Civil Service Clerical Exam Practice

You must pass a civil clerical exam to be offered any civil service clerical position. These positions include clerks, stenographers, typists, data-entry positions, and more. Each civil service sector—federal, state and local—has its own test requirements. Most tests include questions to assess your understanding of vocabulary and grammar. You may also be tested for basic math skills. Many clerical tests measure your ability to memorize and remember information accurately. However, the types of questions on each of the exams will be similar as the positions are the same.

Those who score high on the exam will be placed at the top of an eligibility list. If selected from the list, and offered the position, you will be given various benefits as a civil service employee. Some of the benefits include health insurance, a retirement plan, a Thrift Savings Plan (similar to a 401K), transportation subsidies, and tuition reimbursement. On top of all of these benefits, you also receive paid training, ten paid holidays per year, and personal leave days for vacation, illness, and family care.

The clerical exam you will take depends on the position you are applying for. The number of questions you must answer correctly to pass each test depends on the type of test you are taking. However, on most of the exams, you must answer 60–70 percent of the questions correctly to pass. Becoming familiar with typical clerical test questions can help prepare you for the exam.

Our Clerical PrepPack™ includes 108 practice tests covering a variety of test sections commonly found on civil service clerical exams. We also provide study guides to help with math, memory, and clerical skills. Finally, we provide a personality test that is accompanied by two study guides—one with general tips and methods and the other a professions guide. Both of these guides help to explain which traits are desirable for a clerical position.

Civil service clerical tests are usually graded by computer. The passing score ranges from 70 – 99. Since each test is different, the number of questions varies for each clerical exam. Below is a list of test sections that are commonly found on civil service clerical exams:

• Office record keeping
• Clerical checking
• Knowledge of English grammar and usage, punctuation, and sentence structure
• Reading, understanding, and interpreting written material
• Alphabetizing/filing
• Following directions
• Name and number checking
• Arithmetic operations
• Interpreting tables and charts