🌙 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?
Browse civil service practice tests by role and take your first one free.
Browse practice tests by role →This sheet applies to most civil service exams. Use it during your practice sessions.
Ready to practice?
Browse civil service exams by role (TSA Officer, Police Officer, Firefighter, and more) and take your first free practice test.
Browse exams by role →