Do you know about Civil/Social Service Exams? (job hunting, highest, job)

[keithrich]

Hi, I am in North Carolina, job hunting, and I just got a phone call today to come down to the county office to test for a job for which I'd applied -- Dept. of Social Services, Income Maintenance Caseworker II. I am trying, at age 46, to jump into Human Services from a background as a high school English teacher and 20+ years in healthcare administrative assistance and medical transcription.

So, what is this? A civil service exam? I am not trying to find out specific questions -- I'm not bumming a crib sheet -- I just want to get into the ballpark of what to expect. Is it verbal and math, like an SAT? Is/are there essay/s??? Take #2 pencils, a pen, both? May I use a caluclator? How long does it take?

Does anyone know anything about this? The job itself has to do with verifying people's income and determining their eligibility for assistance from the Food and Nutrition Program (food stamps?) Anybody got a clue here so I can be somewhat prepared as far expectations? THANKS SO MUCH!!!

[ogplife]

Depends on the job. Civil service exams are generally common sense. I have never known any to fail one, but the higher the better and depending on the demand for the job 70 won't get you called for years (in NYC at least). The test almost always have reading comprehension and math. I have taken some with and without the verbal. To answer your question the structure is kinda like an SAT (the old one, no essays), but the questions much easier. You can visit your local library, major bookstore or go online to get a copy of practice exams for most exams.

[heydade]

civil service exams are very easy....just general reading, writing, comprehension and math. Most book stores sell self-study guides for Civil service exams...I would recommend buying one just to sharpen and refresh your mind.

[texdav]

Depends on the position and what agency. I have seen test that only a math major could pass and some that are just coomon sense. But any that require much knowledge there will be study materials that actually have all teh questions and answers on say the three possible test you could be given.

[keithrich]

Well, it was yesterday -- I had taken a couple of math and reading comperhension practice tests on the internet just to study up and get in the groove. I made a 90 on math and an 88, respectively! First time I have EVER scored higher in math. But... those were just the practice tests!

The actual test was 1 hour long with 28 questions, all multiple choice. There was an accordian-style room divider and a LOUD orientation going on in the next room. That still kind of miffs me. Anyway, it was HARD !!! It was all "word problems" involving income maintenance (for food stamps) policy, with which I was completely unfamiliar! They gave me everything I needed to know in the body of the word problem, but if I had had longer to find an appropriate study guide on North Carolina food stamp policy, I'd have been much better off.

I was the last one to leave (we were a testing group of about 20) and told the proctor how worried I was that I had not tested well. She told me I could call her later that afternoon, and she would tell me how I did (whew... no waiting all weekend). I nearly died of shock when she told me I had done well... really well... TOP SCORE IN THE GROUP, IN FACT... with an 87 (remember, EACH question was worth between 3-4 points.)

The last four I did not even get to, but we were told negative answers didn't count against us, so when she called time, I rapid-fire put "B" for all four of them... feeling like there had not been an abundance of "B"s. Turns out I got 2 of those 4 blind guesses correct! Further up in the test, I had 2 I'd abandoned to go back to later... for #12 I put "C" at the last minute, which had been my educated guess when I had abandoned it, and for #14 another "C" for good measure, since time was up and I didn't even have a guess on that one. My "C" guess for #12 turned out to be correct... and again, 2 of the last 4 blind guesses were correct... so that was 3 out 6 "guessed" questions which I got correct!

Again I will say it was HARD! Given more time, I feel I would've done better. I was so frustrated, especially with the noise, that I very nearly walked out once or twice, but I kept plugging away. I imagine if I get the job, it will be noisy around there anyway, so I'd better get used to it. The proctor told me with that score, I was sure to proceed with the next step, the interview, and I am very comfortable with those (unlike many folks!). I am just feeling so blessed to have done so well. To feel one has blown it badly, then to find out one had the highest score in the group... there are things right up there with that, I'm sure, but it pretty well made my day yesterday. My recommendation to anyone taking a similar test is to get a highly specific study guide! And then taking ear plugs to the test, which the proctor told me would have been just fine!

[cwyckoff]

I'm from Ohio and I'm going next week to take my exam for income maintenance worker 3 I'm very excited but worried about the test..questions is it timed, math questions just how the test is setup in general..any help on how to prepare