Ensure Best Results for Civil Service Exams

We all know how big of a deal civil service exams are. Not only are they held just once every 4 to 6 years, but the difficulty level and the other requirements to be eligible for these exams all make it a very challenging task to succeed at.

People may assume that although firefighting and court office departments may have it tougher, the sanitation department is easier to get into. However, this is certainly not the case. As many as 94,000 people appeared for the NYC Sanitation Worker exam the last time it was held, and the chances are that more people would register for the exam when it’s held next—expected in 2022.

All of this raises the question of how to ace civil service exams. The answer is plain and simple: preparation.

Since these exams are held after such long periods, it allows candidates enough time to prepare for these exams and give it their all when the time comes. So, let’s look at how you can plan out the time before the exam to ensure that you get the best results and end up fulfilling your dream of working in civil services.

Understanding the Exam Requirements

Written Part

These jobs require the candidate to possess vast knowledge about the various tasks the person would need to carry out.

For example, a person appearing for the NYS court officer exam needs to learn all the information regarding clerical checking, record-keeping, and dealing with several situations requiring the relevant facts and information to be applied.

For this, the candidate must have a strong grip over the English language. This includes grammar, spoken, as well as written English.

Apart from this, the candidate must also possess quick problem-solving skills related to math and logical reasoning. For this, the candidate must be sharp and should apply practical knowledge to the best of their abilities to solve the questions.

Having a strong memory to help remember all vital information is a key component that certainly needs working on. This can also be done by implementing various strategies and techniques to improve memory skills.

Physical Part

This is where most people fall short due to the level of difficulty on which the test is set. Preparing for the NYC sanitation worker test is a prime example of how difficult the test can be.

A 2018 report ranked New York as the ‘dirtiest’ city among the cities that were included. Although things might be getting better now, there’s no doubt that dealing with the daily trash and other unforeseen situations would be a tough task.

Because of this, the physical aspects of the jobs are mirrored in the physical test. It’s an extremely rigorous test that’s very physically demanding. It may even be said that one may confuse it with that of a bodybuilding test, given the nature of the tasks required to be done. The following is what’s expected from a candidate:

• Dragging heavy wastebaskets to a garbage truck parked at a distance
• Inclusion of obstacles
• Tasks to be completed with the time limits

The NYC firefighter department exams are no less. They include various events that test the candidate’s physical capacity to the fullest. Given the nature of the work and the risks involved, all these tests help check whether the person is physically capable of handling all the requirements of such a demanding job.

Fire-related incidents are quite common in the US, and in many cases, there is loss of lives as well. This is why there should be no stones left unturned when conducting tests for the fire department.

Preparing a Study Plan

Once you’ve understood what to expect in a civil service exam, the next step is to make a study plan that you’ll need to follow strictly. There are various approaches you can take to help you prepare:

Group Study

It’s a proven fact that studying in groups can help foster an environment of learning and encourage the participants to absorb more information than they normally would while studying independently.

Different people bring their own set of knowledge and skills that they can use to assist other people lacking in that specific area. Plus, what better way to move forward than having people to motivate you and help you stay on track.

Self-study

In this study plan, you are on your own. You may find it easier to concentrate on what you need to study, as there aren’t any distractions. You’ll need to gather the courage and motivation to stay on track as it’s very easy to deviate and lose concentration. Thus, it is highly important to ensure that you have your goals set and a strong will to achieve them.

There are multiple ways you can aid your study plan:

• Online resources
• Professional tutoring classes

Online Resources

There’s plenty of study materials available online for students to utilize and gain much-needed help from. There are sites like Mometrix, iPrep, and many more. However, these can often be unreliable and not be the best option for people who need personalized help.

Professional Tutoring Classes

When self-study plans fall short of achieving the desired targets during the preparation phase, the best to move forward is to register for NYC civil service exam classes by professionals.

With the help of experienced instructors for exam preparation, you’re getting help from people with a proven track record. There probably isn’t any other way that’s better than this, and it’s an easy choice to make when you have to pick an exam prep school.

At Civil Service Success, we’ve been preparing candidates for civil service exams for the past 45 years. We know the ins and outs of the whole exam, so you can trust us to equip you with all the relevant knowledge needed to ace the exam.

Get in touch with us right away and register for the upcoming exams in the best way possible.