Exam 710

Postal Exam 710 is primarily used to fill Data Conversion Operator positions, temporary data entry jobs that can lead to fulltime jobs.

The Postal Service has a number of facilities across the U.S. where Data Conversion Operators (DCO’s) are employed. In such a facility, there are typically a larger number of temporary employees and a smaller number of fulltime employees.

As fulltime positions become available at these facilities, they are offered to the DCO’s with the highest Exam 710 scores. Your score on Exam 710 is therefore doubly important … temporary DCO’s are hired based upon exam scores, and promotions to fulltime positions are based upon exam scores.

Like most other Postal exams, Exam 710 is offered on an as-needed basis. The good news is that it is given as often as twice a year in many locations.

What's on the exam?

Exam 710 consists of two major halves, Clerical Abilities and Verbal Abilities.

These two major halves of Exam 710 are each broken down as well into smaller sections as detailed below.

  1. Clerical Abilities
    The first half, Clerical Abilities, consists of the following four timed sections.
    • A. Sequencing
      Each question in this section is a list of four names or codes in alphabetic and/or numeric order. Some codes are numbers only, and others have letters and numbers mixed together. You are given a fifth name or code, and told to find where this fifth name or code should alphabetically and/or numerically fit into the list. This may not sound too very difficult until you discover that they give you only 3 minutes to answer 20 questions. This means that you have only 9 seconds per question to find the answer and then mark it on your answer sheet. The speed required is incredible. Most people are lucky to finish about half the questions the first time they try. Success on this section calls for extensive practice with up-to-date and authentic practice tests to master the skills and speed required.
    • B. Comparison
      Each question in this section is a list of three names, addresses, or codes that are either exactly alike or at least very, very similar. You are to compare the three names, addresses, or codes to determine if the are exactly alike or if they are different in any way. Then - get this - you are to mark your answer (A, B, C, D, or E) based upon the below instructions:
      1. 1. If all three names, addresses, or codes are exactly alike.
      2. 2. If only the first and second names, addresses, or codes are exactly alike.
      3. 3. If only the first and third names, addresses, or codes are exactly alike.
      4. 4. If only the second and third names, addresses, or codes are exactly alike.
      5. 5. If all three names, addresses, or codes are different.
        You have never experienced utter confusion until you have tried to answer the 30 questions in this section within the 5 minutes allowed. This means that you have only 10 seconds per question. The really confusing and time consuming part is having to refer back to the instructions again and again and again after looking at each question so you can figure out which answer choice to mark. As before, most people are lucky to finish about half the questions the first time they try. And again, success calls for extensive practice with up-to-date and authentic practice tests to master the skills and speed required --- and to learn or memorize the instructions so you won't have to keep referring back to them after each question.
    • C. Spelling
      In this section you are given 3 minutes to answer 20 questions - which comes out to 9 seconds per question. For each question, answer choices A, B, and C are possible ways to spell a particular word. You are to select the answer choice (A, B, or C) with the correct spelling, or to choose answer choice D if you believe that none of the above possible spellings (A, B, or C) are correct. Of course, the words they give us to work with are the most difficult ones you can imagine. To succeed on this section, you need to review a number of basic spelling principles and to study a lengthy list of commonly misspelled words and a list of words that do not follow normal spelling principles.
    • D. Mathematics
      In this section you will have 8 minutes to answer 15 mathematical questions … and before it's all said and done, you will wish that you had more than twice that much time. This is pure math. Each question is an addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division problem. You will be asked to work with whole numbers, decimals, fractions, and percentages. You must solve the problems the old fashion way with pencil and paper. No calculators are allowed! Success on this section calls for a refresher course on math principles and extensive practice with up-to-date and authentic sample questions to master the required speed and skills.
  2. Verbal Abilities
    The second half of the exam, Verbal Abilities, has a total of 55 questions that are broken down into three sections. You are given a single 50 minute period to answer the 55 questions. For most people, speed is not a big issue in this section. As a matter of fact, you are told that you may leave if you finish before the 50 minutes is up, and most people have indeed left before time is called.
    • A. Following Written Instructions
      The Postal Service claims that this section tests your ability to understand and carry out instructions similar to those you might receive on the job. However, we cannot believe that any sane human being would ever give you instructions as strange, convoluted, and confusing as the wording of these 20 questions. Plus, in order to answer a question correctly, you must accomplish three steps a outlined below
      • First you must create a preliminary answer based upon the wording of the question. The preliminary answer will be a letter and a number put together like this: T 5
      • Then, you must look up the preliminary answer on a table provided on the exam to find the answer choice (A, B, C, D, or E) that it correlates to.
      • Finally, you darken the proper answer choice (A, B, C, D, or E) on your answer sheet.
    • We are told that many applicants fail this section completely because they never really understand how to find and mark the correct answer. Success on this section calls for extensive practice with up-to-date and authentic practice tests. Plus, you need detailed instructions to assure that you fully understand how to find and mark the answers.
    • B. Grammar, Usage & Punctuation
      In this section, there are 20 questions that deal with the proper use of grammar, words, and punctuation. In each question you are given four similar sentences, and you are to choose the one that is most appropriately structured and/or worded. Success on this section calls for a refresher course on basic grammar, usage, and punctuation principles and extensive practice with up-to-date and authentic sample questions.
    • C. Vocabulary and Reading Comprehension Section
      The final section is really two smaller sections merged into one. It consists of two types of questions, Vocabulary and Reading Comprehension, as detailed below.
      • Vocabulary Questions
        There are only 5 Vocabulary questions. For each question you are given a sentence with a particular word highlighted. Then, you are given a list of four words, and you are to choose which of the four listed words most nearly means the same as the highlighted word in the sentence. Success on this section calls for a refresher course on basic vocabulary principles.
      • Reading Comprehension Questions
        In each of the 10 Reading Comprehension questions, you are given a paragraph to read. Then you are given four sentences that are related to the subject of the paragraph. Your job is to choose the sentence that best supports and summarizes the paragraph. Success on this section calls for extensive practice with up-to-date and authentic sample questions to train yourself to quickly scan paragraphs to determine their meaning and purpose

How to Prepare for Exam 710

Four elements are needed to achieve your highest possible score: (1) knowledge of exam content; (2) effective test-taking strategies; (3) a quantity of authentic practice tests and sample questions; and (4) extensive practice to master the necessary skills and speed. An up-to-date and performance proven study guide is essential for success (in the sidebar of this page).

 


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