NYC Civil Service Exam — Questions and Answers

Question 1: A supply order costs $3,750 before a 12% discount. What is the final cost after the discount?

$3,375
$3,450
$3,300 (Correct answer)
$3,200

Correct answer: $3,300

12% of $3,750 = $450; $3,750 − $450 = $3,300.

Question 2: Which of the following sentences is the most clearly and correctly written for a formal report?

The agency implemented the new system to improve service. (Correct answer)
The agency implemented the new system, this improved service.
To improve service, the new system was implemented by the agency.
Implementing the new system, service was improved by the agency.

Correct answer: The agency implemented the new system to improve service.

This sentence is the most direct and clear. It uses the active voice ('The agency implemented') and clearly states the purpose ('to improve service'). Choice A uses the passive voice, which can be less direct. Choice B is a comma splice error. Choice D contains a dangling modifier; 'service' was not 'implementing the new system.'

Question 3: Which NYC agency is responsible for investigating complaints of employment discrimination against city employees?

Office of Labor Relations
NYC Civil Service Commission
Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS)
NYC Commission on Human Rights (Correct answer)

Correct answer: NYC Commission on Human Rights

The NYC Commission on Human Rights enforces the NYC Human Rights Law, which prohibits employment discrimination by city agencies.

Question 4: Which of the following address pairs matches EXACTLY?

P.O. Box 4872, Bronx, NY 10451 / P.O. Box 4872, Bronx, NY 10451 (Correct answer)
Staten Island, NY 10301 / Staten Island, NY 10310
425 East 63rd Street / 425 West 63rd Street
1776 Broadway, New York, NY 10019 / 1776 Broadway, New York, NY 10091

Correct answer: P.O. Box 4872, Bronx, NY 10451 / P.O. Box 4872, Bronx, NY 10451

P.O. Box 4872, Bronx, NY 10451 is identical in both entries; the other pairs have differences in ZIP codes or street directionals.

Question 5: A NYC Parks Department crew must plant trees along a 1,200-foot path, placing one tree every 40 feet starting at the very beginning. How many trees will be planted in total?

31 (Correct answer)
30
32
29

Correct answer: 31

1,200 ÷ 40 = 30 intervals, so 30 + 1 = 31 trees (inclusive of the start).

Question 6: A timesheet shows an employee worked: Mon=8 hrs, Tue=7.5 hrs, Wed=8 hrs, Thu=6.5 hrs, Fri=8 hrs. What is the total?

37 hours
38.5 hours
39 hours
38 hours (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 38 hours

8 + 7.5 + 8 + 6.5 + 8 = 38 total hours worked during the week.

Question 7: Read the following notice: 'City Hall offices will be closed on all designated municipal holidays. Employees who are required to work on a holiday will receive compensatory time off, to be scheduled at the discretion of the department head.' What do employees receive if they are required to work on a municipal holiday?

An automatic promotion consideration
Double their regular hourly pay
Compensatory time off scheduled by the department head (Correct answer)
A cash bonus added to their next paycheck

Correct answer: Compensatory time off scheduled by the department head

The notice clearly states that employees required to work on a holiday will receive compensatory time off, scheduled at the department head's discretion.

Question 8: Under NYC civil service law, what does 'Rule of Three' mean?

An agency must interview all candidates on the list
An agency may select any one of the top three eligible candidates (Correct answer)
An agency must hire the top-ranked candidate
Three exams must be passed before permanent appointment

Correct answer: An agency may select any one of the top three eligible candidates

The Rule of Three allows an appointing authority to choose any one of the top three candidates on the eligible list for a position.

Question 9: A passage reads: 'Officers are required to document all use-of-force incidents within 24 hours. Failure to do so may result in disciplinary action.' What is the PRIMARY purpose of this policy?

To reduce overtime costs associated with report writing
To discourage officers from using force
To punish officers who use force
To create a record of use-of-force incidents in a timely manner (Correct answer)

Correct answer: To create a record of use-of-force incidents in a timely manner

The policy requires timely documentation; the disciplinary consequence is secondary and reinforces compliance rather than being the primary purpose.

Question 10: A supervisor must rank employees for promotion using these criteria in order: (1) performance rating, (2) seniority if ratings are tied, (3) alphabetical by last name if seniority is also tied. Two employees both have a 95 rating and 5 years of seniority. Their names are Williams and Anderson. Who ranks higher?

The supervisor chooses freely
Anderson (Correct answer)
They are ranked equally
Williams

Correct answer: Anderson

When performance and seniority are tied, the tiebreaker is alphabetical order by last name; Anderson precedes Williams.

Question 11: A city employee earning $52,800 per year receives a 4.5% raise. What is the new annual salary?

$56,160
$54,288
$53,376
$55,176 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: $55,176

$52,800 × 1.045 = $55,176.

Question 12: In an NYC agency, supervisors at Grade 18 or above may approve budget transfers. An employee at Grade 15 requests to approve a budget transfer. What is the logical conclusion?

The rule does not apply to this employee
The Grade 15 employee cannot approve the budget transfer (Correct answer)
The Grade 15 employee needs special training to approve transfers
The Grade 15 employee may approve small transfers only

Correct answer: The Grade 15 employee cannot approve the budget transfer

The rule restricts budget transfer approval to Grade 18 and above, so a Grade 15 employee does not qualify.

Question 13: You are assigned to a team project but notice the assigned team leader is not delegating tasks fairly, causing delays. What should you do?

Stop working until the issue is resolved
Complain to coworkers about the team leader's management style
Quietly do extra work to compensate without telling anyone
Raise your concerns privately with the team leader first (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Raise your concerns privately with the team leader first

Addressing concerns directly with the team leader first is the professional and constructive approach before escalating.

Question 14: A city parks supervisor observes the following: In July, the sprinklers in Central Park were activated 15 times and the grass remained green. In August, the sprinklers were activated 20 times and the grass remained green. In September, due to heavy rainfall, the sprinklers were only activated 5 times, and patches of grass turned brown. Based on these observations, which of the following is the most logical inductive conclusion?

Activating the sprinklers at least 15 times per month is likely necessary to keep the park grass green during the summer. (Correct answer)
The grass in Central Park will always be green if the sprinklers are used more than 10 times a month.
Heavy rainfall is the only cause of brown grass in city parks.
The sprinklers are the only source of water for the grass in Central Park.

Correct answer: Activating the sprinklers at least 15 times per month is likely necessary to keep the park grass green during the summer.

Inductive reasoning involves making a generalization based on specific observations. The observations show a correlation between a higher number of sprinkler activations and green grass, and fewer activations (coupled with rain, but still resulting in less water overall) with brown grass. The conclusion that activating sprinklers a certain amount is 'likely necessary' is a reasonable generalization based on the data provided, without claiming absolute certainty.

Question 15: A team of 5 clerks — Adams, Bell, Chen, Davis, and Evans — must be split into Group 1 (3 clerks) and Group 2 (2 clerks). Adams and Davis cannot be in the same group. Chen must be in Group 1. If Bell is placed in Group 2, which of the following must be true?

Evans is in Group 1 (Correct answer)
Adams is in Group 1
Davis is in Group 1
Evans is in Group 2

Correct answer: Evans is in Group 1

Group 2 has only 2 slots: Bell plus one more. Since Adams and Davis cannot share a group, exactly one of them fills that second Group 2 slot. That leaves no room for Evans in Group 2, so Evans must be in Group 1 regardless of which of Adams or Davis joins Bell.

Question 16: If no patrol officers work the night shift alone, and Rodriguez works the night shift, what must be true?

Rodriguez works day shifts as well
Rodriguez supervises the night shift
Rodriguez is not a patrol officer
Rodriguez works with at least one other officer (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Rodriguez works with at least one other officer

Since no patrol officer works the night shift alone, Rodriguez must be accompanied by at least one other officer.

Question 17: A file contains records for five cases. Cases 1001, 1003, and 1005 are closed; cases 1002 and 1004 are open. How many closed cases are there?

2
5
3 (Correct answer)
1

Correct answer: 3

Cases 1001, 1003, and 1005 are explicitly listed as closed, totaling three cases.

Question 18: Which of the following statements provides the most accurate definition of deductive reasoning?

It is a logical process that starts from a general, accepted premise and applies it to a specific case to reach a certain conclusion. (Correct answer)
It is the process of forming a broad generalization based on a limited number of specific observations.
It is a style of argument that relies on emotional appeal rather than on facts.
It is a method of forecasting future events based on analyzing past data and trends.

Correct answer: It is a logical process that starts from a general, accepted premise and applies it to a specific case to reach a certain conclusion.

Deductive reasoning is a 'top-down' approach. It works by taking a general rule or principle that is known to be true and using it to deduce a conclusion about a specific instance. If the initial premises are true, the conclusion must also be true.

Question 19: When NYC requires candidates to submit a 'Notice of Examination' (NOE) application, what is the primary purpose of that form?

To pay the exam fee directly to DCAS
To authorize a background investigation
To request a specific test date and location
To officially declare interest and provide education/experience information for screening (Correct answer)

Correct answer: To officially declare interest and provide education/experience information for screening

The NOE application collects the candidate's background details so DCAS can verify minimum qualifications before admitting them to the exam.

Question 20: Which revision BEST improves the following sentence for an official report? Original: 'It is the opinion of this writer that the aforementioned individual was in a state of intoxication.'

The subject appeared intoxicated. (Correct answer)
This writer thinks the individual was drunk.
The aforementioned subject did appear to be intoxicated in this writer's opinion.
In this writer's view, intoxication was the state of the individual.

Correct answer: The subject appeared intoxicated.

'The subject appeared intoxicated' is direct, professional, and free of unnecessary first-person hedging and legalistic filler.

Question 21: A clerk verifies a file number: NYC-2026-00847. The printed label reads NYC-2026-00874. What is the error?

The prefix is wrong
There is no error
The year is wrong
The last two digits are transposed (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The last two digits are transposed

The serial digits 47 at the end were printed as 74 — a transposition error.

Question 22: A city clerk files 55 documents per hour. If she works 4 hours on Monday, 3 hours on Tuesday, and 5 hours on Wednesday, how many total documents does she file over those three days?

605
660 (Correct answer)
715
550

Correct answer: 660

Total hours = 4 + 3 + 5 = 12; 12 × 55 = 660 documents.

Question 23: A report includes: 'The suspect fled northbound on Broadway before turning eastbound on 42nd Street, where he was apprehended.' Which word best replaces 'apprehended' for a general public notice?

Detained
Neutralized
Incapacitated
Caught (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Caught

'Caught' is the plainest, most universally understood term for a general public audience, while the others may be technical or alarming.

Question 24: A pie chart is used to display budget allocations across six city agencies. What limitation should a reader be aware of when interpreting this chart?

Pie charts always show data in alphabetical order
Pie charts cannot display more than four categories accurately
Pie charts make it difficult to compare slices of similar size (Correct answer)
Pie charts can only represent data collected in a single year

Correct answer: Pie charts make it difficult to compare slices of similar size

Pie charts make it hard to judge small differences between similarly sized slices because human eyes poorly estimate angles.

Question 25: A city vehicle travels 312 miles on 12 gallons of fuel. What is the vehicle's fuel efficiency in miles per gallon?

22 mpg
28 mpg
24 mpg
26 mpg (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 26 mpg

312 ÷ 12 = 26 miles per gallon.

Question 26: A fire department administrative employee discovers that a public fire hydrant on a city block has been reported as blocked by a parked vehicle for three consecutive days but no enforcement action has been taken. The employee should:

Assume the situation has been handled and take no further action
Escalate the unresolved report to a supervisor and the relevant traffic enforcement unit (Correct answer)
Contact the vehicle owner directly to move the car
Post a sign on the hydrant reminding drivers of the law

Correct answer: Escalate the unresolved report to a supervisor and the relevant traffic enforcement unit

A chronically blocked fire hydrant is an unresolved public safety issue requiring escalation to ensure enforcement action is taken.

Question 27: A department budget of $480,000 is divided equally among 6 divisions. How much does each division receive?

$90,000
$75,000
$80,000 (Correct answer)
$70,000

Correct answer: $80,000

$480,000 ÷ 6 = $80,000 per division.

Question 28: A clerk is filing documents using an alphanumeric code. The last three files pulled from the cabinet are coded as follows: F21-K, G19-L, H17-M. Following this pattern, what should the code be for the very next file?

I16-N
I15-N (Correct answer)
H15-N
I15-M

Correct answer: I15-N

The pattern has three parts. The first letter advances sequentially (F, G, H -> I). The number decreases by two each time (21, 19, 17 -> 15). The final letter advances sequentially (K, L, M -> N). Combining these three patterns gives the next code: I15-N.

Question 29: A city parks employee, while cleaning a playground, finds a wallet on a bench. The wallet contains a driver's license, credit cards, and a significant amount of cash. What is the most appropriate immediate action for the employee to take?

Use the driver's license to look up the owner's address online and attempt to return it after their shift.
Take the cash as a reward and turn in the rest of the wallet to a supervisor.
Leave the wallet where it is, assuming the owner will return for it.
Secure the wallet and immediately report the finding to their direct supervisor or the designated lost-and-found authority. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Secure the wallet and immediately report the finding to their direct supervisor or the designated lost-and-found authority.

This action follows proper procedure, ensures the wallet and its contents are safe, and protects the employee from any accusations of theft. It is the most responsible and professional choice, creating a clear chain of custody for the found property.

Question 30: In civil service reading comprehension tests, the BEST approach is to:

Read the passage once quickly, then answer from memory
Read the questions first, then the passage
Read the passage carefully, then refer back for each question (Correct answer)
Only skim the passage for keywords

Correct answer: Read the passage carefully, then refer back for each question

Read carefully first, then refer back to specific parts for each question.

Question 31: A public health worker is following up on disease surveillance reports. Which of the following case clusters should be investigated first?

Five cases of seasonal allergies across a borough
One confirmed case of chickenpox in a neighborhood
Two cases of food poisoning at a restaurant with more cases potentially unreported (Correct answer)
Three cases of the common cold at one school

Correct answer: Two cases of food poisoning at a restaurant with more cases potentially unreported

A restaurant-linked foodborne illness cluster with potentially more unreported cases represents an active, ongoing public health exposure that requires the fastest investigation.

Question 32: A fire marshal reviews incident reports from the past six months and observes that most fires in residential buildings started in kitchens. He recommends enhanced kitchen inspections city-wide. What kind of reasoning supports his recommendation?

Formal logical proof
Deductive reasoning from a universal law
Hypothetical syllogism
Inductive reasoning from observed data (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Inductive reasoning from observed data

Using observed data trends to support a general recommendation is the essence of inductive reasoning.

Question 33: A file contains records numbered in sequence: 1047, 1048, 1049, 1051, 1052. Which record number is missing?

1046
1050 (Correct answer)
1053
1054

Correct answer: 1050

The sequence skips from 1049 directly to 1051, so record number 1050 is missing.

Question 34: A supervisor states: 'Employees who are never late receive a commendation.' Davis has never been late. What follows?

Davis may receive a commendation
Davis will not receive a commendation
Davis will definitely receive a commendation (Correct answer)
Davis needs additional criteria to be eligible

Correct answer: Davis will definitely receive a commendation

The rule states employees who are never late receive a commendation, and Davis is never late, so Davis will receive a commendation.

Question 35: An employee is asked to organize case files first by borough (alphabetically) and then by date (oldest first) within each borough. For the Bronx, which set of files is arranged correctly?

Bronx Feb 14, Bronx Jan 5, Bronx Mar 2
Bronx Jan 5, Bronx Mar 2, Bronx Feb 14
Bronx Jan 5, Bronx Feb 14, Bronx Mar 2 (Correct answer)
Bronx Mar 2, Bronx Feb 14, Bronx Jan 5

Correct answer: Bronx Jan 5, Bronx Feb 14, Bronx Mar 2

Within the Bronx, files must be sorted oldest-first: January 5, February 14, March 2.

Question 36: Which of the following best illustrates deductive reasoning?

Most complaints are resolved within 5 days, so this one probably will be too
Every time it rains, traffic gets worse, so it will probably be bad today
Three audits found errors, suggesting the whole system needs review
All sworn officers carry badges; Officer Chen is sworn; therefore Officer Chen carries a badge (Correct answer)

Correct answer: All sworn officers carry badges; Officer Chen is sworn; therefore Officer Chen carries a badge

The syllogism about Officer Chen draws a certain conclusion from universal premises, making it deductive.

Question 37: Select the option that correctly uses a colon.

The meeting will cover: budget, staffing, and policy changes.
She excels at: writing, organizing, and presenting.
The supervisor noted: that attendance was below expectations.
Please bring the following: identification, completed forms, and payment. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Please bring the following: identification, completed forms, and payment.

A colon is correctly used after a complete independent clause to introduce a list; options B, C, and D break the independent clause before a natural ending.

Question 38: You study a table showing five employees and their badge numbers: Adams/1042, Brown/1187, Chen/1063, Davis/1204, Evans/1078. Which employee has a badge number between 1063 and 1078?

Adams
Brown
None of the above (Correct answer)
Davis

Correct answer: None of the above

No employee has a badge number strictly between 1063 (Chen) and 1078 (Evans).

Question 39: A civil service applicant scored 72, 85, 91, and 78 on four sections of an exam. What is the average score across all four sections?

81.5 (Correct answer)
81
82
80.5

Correct answer: 81.5

(72 + 85 + 91 + 78) ÷ 4 = 326 ÷ 4 = 81.5.

Question 40: A department store room measures 15 feet by 12 feet. If one gallon of paint covers 350 square feet and the walls are 9 feet high, how many gallons are needed to paint all four walls (ignoring doors and windows)?

4
2 (Correct answer)
1
3

Correct answer: 2

Perimeter = 2(15 + 12) = 54 ft; wall area = 54 × 9 = 486 sq ft; gallons = 486 ÷ 350 ≈ 1.39, so 2 gallons needed.

Question 41: What is the purpose of the NYC Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB)?

Investigating civilian complaints against NYPD officers (Correct answer)
Reviewing budget complaints from city residents
Mediating labor disputes in city agencies
Handling complaints about city contractor performance

Correct answer: Investigating civilian complaints against NYPD officers

The CCRB is an independent agency that receives, investigates, and recommends action on complaints about NYPD officer misconduct.

Question 42: A city bus driver notices that a passenger appears to be unconscious in the back of the bus while three other passengers are loudly arguing near the front. What should the driver do first?

Safely stop the bus and immediately attend to the unconscious passenger as a medical emergency (Correct answer)
Continue driving to the next stop where help may be more available
Resolve the argument at the front to maintain order before assessing the unconscious passenger
Ask a nearby passenger to check on the unconscious person while continuing to drive

Correct answer: Safely stop the bus and immediately attend to the unconscious passenger as a medical emergency

An unconscious passenger represents a potential medical emergency that takes absolute priority over a noise disturbance, requiring an immediate stop and response.

Question 43: A diagram shows a folded piece of paper with a hole punched through all layers. When unfolded, where will the holes appear?

Symmetrically mirrored at the fold line (Correct answer)
Only on the top layer
Only where the punch was made
Randomly distributed

Correct answer: Symmetrically mirrored at the fold line

A hole punched through folded paper appears symmetrically on both sides of the fold line when unfolded.

Question 44: What branch of New York City government is responsible for proposing the annual city budget?

The Borough Presidents collectively
The City Council
The Comptroller's Office
The Office of Management and Budget on behalf of the Mayor (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The Office of Management and Budget on behalf of the Mayor

The Mayor, through the Office of Management and Budget, proposes the executive budget, which the Council then modifies and adopts.

Question 45: Three city clerks process permit applications at 15, 18, and 12 permits per hour. Working together for 6 hours, how many permits do they process in total?

300
225
180
270 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 270

Combined rate = 15 + 18 + 12 = 45/hr; 45 × 6 = 270 permits.

Question 46: Choose the sentence that uses subject-verb agreement correctly.

Each of the officers submits a daily report. (Correct answer)
Neither the manager nor the employees was notified.
The team of supervisors were unable to agree.
The list of required documents are on the desk.

Correct answer: Each of the officers submits a daily report.

'Each' is a singular indefinite pronoun and always takes a singular verb, so 'submits' is correct.

Question 47: What is the least appropriate thing to say in an email telling a job applicant they didn't get the job after you interviewed them?

First, let the candidate know they were not chosen for the position
Mentioning how you feel about the applicant
Instead of using your email address, email the department's general address (Correct answer)
Thanking the applicant for applying

Correct answer: Instead of using your email address, email the department's general address

When rejecting a job applicant, using a general departmental email address instead of a specific sender is considered least appropriate. It can appear impersonal and unprofessional, making it difficult for the applicant to direct any follow-up questions or feedback, which is important for maintaining a positive candidate experience.

Question 48: A coding system assigns codes: Red=R, Blue=B, Green=G, Yellow=Y. A form lists the colors 'Red, Green, Blue, Yellow.' Which code sequence is correct?

R, G, Y, B
R, B, G, Y
G, R, B, Y
R, G, B, Y (Correct answer)

Correct answer: R, G, B, Y

Red=R, Green=G, Blue=B, Yellow=Y gives the sequence R, G, B, Y, matching the listed color order.

Question 49: You briefly study a form: Name: Julia Santos, DOB: 03/17/1989, Case: 77-B, Status: Pending. Later you are asked the case number. What is it?

73-B
77-P
77-B (Correct answer)
17-B

Correct answer: 77-B

The case number listed on the form is 77-B.

Question 50: A municipal water meter reads 48,320 gallons at the start of the month and 51,745 gallons at the end. What is the total water usage for the month?

3,425 gallons (Correct answer)
3,225 gallons
3,525 gallons
3,625 gallons

Correct answer: 3,425 gallons

51,745 − 48,320 = 3,425 gallons consumed during the month.

Question 51: A fire truck traveling east turns right at the intersection. At the next intersection it turns right again. What direction is it now traveling?

South
East
West (Correct answer)
North

Correct answer: West

East → right turn → south → right turn → west.

Question 52: The main idea of a passage is BEST described as:

The overall point or message the author is conveying (Correct answer)
The conclusion only
The longest paragraph
The first sentence only

Correct answer: The overall point or message the author is conveying

The main idea is the central point of the entire passage, not just one part.

Question 53: Which sentence is written correctly?

Neither the supervisor nor the employees were informed of the change. (Correct answer)
Neither the supervisor nor the employees has been informed of the change.
Neither the supervisor nor the employees was informed of the change.
Neither the supervisor nor the employees are being inform of the change.

Correct answer: Neither the supervisor nor the employees were informed of the change.

When using 'neither...nor,' the verb agrees with the subject closest to it. Since 'employees' (plural) is closest, the plural verb 'were' is correct.

Question 54: A clerk is organizing personnel files alphabetically by last name. Where should the file for 'St. Claire, Maria' be placed relative to 'Stafford, James' and 'Stanley, Kevin'?

Between Stafford, James and Stanley, Kevin
After Stanley, Kevin
After Stafford, James but before Stanley, Kevin only if middle names match
Before Stafford, James (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Before Stafford, James

Treating 'St.' as 'Saint,' it alphabetizes before 'Sta-,' placing St. Claire before Stafford.

Question 55: You study a suspect description: Latino male, approx. 30 years old, 5'8", with a tattoo on the right forearm. A report later states the tattoo is on the left forearm. What detail changed?

Tattoo location (Correct answer)
Height
Ethnicity
Age

Correct answer: Tattoo location

The original description places the tattoo on the right forearm; the report places it on the left.

Question 56: Agency policy states: 'All grievances must be submitted in writing within 10 business days of the incident.' An employee experiences an incident on Monday, March 3. What is the LAST day they may submit a grievance (assuming no holidays)?

Friday, March 14
Thursday, March 13
Monday, March 17 (Correct answer)
Wednesday, March 12

Correct answer: Monday, March 17

Counting 10 business days from March 3 (not including March 3 itself) lands on Monday, March 17.

Question 57: A data entry clerk must arrange the following voucher numbers in descending order: 7263, 7632, 7326, 7236, 7623. Which sequence is correct?

7623, 7632, 7326, 7263, 7236
7632, 7623, 7326, 7263, 7236 (Correct answer)
7236, 7263, 7326, 7623, 7632
7632, 7326, 7623, 7263, 7236

Correct answer: 7632, 7623, 7326, 7263, 7236

Descending order means largest to smallest. Ranking the five numbers: 7632 > 7623 > 7326 > 7263 > 7236, which matches the first option.

Question 58: An agency sorts incoming mail into three bins: (A) Legal — anything marked 'Attorney' or 'Legal,' (B) Urgent — anything marked 'Time Sensitive,' (C) General — all other mail. An envelope is marked both 'Attorney' and 'Time Sensitive.' Where does it go?

The rule does not specify; escalate to a supervisor for guidance (Correct answer)
Bin A (Legal) only
Bin B (Urgent) only
Both Bin A and Bin B

Correct answer: The rule does not specify; escalate to a supervisor for guidance

When a rule does not address conflicting categories, the correct civil service action is to escalate to a supervisor rather than assume.

Question 59: A city clerk must file the following documents in chronological order (oldest to newest): Document A dated April 15, Document B dated March 3, Document C dated April 3, Document D dated March 15. What is the correct order?

B, C, D, A
B, D, C, A (Correct answer)
D, B, A, C
A, C, D, B

Correct answer: B, D, C, A

The correct chronological order from oldest to newest is B (March 3), D (March 15), C (April 3), A (April 15).

Question 60: An inspector visits 3 buildings on Monday, 5 on Tuesday, 2 on Wednesday, 6 on Thursday, and 4 on Friday. What is the average number of buildings inspected per day?

4.5
4 (Correct answer)
5
3.5

Correct answer: 4

Total = 3 + 5 + 2 + 6 + 4 = 20; average = 20 ÷ 5 = 4 buildings per day.

Question 61: A report lists five officer badge numbers: 3847, 3874, 3847, 3784, 3478. Which badge number is repeated?

3478
3874
3847 (Correct answer)
3784

Correct answer: 3847

Badge number 3847 appears at positions one and three in the list.

Question 62: A police precinct has 5 patrol cars. Each uses an average of 38 gallons of fuel per week at $3.85 per gallon. What is the total fuel cost for all cars over a 4-week month?

$3,080
$1,463
$732
$2,926 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: $2,926

Weekly cost per car = 38 × $3.85 = $146.30; total = $146.30 × 5 × 4 = $2,926.

Question 63: A clerk verifies a check that reads 'Four Hundred Fifty-Two Dollars and 00/100.' Which numeric amount matches?

$450.20
$425.00
$542.00
$452.00 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: $452.00

'Four Hundred Fifty-Two Dollars' written out equals $452.00 numerically.

Question 64: A 'supporting detail' in a passage is:

The main idea restated
The title of the passage
The author's opinion only
Specific information that backs up the main idea (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Specific information that backs up the main idea

Supporting details are facts, examples, or evidence that back up the main idea.

Question 65: A city agency purchased new office chairs at a cost of $120 per chair. Due to a bulk discount, the price was reduced by 15%. If the agency bought 50 chairs, what was the total cost after the discount was applied?

$6,000
$5,400
$5,100 (Correct answer)
$900

Correct answer: $5,100

First, calculate the discount amount per chair: $120 * 0.15 = $18. Then, find the discounted price per chair: $120 - $18 = $102. Finally, calculate the total cost for 50 chairs: $102 * 50 = $5,100. Alternatively, you can calculate the undiscounted total cost ($120 * 50 = $6,000) and then subtract the total discount ($6,000 * 0.15 = $900), which also gives $5,100.

Question 66: An officer's incident log shows: Incident #1 at 08:15, Incident #2 at 10:42, Incident #3 at 13:07, Incident #4 at 15:30. How many incidents occurred before noon?

Four
Two (Correct answer)
Three
One

Correct answer: Two

Incidents #1 (08:15) and #2 (10:42) both occurred before 12:00 noon, totaling two incidents.

Question 67: A city agency institutes a four-step process for handling citizen service requests. The steps, in no particular order, are: (1) Assign the request to the appropriate division for action. (2) Log the request into the central tracking system and generate a case number. (3) Send an acknowledgement email with the case number to the citizen. (4) Close out the request in the system once the division confirms completion. What is the correct chronological order for these steps?

2, 1, 4, 3
1, 2, 3, 4
2, 3, 1, 4 (Correct answer)
3, 2, 1, 4

Correct answer: 2, 3, 1, 4

The logical process begins with logging the request to create an official record (2). Immediately after logging and generating a case number, an acknowledgement should be sent to the citizen (3). The request is then assigned to the correct division for handling (1). The final step is to close the request after the work is confirmed to be complete (4).

Question 68: Read the sentences below and determine the most logical order. 1. The new software system is designed to streamline the permit application process. 2. Consequently, applicants can expect a significant reduction in waiting times. 3. This efficiency is achieved by automating data entry and verification. 4. Previously, this process involved manual review, which was often time-consuming.

2, 1, 4, 3
4, 1, 3, 2 (Correct answer)
3, 2, 1, 4
1, 4, 2, 3

Correct answer: 4, 1, 3, 2

The most logical flow is: state the old problem (4), introduce the new solution (1), explain how the solution works (3), and then state the positive result (2). This creates a clear cause-and-effect narrative.

Question 69: A sanitation crew collects garbage from 18 city blocks in 3 hours. At this rate, how many blocks can the crew cover in 8 hours?

44
46
42
48 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 48

The crew covers 18 ÷ 3 = 6 blocks per hour. In 8 hours: 6 × 8 = 48 blocks.

Question 70: A civil service clerk must sort mail according to a specific set of rules: All documents from the Department of Finance (DOF) go into the RED bin. All documents from the Department of Transportation (DOT) go into the BLUE bin. However, if a DOT document is marked 'URGENT,' it goes into the RED bin instead. All other documents go into the GREEN bin. The clerk receives a document from the DOT that is marked 'URGENT.' What should the clerk do?

Ask a supervisor for clarification.
Place it in the BLUE bin.
Place it in the RED bin. (Correct answer)
Place it in the GREEN bin.

Correct answer: Place it in the RED bin.

The rules state that documents from the DOT normally go into the BLUE bin. However, there is a specific exception: 'if a DOT document is marked 'URGENT,' it goes into the RED bin instead.' Since the document is from the DOT and is marked 'URGENT,' it must be placed in the RED bin.

Question 71: A sanitation worker collects trash from 4 routes per week. Route A takes 3.5 hours, Route B takes 2.75 hours, Route C takes 4 hours, and Route D takes 3.25 hours. How many total hours does the worker spend on all routes per week?

13 hours
12.75 hours
14 hours
13.5 hours (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 13.5 hours

3.5 + 2.75 + 4 + 3.25 = 13.5 hours total.

Question 72: Read the following memo: 'Effective immediately, all agency vehicles must be returned to the motor pool by 5:00 PM unless a supervisor has granted written approval for extended use. Unauthorized use after hours is subject to review.' What must an employee obtain to use an agency vehicle after 5:00 PM?

No approval is needed after hours
A signed release form from HR
Verbal approval from a coworker
Written approval from a supervisor (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Written approval from a supervisor

The memo states that a supervisor must grant written approval for extended use of agency vehicles.

Question 73: A NYC civil service rule states: 'Any employee absent more than 3 consecutive days without prior notice must submit a physician's note upon return.' Employee Torres was absent 5 consecutive days without prior notice. Which conclusion must be true?

Torres must submit a physician's note upon return (Correct answer)
Torres was suffering from an illness
Torres will forfeit accrued leave time
Torres will be formally disciplined

Correct answer: Torres must submit a physician's note upon return

The rule creates a direct conditional: absent more than 3 days without notice → must submit a physician's note. Torres meets the condition (5 days, no notice), so the consequence must follow. Options A, C, and D are not stated by the rule — they may or may not be true but cannot be concluded from the given information alone.

Question 74: Under New York State Civil Service Law, how many additional points are typically granted to a disabled veteran on an open-competitive civil service examination?

15 points
5 points
3 points
10 points (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 10 points

Disabled veterans receive 10 additional points on open-competitive civil service exams, while non-disabled veterans receive 5 points. This preference is intended to recognize their service and sacrifice.

Question 75: What is the purpose of the topic sentence in a formal paragraph?

To transition to the next paragraph
To introduce and state the main idea of the paragraph (Correct answer)
To provide supporting evidence for the conclusion
To summarize the entire report

Correct answer: To introduce and state the main idea of the paragraph

The topic sentence introduces the main idea of the paragraph and signals to the reader what the paragraph will discuss.

Question 76: If 5 city workers earn a combined total of $312,500 per year, what is the average annual salary per worker?

$62,500 (Correct answer)
$57,500
$60,000
$65,000

Correct answer: $62,500

$312,500 ÷ 5 = $62,500 per worker.

Question 77: Under NYC civil service rules, which term describes a list of candidates who have passed an examination and are ranked in score order awaiting appointment?

Certification roster
Provisional register
Eligible list (Correct answer)
Appointment schedule

Correct answer: Eligible list

An eligible list (also called an 'establishment list') ranks candidates who passed the exam by score. Appointing agencies draw from this list in score order when filling vacancies, subject to veterans' preferences and the Rule of Three.

Question 78: An incoming mail log shows: Letter A arrived at 9:15 AM, Letter B at 9:47 AM, Letter C at 10:03 AM, Letter D at 9:31 AM. In what order should they be logged by arrival time?

A, B, C, D
A, B, D, C
D, A, B, C
A, D, B, C (Correct answer)

Correct answer: A, D, B, C

Chronological order by arrival time: A (9:15 AM), D (9:31 AM), B (9:47 AM), C (10:03 AM).

Question 79: A directive reads: 'Supervisors must conduct annual performance reviews for each subordinate. Reviews must be completed and signed by both the supervisor and subordinate before the end of the fiscal year.' A supervisor completes a review on time, but the subordinate refuses to sign it. Which is the best conclusion?

The review is complete because the supervisor signed it
The subordinate's refusal cancels the review entirely
The review is valid after a 30-day waiting period
The review does not fully comply because both signatures are required (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The review does not fully comply because both signatures are required

The directive requires both the supervisor's and subordinate's signatures; without the subordinate's signature, the requirement is not fully met.

Question 80: Select the sentence with correct subject-verb agreement: 'Neither the manager nor the clerks _____ aware of the change.'

be
is
was
are (Correct answer)

Correct answer: are

When using 'neither…nor,' the verb agrees with the subject closest to it; since 'clerks' is plural, 'are' is correct.

Question 81: A records clerk must arrange the following names alphabetically: Rivera, J.; Rivera, A.; Richardson, T.; Richmond, B. Which order is correct?

Rivera, A.; Rivera, J.; Richardson, T.; Richmond, B.
Richmond, B.; Richardson, T.; Rivera, A.; Rivera, J.
Richardson, T.; Richmond, B.; Rivera, A.; Rivera, J. (Correct answer)
Richardson, T.; Rivera, A.; Rivera, J.; Richmond, B.

Correct answer: Richardson, T.; Richmond, B.; Rivera, A.; Rivera, J.

Filing alphabetically by last name first: Richardson, Richmond (both Richa/Richm before Rive), then Rivera A before Rivera J.

Question 82: An analyst for the Department of Transportation notices that on the last ten holidays, traffic on the Brooklyn Bridge increased by an average of 30%. The analyst predicts that traffic on the bridge will increase by approximately 30% on the upcoming Labor Day holiday. What type of reasoning is the analyst using?

Inductive Reasoning (Correct answer)
Deductive Reasoning
Flawed Reasoning
Absolute Reasoning

Correct answer: Inductive Reasoning

The analyst is using specific past observations (data from ten holidays) to make a general prediction about a future event. This is the definition of inductive reasoning, which moves from specific instances to a broader generalization or prediction. The conclusion is probable, not guaranteed.

NYC Civil Service Exam

The NYC Civil Service Exam exam validates essential knowledge and skills required for certification or licensure in this field.

Questions

90 min

Time Limit

70%

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