Ohio Civil Service Exam — Questions and Answers

Question 1: Which of the following is the primary purpose of a 'tickler file' in an office setting?

To archive completed project documents for long-term storage.
To serve as a chronological reminder system for tasks and deadlines. (Correct answer)
To maintain a confidential list of employee performance issues.
To store humorous office memos and announcements.

Correct answer: To serve as a chronological reminder system for tasks and deadlines.

A tickler file, also known as a 43-folders system, is a date-based reminder system. It consists of folders for each day of the month and each month of the year, allowing a user to file a document or a note for a future date when it will need attention.

Question 2: A civil service exam has 80 questions. A passing score requires answering at least 75% correctly. What is the minimum number of correct answers needed to pass?

62
58
60 (Correct answer)
56

Correct answer: 60

80 × 0.75 = 60 correct answers required.

Question 3: The Ohio Ethics Commission has authority to:

Prosecute criminal corruption cases in state court
Issue advisory opinions and investigate ethics violations by public officials (Correct answer)
Approve or deny all state contracts over $50,000
Set salary ranges for all state employees

Correct answer: Issue advisory opinions and investigate ethics violations by public officials

The Ohio Ethics Commission investigates complaints, issues advisory opinions, and may refer cases for prosecution, but does not itself prosecute criminal cases.

Question 4: Identify the sentence with correct subject-verb agreement:

The list of requirements are updated last week.
The list of requirements were updated last week.
The list of requirements was updated last week. (Correct answer)
The list of requirements have been updated last week.

Correct answer: The list of requirements was updated last week.

The subject is 'list' (singular), so it takes the singular verb 'was.'

Question 5: A citizen calls your office repeatedly demanding an answer to a complaint filed three weeks ago. The case is still under review. What is the best response?

Inform them the complaint was denied
Transfer them to your supervisor without explanation
Tell them to stop calling and wait for written notice
Acknowledge the delay, explain the review is ongoing, and give an estimated timeframe (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Acknowledge the delay, explain the review is ongoing, and give an estimated timeframe

Acknowledging the delay and providing a timeframe maintains trust and meets customer service standards.

Question 6: When prioritizing tasks, a civil service employee should generally:

Complete tasks in alphabetical order regardless of urgency
Delay all tasks until the end of the day
Focus on personal preferences for which work to complete first
Address the most urgent and highest-impact tasks first, in alignment with supervisor guidance (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Address the most urgent and highest-impact tasks first, in alignment with supervisor guidance

Effective prioritization balances urgency and impact, guided by supervisor direction.

Question 7: Passage: 'The state's procurement policy prohibits purchasing items from vendors in which a state employee has a financial interest. Employees must disclose any potential conflicts of interest before a contract is awarded.' Which situation best illustrates a violation of this policy?

A manager awards a contract to the lowest bidder after disclosing a past friendship with the vendor's owner.
An employee recommends a vendor without disclosing that her spouse owns 10% of that company. (Correct answer)
A department head selects a vendor after the ethics board reviews and approves the choice.
A buyer purchases from a vendor after disclosing and receiving clearance for a prior business relationship.

Correct answer: An employee recommends a vendor without disclosing that her spouse owns 10% of that company.

The employee failed to disclose a financial interest (spouse's ownership) before the contract process, violating the policy.

Question 8: A pie chart shows department staffing: Administration 25%, Operations 40%, Compliance 20%, IT 15%. If total staff is 200, how many are in Operations?

40
60
80 (Correct answer)
50

Correct answer: 80

40% of 200 employees equals 80 employees in Operations.

Question 9: An employee works 7.5 hours per day, 5 days per week. How many hours do they work in a standard 52-week year?

1,760
1,950 (Correct answer)
2,080
1,820

Correct answer: 1,950

7.5 × 5 × 52 = 1,950 hours per year.

Question 10: The term 'turnaround time' in an office setting refers to:

The time it takes to rotate staff schedules
The time needed to reorganize a filing system
The amount of time required to complete and return a task or document (Correct answer)
The speed at which a printer operates

Correct answer: The amount of time required to complete and return a task or document

Turnaround time measures how quickly work is processed from receipt to completion and return.

Question 11: Which word means to set apart resources or duties for a specific purpose?

Distribute
Consolidate
Revoke
Allocate (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Allocate

'Allocate' means to assign or distribute resources, funds, or responsibilities for a particular purpose.

Question 12: A road crew repaves 0.75 miles per hour. How long will it take to repave a 4.5-mile stretch?

5 hours
6 hours (Correct answer)
4 hours
6.5 hours

Correct answer: 6 hours

4.5 ÷ 0.75 = 6 hours.

Question 13: An Ohio public official is considered to have a 'financial interest' that triggers disclosure requirements when they:

Have a direct or indirect financial stake in a matter before their agency (Correct answer)
Own any real property in Ohio
Earn a public salary above the state median
Have any bank account in Ohio

Correct answer: Have a direct or indirect financial stake in a matter before their agency

Ethics disclosure requirements are triggered when an official has a direct or indirect financial interest in a matter they are handling or deciding in their official capacity.

Question 14: Vehicle maintenance costs over four years: Year 1=$1,200, Year 2=$1,450, Year 3=$1,100, Year 4=$1,650. What is the median cost?

$1,325 (Correct answer)
$1,275
$1,350
$1,400

Correct answer: $1,325

Sorted: 1,100; 1,200; 1,450; 1,650 — median = (1,200 + 1,450) ÷ 2 = $1,325.

Question 15: Under Ohio civil service law, the probationary period for a new classified employee primarily serves to:

Allow the appointing authority to evaluate fitness for permanent appointment (Correct answer)
Establish seniority for future layoff calculations
Satisfy federal employment verification requirements
Determine the employee's salary grade

Correct answer: Allow the appointing authority to evaluate fitness for permanent appointment

The probationary period allows supervisors to assess whether a new hire meets the standards required for permanent classified status before full civil service protections apply.

Question 16: Look at the pattern: A1, C3, E5, G7, ___. What comes next?

I9 (Correct answer)
H8
J9
I8

Correct answer: I9

Letters skip one (A, C, E, G, I) and numbers increase by 2 (1, 3, 5, 7, 9), giving I9.

Question 17: Which sentence is grammatically correct?

Neither the director nor the clerks were available. (Correct answer)
Neither the director nor the clerks is available.
Neither the director nor the clerks are was available.
Neither the director nor the clerks was available.

Correct answer: Neither the director nor the clerks were available.

With 'neither/nor,' the verb agrees with the noun closest to it; 'clerks' (plural) requires 'were.'

Question 18: Passage: 'The Office of Budget and Management requires all departments to submit quarterly expenditure reports. Reports submitted after the deadline will not be processed until the following quarter, potentially delaying reimbursements.' An employee submits a report two weeks late. What is the most likely outcome?

The employee must resubmit the report with a supervisor's signature.
The report will be processed immediately with a late penalty fee.
The report will not be processed until the next quarter. (Correct answer)
The report will be rejected and must be resubmitted at the start of next year.

Correct answer: The report will not be processed until the next quarter.

The passage states that late reports will not be processed until the following quarter, which would delay reimbursements.

Question 19: A data entry clerk must transcribe information from a paper form into a database. Which of the following database entries is an exact copy of the Source Record? Source Record: Applicant: O'Connell, Brian | ID: #5830-G | Status: PENDING

Applicant: O'Connell, Brian | ID: #5830-G | Status: PNDING
Applicant: O'Connell, Brian | ID: #5830-G | Status: PENDING (Correct answer)
Applicant: O'Connell, Brian | ID: #5380-G | Status: PENDING
Applicant: OConnell, Brian | ID: #5830-G | Status: PENDING

Correct answer: Applicant: O'Connell, Brian | ID: #5830-G | Status: PENDING

This option is the only one that perfectly matches the source record in every detail, including the apostrophe in the name, the sequence of numbers in the ID, and the full spelling of the status.

Question 20: When using spreadsheet software to track data, which function would you use to add all values in a column?

COUNT
SUM (Correct answer)
MAX
AVERAGE

Correct answer: SUM

The SUM function adds all numeric values in a specified range of cells.

Question 21: You are processing a high volume of walk-in citizens and realize some have been waiting over two hours due to understaffing. You should:

Continue working without acknowledging the wait
Close the counter until staffing improves
Communicate the expected wait time to those waiting and notify your supervisor of the staffing issue (Correct answer)
Ask waiting citizens to leave and return tomorrow

Correct answer: Communicate the expected wait time to those waiting and notify your supervisor of the staffing issue

Communicating delays and notifying supervisors is the appropriate response to service disruption.

Question 22: Passage: 'Organizational patterns include chronological order, cause and effect, compare and contrast, and problem-solution. Recognizing the pattern helps readers follow the author's reasoning.' A paragraph begins: 'Budget shortfalls led to staff reductions, which in turn caused longer processing times for citizen requests.' What organizational pattern is used?

Problem-solution
Cause and effect (Correct answer)
Compare and contrast
Chronological order

Correct answer: Cause and effect

The paragraph shows a chain of causes leading to effects (shortfalls → reductions → longer times), which is the cause-and-effect pattern.

Question 23: Ohio's Open Meetings Act (Sunshine Law) generally requires that meetings of public bodies be:

Recorded on video and posted online within 48 hours
Open to the public with advance notice (Correct answer)
Attended by at least one representative from the press
Conducted only during normal business hours

Correct answer: Open to the public with advance notice

Ohio's Open Meetings Act requires public bodies to conduct their deliberations and actions in meetings open to the public with proper advance notice.

Question 24: Which of the following statements about Ohio's classified civil service is TRUE?

Classified employees may be dismissed at any time without cause
Classified service applies only to elected officials
Classified employees do not have the right to appeal dismissals
Classified employees are appointed based on merit through competitive examination (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Classified employees are appointed based on merit through competitive examination

Ohio's classified civil service system requires appointment based on merit, primarily through competitive examinations, as established in the Ohio Revised Code.

Question 25: A clerk must alphabetize files for 'St. Claire County,' 'Saint Bernard Hospital,' and 'Stanton Office Supply.' What is the correct order?

Stanton, Saint Bernard, St. Claire
Saint Bernard, St. Claire, Stanton (Correct answer)
St. Claire, Saint Bernard, Stanton
Saint Bernard, Stanton, St. Claire

Correct answer: Saint Bernard, St. Claire, Stanton

When filing, 'Saint' and 'St.' are treated as 'Saint,' so all three are compared as: Saint Bernard, Saint Claire, Stanton.

Question 26: Which of the following sentences adheres to proper grammar?

It takes upto eight hours to prepare a meal for that many people.
Put the biscuit in to the basket
After seeing the lions at the zoo, we moved onto the monkeys
All of his books turned into best sellers (Correct answer)

Correct answer: All of his books turned into best sellers

Explanation: <br> The preposition "into" is written as a single word. Keep the words in and to apart when a verb within is followed by the word to. On and to are likewise covered by these guidelines. Never write up to as a single word.

Question 27: You discover a procedural error in work you completed two days ago that has already been sent to another department. What should you do?

Immediately notify your supervisor and the receiving department about the error (Correct answer)
Wait to see if the other department notices the error
Quietly correct your records and hope it does not cause problems
Blame the error on a system glitch

Correct answer: Immediately notify your supervisor and the receiving department about the error

Promptly disclosing errors prevents compounding problems and demonstrates professional accountability.

Question 28: The doctrine of 'respondeat superior' in Ohio public law means that:

An employer may be held liable for wrongful acts of employees acting within the scope of their employment (Correct answer)
Only the highest-ranking official can authorize agency actions
Supervisors are always personally liable for their employees' torts
Employees must follow all supervisory orders regardless of legality

Correct answer: An employer may be held liable for wrongful acts of employees acting within the scope of their employment

Respondeat superior holds employers (including government agencies) vicariously liable for torts committed by employees within the scope of their employment duties.

Question 29: Which of the following best describes the purpose of a chain of command in a government agency?

To delay decision-making to allow more deliberation
To prevent lower-level employees from making any decisions
To ensure all employees earn the same salary
To establish clear lines of authority, responsibility, and communication (Correct answer)

Correct answer: To establish clear lines of authority, responsibility, and communication

A chain of command defines who reports to whom, clarifying authority and accountability throughout an organization.

Question 30: When proofreading, a clerk finds the phrase 'the the report.' What type of error is this?

Repeated word error (Correct answer)
Spelling error
Punctuation error
Capitalization error

Correct answer: Repeated word error

A repeated word error occurs when the same word appears consecutively by mistake.

Question 31: You are assigned to a project team with a member who constantly misses deadlines. The project deadline is approaching. What should you do?

Complete the team member's portion of work without notifying anyone
Alert your supervisor to the situation so steps can be taken to meet the deadline (Correct answer)
Confront the team member aggressively in front of the group
Submit the project incomplete and blame the team member

Correct answer: Alert your supervisor to the situation so steps can be taken to meet the deadline

Notifying your supervisor allows for timely intervention and protects the team's ability to meet its deadline.

Question 32: Passage: 'A procedure is a set of step-by-step instructions for completing a task. Unlike a policy, which states what must be done, a procedure explains how it is to be done.' Which document is most likely a procedure rather than a policy?

'To request leave: (1) Complete Form HR-7, (2) Submit to supervisor, (3) Await written approval.' (Correct answer)
'The agency is committed to providing equal employment opportunity to all applicants.'
'All travel reimbursements must be approved by a department director prior to travel.'
'Employees shall maintain confidentiality of all client information.'

Correct answer: 'To request leave: (1) Complete Form HR-7, (2) Submit to supervisor, (3) Await written approval.'

The numbered steps explaining how to request leave describe the how-to process, making it a procedure rather than a policy statement.

Question 33: You are part of a team working on a time-sensitive project. You notice that a coworker, who is responsible for a critical component, is consistently falling behind and their delays are now jeopardizing the team's ability to meet the deadline. What is the most appropriate initial action to take?

Quietly complete some of your coworker's tasks for them to help the team stay on schedule.
Discuss the matter privately with your coworker to see if they need assistance or if there is an issue you can help resolve. (Correct answer)
Wait until the next team meeting to bring up the issue of the missed deadlines in front of the entire group.
Immediately inform your supervisor that your coworker's performance is threatening the project's success.

Correct answer: Discuss the matter privately with your coworker to see if they need assistance or if there is an issue you can help resolve.

The most professional and constructive first step is to approach the coworker directly and privately. This provides an opportunity to understand the situation, offer help, and resolve the problem at the lowest level without immediately escalating it or causing public embarrassment. Escalating to a supervisor should be the next step if direct communication fails. Doing their work doesn't solve the root problem, and raising the issue in a group setting is unprofessional.

Question 34: The Ohio Public Records Act requires government agencies to provide records within what general timeframe?

A reasonable period of time without delay (Correct answer)
30 calendar days from receipt of request
10 business days for electronic records only
24 hours for all requests

Correct answer: A reasonable period of time without delay

Ohio's Public Records Act (ORC 149.43) requires agencies to provide records promptly and within a reasonable period of time.

Question 35: A county office processes 144 applications per day with 6 clerks. If 2 clerks call in sick, how many applications will be processed in an 8-hour shift?

112
120
108
96 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 96

Each clerk processes 144/6 = 24 applications/day, so 4 clerks process 4 × 24 = 96 applications.

Question 36: A report shows that a city processed 1,200 permits in Q1 and aims to process 20% more in Q2. How many permits must be processed in Q2 to meet this goal?

1,320
1,440 (Correct answer)
1,380
1,400

Correct answer: 1,440

20% of 1,200 is 240; adding that to 1,200 gives a Q2 target of 1,440 permits.

Question 37: During a face-to-face appointment, a citizen makes a comment you find personally offensive. You should:

Report the citizen to your supervisor before the appointment ends
Maintain professionalism, stay focused on the service task, and address the comment only if it escalates (Correct answer)
End the appointment immediately
Respond with a sharp remark to set the record straight

Correct answer: Maintain professionalism, stay focused on the service task, and address the comment only if it escalates

Professionalism requires managing personal reactions and keeping the focus on the citizen's service needs.

Question 38: Your agency introduces a new software system and you are struggling to adapt while your coworkers seem to manage fine. What is the BEST response?

Ask a coworker or your supervisor for additional training or guidance to get up to speed (Correct answer)
Complain to others that the system is poorly designed
Avoid using the new system and rely on the old process as long as possible
Pretend you understand and hope you figure it out on the job

Correct answer: Ask a coworker or your supervisor for additional training or guidance to get up to speed

Proactively seeking help when struggling with new tools ensures productivity and shows professional initiative.

Question 39: A clerk is asked to prepare a form letter to be sent to 200 residents. The most efficient method is:

Photocopy one letter and hand-write each name
Send one letter to a general address for all residents
Type each letter individually with personalized details
Use mail merge to combine a standard letter template with a recipient database (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Use mail merge to combine a standard letter template with a recipient database

Mail merge automates the insertion of individual recipient data into a standard template, saving significant time.

Question 40: You are an administrative clerk responsible for managing your supervisor's calendar. She has a recurring weekly team meeting on Wednesdays at 10:00 AM. A new, high-priority request comes in for a one-time project briefing with a director, who is only available on Wednesday at 10:00 AM next week. What is the BEST course of action?

Decline the director's meeting request because the time slot is already booked.
Immediately cancel the team meeting and schedule the director's meeting in its place.
Inform your supervisor of the conflict and ask her how she would like to proceed. (Correct answer)
Schedule the director's meeting without informing your supervisor, assuming she will see it on her calendar.

Correct answer: Inform your supervisor of the conflict and ask her how she would like to proceed.

The most professional and effective approach is to present the scheduling conflict to the supervisor. This allows her to make the final decision based on her priorities. It respects her authority and avoids making assumptions that could lead to problems. Canceling a recurring team meeting or booking a conflicting appointment without consultation is inappropriate.

Question 41: The Ohio General Assembly is composed of which two chambers?

The Senate and the House of Representatives (Correct answer)
The House and the Board of Commissioners
The Assembly and the Council
The Senate and the House of Delegates

Correct answer: The Senate and the House of Representatives

Ohio's legislature consists of the Ohio Senate and the Ohio House of Representatives.

Question 42: Select the sentence with correct subject-verb agreement.

Each of the officers are present.
Each of the officers have been present.
Each of the officers was present. (Correct answer)
Each of the officers were present.

Correct answer: Each of the officers was present.

The pronoun 'each' is singular and requires the singular verb 'was.'

Question 43: You are assigned a long-term project with no interim checkpoints set by your supervisor. How should you manage the project?

Complete it as quickly as possible regardless of quality to get it off your plate
Work on it only when you have extra time and deliver at the final deadline
Wait for your supervisor to check in before taking action
Set your own interim milestones, periodically update your supervisor on progress, and flag issues early (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Set your own interim milestones, periodically update your supervisor on progress, and flag issues early

Self-managed milestones and proactive supervisor updates demonstrate initiative and prevent deadline surprises.

Question 44: How many members serve in the Ohio Senate?

50
33 (Correct answer)
132
99

Correct answer: 33

The Ohio Senate has 33 members, each serving four-year terms.

Question 45: When indexing a business name for filing purposes, 'The Ohio Department of Transportation' would be filed under:

Department
Ohio (Correct answer)
Transportation
The

Correct answer: Ohio

Articles such as 'The' are disregarded in indexing, so filing begins with the next significant word.

Question 46: A citizen presents what appears to be a fraudulent document to receive a government benefit. What is the correct response?

Ignore the concern and complete the transaction
Process the request to avoid conflict
Accuse the citizen directly and deny service immediately
Follow agency fraud protocol, which typically involves supervisor notification and documentation (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Follow agency fraud protocol, which typically involves supervisor notification and documentation

Agency fraud protocols exist to handle suspected fraud legally and without confrontation.

Question 47: While assisting a citizen at the counter, you realize you do not have the authority to approve their request. You should:

Explain your limitations and direct them to the appropriate authority (Correct answer)
Approve it anyway to avoid conflict
Deny the request and end the interaction
Ask them to submit everything in writing and walk away

Correct answer: Explain your limitations and direct them to the appropriate authority

Redirecting to the appropriate authority ensures the citizen receives proper assistance without overstepping your role.

Question 48: A state office receives 480 pieces of mail per day. If a clerk can process 60 pieces per hour, how many hours will it take to process the daily mail?

7 hours
8 hours (Correct answer)
6 hours
9 hours

Correct answer: 8 hours

480 ÷ 60 = 8 hours to process the full day's mail.

Question 49: If all certified employees are eligible for promotion, and Maria is eligible for promotion, which conclusion is valid?

Maria is not certified
Maria may or may not be certified (Correct answer)
Only certified employees can be promoted
Maria is certified

Correct answer: Maria may or may not be certified

Eligibility for promotion does not require certification — other paths to eligibility may exist.

Question 50: An employee can file 40 documents in an 8-hour workday. A temporary worker can file 30 documents in a 6-hour workday. If they work together, how many documents can they file in a 4-hour period?

45
40 (Correct answer)
35
50

Correct answer: 40

First, determine the filing rate per hour for each person. The employee's rate is 40 documents / 8 hours = 5 documents per hour. The temporary worker's rate is 30 documents / 6 hours = 5 documents per hour. Their combined rate is 5 + 5 = 10 documents per hour. To find the total documents filed in 4 hours, multiply their combined rate by the time: 10 documents/hour * 4 hours = 40 documents.

Question 51: Look at the number pattern: 3, 6, 12, 24, ___. What comes next?

30
42
36
48 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 48

Each term is doubled: 24 × 2 = 48.

Question 52: During a project, you discover a more efficient method than the one specified in your agency's current procedures. What should you do?

Immediately switch to the new method without telling anyone
Document the new method and propose it to your supervisor through proper channels (Correct answer)
Implement the new method and present results as if you followed procedure
Ignore the idea since procedures rarely change in government

Correct answer: Document the new method and propose it to your supervisor through proper channels

Proposing improvements through proper channels respects existing protocols while still advancing efficiency.

Question 53: Choose the word that best completes the following sentence: The new regulations will have a significant _______ on how the department processes applications.

except
effect (Correct answer)
affect
accept

Correct answer: effect

'Effect' is a noun that means 'a result' or 'an influence.' 'Affect' is a verb that means 'to influence.' In this sentence, a noun is needed to describe the result of the regulations. Therefore, 'effect' is the correct choice.

Question 54: If a sequence follows the pattern 3, 6, 12, 24, ___, what is the next number?

36
42
60
48 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 48

Each term is doubled: 24 × 2 = 48.

Question 55: A state agency's travel budget of $450,000 is allocated as shown in the pie chart below. (Pie Chart Description: Airfare 40%, Lodging 30%, Meals 15%, Ground Transport 10%, Other 5%) How much money is allocated for Lodging and Ground Transport combined?

$225,000 (Correct answer)
$135,000
$157,500
$180,000

Correct answer: $225,000

First, add the percentages for Lodging (30%) and Ground Transport (10%), which equals 40%. Then, calculate 40% of the total budget: 0.40 * $450,000 = $180,000. Wait, let me re-calculate. Lodging is 30% of $450,000 = $135,000. Ground Transport is 10% of $450,000 = $45,000. Combined: $135,000 + $45,000 = $180,000. Let me check the other options. Ah, I see a potential error in my initial calculation. Lodging (30%) + Ground Transport (10%) = 40%. 0.40 * 450,000 = 180,000. Let me try another combination. Lodging (30%) + Meals (15%) = 45%. 0.45 * 450,000 = $202,500. Let's recalculate the correct answer. Lodging is $135,000. Ground Transport is $45,000. Total is $180,000. Let's create a new answer set. A) $180,000 (Correct). B) $225,000 (Incorrect - this is 50%). C) $135,000 (Incorrect - this is only Lodging). D) $45,000 (Incorrect - this is only Ground Transport). Let's shuffle. A) $225,000 B) $180,000 C) $135,000 D) $45,000. Correct is B. The explanation is: Lodging is 30% and Ground Transport is 10%, for a combined 40%. 40% of the $450,000 budget is calculated as 0.40 * 450,000 = $180,000.

Question 56: A state inspection takes an average of 45 minutes. If inspectors work 7-hour shifts, how many complete inspections can one inspector finish in a shift?

8
9 (Correct answer)
10
7

Correct answer: 9

7 hours = 420 minutes; 420 ÷ 45 = 9.33, so 9 complete inspections.

Question 57: A clerk must calculate the total pages photocopied: 45 pages × 4 copies each, plus 30 pages × 6 copies each. What is the total?

420
360 (Correct answer)
330
390

Correct answer: 360

(45 × 4) + (30 × 6) = 180 + 180 = 360 total pages copied.

Question 58: You realize you made an error in a report that has already been submitted to your supervisor. What should you do?

Wait to see if your supervisor notices before acting
Immediately inform your supervisor of the mistake and offer a correction (Correct answer)
Blame the error on data provided by a coworker
Hope the error goes unnoticed

Correct answer: Immediately inform your supervisor of the mistake and offer a correction

Promptly reporting and correcting errors demonstrates accountability and integrity.

Question 59: You are given two urgent assignments by two different supervisors with conflicting deadlines. What should you do?

Ignore both until the conflict is resolved on its own
Work on the assignment from the higher-ranking supervisor only
Inform both supervisors of the conflict and ask them to prioritize (Correct answer)
Complete whichever assignment interests you more

Correct answer: Inform both supervisors of the conflict and ask them to prioritize

Communicating the conflict to both supervisors allows them to determine priority and ensures neither task is missed.

Question 60: A department budget of $45,000 is divided among three programs: Program A receives 40%, Program B receives 35%, and Program C receives the remainder. How much does Program C receive?

$9,500
$10,000
$11,250 (Correct answer)
$12,500

Correct answer: $11,250

Program C receives 100% − 40% − 35% = 25% of $45,000 = $11,250.

Question 61: Select the sentence with the correct use of 'fewer' vs. 'less.'

There are less errors in this draft.
There is fewer errors in this draft.
There is less errors in this draft.
There are fewer errors in this draft. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: There are fewer errors in this draft.

'Fewer' is used with countable nouns like 'errors'; 'less' is used with uncountable quantities.

Question 62: Ohio is divided into how many counties?

88 (Correct answer)
72
100
64

Correct answer: 88

Ohio is divided into 88 counties, each with its own local government.

Question 63: Which word is spelled correctly?

Occurance
Occurence
Occurrence (Correct answer)
Occurrance

Correct answer: Occurrence

'Occurrence' is spelled with double 'c' and double 'r.'

Question 64: Sequence: 81, 27, 9, 3, ___. What is the next number?

2
0
1 (Correct answer)
6

Correct answer: 1

Each term is divided by 3: 3 ÷ 3 = 1.

Question 65: Read the sentence: 'The supervisor, along with her team, is responsible for completing the audit.' Why is 'is' used instead of 'are'?

Both 'is' and 'are' are equally correct
The subject is 'supervisor' (singular), and 'along with her team' is a parenthetical phrase (Correct answer)
'Team' is plural, so 'is' is wrong here
'Along with' makes the subject plural

Correct answer: The subject is 'supervisor' (singular), and 'along with her team' is a parenthetical phrase

Phrases like 'along with' do not change the grammatical subject; 'supervisor' remains singular, requiring 'is.'

Question 66: Which of the following phrases lacks proper grammar?

He was recently promoted to principal
The prosecutor summed up his principle point in his closing statement (Correct answer)
The principal objective is to increase awareness of the issue
That is a good idea in principle

Correct answer: The prosecutor summed up his principle point in his closing statement

Explanation: <br> Principal typically denotes the primary in an adjective. "Principle" is a term that generally refers to a rule, conviction, or code of behavior.

Question 67: Select the sentence that correctly uses a comma after an introductory element.

After reviewing the file, the clerk closed it. (Correct answer)
After reviewing the file the, clerk closed it.
After reviewing the file the clerk closed it.
After reviewing, the file the clerk closed it.

Correct answer: After reviewing the file, the clerk closed it.

A comma follows an introductory prepositional or participial phrase to separate it from the main clause.

Question 68: You discover that you made a significant error on a financial report that has already been submitted to your supervisor and forwarded to the agency's finance department. What is the best course of action?

Attempt to contact someone in the finance department directly to have them fix the error for you.
Immediately inform your supervisor about the error, explain the potential impact, and provide a corrected version of the report. (Correct answer)
Correct the error in your own files but don't mention it unless you are asked about it directly.
Wait to see if anyone notices the mistake before taking any action.

Correct answer: Immediately inform your supervisor about the error, explain the potential impact, and provide a corrected version of the report.

Taking immediate ownership of a mistake demonstrates integrity and accountability. The most responsible action is to promptly notify your supervisor, as they are ultimately accountable for the work. This allows them to manage the situation, notify other departments correctly, and mitigate any negative consequences. The other options are unprofessional and could worsen the situation.

Question 69: You are working on a deadline-sensitive task when a supervisor from a different division asks you to stop and help with their project. What is the best response?

Explain your current deadline to the supervisor and ask them to coordinate with your direct supervisor (Correct answer)
Immediately assist the other supervisor since they outrank your coworkers
Abandon your current task to avoid confrontation
Ignore the other supervisor's request entirely

Correct answer: Explain your current deadline to the supervisor and ask them to coordinate with your direct supervisor

Communicating your competing deadline and directing the request through your supervisor protects both your assignment and professional relationships.

Question 70: Your supervisor gives you conflicting instructions from those given by another supervisor. What should you do?

Follow the instructions of the higher-ranking supervisor without discussion
Follow whichever instruction is easier
Ask your direct supervisor to clarify the priority and resolve the conflict (Correct answer)
Ignore both instructions until they agree

Correct answer: Ask your direct supervisor to clarify the priority and resolve the conflict

Seeking clarification from your direct supervisor prevents errors caused by conflicting guidance.

Question 71: A colleague asks you to sign off on their work as a witness, but you did not actually observe them perform the task. What should you do?

Ask the colleague to describe what they did so you can sign with confidence
Sign it as a favor since you trust the colleague did the work
Sign it but add a note that you did not observe the task
Refuse to sign and explain that you cannot attest to something you did not witness (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Refuse to sign and explain that you cannot attest to something you did not witness

Signing a document you did not witness is a falsification of records, which violates civil service integrity standards.

Question 72: Which Ohio official is responsible for overseeing the conduct of state elections?

The Ohio Attorney General
The Ohio Secretary of State (Correct answer)
The Ohio Governor
The Ohio Auditor

Correct answer: The Ohio Secretary of State

The Ohio Secretary of State is the chief elections officer responsible for overseeing state and local elections.

Question 73: Using standard 'letter-by-letter' filing rules, which of the following names should be filed FIRST?

Stephan, William (Correct answer)
Stevens, Aaron
Stevens, A. R.
Stephenson, G.

Correct answer: Stephan, William

According to standard filing rules, you compare names letter by letter from the beginning. 'Stephan' comes before 'Stephenson' and 'Stevens' because 'a' comes before 'e'. Therefore, 'Stephan, William' is filed first.

Question 74: You finish your assigned tasks with time remaining in your shift. What is the most appropriate action?

Ask your supervisor if there are additional tasks or assist a coworker (Correct answer)
Take an extended break
Leave work early since your tasks are done
Browse the internet until your shift ends

Correct answer: Ask your supervisor if there are additional tasks or assist a coworker

Civil service employees are expected to use their time productively, including seeking additional assignments.

Question 75: Which filing system arranges records by subject matter rather than name or number?

Subject filing (Correct answer)
Alphabetical filing
Numeric filing
Geographic filing

Correct answer: Subject filing

Subject filing organizes documents by topic or category, making retrieval easier when the subject is known.

Question 76: Which word describes information meant to be kept private and not shared publicly?

General
Public
Procedural
Confidential (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Confidential

'Confidential' describes information that must be kept secret and shared only with authorized individuals.

Question 77: In Ohio, which agency is responsible for administering the state civil service examinations?

State Personnel Board of Review
Ohio Ethics Commission
Ohio Department of Administrative Services (Correct answer)
Ohio Department of Commerce

Correct answer: Ohio Department of Administrative Services

The Ohio Department of Administrative Services (DAS) oversees the civil service examination and classification system.

Question 78: Which of the following sentences contains a grammatical error?

Each of the employees are required to submit a timesheet. (Correct answer)
The supervisor and her team completed the audit on time.
The department head reviewed all submitted reports.
Neither the manager nor the clerks were notified of the change.

Correct answer: Each of the employees are required to submit a timesheet.

'Each' is a singular pronoun and requires the singular verb 'is required,' not 'are required.'

Question 79: Passage: 'Workplace safety regulations require that all employees complete annual safety training. Supervisors are responsible for ensuring their team members complete the training and for documenting completion in the personnel file.' A supervisor's team has two members who have not completed safety training this year. Who bears responsibility?

The HR department, because training records are maintained by personnel staff.
The individual employees, because each person is responsible for their own training.
The supervisor, because supervisors are responsible for their team's completion. (Correct answer)
Both the supervisor and HR share equal responsibility for tracking completion.

Correct answer: The supervisor, because supervisors are responsible for their team's completion.

The passage states supervisors are responsible for ensuring team members complete training, placing responsibility on the supervisor.

Question 80: The word 'implement' most nearly means:

Delay until further notice
Put into effect or action (Correct answer)
Cancel due to lack of funding
Plan in theory

Correct answer: Put into effect or action

'Implement' means to put a plan, decision, or policy into practical effect or action.

Question 81: Look at the pattern: A1, B3, C5, D7, ___. What comes next?

E8
F9
E10
E9 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: E9

Letters advance alphabetically and numbers increase by 2: E follows D, and 7 + 2 = 9.

Question 82: Which sentence contains a dangling modifier?

Running down the hallway, the employee dropped her files.
After reviewing the data, the supervisor submitted the report.
After finishing the audit, the team celebrated their success.
Having completed the training, the certificate was awarded to John. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Having completed the training, the certificate was awarded to John.

The certificate cannot review training; the modifier 'Having completed the training' illogically modifies 'certificate' instead of 'John.'

Ohio Civil Service Exam

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

Questions

90 min

Time Limit

70%

To Pass

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Exam Rules

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10 pretest questions are mixed in and don't affect your score
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