Frequently Asked Questions

The City of Albany’s exams are all related to the requirements of specific job categories; they are not general tests of intelligence or ability. Therefore the first way to prepare for the exam is to get an exam announcement and read it carefully. The "scope" of the exam will provide a lot of information including the form of the exam (written, oral, evaluation of training and experience), the weight given to each part and the subjects to be tested.

Once you know the content of the exam, there are a couple of approaches to getting ready. One is to use a review or test book in the area to be tested. For example, if writing skills will be tested, a good grammar textbook may be the place to start. Another possibility is to look at the Civil Service review books (e.g., Arco series) in the public library for sample questions and answers. Even if there isn’t a review book for exactly the test you’re taking, there may be others that include the same topics. Compare the scopes of the two exams to find out. In addition, many of those books contain general strategies for test taking: how to stay calm, how to study, etc., and they can provide useful information to help in your preparation.

There may also be a study guide for your examination available on the New York State Civil Service website.

Yes. An excerpt from the policy:

1. An alternate examination date will be granted to a candidate when warranted by one of the following reasons:
   1. A death in the candidate’s immediate family or household within the week preceding the examination. Immediate family shall include the spouse, domestic partner, children, siblings, parents and grandparents of the candidate or spouse.
   2. Military commitment.
   3. Religious beliefs that preclude a candidate from taking an examination on the announced date.
   4. A conflict with a previously scheduled commitment to participate as a member of a traditional, religious or civil ceremonial party, such as a wedding, baptism, bar mitzvah or graduation; or as a member of the immediate family or household of the individual for whom the ceremony is being held.
   5. A conflict with a professional or educational examination. Professional examinations would include those for CPA, ACSW and the Bar. Educational examinations would include SAT, College Boards and Graduate Record Examination.
   6. A conflict with a previously scheduled vacation or professional conference for which nonrefundable down payments were made before the examination announcement was issued.
   7. Required court appearances.
   8. Medical emergencies involving a hospital confinement or certification from a physician that the candidate is unable to appear for the examination due to a specific medical problem of the candidate or member of the immediate family or household.
   9. Emergency weather conditions, verified by the local public safety agency, that lead to the closing of specific roads, highways or independent transportation services which prevent a candidate from reaching the test center.
   10. Other reasons not listed will be considered on an individual case basis.
2. Limitations in Applying Alternate Test Date Policy
   1. A candidate who takes a test on an alternate date has a responsibility to avoid exposure to any of the test content. The risk of such exposure is increased after the pre-rating review, which is usually held the Saturday following the written test, and for that reason, alternate test dates will generally not be granted later than the date of the pre-rating review.
   2. Candidates approved to take the test on the alternate date will be required to sign an affirmation that they have not discussed the test content with any individual. If the affirmation is found to be false, the candidate will be disqualified and may be subject to civil or criminal liability or penalty.
   3. When a candidate requests an alternate test date because of one of the reasons set forth in Section I above, the candidate will be required to provide appropriate information.
   4. If two or more members of a household are candidates for the same examination and one member requests an alternate test date, all members of the household participating in the examination will be required to take the written test on the alternate date. If any member of the household has taken the test on the scheduled date, no other member of the household will be permitted to take the test on an alternate date.
   5. Where an alternate test date request can only be accommodated by administering a test on an individual basis, the candidate may be assessed the cost of the monitoring services unless there is a compelling reason to waive this cost. Candidates will be advised of the approximate cost of the individual test when arrangements for an alternate date are being made.

A "provisional" appointment is made when there is no eligible list for a job category and a department wishes to make an appointment immediately. In this case the department may choose anyone who meets the minimum requirements for the job. However, a test will be given eventually for that job category. If you are appointed "provisionally", you must not only pass the exam when it is given, but you must be reachable for appointment by placing among the top three candidates on the list.

For "Promotional" exams, applications will be accepted only from current City employees who meet certain criteria.

When an exam is announced as "Open Competitive," applications will be accepted from anyone, either members of the public or City employees.

The City tests for a wide range of competencies needed to do specific jobs, and the type of test is chosen to match the ability to be tested. These are some of the terms that appear on announcements to describe different types of exams:

• A written exam tests for knowledge of one or more subjects. The format may be multiple-choice, short answer or essay.
• An oral performance exam asks you to respond orally to a job-related situation. You may interact with a role player, or describe how you would act, or make a presentation after studying written materials. Oral performance exams are used to test for interpersonal and communication skills, and for content knowledge.
• An Evaluation of Training and Experience exam (T&E) is used when specific education or experience is a good predictor of success at a job. Often, you are sent a special questionnaire in which you are asked about your education and work or volunteer experience in areas related to the demands of the job.
• In a computer-based simulation, you respond on a computer to a series of job-related situations, which are presented either in writing or through an audiotape.
• A physical agility exam tests for the physical demands of a job. You do physical exercises or sample tasks from the job that show your physical abilities.
• In clerical skills performance tests, you type sample passages in a timed setting at rates that are typical for the job in question.

These are the most frequently used test types. Others may be used, and they are described on the exam announcement.