Home > About USPS & News > Forms & Publications > Postal Periodicals and Publications > Publications > Publication 60-E - Test 460 Orientation Guide for Rural Carrier Associate Jobs > Test 460 for Rural Carrier Associate Jobs > Section A: Address Checking

Section A: Address Checking

Completing Tasks

Section A of test 460 consists of 95 questions to be completed in 6 minutes. You must determine whether 2 addresses are exactly alike in every way and darken circle A (Alike) for the item. Or determine whether 2 addresses are different in any way and darken circle D (Different) for the item.

Note: Speed and accuracy are important for this section.

Scoring Answers

Scoring Section A is the number of right answers minus the number of wrong answers. Random guessing will probably not help your score.

Reducing Errors

Here are suggestions:

• Work as quickly and accurately as possible. Although you're not expected to answer all questions in the time allowed, do your best and answer as many as possible.

• Identify similarities and differences in address information quickly (as expected on the job).

• Do not lose your place. As you quickly answer questions, it can be easy to lose your place. Consider holding your pencil with your writing hand on the answer sheet directly on the question number being answered. After answering a question, move your pencil to the next number. Use your other index finger to keep track of questions as they are answered.

• Concentrate on the question you are working on. Do not allow your eyes to wander around the page. Remain focused on one question at a time. Periodically, check to see that you are working on the same question that you are marking on your answer sheet.

• Avoid making stray marks on the answer sheet.

Completing the Section A Sample Exercise

Step 1: Remove sample answer sheet from Appendix B.

Step 2: Complete Exercise Set 1 on page 10.

Move through the columns by reading from left-to-right, right-to-left, and so on. Work as quickly and as accurately as possible.

Note: You may find errors in numbers, abbreviations, and words - all types of address-checking errors.

Your task is to:

• Compare numbers, abbreviations, and words.

• Determine if each is similar (exactly alike in every way) or different (dissimilar in any way).

• Mark A or D appropriately.

Step 3: Check answers to Exercise Set 1.

When you have finished, check your answers against those in Appendix A.

Exercise Set 1: Address Checking Summary