Postal Exam 955 study plan
Postal Exam 955 · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 6 hours per week
Numerical Reasoning & Attention to Detail / Error Checking
Take a timed 30-question baseline set in numerical reasoning and in error-checking to record your starting accuracy and pace
Drill whole-number and decimal arithmetic (add, subtract, multiply, divide, percentages) without a calculator for 20 minutes per session
Establish a personal error log in which you record every missed item, its cause, and the correction rule
Practice scanning paired lists of numbers and codes to flag mismatches within a 90-second limit per set
Your checkpoint
A written baseline scorecard listing accuracy percentage, average seconds per question, and top three error causes for numerical and error-checking items
Numerical Reasoning & Attention to Detail / Error Checking
Solve 60 word problems involving rates, unit prices, and proportional reasoning, showing each setup step
Convert between fractions, decimals, and percentages until conversions are completed in under 15 seconds each
Compare transcribed strings (addresses, ID numbers, dates) character by character against a source and mark every difference
Reduce careless errors by re-reading each numerical answer once before committing to it
Your checkpoint
A 25-question numerical practice set scored at 80% or higher with all work shown and all misses annotated
Numerical Reasoning & Attention to Detail / Error Checking
Interpret tables and simple charts to extract totals, differences, and averages under a 2-minute-per-item cap
Apply a four-step checking routine (scan, compare, flag, confirm) to 100 simulated clerical records
Practice estimation to sanity-check answers and reject implausible options without full calculation
Complete two timed mixed sets of numerical and error-checking items back to back to build stamina
Your checkpoint
An error-checking accuracy rate of 90% or better across 100 simulated records, plus a corrected record sheet showing every discrepancy found
Verbal Reasoning & Attention to Detail / Error Checking
Identify the main idea and supporting details of short passages written at postal-procedure reading level
Define 80 commonly tested vocabulary words in context and use each in a written sentence
Draw valid inferences from brief memos and instructions, citing the sentence that supports each conclusion
Proofread passages for spelling, punctuation, and grammar errors while tracking how many you catch
Your checkpoint
A verbal practice set of 40 items scored at 80% or better, plus a proofreading log showing errors caught versus missed
Verbal Reasoning & Workplace Scenarios (Situational Judgment)
Paraphrase written postal procedures into plain-language step lists to confirm comprehension
Analyze 20 workplace scenarios and select the response that best balances safety, policy compliance, and customer service
Rank response options by effectiveness and articulate in writing why the runner-up is weaker
Practice choosing the most professional tone in written customer interactions
Your checkpoint
A written rationale document for 20 scenario items explaining why the chosen response outranks each rejected alternative
Workplace Scenarios (Situational Judgment) & Attention to Detail / Error Checking
Apply a consistent decision rule for conflicting coworker and supervisor scenarios (safety first, then policy, then chain of command)
Review 25 workplace scenario items and score 85% or higher without changing initial answers on review
Verify entries on simulated mail-handling forms, catching transposed digits and mislabeled routes
Practice remaining calm and systematic when a scenario presents time pressure and multiple valid-seeming options
Your checkpoint
A scored 25-item scenario set at 85% or better plus a one-page personal decision-rule summary you can recall on test day
Numerical Reasoning & Verbal Reasoning
Re-run every item from your error log and confirm each is now solved correctly
Complete two timed full mixed sets spanning all four domains to measure pacing drift
Target your two weakest item types with 30 focused repetitions each
Cut average time per item by 15% versus your week 4 baseline without losing accuracy
Your checkpoint
A pacing report comparing week 7 timed results to baseline in accuracy and seconds per item, with a written plan for the final week
Verbal Reasoning & Numerical Reasoning & Attention to Detail / Error Checking & Workplace Scenarios (Situational Judgment)
Complete three full-length timed mock exams under test-day conditions, including breaks and no phone
Review each mock within 24 hours and fix every recurring mistake at the rule level, not the item level
Rehearse test-day logistics: arrival time, allowed materials, identification, and a rest schedule for the two days prior
Confirm final accuracy of 85% or higher in each domain on your last mock
Your checkpoint
A final mock-score summary showing per-domain accuracy and timing, with a short checklist confirming test-day readiness
Milestones
Week 3: Error-checking accuracy of 90% or higher across 100 simulated records and numerical practice accuracy of 80% or higher
Week 4: Verbal practice set scored at 80% or better with a proofreading log showing more errors caught than missed
Week 6: Workplace scenario accuracy of 85% or higher on a 25-item set with a written decision rule you can state from memory
Week 8: Final full-length mock shows 85% or higher accuracy in all four domains with average pacing at or under your target seconds per item