20 Clerical Accuracy Practice Questions & Answers

Every Clerical Accuracy practice question from the Civil Service Clerical Exam Practice Test, with the correct answer and a short explanation.

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1. Compare the three pairs below and count how many pairs are exactly identical: 5837294 — 5837294 4820163 — 4820613 90014572 — 90014572
- A.1
- B.2✓ Answer
- C.3
- D.0
Pair 1 and pair 3 are identical, but pair 2 differs because 4820163 has '163' where the copy shows '613', so exactly 2 pairs match. Number comparison is verified digit-by-digit in the same position.
Source: Minnesota Clerical Test — Number Comparison subtestReport a problem with this question
2. Compare the three pairs of names and count how many pairs match exactly: Katherine M. Wallace — Katherine M. Wallace Stephen O'Brien — Stephan O'Brien Rodriguez, Luis A. — Rodriguez, Luis A.
- A.0
- B.1
- C.3
- D.2✓ Answer
Pairs 1 and 3 match exactly, but pair 2 differs because 'Stephen' is spelled 'Stephan' in the copy, so 2 pairs match. Name comparison requires checking every letter, including easily confused vowels.
Source: Minnesota Clerical Test — Name Comparison subtestReport a problem with this question
3. Count how many of these four number pairs are exactly the same: 100238 — 100238 674591 — 674519 8003 — 8003 55210 — 55120
- A.1
- B.2✓ Answer
- C.3
- D.4
Pairs 1 and 3 are identical, while pair 2 (674591 vs 674519) and pair 4 (55210 vs 55120) each have two adjacent digits transposed, so only 2 pairs match. Transposed digits are the most common clerical error.
Source: Minnesota Clerical Test — Number Comparison subtestReport a problem with this question
4. The original record reads — Name: Margaret Chen; Account: 78-4412; ZIP: 60614. The typed copy reads — Name: Margaret Chen; Account: 78-4142; ZIP: 60614. Which field contains a transcription error?
- A.Name
- B.Account number✓ Answer
- C.ZIP code
- D.No error
The account number was copied as 78-4142 instead of 78-4412 — the middle digits 4 and 1 are transposed — while the name and ZIP match. Field-by-field verification isolates the single changed field.
Source: Clerical checking subtest — record verificationReport a problem with this question
5. Using the code key R=7, O=3, A=5, D=2, encode the word ROAD.
- A.7352✓ Answer
- B.7532
- C.3752
- D.7325
Substituting each letter with its assigned digit in order gives R→7, O→3, A→5, D→2, which reads 7352. Coding requires applying the key strictly left to right.
Source: Clerical coding subtest — code-key applicationReport a problem with this question
6. Department code table: Payroll = 41 Records = 27 Mailroom = 63 Supply = 18 What is the code for Records?
- A.27✓ Answer
- B.41
- C.63
- D.18
Reading across the Records row of the table gives the code 27; table lookup means matching the requested label to the value in its own row.
Source: Table-reading / clerical checking subtestReport a problem with this question
7. Filing table: Form W = Cabinet 3 Form X = Cabinet 1 Form Y = Cabinet 4 Form Z = Cabinet 2 Which cabinet stores Form Y?
- A.Cabinet 1
- B.Cabinet 2
- C.Cabinet 3
- D.Cabinet 4✓ Answer
Locating Form Y in the table shows it is stored in Cabinet 4; accurate table lookup depends on matching the exact row rather than a neighboring one.
Source: Table-reading / clerical checking subtestReport a problem with this question
8. Compare these two numbers position by position and count how many digit positions differ: 8 4 0 2 9 1 7 6 8 4 0 2 9 7 1 6
- A.0
- B.1
- C.2✓ Answer
- D.3
The sixth and seventh positions differ (1,7 versus 7,1), while every other position matches, so exactly 2 positions differ. Position-by-position comparison catches transpositions that leave the set of digits unchanged.
Source: Minnesota Clerical Test — Number Comparison subtestReport a problem with this question
9. Exactly one of the pairs below matches exactly. Which one?
- A.3369472 / 3369427
- B.Bauer, Frederick / Bauer, Frederik
- C.8830-QT / 8830-QT✓ Answer
- D.45102 / 41502
Only '8830-QT / 8830-QT' is identical; the others contain a transposition (3369472 vs 3369427; 45102 vs 41502) or a spelling change (Frederick vs Frederik). Verification means confirming every character agrees.
Source: Clerical checking subtest — record verificationReport a problem with this question
10. Routing rule: sort mail by the first digit of the ZIP code — 0–3 to East dock, 4–6 to Central dock, 7–9 to West dock. A parcel with ZIP 55420 goes to which dock?
- A.East dock
- B.Central dock✓ Answer
- C.West dock
- D.Hold
The first digit of 55420 is 5, which falls in the 4–6 range assigned to the Central dock. Coding by a range rule requires reading only the specified digit.
Source: Clerical coding subtest — code-key applicationReport a problem with this question
11. Count how many of the five number pairs are exactly identical: 20461 — 20461 73820 — 73280 918273 — 918273 4567 — 4576 300142 — 300142
- A.2
- B.3✓ Answer
- C.4
- D.5
Pairs 1, 3, and 5 match, while pair 2 (73820 vs 73280) and pair 4 (4567 vs 4576) each have transposed digits, so 3 pairs are identical.
Source: Minnesota Clerical Test — Number Comparison subtestReport a problem with this question
12. Status code key: A = Approved, P = Pending, R = Rejected, H = Hold. A form stamped 'R' has what status?
- A.Approved
- B.Pending
- C.Rejected✓ Answer
- D.Hold
The key assigns the letter R to 'Rejected', so a form stamped R is Rejected. Decoding is the reverse of coding — map the symbol back to its defined meaning.
Source: Clerical coding subtest — code-key applicationReport a problem with this question
13. Original phone number: (312) 555-0147. Copy: (312) 555-0174. What is the error in the copy?
- A.The last two digits are transposed✓ Answer
- B.The area code is wrong
- C.A digit is missing
- D.No error
The copy ends in 0174 instead of 0147 — the final two digits 4 and 7 are swapped — while the area code and length are unchanged. This is a transposition error.
Source: Clerical checking subtest — record verificationReport a problem with this question
14. An ID number is valid only if its digits add up to a multiple of 5. Which ID is valid?
- A.2231
- B.1114
- C.6210
- D.3412✓ Answer
The digits of 3412 sum to 3+4+1+2 = 10, a multiple of 5, so it is valid; the others sum to 8, 7, and 9. Applying a check-sum rule requires adding every digit.
Source: Clerical coding subtest — check-digit verificationReport a problem with this question
15. Count how many of the three name pairs match exactly: O'Connor, Sean — O'Connor, Sean Van Buren, Amy — Van Buren, Any Smith-Jones, Karen — Smith Jones, Karen
- A.0
- B.1✓ Answer
- C.2
- D.3
Only pair 1 matches; pair 2 changes 'Amy' to 'Any', and pair 3 replaces the hyphen in 'Smith-Jones' with a space, so exactly 1 pair matches. Punctuation counts as part of an exact match.
Source: Minnesota Clerical Test — Name Comparison subtestReport a problem with this question
16. Storage table: Codes 100–199 → Bin A Codes 200–299 → Bin B Codes 300–399 → Bin C Codes 400–499 → Bin D Item code 356 is stored in which bin?
- A.Bin A
- B.Bin B
- C.Bin C✓ Answer
- D.Bin D
356 falls in the 300–399 range, which the table assigns to Bin C. Range-based lookup means locating which interval contains the value.
Source: Table-reading / clerical checking subtestReport a problem with this question
17. Count how many of the four number pairs are exactly identical: 45821903 — 45821903 12345678 — 12345678 90876543 — 90876534 55555555 — 55555555
- A.4
- B.2
- C.1
- D.3✓ Answer
Pairs 1, 2, and 4 match; pair 3 differs because 90876543 ends in '43' while the copy ends in '34', so 3 pairs are identical.
Source: Minnesota Clerical Test — Number Comparison subtestReport a problem with this question
18. Source note: 'Shipment of 144 units left on March 3.' Typed entry: 'Shipment of 144 units left on March 8.' Which element differs between source and entry?
- A.Quantity
- B.Month
- C.Day of month✓ Answer
- D.Nothing differs
The quantity (144) and month (March) are identical, but the day changed from 3 to 8, so the day of the month differs. Proofreading compares each element separately.
Source: Clerical checking subtest — proofreadingReport a problem with this question
19. Using the key M=5, E=2, T=9, A=4, L=1, encode the word METAL.
- A.52491
- B.59241
- C.52941✓ Answer
- D.25941
Encoding each letter in order gives M→5, E→2, T→9, A→4, L→1, producing 52941. The digits must follow the same order as the letters.
Source: Clerical coding subtest — code-key applicationReport a problem with this question
20. Postage grid (each cell shows the rate class): Zone 1 | Zone 2 1 lb: A | B 2 lb: C | D A 2-lb package sent to Zone 1 falls in which rate class?
- A.A
- B.B
- C.D
- D.C✓ Answer
Reading the 2-lb row across to the Zone 1 column lands on cell C. Two-way table lookup requires matching both the correct row and the correct column.
Source: Table-reading / clerical checking subtestReport a problem with this question

Practice questions modeled on the common domains of civil service clerical-ability exams (grammar/spelling, math, filing, clerical accuracy). Not affiliated with or endorsed by any civil-service commission or testing vendor. Jurisdictions use different exams — check your announcement for its specific format. USAJOBS →

1. Compare the three pairs below and count how many pairs are exactly identical: 5837294 — 5837294 4820163 — 4820613 90014572 — 90014572

2. Compare the three pairs of names and count how many pairs match exactly: Katherine M. Wallace — Katherine M. Wallace Stephen O'Brien — Stephan O'Brien Rodriguez, Luis A. — Rodriguez, Luis A.

3. Count how many of these four number pairs are exactly the same: 100238 — 100238 674591 — 674519 8003 — 8003 55210 — 55120

4. The original record reads — Name: Margaret Chen; Account: 78-4412; ZIP: 60614. The typed copy reads — Name: Margaret Chen; Account: 78-4142; ZIP: 60614. Which field contains a transcription error?

5. Using the code key R=7, O=3, A=5, D=2, encode the word ROAD.

6. Department code table: Payroll = 41 Records = 27 Mailroom = 63 Supply = 18 What is the code for Records?

7. Filing table: Form W = Cabinet 3 Form X = Cabinet 1 Form Y = Cabinet 4 Form Z = Cabinet 2 Which cabinet stores Form Y?

8. Compare these two numbers position by position and count how many digit positions differ: 8 4 0 2 9 1 7 6 8 4 0 2 9 7 1 6

9. Exactly one of the pairs below matches exactly. Which one?

10. Routing rule: sort mail by the first digit of the ZIP code — 0–3 to East dock, 4–6 to Central dock, 7–9 to West dock. A parcel with ZIP 55420 goes to which dock?

11. Count how many of the five number pairs are exactly identical: 20461 — 20461 73820 — 73280 918273 — 918273 4567 — 4576 300142 — 300142

12. Status code key: A = Approved, P = Pending, R = Rejected, H = Hold. A form stamped 'R' has what status?

13. Original phone number: (312) 555-0147. Copy: (312) 555-0174. What is the error in the copy?

14. An ID number is valid only if its digits add up to a multiple of 5. Which ID is valid?

15. Count how many of the three name pairs match exactly: O'Connor, Sean — O'Connor, Sean Van Buren, Amy — Van Buren, Any Smith-Jones, Karen — Smith Jones, Karen

16. Storage table: Codes 100–199 → Bin A Codes 200–299 → Bin B Codes 300–399 → Bin C Codes 400–499 → Bin D Item code 356 is stored in which bin?

17. Count how many of the four number pairs are exactly identical: 45821903 — 45821903 12345678 — 12345678 90876543 — 90876534 55555555 — 55555555

18. Source note: 'Shipment of 144 units left on March 3.' Typed entry: 'Shipment of 144 units left on March 8.' Which element differs between source and entry?

19. Using the key M=5, E=2, T=9, A=4, L=1, encode the word METAL.

20. Postage grid (each cell shows the rate class): Zone 1 | Zone 2 1 lb: A | B 2 lb: C | D A 2-lb package sent to Zone 1 falls in which rate class?