Thinking about working at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority as a Station Agent? To secure this position, you must successfully complete the MTA Station Agent Exam. The test will examine the abilities and skills you will need for the position, which makes it a critical part of the hiring process.
Keep in mind it is a very competitive position, with thousands of applications every year. However, excelling in the MTA Station Agent Exam will help you stand out significantly from other candidates. Practice and knowing what to expect will go a long way.
This page will help you prepare for every step of the way with a comprehensive study guide with expert tips, exam questions and answers, and an overview of the requirements you have to meet.
Have any questions? If you are looking for a different test, or are not sure which test is relevant for your position, please contact us, and we will do our best to ensure you get the most accurate preparation for your upcoming assessment.
The MTA Station Agent Exam is the most important part of the process, since your score will be used to determine your place on an eligible list .
This test consists of multiple-choice questions that assess reasoning skills related to the position. The amount of questions varies as it is subject to change every year, although it usually includes around 200 questions and should be completed in no more than 2 hours.
A score of at least 70% is required, however, only candidates with the best scores will be accepted.
To increase your chances of being accepted, it’s important to thoroughly prepare and practice for the MTA Station Agent Exam to stand out from the rest of the candidates.
You can learn more about other exams and prep opportunities on our main MTA Exam Preparation page.
The exam will include questions on the following topics.
Written Comprehension and Expression
This section of the MTA Station Agent Exam will measure your ability to read, understand, and communicate information and ideas presented in writing. Questions will usually include a sentence with blank spaces that must be completed, or with mistakes that must be changed.
MTA Station Agent Exam Practice Question - Written Comprehension
Choose the word that best completes the sentence:
In the Arctic, the sparse population living in ____ communities across ____ distances means it can be hard to relieve a ship in distress. In addition, there are fears over how to cope with an environmental ____ .
The correct answer is (a). Although option (e) may seem like a good answer, the flow of the text strongly suggests that fears are of a disaster and not a boon.
Inductive and Deductive Reasoning
This section of the MTA Station Agent Exam is critical because it evaluates your ability to think logically and draw valid conclusions from given data. This is crucial for the position since you will need to apply MTA New York City Transit rules to situations and determine appropriate actions.
Inductive reasoning questions involve observing specific examples and then making generalized conclusions.
💡 Tip: When answering inductive reasoning questions, carefully look for recurring patterns or trends.
Deductive reasoning measures your ability to draw logical conclusions from given premises.These questions will usually ask you to complete scenarios.
MTA Station Agent Exam Practice Question - Deductive Reasoning
Review the facts below.
Based on the information above, which of the following MUST be true?
Since we know that Cleo is a dog and that dogs are fast, we can conclude that Cleo is a fast dog.
Let's go over the rest of the answer choices:
Answer choice A – we know that Cleo is a dog, and we know that bulls do not make noise, but we do not know anything about how noisy dogs get. Therefore we cannot tell whether Cleo is quiet or not.
Answer choice B – Colonel is a bull. The only thing we know about bulls is that they do not make noise. We cannot say anything regarding how fast they are in general, nor about Colonel in particular.
Answer choice C – since we know that Colonel is a bull and that bulls do not make noise, this answer choice poses a contradiction and cannot be true.
Answer choice E – we know that dogs help keep the farm safe, so we can deduce that Cleo does so as well. However, we do not know anything about bulls' contribution to the matter. Therefore, we cannot tell whether this is a true statement or a false one.
💡 Tip: When answering deductive reasoning questions, make sure to follow the premises given as “truths” and not your own previous knowledge.
You can try out more question like these and others on our free civil service sample questions page.
Mathematical Reasoning
The MTA Station Agent includes a basic assessment of mathematical reasoning. For this section you will have to understand and organize a problem through mathematical methods. However, it does not include complex math or the actual manipulation of numbers.
Calculators are not admissible during examination. The good thing is, if you practice, you won’t need it at all. Make sure to study basic principles and rules of mathematical reasoning like arithmetics.
MTA Station Agent Exam Practice Question - Mathematical Reasoning
A mountain trail is 12.1 miles long. If a hiker walks along the trail at a rate of 1.96 miles per hour, in approximately how many hours will the hiker walk the entire trail?
The correct answer is (a).
12.1 miles are approximately 12 miles. 1.96 miles per hour are approximately 2 miles per hour.
Since time (in hours) equals distance (miles) divided by velocity (miles per hour), the hiker will walk the entire trail in approximately 12/2=6 hours.
Problem Sensitivity
Problem Sensitivity is the ability to recognize when something is wrong or likely to go wrong, identifying potential solutions, considering multiple factors, and determining the most effective course of action. These questions assess your critical thinking, analytical skills, and decision-making abilities in various scenarios.
These skills will be important for the job in many instances. For example, recognizing that a delayed train will interfere with normal operations.
Information Ordering
Information ordering questions will ask you to arrange actions, numbers, letter words, or procedures in a certain order or pattern according to a specific set of given rules. These skills will be useful while following orders or specific step-by-step instructions during the job, like issuing a ticket to a customer.
A good example of information ordering in the MTA Station Agent Exam can be a given list of historical events that have to be placed in chronological order.
Spatial Orientation
This section will measure your ability to tell where you are in relation to the location of some object. These questions will usually include a map where you will have to choose the right directions or will be asked specific questions about a certain location in the map and directions from one point to another.
It will also test the way you think about objects in both two and three dimensions, and draw specific conclusions about those objects from limited information.
Spatial orientation skills are important as an MTA Station Agent since you will be asked about directions and specific inquiries about the transportation system’s maps.
💡Tip: The trick is not to give up too quickly. Often a second look at the problem will reveal a different approach. If you don’t know the answer, continue and come back to it later with a fresh mindset.
Short-Term Memory
This section will measure your ability to remember information, such as work assignments, rules, and procedure immediately after hearing or seeing them. This skill will be critical as a MTA Station Agent for everyday changes in rules, schedules, and indications.
Most likely, you will be given an image for a few seconds, and then will have to answer a series of questions regarding details from what you just saw.
Visualization
Visualization is the ability to process any kind of visual material in thinking. For this section you will have to practice skills to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or rearranged.
Customer Service
Customer service is an important part of the job and the MTA Station Agent Exam. You will have to provide information to passengers in a professional way. Since experience in customer service is needed in order to apply, chances are you will ace this section of the test.
Keep in mind that before taking the MTA Station Agent Exam there are some requirements you must complete for the hiring process. These include:
Applications are usually open until November of each year, you must complete all of the requirements before the set date to be able to take the MTA Station Agent Exam. The application deadline will be listed in the MTA Exams page when a date is set.
Once you successfully applied and paid, you must complete the Education and Experience Test Paper Form to qualify for the MTA Station Agent Exam. This form will ask for a high school diploma (foreign education may also be credited), and proof of one year of experience with in-person customer service to the general public.
If you are found qualified to take the MTA Station Agent Exam, you will receive an Admission Letter 10 days before the exam which you will need a copy of to use as your ticket to the test.
Click here for more information on waivers, forms, and the application process.
If you meet all of the requirements of the hiring process and successfully complete the MTA Station Agent Exam, you will be placed on an eligible list. The MTA will notify you of your results by email, so make sure your contact information is updated.
Once you make it through these steps, you will then have to complete a Station Agent training program. When you successfully finish training, you will be ready to work as a certified Station Agent in New York.
Being an MTA Station Agent is an exciting and rewarding career path. You will play a vital role in ensuring smooth operations, excellent customer service, and contributing to the overall safety of the transit system within the New York City metropolitan area.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority operates the subway systems, buses, and rail lines within the New York City metropolitan area and is one of the top employers in the city with a big variety of positions. You might find other career paths that interest you.
Don’t miss out on the opportunity, learn more about other MTA Jobs Exam Preparation.
