Postal Exam 474, also known as the Mail Carrier Virtual Entry Assessment (MC 474), is used by the United States Postal Service (USPS) to evaluate candidates for city and rural mail carrier positions. This exam replaced the previous Postal Exam 473 and is part of the USPS’s Virtual Entry Assessment (VEA) system.

Key Aspects of Postal Exam 474:

1. Format:
   • The exam is taken online.
   • It’s a non-proctored assessment, meaning you can take it from home or another location with internet access.
2. Sections:
   • Work Scenarios: This section presents you with hypothetical work situations and asks how you would respond. The aim is to assess your judgment, problem-solving abilities, and how you handle work-related challenges.
   • Tell Us Your Story: This part focuses on your work history and experiences. It’s designed to gauge your background and suitability for the role.
   • Describe Your Approach: This section assesses personality traits and characteristics to determine how well you might fit with the USPS work environment.
3. Duration: The exam typically takes about 45 minutes to an hour to complete.
4. Scoring:
   • Scores range from 70 to 100, with 70 being the minimum passing score.
   • Your score is valid for a period, typically several years, and you can’t retake the exam during this time if you pass.

Preparation Tips:

1. Understand the Job Requirements: Familiarize yourself with the duties and responsibilities of a mail carrier. This knowledge can help you better understand the context of the scenarios presented in the exam.
2. Review Sample Questions: While specific practice tests for Exam 474 may not be widely available, reviewing general civil service exam questions and scenarios can be helpful.
3. Reflect on Past Experiences: Consider your previous work experiences, especially those involving customer service, problem-solving, and handling challenging situations.
4. Personality Assessment: For the sections that assess personality and approach, answer honestly. These sections are designed to gauge whether your personality aligns with the job’s requirements.
5. Time Management: Be mindful of the time as you take the test, but don’t rush. Answer each question thoughtfully.

The USPS Exam 474 is designed to assess whether candidates have the right characteristics and approach for the demanding role of a mail carrier. Preparing for the exam requires understanding the nature of the job and being able to reflect on your own experiences and attributes.

Usps postal exam questions and answers

USPS exams, such as the 474, 475, 476, and 477, have unique formats including sections like Work Scenarios, Tell Us Your Story, and Describe Your Approach. Practicing helps you become familiar with the type of questions you will encounter and the format of the test, reducing surprises and anxiety during the actual exam.

Postal Exam 474, also known as the Mail Carrier Virtual Entry Assessment (MC 474), is used by the United States Postal Service (USPS) to evaluate candidates for city and rural mail carrier positions. This exam replaced the previous Postal Exam 473 and is part of the USPS’s Virtual Entry Assessment (VEA) system.

Situational Judgement Test (SJT)

Sample Question: A team member disagrees openly with a new policy you implemented and encourages others to ignore it. How do you respond?

1. Discuss the policy’s benefits in a team meeting.
2. Warn the team member about possible disciplinary actions.
3. Ignore the behavior, focusing on those who comply.
4. Meet with the team member to understand their concerns.

Communication Skills

Sample Question: Choose the best revision of the following sentence for clarity: “The mail, which was late, due to the storm, was finally delivered.”

1. The mail was finally delivered, which was late due to the storm.
2. The late mail due to the storm was finally delivered.
3. Due to the storm, the mail was late but was finally delivered.
4. The storm caused the mail to be late, but it was finally delivered.

USPS Exams

• Exam 475: Mail Handler
• Exam 476: Mail Processor
• Exam 477: Customer Service Clerk
• Exam 955: Mechanical and Electrical Job Skills