Postal Clerk and Carrier Exam Cram (473, 473-C, 460)

by Gosney, John; Rosenberg, Dawn McKay; Lipson, Michele

• ISBN13: 9780789735393
• ISBN10: 0789735393
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-01-01
• Publisher: Pearson Education

Summary

This updated, concise review guide helps readers score higher on the postal clerk and carrier exams, with coverage of all exam topics, strategies, a practical exam on each topic, and four practice exams.

Table of Contents

Introduction	xv
Self-Assessment	xxii
Career Options with the United States Postal Service	1	(16)
Working for the USPS: Advantages and Benefits	2	(5)
Compensation for Postal Workers	3	(1)
Health Insurance: Federal Employee Health Benefits Program (FEHB)	4	(1)
Retirement: Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS)	5	(1)
Life Insurance: Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance Program (FEGLI)	5	(1)
Flexible Spending Accounts	5	(1)
Leave Benefits	5	(2)
Working for the Federal Government	7	(3)
Learning About Federal Job Vacancies	7	(1)
Entrance Requirements	7	(1)
Earnings	8	(1)
Where Do Postal Employees Fit Within the Federal Employment Scheme?	9	(1)
USPS Positions Requiring Exam 473/473-C: Descriptions and Qualifications	10	(3)
City Carrier: Position Description and Qualifications	11	(1)
Mail Processing Clerk	12	(1)
Sales, Services, and Distribution Associate: Job Description	13	(1)
Mail Handler: Position Description and Qualifications	13	(1)
Exam 460: Rural Carrier Associate	13	(1)
Postal Workers: General Things to Know	14	(3)
460/473/473-C Postal Carrier and Clerk Pre-Test	17	(18)
Why Take the Mock Exam?	17	(1)
What Is Being Tested on the Pre-Test?	18	(1)
Preparing for the Mock Exam	19	(3)
Section One: Address Checking	22	(3)
Answer Key for Memory for Addresses	24	(1)
Section Two: Forms Completion	25	(5)
Answer Key for Forms Completion	29	(1)
Section Three: Coding and Memory	30	(3)
Answer Key for Coding and Memory	32	(1)
Mock Exam Wrap-Up: Assessing Your Score	33	(2)
General Test-Taking Strategies	35	(10)
A General Test-Taking Strategy	36	(1)
Test-Taking Process, Part I: The Night Before the Exam	37	(3)
Night Before the Exam: Get a Good Night's Sleep	37	(1)
Night Before the Exam: Know Your Route to the Test Center	38	(1)
The Night Before the Exam: Plan to Arrive Early	39	(1)
Test-Taking Process, Part II: Taking the Test	40	(2)
Taking the Test: Listening and Reading Carefully	40	(1)
Taking the Test: Marking Your Answers Correctly	40	(1)
Taking the Test: Don't Cheat	40	(1)
Taking the Test: Pay Attention	41	(1)
Taking the Test: Focus on One Question at a Time	41	(1)
Taking the Test: Work As Quickly and Accurately As You Can	41	(1)
Taking the Test: Check Your Answers	42	(1)
Overcoming Test Anxiety	42	(1)
Introducing Bill Roberts, Your Test Partner	43	(1)
Exam Prep Questions	44	(1)
Address Checking	45	(8)
What Is Being Tested with Address Checking Questions?	46	(1)
Address Check Strategies	46	(1)
Address Checking Scoring	47	(1)
Exam Prep Questions	48	(3)
Exam Prep Answers	51	(1)
Bill Roberts Case Study: Address Checking Questions	52	(1)
Forms Completion	53	(8)
What Is Being Tested with Forms Completion?	54	(1)
Forms Completion Strategies	55	(1)
Approaching the Forms Completion Question Type	56	(1)
Forms Completion Scoring	56	(1)
Take the Forms Completion Practice Test	57	(3)
Exam Prep Answers	60	(1)
Coding and Memory	61	(10)
What Is Being Tested with Coding and Memory Questions?	62	(1)
Coding and Memory Strategies	63	(2)
Approaching the Coding and Memory Question Type	64	(1)
Strategies for Enhancing Your Memory	65	(1)
Coding and Memory Scoring	65	(1)
Take the Coding and Memory Practice Test	66	(3)
Exam Prep Answers	69	(1)
Bill Roberts Case Study: Coding and Memory Questions	69	(2)
Personal Characteristics and Experience Inventory	71	(6)
What Is Being Tested with the PC&E Inventory?	72	(1)
PC&E Inventory Strategies	73	(1)
PC&E Inventory---Scoring	74	(1)
Bill Roberts Case Study: PC&E Inventory	75	(2)
Address Checking Practice Test	77	(6)
Take the Address Checking Practice Test	78	(4)
Evaluating Your Score	82	(1)
Forms Completion Practice Test	83	(10)
Take the Forms Completion Practice Test	83	(9)
Evaluating Your Score	92	(1)
Coding and Memory Practice Test	93	(6)
Take the Coding and Memory Practice Test	93	(3)
Evaluating Your Score	96	(2)
Answer Key---Coding Section	97	(1)
Answer Key---Memory Section	97	(1)
Bill Roberts Case Study: Memory for Addresses Questions Practice Test	98	(1)
Preparing for Test Day	99	(6)
A Last-Minute Checklist: Do You Have What You Need?	100	(2)
A ``Real World'' Test Preparation Case Study	102	(3)
Bill Roberts Case Study: The Night Before the Exam	102	(1)
The Night Before with Bill Roberts	103	(2)
Full-Length Practice Exam I	105	(22)
Address Checking	106	(4)
Forms Completion	110	(9)
Coding and Memory	119	(4)
Personal Characteristics and Experience Inventory	123	(1)
Answer Key	123	(4)
Address Checking	123	(1)
Forms Completion	124	(1)
Coding and Memory	125	(2)
Full-Length Practice Exam II	127	(22)
Address Checking	128	(4)
Forms Completion	132	(9)
Coding and Memory	141	(4)
Personal Characteristics and Experience Inventory	145	(1)
Answer Key	145	(4)
Address Checking	145	(1)
Forms Completion	146	(1)
Memory and Coding	146	(3)
Full-Length Practice Exam III	149	(22)
Address Checking	150	(4)
Forms Completion	154	(8)
Coding and Memory	162	(4)
Personal Characteristics and Experience Inventory	166	(1)
Answer Key	167	(4)
Address Checking	167	(1)
Forms Completion	168	(1)
Memory and Coding	168	(3)
Full-Length Practice Exam IV	171	(22)
Address Checking	172	(4)
Forms Completion	176	(8)
Coding and Memory	184	(4)
Personal Characteristics and Experience Inventory	188	(1)
Answer Key	189	(4)
Address Checking	189	(1)
Forms Completion	190	(1)
Memory and Coding	190	(3)
Appendix A USPS Resources and Career Development	193	(6)
Additional Career Resource Information	196	(3)
Appendix B City, State, and Thoroughfare Abbreviations	199	(10)
State Abbreviations	199	(2)
U.S. Possessions Abbreviations	201	(1)
Thoroughfare Abbreviations	201	(6)
Abbreviations for Secondary Units	207	(2)
Appendix C Need to Know More?	209	(4)
Chapter 1	209	(1)
Chapter 3	209	(1)
Chapters 4 and 5	210	(1)
Chapter 6	210	(3)
Glossary	213	(2)
Index	215	(4)
Exam Answer Sheets	219

Excerpts

= 0) {slash = '\\';} else {slash = '/';}openLoc = figLoc.substring(0, figLoc.lastIndexOf(slash) + 1);while (pPage.substring(0,3) == '../') {openLoc = openLoc.substring(0, openLoc.lastIndexOf(slash, openLoc.length - 2)+ 1);pPage = pPage.substring(3, pPage.length + 1);}popUpWin =window.open('','popWin','resizable=1,scrollbars=1,location=0,toolbar=0,width=525,height=394');figDoc = popUpWin.document;zhtm= ' ' + pPage + ' ';zhtm += ' ';zhtm += ' ';zhtm += ' ';zhtm += '' + pPage.substring(pPage.lastIndexOf('/') + 1, pPage.length) + '';zhtm += ' ';figDoc.write(zhtm);figDoc.close();}// modified 3.1.99 RWE v4.1 --> Postal Clerk and Carrier Exam Cram Postal Clerk and Carrier Exam Cram Introduction Welcome to Postal Clerk and Carrier Exam CramWelcome toPostal Clerk and Carrier Exam Cram (473, 473-C, 460), your comprehensive and trusted resource for achieving the highest score!This guide has been prepared with you--the test-taker--in mind. We have avoided unnecessary jargon and detail to present you with a study guide that is complete yet highly readable. Within its pages you will find insider advice on not only the types of questions you will face, but also strategies and tips for answering these questions (as well as general test-taking advice). The guide also contains valuable information about the USPS, including important career and benefit information. So if you are looking for the best resource to score the highest on the 470/473-C/460 exams, you have come to the right place.But more than just wanting to score high on the exam, your achieving a great test result furthers your career options with the USPS. That said, this guide also contains helpful information on various career options with the postal service. Who This Book Is ForThis book has been written to guide anyone interested in a career as a postal clerk and carrier, as it not only covers preparing for the 473/473-C/460 exams, but also gives practical advice and insight as to the full spectrum of working for the USPS (benefits, advancement opportunities, and so on). Also, this book includes special elements such as a "real world" case study (where you follow along with a fictitious but realistic individual as he works his way through preparing for the exam) and other unique features of the Exam Cram series (for example, the cram sheet), which can truly make it your "one stop" source as you ready yourself for a career with the USPS. Taking the 473/473-C/460 ExamsA terrific general reference for information on the exam is the USPS website, http://www.usps.