Passing Civil Service Exams in One Take: Ultimate Test-Taking Hacks

If you have a passion to serve the community and job security is one of your top priorities, a civil service job might just be your next big career move. These jobs cover a wide variety of positions and offer unmatched benefits, solid pay and long-term career stability.

Securing a civil service job, however, isn’t quite as simple; you need to get over a bunch of hurdles, a civil service exam being the first one.

There are no longer one-size-fits-all civil service exams in the U.S.; instead the exams are tailored to individual positions and the skills you require to perform the job effectively.

Let’s go over some essential tips that’ll increase your chances of passing the exam of your jurisdiction:

Take Practice Tests

While preparing for the civil service exams, you need to focus on improving your weakest areas. A practice test or simulated exam is great way to figure out which areas you struggle in.

By comparing your practice test score with the target score, you can get a rough idea of how much you need to commit to the exam preparation process. Plus, it gives you the opportunity to learn the quirks of the exam, like the length of the test, and the kind of questions you’ll likely come across.

Create A Realistic Preparation Schedule—And Stick With It!

The key to preparing for civil service exams is time management—especially since you have a wide range of topics to cover.

Set Aside A Week for Each Subject Area

Dedicate Week 1 to verbal reasoning, Week 2 to numerical reasoning, and so on and so forth. If you’re currently an employee or student, plan your study plan schedule around the time your alertness is at its peak.

Improve Your Focus Using the Pomodoro Technique

The Pomodoro technique is actually quite simple: set a timer for 25 minutes and during this time, give your complete undivided attention to whatever you’re practicing. Follow this technique with a 5-minute break.

Once you’ve completed 1 round of Pomodoros (4 sets of 25 minute durations), you can take a 20-30 minute break before starting another round.

This technique not only keeps you from procrastinating endlessly, but regular breaks give your brain the ability to assimilate new information while giving you a chance to blow off steam periodically.

Go through the in-depth course material and study guide offered by Civil Service Success to ace your civil exam. Our expert instructors hold extensive preparation classes for all NYC civil service exams, including the NYC Court Officer and NYS Sanitation Worker exams anticipated for 2020.

Register today to become a New York State civil service worker!