20 Mathematics Practice Questions & Answers
Every Mathematics practice question from the Civil Service Clerical Exam Practice Test, with the correct answer and a short explanation.
Start practice test →1. A clerk records four test scores: 78, 85, 92, and 81. What is the average (mean) of these four scores?
- A.82
- B.83
- C.84✓ Answer
- D.85
An average is the sum of the values divided by how many values there are. Here 78+85+92+81 = 336, and 336 divided by 4 equals 84.
Source: Arithmetic mean: sum of terms divided by number of termsReport a problem with this question
2. A store item costs $80. It is marked down by 15%. What is the sale price?
- A.$65
- B.$68✓ Answer
- C.$70
- D.$72
A 15% discount removes 15% of the price, leaving 85%. Computing 0.85 × $80 = $68, so the sale price is $68.
Source: Percent discount: sale price = original × (1 − discount rate)Report a problem with this question
3. An invoice lists 12 folders at $3.50 each and 8 pens at $2.25 each. What is the total cost?
- A.$54.00
- B.$57.50
- C.$60.00✓ Answer
- D.$63.00
Multiply quantity by unit price for each line, then add the lines. Folders: 12 × $3.50 = $42.00; pens: 8 × $2.25 = $18.00; total = $42.00 + $18.00 = $60.00.
Source: Invoice total: sum of (quantity × unit price) per line itemReport a problem with this question
4. What is 3/4 + 1/8?
- A.4/12
- B.5/8
- C.7/8✓ Answer
- D.1
To add fractions you first give them a common denominator. Convert 3/4 to 6/8, then 6/8 + 1/8 = 7/8.
Source: Fraction addition requires a common denominatorReport a problem with this question
5. A clerk pays for three items costing $4.29 each with a $20 bill. How much change is returned?
- A.$6.87
- B.$7.13✓ Answer
- C.$7.87
- D.$8.13
Change equals the amount paid minus the total cost. Three items cost 3 × $4.29 = $12.87, and $20.00 − $12.87 = $7.13.
Source: Change = amount tendered − total purchase priceReport a problem with this question
6. A student answered 63 of 90 questions correctly. What percent did the student answer correctly?
- A.63%
- B.65%
- C.70%✓ Answer
- D.75%
A percent is the part divided by the whole, times 100. Here 63 ÷ 90 = 0.70, and 0.70 × 100 = 70%.
Source: Percent = (part ÷ whole) × 100Report a problem with this question
7. An employee works 37.5 hours in a week at $14.40 per hour. What is the week's gross pay?
- A.$525.00
- B.$540.00✓ Answer
- C.$555.00
- D.$562.50
Gross pay equals hours worked times the hourly rate. Multiplying 37.5 × $14.40 gives $540.00.
Source: Gross pay = hours worked × hourly rateReport a problem with this question
8. Add these decimals: 4.75 + 3.90 + 12.05.
- A.20.60
- B.20.70✓ Answer
- C.21.60
- D.21.70
When adding decimals you line up the decimal points and add each column. 4.75 + 3.90 + 12.05 sums to 20.70.
Source: Decimal addition: align decimal points, then add by place valueReport a problem with this question
9. A single unit price is found by dividing $15.75 evenly among 5 items. What is the price per item?
- A.$3.05
- B.$3.15✓ Answer
- C.$3.25
- D.$3.35
Unit price is the total cost divided by the number of items. Dividing $15.75 ÷ 5 gives $3.15 per item.
Source: Unit price = total cost ÷ number of unitsReport a problem with this question
10. What is 24 × 17?
- A.388
- B.398
- C.408✓ Answer
- D.418
Multiplication can be split by place value: 24 × 17 = (24 × 10) + (24 × 7) = 240 + 168 = 408.
Source: Whole-number multiplication by partial productsReport a problem with this question
11. A shipment has 100 boxes. 27 go to Branch A and 35 go to Branch B. How many boxes remain?
- A.28
- B.33
- C.38✓ Answer
- D.42
Subtract the amounts shipped out from the starting total. 100 − 27 − 35 = 38 boxes remain.
Source: Whole-number subtraction to find a remaining quantityReport a problem with this question
12. Four packages weigh 240, 180, 300, and 120 grams. What is their average weight?
- A.200 grams
- B.210 grams✓ Answer
- C.220 grams
- D.240 grams
Average the weights by summing them and dividing by the count. 240+180+300+120 = 840, and 840 ÷ 4 = 210 grams.
Source: Arithmetic mean: sum of values divided by countReport a problem with this question
13. A purchase totals $250 before tax. Sales tax is 8%. How much is the tax?
- A.$16
- B.$18
- C.$20✓ Answer
- D.$22
A percentage of an amount is found by multiplying the amount by the rate as a decimal. 0.08 × $250 = $20.
Source: Percentage of a quantity = amount × (rate ÷ 100)Report a problem with this question
14. What is 5/6 − 1/3?
- A.1/3
- B.1/2✓ Answer
- C.2/3
- D.4/6
Give the fractions a common denominator before subtracting. 1/3 becomes 2/6, so 5/6 − 2/6 = 3/6, which reduces to 1/2.
Source: Fraction subtraction requires a common denominator; simplify the resultReport a problem with this question
15. A ledger shows four deposits: $1,250, $875, $1,420, and $960. What is the total deposited?
- A.$4,405
- B.$4,505✓ Answer
- C.$4,515
- D.$4,605
A column total is the sum of all entries. Adding $1,250 + $875 + $1,420 + $960 gives $4,505.
Source: Column total = sum of all entriesReport a problem with this question
16. A worker processed 234 forms in 6 hours at a steady rate. How many forms per hour is that?
- A.36
- B.38
- C.39✓ Answer
- D.42
A rate per hour is the total divided by the number of hours. 234 ÷ 6 = 39 forms per hour.
Source: Rate = total quantity ÷ total timeReport a problem with this question
17. An item that costs the store $40 is marked up 25%. What is the selling price?
- A.$45
- B.$50✓ Answer
- C.$55
- D.$65
A markup adds a percent of the cost to the cost. 25% of $40 is $10, so the selling price is $40 + $10 = $50.
Source: Selling price = cost + (cost × markup rate)Report a problem with this question
18. A carton holds 24 items. How many full cartons can be filled from 500 items, and how many are left over?
- A.20 cartons, 20 left over✓ Answer
- B.21 cartons, 4 left over
- C.20 cartons, 5 left over
- D.19 cartons, 20 left over
Division with a remainder gives the number of full groups and what is left. 500 ÷ 24 = 20 with a remainder of 20, since 20 × 24 = 480 and 500 − 480 = 20.
Source: Division with remainder: quotient = full groups, remainder = leftoverReport a problem with this question
19. A report has 45 pages. A clerk has finished 20% of it. How many pages are done?
- A.7 pages
- B.9 pages✓ Answer
- C.11 pages
- D.12 pages
Finding a percent of a number means multiplying by that percent as a decimal. 0.20 × 45 = 9 pages.
Source: Percentage of a quantity = amount × (rate ÷ 100)Report a problem with this question
20. What is 144 ÷ 12?
- A.11
- B.12✓ Answer
- C.13
- D.14
Division asks how many times the divisor fits into the dividend. Since 12 × 12 = 144, it follows that 144 ÷ 12 = 12.
Source: Division as the inverse of multiplicationReport 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 →