang. Each name-number pair must be memorized precisely to avoid confusion with similar-looking numbers like 4417 or 3309.

Question 23: You are editing a public service announcement script. The current draft reads: "(1) The 'NYC Green Commute' program offers rebates to residents who purchase electric bicycles. (2) This initiative aims to reduce traffic congestion and air pollution. (3) Reduced air pollution leads to better health outcomes for all New Yorkers. (4) To apply for your rebate, visit our website." Where is the most logical place to insert the following sentence: "By choosing an e-bike, you directly contribute to cleaner air in your neighborhood."

C) After sentence (2). (Correct answer)
B) After sentence (4).
A) Before sentence (1).
D) Before sentence (3).

Correct answer: C) After sentence (2).

The new sentence provides a direct link between the program's goal (reducing air pollution, sentence 2) and the individual's action. It logically flows from the general goal to the specific personal contribution before moving on to the broader community benefit mentioned in sentence 3.

Question 24: A clerk uses a flowchart to process permit applications. The chart shows: Step 1 – Receive application; Step 2 – Check completeness; Step 3 – If incomplete, return to applicant; Step 4 – If complete, forward to supervisor. An incomplete application should next go to:

Back to the applicant (Correct answer)
Step 1 again
The supervisor
Step 4

Correct answer: Back to the applicant

The flowchart's Step 3 decision branch explicitly directs incomplete applications back to the applicant for correction.

Question 25: An officer's incident log shows: Incident #1 at 08:15, Incident #2 at 10:42, Incident #3 at 13:07, Incident #4 at 15:30. How many incidents occurred before noon?

One
Four
Two (Correct answer)
Three

Correct answer: Two

Incidents #1 (08:15) and #2 (10:42) both occurred before 12:00 noon, totaling two incidents.

Question 26: A social services caseworker receives four new client files. Which client situation should be flagged as the HIGHEST priority concern?

A family that missed their last two scheduled appointments
A senior citizen who says she feels lonely and isolated
A child whose teacher reported unexplained bruising on his arms (Correct answer)
An unemployed adult who recently lost housing

Correct answer: A child whose teacher reported unexplained bruising on his arms

Unexplained bruising on a child is a potential indicator of abuse and constitutes a mandatory reporting situation requiring immediate investigation.

Question 27: Which of the following names would be filed LAST in alphabetical order?

Nguyen
Petersen (Correct answer)
Morrison
Okafor

Correct answer: Petersen

P comes after M, N, and O alphabetically, so Petersen is filed last among these four names.

Question 28: Under NYC civil service law, what does 'Rule of Three' mean?

An agency must interview all candidates on the list
An agency must hire the top-ranked candidate
Three exams must be passed before permanent appointment
An agency may select any one of the top three eligible candidates (Correct answer)

Correct answer: An agency may select any one of the top three eligible candidates

The Rule of Three allows an appointing authority to choose any one of the top three candidates on the eligible list for a position.

Question 29: A police officer works a 12-hour shift and patrols 3 precincts equally. If total patrol time is 9 hours (the rest is administrative), how many hours does she spend patrolling each precinct?

3 hours (Correct answer)
2.5 hours
3.5 hours
4 hours

Correct answer: 3 hours

9 patrol hours ÷ 3 precincts = 3 hours per precinct.

Question 30: Which of the following address pairs matches EXACTLY?

1776 Broadway, New York, NY 10019 / 1776 Broadway, New York, NY 10091
P.O. Box 4872, Bronx, NY 10451 / P.O. Box 4872, Bronx, NY 10451 (Correct answer)
Staten Island, NY 10301 / Staten Island, NY 10310
425 East 63rd Street / 425 West 63rd Street

Correct answer: P.O. Box 4872, Bronx, NY 10451 / P.O. Box 4872, Bronx, NY 10451

P.O. Box 4872, Bronx, NY 10451 is identical in both entries; the other pairs have differences in ZIP codes or street directionals.

Question 31: If every agency that receives federal funding must submit annual reports, and Agency X does NOT submit annual reports, what can be concluded?

Agency X may receive federal funding
Agency X receives federal funding
Agency X receives state funding instead
Agency X does not receive federal funding (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Agency X does not receive federal funding

If Agency X received federal funding, it would have to submit reports; since it doesn't, it cannot receive federal funding.

Question 32: Read the following passage and answer the question. "Employees who wish to appeal a disciplinary action must submit a written notice of appeal to the Office of Labor Relations within 30 calendar days of receiving the disciplinary decision. Appeals submitted after this window will not be considered unless the employee can demonstrate that extraordinary circumstances prevented timely filing. All appeals must include the employee's name, title, agency, and a brief statement of the grounds for appeal." An employee who misses the 30-day appeal deadline may still have their appeal considered if they can show what?

The disciplinary action was issued by someone outside their agency.
Extraordinary circumstances prevented them from filing on time. (Correct answer)
They submitted the appeal to their direct supervisor within 30 days.
They have been employed by the city for more than five years.

Correct answer: Extraordinary circumstances prevented them from filing on time.

The passage states that late appeals will not be considered 'unless the employee can demonstrate that extraordinary circumstances prevented timely filing,' which corresponds to option C.

Question 33: What does 'lateral transfer' mean in NYC civil service employment?

A promotion to a higher-grade title in the same agency
A temporary reassignment during an investigation
A demotion resulting from disciplinary action
A move to a different position at the same grade level, within or between agencies (Correct answer)

Correct answer: A move to a different position at the same grade level, within or between agencies

A lateral transfer moves an employee to a different position at the same civil service grade without a change in pay grade.

Question 34: An officer memorizes a license plate: NY-GHX-7742. A colleague later records it as NY-GXH-7742. What changed?

The letter sequence (Correct answer)
The state prefix
Nothing changed
The number sequence

Correct answer: The letter sequence

GHX was transposed to GXH — the H and X switched positions.

Question 35: If 5 city workers earn a combined total of $312,500 per year, what is the average annual salary per worker?

$57,500
$62,500 (Correct answer)
$60,000
$65,000

Correct answer: $62,500

$312,500 ÷ 5 = $62,500 per worker.

Question 36: A traffic enforcement agent observes all four of the following situations at the same intersection. Which requires action FIRST?

A pedestrian crossing signal has been stuck on 'Don't Walk' for several cycles (Correct answer)
A delivery truck is double-parked, blocking one lane of a two-lane street
A food cart vendor is operating without a visible permit placard
An expired parking meter has not been marked on the agent's citation log

Correct answer: A pedestrian crossing signal has been stuck on 'Don't Walk' for several cycles

A malfunctioning pedestrian signal directly endangers everyone crossing the intersection and can cause accidents involving both pedestrians and vehicles. Active safety hazards affecting traffic control take precedence over parking violations and administrative logging.

Question 37: A city worker earns $18.00/hr for regular hours (up to 40 hrs/week) and $27.00/hr for overtime. If the worker puts in 48 hours one week, what is the gross pay?

$864
$900
$936 (Correct answer)
$1,296

Correct answer: $936

Regular = 40 × $18 = $720; overtime = 8 × $27 = $216; total = $720 + $216 = $936.

Question 38: Examine the sequence: 3, 6, 11, 18, 27, ___. What comes next?

40
36
38 (Correct answer)
39

Correct answer: 38

The differences between terms are 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 — increasing odd numbers — so 27 + 11 = 38.

Question 39: A building has 6 floors with 8 offices per floor, and 3 floors with 12 offices per floor. How many offices are in the building total?

90
78
84 (Correct answer)
96

Correct answer: 84

6 × 8 = 48 offices; 3 × 12 = 36 offices; total = 48 + 36 = 84 offices.

Question 40: A table shows crime statistics with columns for Precinct, Total Crimes, Arrests, and Clearance Rate. A supervisor wants to find which precinct has the highest clearance rate. What is the most efficient approach?

Sort the table by the Clearance Rate column in descending order (Correct answer)
Calculate the average of all columns first
Convert the table to a pie chart
Read every row from top to bottom in order

Correct answer: Sort the table by the Clearance Rate column in descending order

Sorting by the target column in descending order immediately places the highest value at the top, eliminating the need to scan all rows.

Question 41: The following are four phases of a new public park development project. Arrange them in the most logical chronological order from first to last. 1. A final design is approved by the review board. 2. Architectural drafts are created. 3. Construction bids are solicited from contractors. 4. Community feedback sessions are held.

4, 1, 2, 3
3, 1, 2, 4
4, 2, 1, 3 (Correct answer)
2, 1, 4, 3

Correct answer: 4, 2, 1, 3

The logical project flow begins with gathering input (4. Community feedback). Based on that feedback, initial designs are drawn up (2. Architectural drafts). These drafts must then be officially accepted (1. Final design approval). Only after a design is approved can the city seek companies to build it (3. Solicit construction bids).

Question 42: A rule states: 'Reports filed after 5 PM are processed the next business day.' A report is filed at 4:58 PM on Friday. When is it processed?

The following Friday
Friday evening
Saturday
Monday (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Monday

4:58 PM is before the 5 PM cutoff, so it is processed same day — but Friday's business day closes at 5 PM, and it is processed on the next business day, Monday.

Question 43: A supervisor reviews a table showing four employees' overtime hours: Cruz=12, Patel=8, Williams=15, Johnson=10. Which visualization would most clearly show which employee worked the most overtime?

A pie chart showing each employee's share
A bar chart comparing all four employees (Correct answer)
A scatter plot of hours vs. employee number
A line graph tracking hours over time

Correct answer: A bar chart comparing all four employees

A bar chart directly compares individual values side by side, making it easiest to identify the highest overtime worker at a glance.

Question 44: Read the following sentence and identify which underlined part contains a grammatical error: 'The director of community affairs, together with several of her senior staff members, are scheduled to present the new outreach plan at the next public hearing.'

are scheduled to present (Correct answer)
The director of community affairs
at the next public hearing
together with several of her senior staff members

Correct answer: are scheduled to present

The correct answer is 'are scheduled to present'. The subject of the sentence is 'The director,' which is singular. The intervening phrase 'together with several of her senior staff members' does not change the number of the subject. Therefore, the verb must be singular to agree with the subject, so 'is scheduled' would be correct.

Question 45: An employee's records show the following performance scores over four quarters: Q1=78, Q2=85, Q3=72, Q4=90. What is the correct ranking from highest to lowest?

Q2, Q4, Q1, Q3
Q3, Q1, Q2, Q4
Q4, Q1, Q2, Q3
Q4, Q2, Q1, Q3 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Q4, Q2, Q1, Q3

From highest to lowest: Q4 (90), Q2 (85), Q1 (78), Q3 (72).

Question 46: A city employee who works in a position designated as 'non-competitive' class was hired without an examination. This is permitted because:

The employee donated to the mayor's campaign
The agency did not have enough time to administer an exam
The position requires skills that are not readily tested by competitive examination (Correct answer)
The employee has more than 10 years of prior government experience

Correct answer: The position requires skills that are not readily tested by competitive examination

Non-competitive positions are those where competitive examination is not practicable, typically due to the specialized or unique nature of the required skills.

Question 47: A water meter reader checks 8 meters every 3 hours. At this rate, how many meters will he check during a 12-hour workday?

30
28
32 (Correct answer)
36

Correct answer: 32

The reader completes 8 meters per 3 hours. In 12 hours there are 12 ÷ 3 = 4 such intervals, so 4 × 8 = 32 meters.

Question 48: A clerk is filing documents using an alphanumeric code. The last three files pulled from the cabinet are coded as follows: F21-K, G19-L, H17-M. Following this pattern, what should the code be for the very next file?

I15-M
I16-N
I15-N (Correct answer)
H15-N

Correct answer: I15-N

The pattern has three parts. The first letter advances sequentially (F, G, H -> I). The number decreases by two each time (21, 19, 17 -> 15). The final letter advances sequentially (K, L, M -> N). Combining these three patterns gives the next code: I15-N.

Question 49: A call center agent receives a complaint from a resident about a broken streetlight, another about a pothole causing car damage, a third about a neighbor's loud music, and a fourth about a gas smell near a manhole. In what order should these be escalated?

Gas smell, pothole causing damage, broken streetlight, loud music (Correct answer)
Pothole, gas smell, broken streetlight, loud music
Loud music, pothole, broken streetlight, gas smell
Broken streetlight, gas smell, pothole, loud music

Correct answer: Gas smell, pothole causing damage, broken streetlight, loud music

A gas smell near a manhole is an immediate life-safety emergency requiring the fastest response, followed by property damage, then other quality-of-life issues.

Question 50: A description of a pie chart for an agency's budget is provided: 'Personnel Salaries' makes up exactly half the budget. 'Infrastructure Maintenance' is the second-largest slice. 'Vehicle Fleet' and 'Public Outreach' are smaller, equal-sized slices. The smallest slice is 'Administrative Supplies'. Based on this description, which of the following statements MUST be true?

'Infrastructure Maintenance' accounts for more than 25% of the budget.
'Personnel Salaries' costs more than all other categories combined.
The combined cost of 'Vehicle Fleet' and 'Public Outreach' is less than 'Infrastructure Maintenance'.
The combined cost of 'Personnel Salaries' and 'Administrative Supplies' is more than 50% of the budget. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The combined cost of 'Personnel Salaries' and 'Administrative Supplies' is more than 50% of the budget.

'Personnel Salaries' is exactly 50%. 'Administrative Supplies', although the smallest slice, must represent a value greater than zero. Therefore, adding any other category's cost to the 50% from salaries will result in a total greater than 50%. The other statements are possible but are not guaranteed by the information given.

Question 51: A notice reads: 'All applicants must provide two forms of government-issued identification. At least one form must include a photograph.' An applicant brings a passport and a social security card. The passport includes a photo; the social security card does not. This applicant:

Does not meet the requirements because both IDs must have photos
Meets the requirements only if a supervisor approves the social security card
Does not meet the requirements because neither ID is state-issued
Meets the requirements because they have two government-issued IDs, one with a photo (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Meets the requirements because they have two government-issued IDs, one with a photo

The applicant has two government-issued IDs, and the passport satisfies the photo requirement; both conditions are met.

Question 52: A records clerk must file documents using the following rule: numbers before letters, then alphabetically. Where does the file labeled '7B-Housing' belong relative to 'B7-Housing' and 'A-Housing'?

Its position depends on the document date
Before A-Housing (Correct answer)
Between A-Housing and B7-Housing
After B7-Housing

Correct answer: Before A-Housing

The rule places numeric-prefixed files before alphabetic-prefixed files, so '7B-Housing' comes before 'A-Housing' and 'B7-Housing'.

Question 53: An agency sorts incoming mail into three bins: (A) Legal — anything marked 'Attorney' or 'Legal,' (B) Urgent — anything marked 'Time Sensitive,' (C) General — all other mail. An envelope is marked both 'Attorney' and 'Time Sensitive.' Where does it go?

Bin B (Urgent) only
Bin A (Legal) only
The rule does not specify; escalate to a supervisor for guidance (Correct answer)
Both Bin A and Bin B

Correct answer: The rule does not specify; escalate to a supervisor for guidance

When a rule does not address conflicting categories, the correct civil service action is to escalate to a supervisor rather than assume.

Question 54: Which sentence contains a misplaced modifier?

The officer with the most experience led the training.
The clerk filed the documents carefully in the cabinet.
The supervisor only approved three of the ten requests. (Correct answer)
Carefully reviewed by the team, the proposal was approved.

Correct answer: The supervisor only approved three of the ten requests.

'Only' should be placed immediately before what it modifies — 'only three' — but here it ambiguously modifies 'approved,' suggesting the supervisor did nothing else.

Question 55: Study the following vehicle description: 2019 Honda Civic, silver, 4-door, license plate NYR-7742, with a cracked rear bumper and tinted windows. Which of the following accurately reflects a detail from the description?

The vehicle has a cracked rear bumper (Correct answer)
The license plate reads NYR-7724
The vehicle has a cracked front bumper
The vehicle is a 2-door silver Honda Civic

Correct answer: The vehicle has a cracked rear bumper

The description specifically states the vehicle has a cracked rear bumper. The license plate is NYR-7742 (not NYR-7724), the vehicle is 4-door (not 2-door), and the bumper damage is at the rear (not front).

Question 56: An NYC Department of Buildings employee receives an anonymous tip that a contractor is skipping required inspections at an active construction site. The most appropriate response is to:

Wait to act until a formal complaint is filed by an identified party
Dismiss the tip since it is anonymous and unverifiable
Confront the contractor directly without authorization
Forward the tip to the appropriate inspection division for follow-up investigation (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Forward the tip to the appropriate inspection division for follow-up investigation

Anonymous tips about construction safety must be forwarded for investigation because unverified safety violations can cause serious harm.

Question 57: Find the number that does NOT belong in this sequence: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 19, 21

19 (Correct answer)
12
6
21

Correct answer: 19

The pattern adds 3 each time (3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21), so 19 is incorrect and should be 18.

Question 58: A paragraph in a report reads: 'Officer Williams responded to the scene. The complainant stated that the window was broken. Glass was observed on the ground.' What element is missing that would improve this report paragraph?

A concluding sentence summarizing the incident
The names of witnesses who were present
A transition showing the sequence of events (Correct answer)
More adjectives to describe the scene vividly

Correct answer: A transition showing the sequence of events

Adding transitions (such as 'Upon arrival' or 'Subsequently') would clarify the order and relationship of events in the report.

Question 59: A sanitation truck holds 8 tons of waste. If a district produces 52 tons of waste per week, how many full truckloads are needed to remove all the waste?

5
8
6
7 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 7

52 ÷ 8 = 6.5, so 7 full truckloads are needed to remove all waste.

Question 60: City rules require documents to be retained based on type: contracts (10 years), financial audits (7 years), meeting minutes (5 years), general correspondence (3 years). An office is scheduling destruction of outdated records. Which document type reaches its destruction date FIRST?

General correspondence (3 years) (Correct answer)
Contracts (10 years)
Meeting minutes (5 years)
Financial audits (7 years)

Correct answer: General correspondence (3 years)

General correspondence has the shortest retention requirement at 3 years, so it becomes eligible for destruction before any other type.

Question 61: Which sentence is written in the active voice?

The inspector issued a violation notice. (Correct answer)
A decision was reached by the committee.
The memo was drafted by the director.
The complaint form was completed by the applicant.

Correct answer: The inspector issued a violation notice.

In the active voice, the subject ('inspector') performs the action ('issued').

Question 62: An inspector reviews five room temperatures recorded as: 68°F, 71°F, 68°F, 74°F, 70°F. What is the mode (most frequent value)?

68°F (Correct answer)
71°F
74°F
70°F

Correct answer: 68°F

68°F appears twice while all other temperatures appear only once.

Question 63: Read the following passage and answer the question. "City employees are expected to maintain professional conduct at all times, including during off-duty hours when their behavior could reflect negatively on their agency. Conduct unbecoming a public servant may result in disciplinary action even if the behavior occurred outside the workplace. Each agency maintains a code of conduct that employees must acknowledge and follow." According to the passage, when can a city employee face disciplinary action for unprofessional behavior?

Even when the behavior occurs outside the workplace, if it reflects negatively on the agency (Correct answer)
Only if the behavior violated a specific law
Only if the behavior was witnessed by a supervisor
Only during working hours on city property

Correct answer: Even when the behavior occurs outside the workplace, if it reflects negatively on the agency

The passage states that conduct unbecoming a public servant may result in disciplinary action even if the behavior occurred outside the workplace.

Question 64: A clerk verifies a file number: NYC-2026-00847. The printed label reads NYC-2026-00874. What is the error?

The last two digits are transposed (Correct answer)
The prefix is wrong
There is no error
The year is wrong

Correct answer: The last two digits are transposed

The serial digits 47 at the end were printed as 74 — a transposition error.

Question 65: A city's population is 8,336,817. If the population increases by approximately 1.2% this year, what is the estimated new population (rounded to the nearest thousand)?

8,437,000 (Correct answer)
8,400,000
8,350,000
8,500,000

Correct answer: 8,437,000

Increase = 0.012 × 8,336,817 ≈ 100,042; new population ≈ 8,436,859, rounded to 8,437,000.

Question 66: A case worker is reviewing five client files and needs to prioritize callbacks. Which client should be contacted first?

The client whose benefits are scheduled to expire tomorrow (Correct answer)
The client who has been waiting the longest for a callback
The client whose file has the most pages of documentation
The client whose case was assigned most recently

Correct answer: The client whose benefits are scheduled to expire tomorrow

The client facing imminent benefit expiration has the most time-sensitive need and poses the highest risk of harm from delay.

Question 67: An agency's monthly expenses for January through June are $145,600; $138,200; $162,400; $141,000; $155,800; and $148,000. What is the average monthly expense?

$150,000
$148,500 (Correct answer)
$152,000
$145,600

Correct answer: $148,500

Sum = $891,000; average = $891,000 ÷ 6 = $148,500.

Question 68: A city parking meter collects an average of $18.40 per day. Approximately how much does it collect over a full 365-day year?

$67,160
$6,716 (Correct answer)
$671.60
$6,570

Correct answer: $6,716

$18.40 × 365 = $6,716.

Question 69: During a routine building inspection, an NYC inspector discovers a stairwell exit light that is non-functional. The building is occupied. The inspector should FIRST:

Document the issue and include it in the end-of-day report
Notify the building superintendent and require prompt correction before leaving (Correct answer)
Issue a formal violation and schedule a follow-up in 30 days
Order immediate evacuation of all tenants

Correct answer: Notify the building superintendent and require prompt correction before leaving

A non-functional exit light is a life-safety issue requiring immediate remediation; notifying the super on-site ensures the fastest resolution while the building remains occupied.

Question 70: A city sanitation worker notices that a resident's recycling bin contains hazardous materials mixed with regular recyclables. What is the most appropriate immediate action?

Leave the bin uncollected and attach a notice explaining proper disposal (Correct answer)
Report the violation to police immediately
Empty the bin into the recycling truck to avoid delay
Remove the hazardous items by hand and collect the rest

Correct answer: Leave the bin uncollected and attach a notice explaining proper disposal

Leaving the bin with an explanatory notice educates the resident and prevents contamination of the recycling stream without exposing workers to hazardous materials.

Question 71: Out of 200 civil service applicants, 35% passed the written exam. How many applicants passed?

65
60
70 (Correct answer)
75

Correct answer: 70

200 × 0.35 = 70 applicants passed.

Question 72: On a city planning map, the scale is 1 inch = 500 feet. The distance between a proposed new firehouse and the nearest hospital on the map is 3.5 inches. What is the actual distance in feet?

142.8 feet
1,500 feet
1,750 feet (Correct answer)
2,000 feet

Correct answer: 1,750 feet

To find the actual distance, multiply the map distance in inches by the scale factor (feet per inch). Calculation: 3.5 inches * 500 feet/inch = 1,750 feet.

Question 73: A supervisor reviews complaints in this order: written, then phone, then in-person. If three complaints arrive simultaneously — one of each type — which is reviewed last?

Phone
All are reviewed simultaneously
In-person (Correct answer)
Written

Correct answer: In-person

In-person complaints are third in priority, so they are reviewed last.

Question 74: A city project is budgeted at $2,400,000. After the first phase, $875,000 has been spent. If the second phase costs 1.5 times the first phase, how much of the budget remains after both phases?

$187,500
$212,500 (Correct answer)
$250,000
$350,000

Correct answer: $212,500

Phase 2 = 1.5 × $875,000 = $1,312,500; total spent = $875,000 + $1,312,500 = $2,187,500; remaining = $2,400,000 – $2,187,500 = $212,500.

Question 75: A postal clerk must sort these NYC ZIP codes in ascending order. Which arrangement is correct?

10001, 10305, 10025, 10451
10001, 10025, 10305, 10451 (Correct answer)
10025, 10001, 10451, 10305
10025, 10001, 10305, 10451

Correct answer: 10001, 10025, 10305, 10451

10001 < 10025 < 10305 < 10451 is the correct ascending numerical order.

Question 76: Read the following notice: 'Employees who wish to appeal a disciplinary decision must submit a written appeal to the Personnel Review Board within ten business days of receiving the decision. Appeals submitted after this deadline will not be accepted.' An employee receives a disciplinary decision on Monday, March 3rd. What is the last day they may submit a written appeal?

Monday, March 17th
Thursday, March 13th
Friday, March 14th (Correct answer)
Wednesday, March 12th

Correct answer: Friday, March 14th

Counting ten business days from Tuesday, March 4th (the day after receiving the decision), the deadline falls on Friday, March 14th.

Question 77: Which class of NYC civil service positions includes roles where the appointee serves entirely at the pleasure of the appointing authority and can be removed without cause?

Labor class
Competitive class
Exempt class (Correct answer)
Non-competitive class

Correct answer: Exempt class

The exempt class covers positions designated by law where tenure is 'at the pleasure' of the appointing officer, meaning no exam is required and the employee has no civil service removal protections. Examples include high-level mayoral appointees and certain confidential staff.

Question 78: All city employees hired after 2020 must enroll in the new pension plan. Sandra was hired by the city in 2022. Which conclusion follows with certainty?

Sandra is exempt from the new pension plan.
Sandra must enroll in the new pension plan. (Correct answer)
Sandra may choose to enroll in the new pension plan.
Sandra enrolled in the old pension plan before 2020.

Correct answer: Sandra must enroll in the new pension plan.

This is a classic deductive syllogism: the major premise covers all employees hired after 2020, the minor premise establishes Sandra was hired in 2022, so the conclusion — she must enroll — follows necessarily and with certainty.

Question 79: A city office rule states: correspondence must be sorted first by department (alphabetically), then by date (newest first), then by sender's last name (alphabetically). Two letters are both from the Parks Department dated May 10 — Letter X is from Rivera, Letter Y is from Adams. Which letter is filed first?

Either order is acceptable since department and date are identical
The longer letter is filed first
Letter Y (Adams) (Correct answer)
Letter X (Rivera)

Correct answer: Letter Y (Adams)

Since department and date are equal, the third rule applies — Adams comes before Rivera alphabetically, so Letter Y is filed first.

Question 80: Choose the sentence with correct subject-verb agreement: A collection of reports _____ on the desk.

have been
are
were
is (Correct answer)

Correct answer: is

'Collection' is a singular noun, so it takes the singular verb 'is.'

Question 81: A city building inspector completes 12 inspections per day. If she works 5 days a week, how many inspections will she complete in 3 weeks?

180 (Correct answer)
216
144
168

Correct answer: 180

12 inspections/day × 5 days/week × 3 weeks = 12 × 15 = 180 inspections total.

Question 82: A clerk must process 48 applications in an 8-hour shift. After 3 hours, she has processed 15 applications. Is she on track?

No, she has processed too many
Yes, she is ahead of schedule
Yes, she has processed more than half
No, she is behind schedule (Correct answer)

Correct answer: No, she is behind schedule

Required rate is 6 per hour; she processed 5 per hour (15 ÷ 3), so she is behind pace.

NYC Civil Service Exam

The NYC Civil Service Exam exam validates essential knowledge and skills required for certification or licensure in this field.

Questions

90 min

Time Limit

70%

To Pass

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