🌙 The Night Before
- Confirm exam location and time — check your admission notice
- Plan your route; add 20 minutes for delays
- Lay out everything you need (see "What to Bring" below)
- Set two alarms
- Stop studying by 9 PM — rest outperforms cramming
- Get 7–8 hours of sleep
🎒 What to Bring
- Valid government-issued photo ID (driver's license, passport, or state ID)
- Your printed admission notice / confirmation letter
- Several No. 2 pencils with erasers if your notice says to bring them
- A simple watch only if your test rules allow one
- Water bottle only if allowed in the testing room
- Light snack for before the exam, not during
🚫 What NOT to Bring
- A calculator or other electronic aids unless the exam notice specifically allows them
- Notes or study materials
- Smartphone or smartwatch unless the testing rules say otherwise
- Earbuds or headphones
- Food or drinks (unless permitted by the announcement)
- Extra items not listed on your testing notice
☀️ Morning Of
- Eat a balanced meal — avoid heavy or sugary foods
- Arrive at least 20–30 minutes early
- Visit the restroom before checking in
- Leave your phone in your car or fully powered off
- Bring only what's on the admission notice
✏️ During the Exam
- Read every question fully before answering
- Answer questions you know first; mark and return to hard ones
- Budget your time — check your pace at the halfway point
- Use process of elimination before guessing
- Answer every question if the exam instructions confirm there is no penalty for guessing
- Review your answers if time permits; trust first instincts on changes
📬 After the Exam
- Note the date results are expected (in your admission notice)
- Check your email and the agency portal regularly after that date
- Save your admission notice until you receive your score
- Respond to any follow-up notice within the stated deadline if required
- If you receive a canvass or interest notice later, respond promptly to protect your eligibility
More free study sheets
Other reference sheets that apply to every civil service exam.
Civil Service Math Quick Reference
A one-page reference covering every math topic tested on civil service exams — fractions, percentages, ratios, word problems, and number operations. Print and keep it at your desk during practice sessions.
View & print →Reading Comprehension Strategy Sheet
A structured one-page guide to common question types on civil service reading passages and practical ways to approach them. Includes common traps and how to avoid them.
View & print →Situational Judgment Test (SJT) Cheat Sheet
The SJT is the section many test-takers underestimate. This sheet explains common response patterns, workplace dimensions often evaluated, and a framework for choosing the strongest answer.
View & print →Which exam are you preparing for?
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Browse practice tests by role →This sheet applies to most civil service exams. Use it during your practice sessions.
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