Civil Service Exam Practice Test

If you want to work in a civil service job, chances are you’ll be asked to take a Civil Service Exam. A Civil Service exam is used by certain job classifications to test a candidate’s skills for specific positions.

The test is utilized at every level of government—local, state, federal—so the exam structure will differ from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. It’s an important test that requires preparation and an excellent study tool to help candidates prepare.

Click “Start Test” above to start your free Civil Service practice test!

About the Civil Service Exam

Civil service, a term dating back to the 19th century, refers to professional jobs that are required to properly run and maintain a government’s policies and programs.

The US federal civil service system began in 1871, and workers were hired based on a merit-based system. As the civil service system grew and was modified, the Civil Service exam became a mandatory assessment for every person applying for a civil service position, particularly if the position was directly government-related.

In 1978, it was decided that specific exams should be created and administered for each civil service job, which is how the system operates today.

What’s on the Civil Service Exam?

That will vary, depending on the position you apply for. Air traffic controllers, for example, have stiff education and training requirements in addition to the test. Here are some other examples:

• The United States Post Office exam focuses, in part, on address-related issues, such as whether a candidate can determine if two addresses are identical. Candidates are tested on address checking, forms completion, coding, memory, and inventory of personal experience and characteristics.
• Clerical exams focus on grammar, vocabulary, spelling, word relationships, and reading. You’ll likely see problem-solving questions that include addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. You may be presented with a group of words and asked which one is spelled correctly. You’ll also likely find questions that will ask you to identify sentences that contain proper grammar.

In short, each test measures an applicant’s strengths based on the job they’re applying for.

Study for the Civil Service Exam the Right Way

How to Study Effectively

Your success on test day depends not only on how many hours you put into preparing but also on whether you prepared the right way. It’s good to check along the way to see whether your studying is paying off. There are numerous Civil Service practice methods to choose from, but one of the most effective is taking Civil Service practice tests like the one above to evaluate your progress.

Practice tests are useful because they show exactly where you need to improve. Every time you take a Civil Service practice test, pay special attention to these three groups of questions:

• The Civil Service questions you got wrong
• The ones you had to guess on, even if you guessed right
• The ones you found difficult or slow to work through

This will show you exactly what your weak areas are, and where you need to devote more study time.

Ask yourself why each of these questions gave you trouble. Was it because you didn’t understand the material? Was it because you didn’t remember the vocabulary? Do you need more repetitions on this type of question to build speed and confidence?

Dig into those questions and figure out how you can strengthen your weak areas as you go back to review the material.

Answer Explanations

Many Civil Service practice tests have a section explaining the answer choices. It can be tempting to read the explanation and think that you now have a good understanding of the concept. However, an explanation likely only covers part of the question’s broader context. Even if the explanation makes sense, go back and investigate every concept related to the question until you’re positive you have a thorough understanding.

Comprehend Each Topic

As you go along, keep in mind that the Civil Service practice test is simply practice. Memorizing these questions and answers will not be very helpful on the actual test because it is unlikely to have any of the same questions.

If you only know the right answers to the sample questions, you won’t be prepared for the real thing. Study the concepts until you understand them fully, and then you’ll be able to answer any question that shows up on the test.

Strategy for Civil Service Practice

When you’re ready to start taking practice tests, follow this strategy:

• Remove Limitations. Take the first test with no time constraints and with your notes and Civil Service study guide handy. Take your time and focus on applying the strategies you’ve learned.
• Time Yourself. Take the second practice test “open book” as well, but set a timer and practice pacing yourself to finish in time.
• Simulate Test Day. Take any other practice tests as if it were test day. Set a timer and put away your study materials. Sit at a table or desk in a quiet room, imagine yourself at the testing center, and answer questions as quickly and accurately as possible.
• Keep Practicing. Keep taking practice tests on a regular basis until you run out of practice tests or it’s time for the actual test. Your mind will be ready for the schedule and stress of test day, and you’ll be able to focus on recalling the material you’ve learned.

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