USPS - Error Detection Test Error Detection Address and ZIP Code Matching 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A package is addressed to 2847 Oak Grove Blvd, Nashville, TN 37211. The automated sort record shows 2874 Oak Grove Blvd, Nashville, TN 37211. What is the nature of the error?
- The ZIP code has been altered
- The street number digits have been transposed (Correct answer)
- The street name suffix is incorrect
- No error is present; the addresses match
Correct answer: The street number digits have been transposed
The original street number is 2847, but the sort record shows 2874 — the digits '4' and '7' have been transposed. All other fields, including the ZIP code and street name, are identical.
Question 2: The correct delivery address is 634 W Maple St, Tucson, AZ 85701. The carrier database entry reads 634 W Maple St, Tucson, AR 85701. What correction is required?
- The street directional must be changed from W to E
- The ZIP code must be updated to match Arkansas
- The state abbreviation must be corrected from AR to AZ (Correct answer)
- No correction is needed; the record is accurate
Correct answer: The state abbreviation must be corrected from AR to AZ
AZ is the USPS abbreviation for Arizona, while AR is Arkansas. The city Tucson is in Arizona, so the state field contains an incorrect two-letter abbreviation. All other fields are correct.
Question 3: An envelope is addressed to 1122 NE Riverside Ave, Kansas City, MO 64116. The sort machine label reads 1122 NW Riverside Ave, Kansas City, MO 64116. Which field contains the discrepancy?
- The ZIP code is transposed
- The city name is misspelled
- The street directional prefix has changed from NE to NW (Correct answer)
- The house number is incorrect
Correct answer: The street directional prefix has changed from NE to NW
The original address uses the directional prefix NE (Northeast), but the label shows NW (Northwest). On a grid-based city street layout this could route the piece to an entirely different part of town.
Question 4: The origin record lists 88 Beacon St, Boston, MA 02108. The scanned entry for the same piece reads 88 Beacon St, Boston, MA 02180. What error has occurred?
- The final two digits of the ZIP code have been transposed (Correct answer)
- The street number is one digit short
- The state code does not match Massachusetts
- There is no error; both addresses are identical
Correct answer: The final two digits of the ZIP code have been transposed
ZIP code 02108 is a valid Boston ZIP, whereas 02180 corresponds to a different area. The last two digits '0' and '8' have been swapped, creating a routing error that could send the piece to the wrong destination.
Question 5: A letter is addressed to 3310 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19104. The carrier route record shows 3310 Chesnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19104. What must be corrected?
- The house number is wrong
- The street name contains a spelling error (Correct answer)
- The ZIP code does not correspond to Philadelphia
- The state abbreviation is incorrect
Correct answer: The street name contains a spelling error
The correct street name is 'Chestnut' (with the letter 't' after 'Ches'), but the record omits that 't', producing 'Chesnut.' The address number, city, state, and ZIP are all accurate.
Question 6: A mail piece shows the delivery address 5901 Linden Blvd, Brooklyn, NY 11203. The automated processing system reads 5901 Linden Blvd, Brooklyn, NY 11203. What conclusion should the clerk draw?
- The ZIP code is invalid for Brooklyn
- The house number and street name do not agree
- The address record is correct and no action is required (Correct answer)
- The state abbreviation must be changed to NJ
Correct answer: The address record is correct and no action is required
Every element of the handwritten address and the system record — house number, street name, city, state, and ZIP code — is identical. There is no discrepancy, so no correction is needed.
USPS - Error Detection Test Error Detection Address and ZIP Code Matching 1
A package is addressed to 2847 Oak Grove Blvd, Nashville, TN 37211.
The automated sort record shows 2874 Oak Grove Blvd, Nashville, TN 37211.
What is the nature of the error?