Ace the Post Office Exam 477 in 2024 with Virtual Entry Assessment
| Postal Exam 474 | Postal Exam 475 | Postal Exam 476 | Postal Exam 477 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tell Us Your Story | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Describe Your Approach | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Interpersonal Skills | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Situational Judgment Test | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Finding Duplicates | ✖ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Work Your Register | ✖ | ✖ | ✖ | ✔ |
Postal Exam 477 Prep Course
What is the Postal Exam 477 test?
Postal Exam 477, also known as the Customer Service VEA exam, is one of the four new Virtual Entry Assessment exams launched to replace the now retired exam 477. Exam 477 is used in the recruitment process for the jobs listed below. Individuals who work in these job positions typically provide retail customer service at the front counter of a USPS Post Office.
- Sales/Svcs/Distribution Associate
- Casual Sales/Svcs/Distribution Associate
- PSE Sales/Svcs/Distribution Associate
The MP 477 assessment features the following sections:
- Work Scenarios – 10 questions
- Tell Us Your Story – 21 questions
- Describe Your Approach – 56 questions
- Check for Errors – 3 questions
Free Postal Exam 477 Practice Test
Why Take the Postal Exam 477?
The Postal Exam 477 is the USPS Virtual Entry Assessment which people must take if they want to land one of the following job positions: Sales/Svcs/Distribution Associate, PSE Sales/Svcs/Distribution Associate, and Casual Sales/Svcs/Distribution Associate
Therefore, passing USPS Postal exam 477 is a requirement for all candidates wishing to work for the USPS in distribution and customer service positions.
What’s Included in the Postal Exam 477 Test?
There are four sections on Postal Exam 477:
Section #1. Tell Us Your Story
This section will ask you questions about the different features of any past jobs you may have held. If this is your first job, don’t stress as you can just answer that this is your first position. If you have held a previous job you will need to supply information about your attendance, how your supervisor may evaluate you, and your working connections with co-workers.
Section #2. Describe Your Approach
In this section of the Postal Exam 477, you will be presented with questions that seek to assess how you deal with others, your approach towards various facets of your work, and how you may personally respond in various circumstances.
Section #3. Work Scenarios (Work Situations)
Statements are presented in this section that outlines potential work situations, and then you are asked what you may do or may not do in those given work scenarios.
Section #4. Check for Errors
In this section, you will be asked questions that test your ability to calculate the fewest number of coins and bills needed when handing out change at a cash register. You will not be required to work at an actual register, as part of the test.
Sample Questions for the 477 Postal Exam
Work Scenario Question:
As you’re about to deliver the last parcel for the day, it suddenly began to rain really hard. Although this does not prevent you from arriving at the address of the recipient, you see that the package is marked as ‘FRAGILE’ and ‘KEEP DRY AT ALL TIMES.’ The home of the recipient has a lawn that covers about a 20-meter distance from the porch to the street. While you have your umbrella with you, the rain is still too heavy, and the wind is picking up, making it very likely for the package to get wet
- A:Postpone the delivery for tomorrow.
- B:Try and call out for the recipient from across the street so that they can try and claim the package.
- C:Secure your vehicle and run up to the recipient’s home with your umbrella to tell them of the parcel and see if you can have their assistance with getting the parcel inside.
- D:Take the parcel and deliver it to the recipient by running as fast as you can with your umbrella.
Explanation:
First and foremost, being able to always make sure that the package is not damaged while in transit should be your highest priority, and by choosing Option D, you are risking the package breaking while running to the recipient’s home all the while risking it getting wet in the process.
The best possible course of action to take here is C because it will allow you to find a way to get the parcel in without damaging the parcel, like asking for a plastic wrap of sorts to cover it.
These choices, although not indicative of you actually performing them in real life, shows that you are someone that just doesn’t say ‘Oh well, I tried,’ and does a poor job because it’s more convenient for you. Instead, you will be seen as someone that will try and take that extra step to make sure that the customers of the USPS will always get good service.
Work your Register Question:
| $20 | $10 | $5 | $1 | $0.25 | $0.10 | $0.1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
- A:Total amount: $17.55
- B:Amount paid: $20.00
- C:Change due: $2.45
Explanation:
| $20 | $10 | $5 | $1 | $0.25 | $0.10 | $0.1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
This is the least amount of bills that you can give to the customer for their change.
How Long is Postal Exam 477?
The Postal Exam 477 is a self-administered exam that is generally completed in about 45 minutes. It must, however, be completed within 72 hours (3 days) of applying for a job position at the USPS. As there is a limited time available once you have started your application process, it is essential that you prepare for your 477 test in advance. Ultimately, you should start preparing as soon as you decide that you wish to apply for a distribution and customer service position at the USPS.
What is the Passing Score?
The highest score is 100, and 70 is a passing score. It is essential that you get the best score you possibly can achieve, now when you have the opportunity. If you pass this exam but don’t achieve the top score you need to land the job position you will have to wait two years before you can retake this exam.
This scoring mechanism is also present in the USPS 474 Exam for Mail Carriers, the USPS 475 Exam for Mail Handlers, and the USPS 476 Exam for Clerks and Operators.
Who this Course is for
- USPS applicants who want to prepare and succeed in the Postal Exam 477.
- Previous USPS applicants who were not able to succeed the first time around but want to do better and secure their application with renewed confidence and more knowledge.
How Prepterminal can Help with your Postal Exam 477
Upon receiving your email invite to complete postal exam 477, you will only have 72 hours (or 3 days) to complete it in its entirety and submit it. Having such a time restriction looming over your head can cause many candidates to experience test anxiety. Once more, the competitive nature of today’s job market also adds to the pressure.
Thus, it is only logical that according to the USPS, 80-90% of candidates fail their exams. Through practice, you will allow yourself to become familiar with the format and structure of exam 477. This will help you know what to expect from the exam, which, in turn, may calm your nerves and alleviate the stress.
At the end of the day, your aim is to be one of the top three scoring candidates on your specific VEA exam. We at PrepTerminal have created a prep Postal Exam course to help you attain your goal.
Our course is modular and features text and video-based material to keep you engaged while you learn. We also provide you will practice tests. You can be prepared in just a matter of hours with our expertly designed prep course.
FAQs About the USPS Postal Exam 477
You must:
– Be 18 years of age at the time of employment or have a high school diploma and be 16 years of age.
– Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident or be a citizen of a territory of the U.S.
– Provide your recent employment history.
– Be able to pass a criminal background check, drug screening, and a medical assessment.
– Have a safe driving record, if applicable.
– Be registered with the Selective Service, if applicable.
You do not need to pay anything to take any of the USPS exams. You will require access to the Internet and an email address to start the application process, which will provide you with access to CS 477.
You won’t know for sure which exam you will need to take until you apply. Then you will only have 72 hours (3 days) to complete the test in its entirety. As part of the revised postal service job application process, you will need to choose a job from their list of open positions and start an application for that job.
During this process, you will receive an email if you have been chosen to take an exam for that job. The email will let you know which test you need to complete and will give you a link to that test. The test you will be given will relate to the job position for which you applied.
After you have completed the VEA, you can access your results by logging into your eCareer Candidate Profile.
Applicants who don’t achieve a passing score on the VEA are ineligible for this version of the test. If you don’t manage to pass a version of the VEA on your first try, you will be able to have another go after one year. You can, however, still apply to other jobs that need a different version of the VEA.
Applicants who don’t complete the test within 72 hours are also deemed ineligible. In this instance, you are ineligible for the particular job you applied for. You can apply for other jobs that need this version of the postal exam, as well as jobs that need a different version of the postal exam test.
