Postal exams – Apply to work for the USPS (2024)

FAQs

How hard is it to pass the post office exam? ›

With a failure rate between 80% and 90%, you'll want to study as much as you possibly can for the postal exam. Create a studying schedule well in advance and stick to it all the way until the day before your exam.

However, you will be able to apply to other positions and take the test in the future. You must score at least 70% to pass the VEA.

Postal Exam 474 Failure Rate: The Stats

Typically, 70 to 80 percent of applicants will fail in the Postal Exam 474, thus, this is a very big obstacle. Nonetheless, you should not be discouraged by these facts; they should act as an incentive to prepare yourself more for a higher chance of succeeding.

If you did not receive a passing score, you will not be considered for the specific posting you applied to. However, you may apply to other postings requiring the same exam or a different exam. You may also apply to other jobs that require a different exam.

Both the application and any exams are free – if you see any websites that are charging a fee they are not legitimate and should be reported to the United States Postal Inspection Service.

Once you have completed the VEA you may check your results by logging in to your eCareer Candidate Profile. Open the Roadmap and go to the Assessments page (7). This score will be used if you apply to jobs that require the same VEA version.

So, what does all this mean in terms of the score you need to get a job? Postal exams 474, 475, 476 & 477 are used to fill over 95% of all entry level jobs. The highest possible score on these exams is 100, and 70 is passing. Putting this altogether, you need a score as close to 100 as you can possibly manage.

Some assessments are scored only as “eligible” or “ineligible.” If you receive an eligible score, you have passed the assessment and will be considered for the job(s) to which you have applied requiring that assessment.

You may only take the assessment once per job application. If you already have an assessment score recent enough to be in the retest time period (e.g., for Exam 473 within the past 120 days), you will not be Page 5 allowed to take the assessment again; your existing score will be used for that application.

It usually takes two to four weeks to get hired at USPS, but in some cases, the process can take even longer if there are issues with the background checks or a low number of available positions. If you are really interested in a position with USPS, it is important to be patient and persevering.

What is the USPS exam like? ›

USPS Postal Exam 474

This is a 45 minutes long self-administered test given to those who are applying for city and rural mail carrier positions. After you submit your application for an open position, if you are deemed a good fit you will be sent an email inviting you to take a Virtual Entry Assessment - MC 474.

USPS never charges a fee for employment information or exams.

While the number of applicants who pass the Postal Exam range from 10-20% depending on the year, our students enjoy an incredible 95% passing rate. It's really that easy.

One of the best ways to prepare for the postal exam is by taking practice tests. Practice tests will help you get a gauge of where you are at and a feel for the material that will be on the test. Postal exam prep courses are also a great option to help you prepare.

USPS Delivery Attempts

USPS generally makes 1-2 delivery attempts, depending on the local carrier's judgment. Ordinary Mailpiece: If someone is usually available to receive parcels but isn't present for the first delivery attempt, a second attempt will occur the next working day.

Your Score Determines Your Eligibility

The requirements for clearing the test indicate that one must get a 70 or higher out of a 100. This could mean that any score from 70.5 and above means you cleared it.

The 1st part of the 473 exam is fairly easy but is timed so you need to work quick and be accurate. The memory part is generally considered the hardest for most people unless you have a photographic memory.