460 Exam

The 460 Exam or Examination 460 is actually the same as 470 Battery Test. While 460 Exam is for the Rural Carrier Associate, the 470 Battery Test is for people seeking positions as Carriers (city and rural), Distribution Clerk (manual), Mark-Up Clerk (Automated), Distribution Clerk, Machine (LSM Operator), Mail Handler, Mail Processor, and Flat Sorting Machine Operator.

Sample Questions
460 Rural Carrier Associate Exam
U.S. Postal Service

Test Instructions

During the test session, it will be your responsibility to pay close attention to what the examiner has to say and to follow all instructions. One of the purposes of the test is to see how quickly and accurately you can work. Therefore, each part of the test will be carefully timed. You will not START until being told to do so. Also, when you are told to STOP, you must immediately STOP answering the questions. When you are told to work on a particular part of the examination, regardless of which part, you are to work on that part ONLY. If you finish a part before time is called, you may review your answers for that part, but you will not go on or back to any other part. Failure to follow ANY directions given to you by the examiner may be grounds for disqualification. Instructions read by the examiner are intended to ensure that each applicant has the same fair and objective opportunity to compete in the examination.

SAMPLE QUESTIONS

Study carefully before the examination.

The following questions are like the ones that will be on the test. Study these carefully. This will give you practice with the different kinds of questions and show you how to mark your answers.

Part A: Address Checking

In this part of the test, you will have to decide whether two addresses are like or different. If the two addresses are Alike in every way, darken circle A for the Question. If the two addresses are Different in any way, darken circle D for the question.

Mark your Answers to these sample questions on the Sample Answer Grid at the right.

1...2134 S 20th St 2134 S 20th St Since the two addresses are exactly alike, mark A for question 1 on the Sample Answer Grid. 2...4608 N Warnock St 4806 N Warnock St 3...1202 W Girard Dr 1202 W Girard Rd 4...Chappaqua NY 10514 Chappaqua NY 10514 5...2207 Markland Ave 2207 Markham Ave

The correct answers to questions 2 to 5 are: 2D, 3D, 4A, and 5D.

(Note: See Techniques for Addresses-Checking Test on pages 77-81 of The Book of U.S. Postal Exams & Post Office Jobs:How to Score 95-100% on 470 Battery/460 RCA Tests and Other Exams by Veltisezar B. Bautista.)

Your score on Part A of the actual test will be based on the number of wrong answers as well as on the number of right answers. Part A is scored right answers minus wrong answers. Random guessing should not help your score. For the Part A test, you will have six minutes to answers as many of the 95 questions as you can. It will be to your advantage to work as quickly and as accurately as possible. You will not be expected to be able to answer all the questions in the time allowed.

Part B: Memory for Address

In this part of the test, you will have to memorize the locations (A, B, C, D, or E) of 25 addresses shown in five boxes, like those below. For example, “Sardis” is in Box C, “6800-6999 Table” is in Box B, etc. (The addresses in the actual test will be different.)

Study the locations of the addresses for five minutes. As you study, silently repeat these to yourself. Then cover the boxes and try to anwser the questions below. Mark your answers for each question by darkening the circle as was done for questions 1 and 2.

1. Musella
2. 4700-5599 Blake
3. 4700-5599 Table
4. Tatum
5. 4400-4699 Blake
6. Hesper
7. Kelford
8. Nathan
9. 6500-6799 Blake
10. Joel
11. 4400-4699 Blake
12. 65009-6799 West
13. Porter
14. 6800-6999 Blake

Sample Answer Grid

1 5 9 13 2 6 10 14 3 7 11     4 8 12

The correct answers for questions 3 to 14 are 3A, 4D, 5A, 6A, 7B, 8E, 9C, 10C, 11A, 12B, 13D, and 14E.

During the examination, you will have three minutes practice exercises to help you memorize the location of addresses shown in five boxes. After the practice exercises, the actual test will be given. Part B is scored right answers minus one-fourth of wrong answers. Random guessing should not help your score. But, if you can eliminate one or more alternatives, it is to your advantage to guess. For the Part B test, you will have five minutes to answer as many of the 88 questions as you can. It will be to your advantage to work as quickly and as accurately as you can. .

(See Memory-for-Address Test: Tips & Strategies on pages 107-112) of The Book of U.S. Postal Exams & Post Office Jobs:How to Score 95-100% on 470 Battery/460 RCA Tests and Other Exams by Veltisezar B. Bautista)

Part C: Number Series

For each Number Series question there is at the left a series of numbers which follow some definite order and at the right five sets of two numbers each. You are to look at the numbers in the series at the left and find out what order they follow. Then decide what the next two numbers in that series would be if the same order were continued. Mark your answers on the Sample Answer Grid.

The numbers in this series are increasing by 1. If the series were continued for two more number, it would read: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9. Therefore the correct answer is 8 and 9 and you should have darkended C for question 2.

The numbers in this series are increasing first by 1 (plus 1) and then by 2 (plus 2). If the series were continued for two more numbers, it would read 1 2 4 5 7 8 10 (plus 1) 11 and (plus 2) 13. Therefore the correct answer is 11 and 13 and you should have darkened E for question 2.

It will be to your advantage to answer every question in Part C that you can, since your score on this part of the test will be based on the number of questions that you answer correctly. Answer first those questions which are easiest for you. For the Part C Test, you will have 20 minutes to answer as many of the 24 questions as you can.

(See Techniques for Answering Number Series Test on pages 135-138 of The Book of U.S. Postal Exams:How to Score 95-100% on 470 Battery/460 RCA Tests and Other Exams by Veltisezar B. Bautista)

Part D: Following Oral Instructions

In this part of the test, you will be told to follow directions by writing in a test booklet and then on an answer sheet. The test booklet will have lines of material. For an example of this test, see pages 274-275 of The Book of U.S. Postal Exams & Post Office Jobs:How to Score 95-100% on 470 Battery/460 RCA Tests and Other Exams by Veltisezar B. Bautista.)