POSTAL EXAM 473 Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield POSTAL EXAM 473 facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. What is 'nixie mail' in postal terminology? → Mail that is undeliverable because of an incorrect or illegible address
2. What does a carrier's 'case' refer to in postal distribution? → A physical sorting frame where mail is organized by delivery stop
3. The coding guide has been removed. You recall Route C covers 300–500 Broad St. The item shows '450 Broad St.' What code? → C
4. Periodicals mail (formerly Second-Class) includes newspapers and magazines. Which is a key requirement for a publication to qualify for Periodicals rates? → It must have a list of paid subscribers and be issued at regular intervals
5. What is the term for the USPS practice of forwarding mail to a new address when a customer files a change of address form? → Mail Forwarding
6. On an international customs form (PS Form 2976), which category best describes a birthday gift sent to a friend? → Gift
7. The Memory section begins and you realize you forgot the range for Route B. What preparatory mistake led to this? → Spending all study time rereading instead of actively self-testing
8. Which scenario best demonstrates the attendance reliability USPS seeks in carriers? → Working all five scheduled days even when feeling slightly under the weather
9. What does the USPS Intelligent Mail Barcode (IMb) encode? → Routing ZIP code, mailer ID, and serial number in a single barcode
10. When a mail piece is endorsed 'Return Service Requested,' what happens if the piece is undeliverable? → It is returned to the sender with the new address attached
11. On a COD (Collect on Delivery) form, what does the 'Amount to Collect' field represent? → The total the recipient must pay upon delivery
12. Which strategy speeds up coding without losing accuracy? → Scan the street name first, then confirm the number falls in range
13. Which barcode system does the USPS primarily use to sort mail automatically? → POSTNET/IMb (Intelligent Mail barcode)
14. Which approach best prevents errors on apartment or suite numbers in Address Checking? → Read each segment of the address left to right, including unit numbers
15. Which memory technique is most effective for memorizing address ranges in the Memory for Coding section? → Creating mental images or stories linking street names to route letters
16. A form section is shaded gray and labeled 'Do Not Write in This Area.' What does this mean? → That section is reserved for postal processing equipment or staff
17. A flat is a large envelope or magazine that exceeds the dimensions for a letter. What is the maximum thickness for a flat? → 1 inch
18. What should a postal worker do when they receive a mailpiece with an illegible address? → Send it to the Mail Recovery Center (MRC)
19. When completing a USPS form, you are asked for a 5-digit ZIP code but you only know the full ZIP+4. What should you do? → Enter only the 5-digit base ZIP in that field
20. List 1: '560 S. Birch Ln, 85004' and List 2: '506 S. Birch Ln, 85004'. What should you mark? → B - Address Only
21. What is the maximum number of delivery routes typically shown in the Postal Exam 473 coding guide? → 4 (A, B, C, and D for no match)
22. What is the penalty for wrong answers in the Address Checking section? → One-third of a point is deducted per wrong answer
23. In the Personal Characteristics inventory, answers that suggest you prefer working alone with minimal supervision typically indicate: → Suitability for independent route work like mail carrying
24. Route A: 1–199 Elm St. During the memory test, '199 Elm St' appears. What code applies? → A
25. When a form asks for 'Date of Mailing,' which format is generally expected on USPS forms? → MM/DD/YYYY
26. Which class of USPS mail is designed for advertising materials sent to large lists of addresses? → Marketing Mail (formerly Standard Mail)
27. Why does USPS include a Personal Characteristics inventory rather than relying solely on the knowledge sections? → Because job performance depends on attitude, dependability, and fit—not just knowledge
28. Which USPS regulation prohibits non-postal items from being placed in a customer's mailbox? → Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 1725, the Mailbox Statute
29. What is the primary purpose of a 'bundle' in bulk mail preparation? → To bind together presorted mail destined for the same area to reduce handling
30. If the coding guide lists Route A as covering 1–500 on all streets, what code does '275 Birch Rd' get? → A