How to Ace the Civil Service Exam?

Working for the government has many benefits, which is why a lot of Americans want to get a government job. However, it isn’t easy to get a job in civil service due to the demanding criteria and challenging examinations. Every year, thousands of applicants appear in the Civil Service exams, and only a handful of applicants secure scores good enough to be considered for a position.

Each role requires a different test that is tailored and set according to the duties and responsibilities of the job. Let’s take a look at the various tips and tricks applicants should use to ace their Civil Service Exams.

Pre-Exam (Registration)

1. Check Official Website

Visiting the official government website is highly important to know when the Civil Service Exams are taking place. Exams for positions like police officer or firefighter take place every four to six years. Knowing when these exams will take place allows you to give yourself adequate preparation time to do well in these exams by planning for them in advance.

2. Check Eligibility

Civil Service exam requires you to check certain boxes before you can sit in these exams. These include an age limit (above 18 and below 29), a background check, a driver’s license, a U.S citizen, and a high school diploma. So to make sure you’re eligible to give the exams, check the criteria online before you start preparing so you don’t end up wasting your time preparing in the case of not being eligible.

3. Application Form

Once you’ve checked the website for the date and eligibility, the next step to do is to fill out the application form and submit the required documents needed to register for the exams.

4. Fee Payment

After you have submitted all your documents along with your application form, you’ll be required to pay a certain amount for the exams. This amount can vary depending on the state, the type of civil service exam you’re giving, and the amount of annual salary you will receive. Applicants also have the option of paying the fees online.

Exam Prep (After Registration)

1. Create A Study Routine

One of the most important steps to prepare for the exams is to create a study routine for yourself. Allocate yourself to different time slots throughout the day to cover the different subjects the exam will encompass. Being organized is highly important for students as it allows them to get better grades, and there are ample studies to prove that.

Having a routine and being organized allows you to finish all the curriculum in time and also gives you time for revision.

2. Improve Your Skills

Understanding and comprehending a complex exam like the civil service exam requires excellent grammar and interpersonal skills. Your ability to answer the exam questions relies on how well you can read and understand the questions. This can be achieved by doing a lot of reading and practicing comprehension passages.

Some other common skills you need to master before your exams include mathematic word problems, reasoning using logic, writing, etc.

3. Study Using Appropriate Material

Another important part of your exam preparation is to make sure you have the right and sufficient studying material. There are thousands of websites online that offer mock exams, past papers, and study notes that make your life a thousand times easier. Such material gives excellent insight into what your exams might look like, allowing you to be well-prepared for them.

Most of the mock exams also follow the same format the actual exam will. Practicing mock exams prepares you for what to expect when you sit to give the real exam.

4. Get Help From A Professional

The most effective way of preparing for your exams is to get yourself enrolled in a preparatory school. Such schools have qualified and extremely experienced teachers who help the students prepare for these exams, guaranteeing success. These teachers have the latest and most relevant teaching material that allows them to prepare the students well.

In some schools, teachers also give their students individual attention, which is one of the best ways to teach students. This exclusive attention ensures that students with a weaker attention span can grasp all the essential concepts and methodology needed to ace the exam.

Taking The Exam

1. A Good Night’s Sleep

Most students don’t consider this or take this for granted but having a sufficient sleep a night before an exam allows you to perform much better. A well-rested mind and brain allow you to be more productive. If you’re not well-rested, you can feel tired during the exam, hindering your performance.

If your brain is tired, it won’t be able to comprehend and understand what’s being asked from you, and instead, you’ll spend energy fighting off the drowsiness and those awkward yawns.

2. Better To Be Early Than Late

Another way to avoid any sort of inconvenience is to make sure you arrive at the examination center early. If you fail to reach the examination center in time, the chances of you getting disqualified from giving the exam or being awarded an “F” is highly likely. Months of preparation will go down the drain, and you’ll have to wait for another four to six years before you can appear for these exams again.

That’s why it is always advised to leave your home at least an hour before the examination time so even if there is any unforeseen event, you have enough time to deal with it and reach your exam in time.

Don’t Worry and Let The Pros Help You

If you’re still worried that you might not do well in your Civil Service exam, then it’s best to get yourself registered in an institution that helps you prepare for such exams as Civil Service Success.

We are a New York-based preparatory school that helps students prepare for civil services exams like the FDNY’s Firefighter Exam, NYS Court Officer Exam, the Suffolk County Police Exam, and the NYC Sanitation Department Exam.

Register yourself today and get the job of your dreams.