The United States Postal Service or USPS for short administers exams that test the knowledge and qualifications of an applicant for a post office job. The USPS is an independent agency of the government which means that a position in the post office is a federal job.
Applying for this federal job requires a strict process. There are various exams that are specific to the kind of job that you want to apply for. The competition is quite high. Often, there are more job applicants than job titles.
The postal exam 473 is the one you should take when you want entry-level positions such as processing, delivery, and retail in the postal service.
Prepare for the Postal Exam exam with our free practice test modules. Each quiz covers key topics to help you pass on your first try.
There are three categories for this position: City Carrier Assistant 1, City Carrier Assistant 2, and Casual City Carrier.
There are two other categories for this position: PSE Mail Processing Clerk (PSE MPC), Casual Mail Processing Clerk.
There are two other categories for this position: Mail Handler Assistant and Casual Mail Handler.
There are two other categories for this position: Postal Support Employee (PSE) Sales/Svcs/Distribution Associate, and Casual Sales/Svcs/Distribution Associate.
There are two other categories for this position: Rural Carrier Associate (RCA) and Assistant Rural Carrier (ARC).
Government and public-sector job candidates can also prepare with our Postal Exam 473 practice test 2026, which covers the same reasoning, reading comprehension, and situational judgment sections used in official exams.
Administrative job applicants can prepare with our free civil service clerical exam practice test — covering typing speed, data entry accuracy, filing, and reading comprehension used in government and corporate hiring.
Candidates studying for the NYC Civil Service exam often also use our LASD practice test 2026, as both evaluate law enforcement aptitude and government service readiness.
The test type would be multiple choice. It is divided into four sections, and one of the sections is further divided into two. You can take the “Personal Inventory” section on your own online while the other sections have to be taken at testing facilities.
| Exam Sections | Subjects | Time Allowed | No. of Multiple-Choice Questions |
Part A Address Checking | You need to figure out if there are identical addresses, different zip codes, and addresses. | 11 minutes | 60 |
Part B Forms Completion | You need to get the right information and identification when completing forms. | 15 minutes | 30 |
Part C (Section 1) Coding | You’ll be shown a “coding guide” in which you will use the right code that you will assign to addresses. | 6 minutes | 36 |
Part C (Section 2) Memory | You need to memorize from the coding guide the assigned codes for addresses. | 7 minutes | 36 |
Part D Personal Characteristics and Experience Inventory | You will be asked about your personal characteristics and experience in relating to being a great Postal Service Employee. | 90 minutes | 236 |
The USPS exam 473 average scores are those that are 70 and up. But since it is an exam that is highly competitive, the best score would be the ones that will get you in the top three such as scores from 85 and above.
Part A: For this part, the partial score is based on how many items you have answered correctly, minus one-third of the number of wrong items. The key is to answer many items as accurately as possible in the limited time that you have.
Part B: The scoring is almost similar to Part A. The number of correct answers is your score. The thing about this part is that it’s alright to guess. There will be no penalty for wrong answers. It’s best to answer every question if possible.
Part C: Your scoring for this part is the same as Part A. It is based on all your correct answers and minus one-third of your wrong answers. You need to code as many items as possible accurately.
Part D: This part is different from the others, and it makes up the bulk of the exam. You need to answer honestly based on your own experiences. The scoring is based on your responses so it’s best to answer honestly rather than giving the “correct” answer. Your answers will also remain confidential. The point is to figure out whether you have the right personality, characteristics, and experiences for the job.
The Postal Exam 474 is the exam for people who want to apply for these US post office careers: City Carrier, City Carrier Assistant 1, City Carrier Assistant 2, Casual City Carrier, Rural Carrier, Rural Carrier Associate, and Assistant Rural Carrier.
The USPS exam is divided into four sections:
Exam Sections | Subjects |
Introduction | This contains the history of the Postal Service and information about the positions covered in the test. It also has the instructions and sample questions for the sections that are in the exam. |
Work Scenarios | This contains 8 questions that describe scenarios that you may experience on the job. The best thing to do is to pick the best two answers out of the four choices. |
Tell Us Your Story | This contains 20 questions wherein you state your employment history and experience. You should only mention those you have mentioned in the resume and application that you submitted. |
Describe Your Approach | This contains 56 questions. It is about determining the various aspects of your personality. |
The Postal Exam 475 is the exam for people who want to apply for these US postal careers: Mail Handler, Mail Handler Assistant, and Casual Mail Handler.
the USPS Exam 475 is almost the same as 474. The difference is that it a fifth section.
Exam Sections | Subjects |
Introduction | This contains the history of the Postal Service and information about the positions covered in the test. It also has the instructions and sample questions for the sections that are in the exam. |
Work Scenarios | This contains 9 questions that describe scenarios that you may experience on the job. The best thing to do is to pick the best two answers out of the four choices. |
Tell Us Your Story | This contains 22 questions wherein you state your employment history and experience. You should only mention those you have mentioned in the resume and application that you submitted. |
Describe Your Approach | This contains 79 questions. It is about determining the various aspects of your personality. |
Check for Errors | This contains 12 questions. Each of the questions has a pair of eight-digit numbers, and if the pairs are similar, you choose “Match” as your answer. If they are not, then you choose “Error.” |
The Virtual Entry Assessment MP 476 is the exam for people who want to apply for these postal careers: Mail Processing Clerk, PSE Mail Processing Clerk, Casual Mail Processing Clerk, Data Conversion Operator, PSE Data Conversion Operator, and Casual Data Conversion Operator.
The USPS Exam 476 is similar to 475.
Exam Sections | Subjects |
Introduction | This contains the history of the Postal Service and information about the positions covered in the test. It also has the instructions and sample questions for the sections that are in the exam. |
Work Scenarios | This contains 9 questions that describe scenarios that you may experience on the job. The best thing to do is to pick the best two answers out of the four choices. |
Tell Us Your Story | This contains 22 questions wherein you state your employment history and experience. You should only mention those you have mentioned in the resume and application that you submitted. |
Describe Your Approach | This contains 79 questions. It is about determining the various aspects of your personality. |
Check for Errors | This contains 12 questions. Each of the questions has a pair of eight-digit numbers, and if the pairs are similar, you choose “Match” as your answer. If they are not, then you choose “Error.” |
The Postal Exam 477 is the exam for people who want to apply for these positions: Sales/Svcs/Distribution Associate, PSE Sales/Svcs/Distribution Associate, and Casual Sales/Svcs/Distribution Associate.
The USPS exam is divided into five sections. The fifth one is different from the other exams.
Exam Sections | Subjects |
Introduction | This contains the history of the Postal Service and information about the positions covered in the test. It also has the instructions and sample questions for the sections that are in the exam. |
Work Scenarios | This contains 10 questions that describe scenarios that you may experience on the job. The best thing to do is to pick the best two answers out of the four choices. |
Tell Us Your Story | This contains 21 questions wherein you state your employment history and experience. You should only mention those you have mentioned in the resume and application that you submitted. |
Describe Your Approach | This contains 56 questions. It is about determining the various aspects of your personality. |
Work Your Register | This contains 13 questions. Each question depicts a transaction that has been done. It also has the amount paid and the change to be given based on the purchase. You have to answer it as accurately as you can since you have to pick the lesser amount of change to give to customers. |
Step 1: The first thing you should do is the USPS exam registration. You need to register an account on the USPS website and set up your career profile.
Step 2: Search for job postings on the official website using your USPS careers login. You can see the announcements for US postal jobs now hiring. (www.usps.com/employment)
Step 3: The USPS will contact you, so you’ll have to wait for them. They will inform you of the test date, time, and location. They often tell you about it a week before the USPS exam.
Step 4: You can take the exam based on the information given to you.
Step 5: After taking the USPS exam, you’ll have to wait for the results. The National Test Center Administration will be the one to score the test.
Step 6: Depending on whether you will pass, the USPS will get in touch with you for the interview date and time.
Step 7: If you do get hired, you’ll have to undergo a suitability assessment such as criminal conviction and employment history.
The post office exam caters to different job positions. The tests are different, and they depend on the kind of job that you would want to apply for. That is why being familiar with the format will help you a lot. You would know the topics that you should focus on and more importantly, you’ll be able to know the test type.
The post office tests require your focus and time. Because of this, it is vital that you plan the topics and how you will be able to maximize your schedule. Each section of the exam is different. It is said that the majority of the applicants for the U.S. Postal Service fail because they do not know how to answer the questions for lack of preparation.
Preparation is needed for you to pass the exam. There is a lot of competition, so you have to get the highest scores. Only the top three scorers can be interviewed, and there won’t even be an assurance that you will get hired. What makes the exam particularly tricky is that it makes use of hypothetical questions. Thus, you should make use of USPS practice postal exams, study guides, and postal office practice tests.