Most professionals are yearning to work at the postal office, especially with the organization's several benefits and opportunities for growth.

However, the managers at the United States Postal Service will need faith in a candidate's ability to carry out the duties of their position successfully. Therefore, all the candidates must meet specific USPS eligibility criteria, including passing postal mechanic exams for those applying for maintenance roles.

Therefore, this article defines and outlines the content of the USPS mechanical test and what you must do to pass your postal exam.

What is USPS Mechanic Test?

Each USPS position receives thousands of applications, so the business has developed a battery of postal exams to weed out the weaker candidates and find the most qualified candidates; among the tests is the USPS mechanic test.

Also known as the “Postal Exam 955", the mechanic test is an evaluation strategy for screening candidates for the engineering and maintenance positions like electronic technicians, building and equipment mechanics, or maintenance mechanics.

This test replaces the old or previous postal exam 931, 932, and 933 tests. Its purpose is to test your electrical and mechanical skills and experience. You'll need to demonstrate theoretical understanding and the ability to apply relevant scientific formulas in practice.

The 955 postal test is unique in that it includes multiple practical examinations designed to give hiring managers confidence that the candidate can handle the demands of the position.

The breadth of the test's coverage means that only applicants with a deep understanding of relevant technical concepts should take it. To advance their careers at USPS, applicants with extensive knowledge in specific technology areas are invited to take the exam.

What is the content of the USPS mechanic test (Postal Exam 955)?

The following sections elaborate on the most prevalent 955-tested USPS technical maintenance job titles.

• Personal Characteristics & Experience Inventory test
• Technical assessment (Multicraft and spatial section)

Every section tests various skills and experiences.

What’s covered under personal characteristics & experience inventory test?

The first part is an online test you take at your own pace to help the USPS get to know you better. The interviewer wants to learn about your prior work experience and education and how you approach your work.

It's an assessment of personality to see if your values and beliefs align with those of the United States Postal Service. This part covers about 120 questions you must answer within 75 minutes.

During this phase, you will be asked psychometric questions designed to test your ability to think quickly and accurately. Your thought processes, character traits, and work habits will be assessed. You'll be presented with a series of statements and asked to indicate the degree to which you concur or disagree with each one.

USPS proctors grade this exam component, but the grading system is kept secret.

The technical assessment

This is the second part of the postal exam 955 that is also completed electronically; however, it must be done at a proctored testing center.

The technical assessment section consists of two parts:

• Multicraft
• Spatial reasoning

 

• Multicraft

In this part, you can expect various mechanical and electrically-related technical issues. Technical interview questions will be tailored to each open post. The questions in this exam section are the most challenging because of their complexity and specificity.

Approximately 60 questions could be used to assess your knowledge of 21 technology areas. Also, you'll need to answer each question in under a minute because you only have 60 minutes to complete the test.

Possible examples of questions include:

• Basics of hydrodynamics
• Thermal dynamics rules
• Mechanical equipment design

Other multicraft tested areas include:

• Welding and Rigging
• Digital Electronics and Computers, PLC,
• Power Supplies and Test Instruments
• Hydraulics and Pneumatics
• Piping and Combustion
• Equipment Maintenance and Lubrication

With so many options, expecting a single study guide to cover all you'd need for the 955 exams would be unrealistic. Fortunately, most of these questions are position tailored. For instance, if you are seeking a piping and combustion technician position, you may expect the interview questions to primarily center on such topics.

Image alt text: Postal electronic technicians during digital electronic maintenance.

Author credit: By MC3 Billy Ho, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/86/U.S._Navy_Ensign_Kimberly_Robillard%2C_left%2C_and_Electronics_Technician_2nd_Class_Thomas_Roby_sort_mail_aboard_the_guided_missile_cruiser_USS_Monterey_%28CG_61%29_May_2%2C_2013%2C_at_Naval_Support_Activity_Souda_Bay_130502-N-QL471-017.jpg

• Spatial Reasoning

This test section will evaluate your ability to envision and grasp how several parts work together to solve an issue.

This part is further categorized into two parts:

Matching figures and parts:In this exercise, you'll need to use the little clues to determine what kind of 3D forms are being presented to you. You may need to find repeating structures among numbers or items.

A test of your ability to read and follow written directions may also be part of the process.The use of diagrams and schematics is an integral part of this subject.You could be shown a succession of photographs, and it will be up to you to identify the one that best completes the set.

Spatial Visualization: Technological, design, and production jobs like engineering, surveying, and architecture may necessitate spatial awareness. In other words, they rely heavily on visualizing the relationships between three-dimensional objects.

As a result, you can anticipate questions involving group spinning or mirror imaging to appear on the USPS 955'spatial visualization' section.

What Grade Should You Aim At In Your USPS Mechanic Test?

The passing score for the mechanic test is 70, the same as it is for many other USPS postal tests. However, this is only the minimum required, and you should aim much higher to give your application an edge.

You will be marked as "Ineligible" if you do not meet this threshold. You must wait at least six months from the original test date before retaking it.

The USPS 955 Exam: How Difficult Is It?

The USPS 955 is a demanding test because it checks your understanding of a wide variety of mechanical or electrical concepts, both theoretical and practical. Candidates without relevant work experience may struggle more on this exam. However, the odds of getting a good grade go up with preparation.

So, can you prepare for your postal exam?

Strategies for Passing Your USPS Mechanic Test

The following tips will help you prepare and pass any of your postal exams and evaluation:

Familiarize Yourself with USPS and What They Do

The types of people a firm seeks can be deduced from its rules, norms, and goals. You can improve your chances of success on the personality & experience inventory test by studying the job description for clues about your expectations.

If the job requires you to make decisions, don't be dishonest about your decision-making abilities because it's inconvenient.

Create and Stick to Your Study Plan

Create a comprehensive inventory of all relevant course materials and themes and create a study schedule from that list to allow you to cover everything on it.

Your level of expertise and self-assurance will determine how far you anticipate and prepare your practice sessions. The time commitment of each test you'll be responsible for can be estimated with some forethought. It helps you become more confident and gives you an air of authority in your field.

Review with Sample Questions

It is common for experts in their fields to put in extra time practicing and rehearsing before major exams or public displays. The primary goal of such preparations is to eliminate any sense of mystery or uncertainty about the task.

The same holds for getting ready for postal exams, especially mechanic tests. There's no denying that most people get anxious right before a big test or exam.

You may get plenty of experience with several online psychometric and spatial visualization assessments. Practice examinations for the Postal Service's 955 exams are widely available online, and you can also register for any postal exam kit to help boost your chances of success.

 

Image alt text: Online search for mechanic past papers.

Author credit: By John Keane from London, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

If you use our practice exams regularly, you'll soon feel prepared for every question or directive on the actual exam. Here are some of the importance of using practice tests:

Boost your knowledge of the exam layout and structure:Attempting a test with a particularly unfamiliar framework for the first time might be challenging.

It may not be easy to keep track of the requirements for each segment of the exam. Furthermore, you will not receive an explanation because the postal test department assumes you have already done the necessary research and have preconceived notions about what is required of you.

Fortunately, taking the USPS practice test will give you a leg up on the competition because you will be familiar with the test's format and content areas. First, you can avoid mental stumbling blocks on the actual exam by taking a practice test.

They help you relax before a test and perform better: Anxiety is natural when taking a test or exam you have never taken before. Still, it can have a negative impact on your results or performance if you don't learn to manage it.

Therefore, taking more practice tests is a good strategy for reducing pre-test stress and anxiety. They'll get you comfortable with the material and reduce your stress levels.

Help determine your knowledge gap: It's annoying when you leave the exam room and realize you didn't provide adequate answers to the questions.

Taking a practice exam, however, will always reveal your weak spots. Taking a practice test for the postal exam allows you to identify your strengths and weaknesses. That is to say; you become aware of the gaps in your own understanding.

Help time yourself: Timely practice is difficult without a complete sample test. If you can't get your hands on practice exams, simulate an actual exam as closely as possible in terms of schedule so you can see how quickly the allotted time will pass and focus on the questions that will count the most.

You can also allocate equal time to each question to determine which ones merit greater consideration.

Tips to Consider during Your Postal Exam Day

After studying for your tests, use some of these tips to improve your results on test day:

Quiet place

The Personality and Experience Inventory needs you to be relaxed and undisturbed. Since the section is self-administered, it can be done whenever and wherever is most practical for you. Therefore, select a tranquil spot far from any potential distractions.

Counter-check your answers

Remember that once you've submitted your answers, you won't be able to make any changes. You must think critically and answer only if you are confident.

Carefully read all the instructions

Take your time reading the questions and directions. You may be time-aware, yet answering a question too quickly might lead to blunders and incorrect responses.

Ensure a healthy lifestyle

Get a good night's sleep, fill up on a healthy lunch, and drink plenty of water before heading out. Drink enough water to increase your productivity and concentration.

Conclusion

To pass the mechanics test, also known as Postal Exam 955, you need to get a score of at least 70 percent. Since competition for technical jobs in the USPS is fierce, giving yourself the best chance of passing the test with the highest possible score is in your best interest.

Study for the test by making a study plan, reviewing it with mock exams, and getting as much experience as possible in relevant positions and business policies.