civil service exam

Civil Service Test Guides

A civil service exam may consist of one or more competitive tests.

You must score high enough on the test(s) to be placed on a civil service list (hiring list) to be considered for a government job.  Success on each civil service test requires study and practice.  

Civil Service Test Guides and Practice Questions

Some government agencies will offer free civil service test guides with practice questions and  answers.  More often than not, the government agency that you’re applying to, will not offer test guides. 

Some agencies such the City of Los Angeles have a policy of “To ensure that all applicants receive the same information, we are unable to direct applicants to specific study materials. Our only suggestion is for applicants to review the examination announcement that describes those factors that will be covered in the examination.” 

There is no set time period after your application is accepted to when the civil service test(s) are given.

Start studying for  the civil service test(s) as soon as your application is accepted.  

TRENDING CIVIL SERVICE TEST GUIDES FOR UPCOMING EXAMS

Administrative Assistant I
Firefighter Candidate Exams
Evidence and Property Control Specialist
Police Exam Prep
Administrative Analyst

Civil service test guides from government agencies are included in the function/job pages below.  Find help for specific subjects including verbal, comprehension, word problems, writing, customer service, math, and reasoning.

The civil service test guides offered by government agencies typically have a limited number of questions.  Publisher guides are another option.  Publisher guides have more test questions and answers, analysis, and practice tests. 

The best study guide is a job-specific civil service test guide.

The key to preparing for the civil service exam is the test(s) and the test topics (skills, abilities, and knowledges) described on the job bulletin or job vacancy notice.  The location (state or city) and the agency are less important.  

You can search for job specific study guides below or at Amazon’s Civil Service Test GuidesNot every job will have a job-specific civil service test guide.  If you can’t find a job-specific guide, find one for a similar job. 

See State/County/City specific study guides.  Location specific guides are limited to New York City and the most populous States including California, Florida, New York, Pennsylvania, and Texas.  Jobs with similar titles have similar duties regardless of the agency or location. 

Have an interview as part of your civil service exam?  Learn how to handle the challenges of a civil service interview along with free sample interview questions and answers.  

Civil Service Test Guides 

 Accounting

  • Account Clerk
  • Accountant
  • Banking and Investment
  • Cashier
  • Payroll

Administration

  • Administrative Analyst
  • Budget Analyst
  • Legislative Aide
  • Management Analyst
  • Principal Administrative Associate
  • Professional Career Opportunities
  • Staff Analyst

Administrative Professional

  • Administrative Assistant
  • Clerical Aptitude
  • Office Assistant
  • Police Clerk
  • Records Clerk
  • Secretary 
  • Senior Clerk Typist
  • Senior Office Assistant
  • Executive Assistant

Air Traffic

Animal Control

  • Animal Health
  • Animal Shelter

Architect

Banking and Investment

Building and Safety

  • Code Compliance
  • Inspection

Chemical Engineering

Civil Engineering

  • Civil Engineer
  • Engineering Technician

Clerical

Community/Public Relations

Corrections

  • Corrections Officer

Courts

  • Court Assistant
  • Court Officer
  • Jail Clerk

Customer Service

  • Customer Service Representative

Electrical Engineering

  • Electrical Engineer
  • Engineering Technician

    Emergency Services

    • Emergency 911 Dispatcher
    • Emergency Medical Technician 
    • Police Communications Technician

    Environmental

    Executive Assistant

    Facilities Operations and Maintenance

    • Bricklayer
    • Carpenter
    • Custodian
    • Electrician
    • Elevator Mechanic
    • Gardener/Groundskeeper
    • Head Custodian
    • HVAC Mechanic
    • Machinist
    • Maintenance
    • Painter
    • Plant 
    • Plasterer
    • Plumber
    • Welder

    Firefighter

    • Firefighter
    • Firefighter Interview

    Firefighter – Promotional

    Foreign Service Officer

    Fleet

    • Mechanics
    • Drivers/Operators
    • Motor Vehicle License Examiner

    Human Resources

    • Human Resources Specialist
    • Personnel Analyst
    • Personnel Clerk
    • Personnel Technician

    Information Technology

    • Network
    • Programming
    • Software
    • Systems

    Interviews

    • Complete Civil Service Interview Guide

    Law Enforcement – Federal

    • ATF
    • Border Patrol
    • Customs
    • DEA
    • FBI
    • Special Agent

    Law Enforcement – State & Local

    • Assessment Center

     

      • Evidence and Property Control Specialist
      • Forensics
      • Deputy Sheriff
      • Highway Patrol
      • Oral Boards
      • Police Officer
      • State Trooper 
      • Traffic Enforcement 
      • Written Exercises

      Law Enforcement – State & Local Promotional

      Legal

      • Attorney
      • Court Stenographer
      • Law Clerk

      Library

      • Librarian 
      • Library Assistant
      • Library Clerk

      Lottery

      Mechanical Engineering

      • Mechanical Engineer
      • Engineering Technician

      Military

      • ASVAB
      • Flight Aptitude
      • Mechanical Aptitude
      • Officer Candidate

      Paralegal

      Parole/Probation 

      • Parole Agent 
      • Probation Officer

      Planning

      Postal Service

      • Automotive Mechanic
      • Mail Carrier
      • Building/Machine Mechanic

      Property Management

      Project Management 

      Public Health

      • Addictions
      • Food Safety
      • Medical Records
      • Psychiatric Technician
      • X-Ray

      Public Transit

      • Bridge and Tunnel
      • Bus Operator
      • Dispatcher
      • Motor Vehicle
      • Revenue Equipment Maintenance
      • Track Maintenance
      • Traffic Checker
      • Train Operator

       

      Public Works

      • Highway Construction
      • Highway Engineer
      • Oiler
      • Sanitation Worker
      • Sewage Plant Operator
      • Wastewater

      Real Estate

      Recreation & Parks

      • Activities
      • Parks 
      • Park Ranger
      • Recreation Management & Supervision

      Safety

      • Workplace

      Schools

      • Cafeteria
      • School Custodian
      • Facilities
      • Safety Agent

      Social Services

      • Case Worker
      • Eligibility Specialist
      • Job Programs 
      • Mental Hygiene
      • Psychiatric Social Worker
      • Welfare

      Structural Engineering

      Supervision and Management

      • Administration
      • Administrative
      • City Management 
      • Management Battery
      • Supervision Guides 

      Supply Chain

      • Buyer
      • Contract Specialist
      • Storekeeper
      • Warehouse Worker

      Survey

      Utilities

      • Electric Station Operator
      • Electrical Apprentice
      • Lineman
      • Maintenance
      • Meter Reader
      • Meter Tester
      • Meter Repair
      • Plant Operator
      • Power Distribution
      • Water Service Worker

      Youth Services

      • Child Protective Services
      • Disabilities
      • Guidance