The following questions ask you to describe your educational background, your work, 

and other experiences in specific areas which relate to successful job performance. 

You are to choose one answer to each question from among the alternatives 

presented. Do not mark more than one answer for each question. Multiple answers 

will not be counted. Do not omit answers unless instructed to do so. Other omissions 

may decrease your score. 

6. During high school (grades 9 - 12), I made the semester honor roll: 

A. never 

B. once or twice 

C. three or four times 

D. five or six times 

E. seven or eight times 

7. The high school grade I most often received was: 

A. A 

B. B 

C. C 

D. D or lower 

E. I do not remember 

IF YOU DID NOT ATTEND COLLEGE, PLEASE SKIP TO ITEM 9 

8. The college grade I most often received was: 

A. A 

B. B 

C. C 

D. D or lower 

E. I do not remember 

9. In the past three years the number of different paying jobs I have held for more 

than two weeks is: 

A. 7 or more 

B. 5 - 6 

C. 3 - 4 

D. 1 - 2 

E. none 

10. I have been employed in work similar to that of the job covered by this 

examination: 

A. never employed in a similar job 

B. less than 1 year 

C. 1 - 2 years 

D. 3 - 4 years 

E. over 5 years 

11. In the past three years, my primary work experience has been in: 

A. professional or administrative occupations 

B. clerical or sales occupations 

C. service occupations 

D. trades or labor occupations 

E. not employed in the past three years 

12. On my present or most recent job, my supervisor rated me as: 
A. outstanding 

B. above average 

C. average 

D. below average 

E. not employed or received no rating 

13. In the past three years the number of jobs I have been fired from is: 

A. 5 or more 

B. 3 to 4 

C. 2 

D. 1 

E. none 

14. The number of civic or social organizations (which have regular meetings and a 

defined membership) that I belong to is: 

A. none 

B. 1 

C. 2 or 3 

D. 4 to 6 

E. 7 or more 

15. In organizations to which I belong, my participation is best described as: 

A. do not belong to any organizations 

B. not very active 

C. a regular member but not an office holder 

D. have held at least one important office 

E. have held several important offices 

16. My previous supervisors (or teachers if not previously employed) would most 

likely describe my basic math skills as: 

A. superior 

B. above average 

C. average 

D. below average 

E. do not know 

ACCOMPLISHMENTS 

In this part you will respond to questions about experiences you have had that are 

related to the requirements of the job for which you are applying. Please answer YES 

or NO to each question. Answer all questions to the best of your ability. Do not 

answer YES unless you can provide specific examples or documentation as proof that 

you have had this type of experience. You may be asked to provide such evidence or 

documentation at a later stage in the selection process. Your responses are subject 

to verification through background checks, job interviews, or any other information 

obtained during the application process. Any exaggeration of your experience or any 

attempt to conceal information can result in your being removed from a Federal job 

and in barring you from seeking Federal employment in the future. Use the following 

guidelines to answer these questions: 

(1) Many questions refer to "work" experiences. The word "work" refers to all 

experiences gained through school, paid employment, military service, voluntary 

work, and through activities done for professional, charitable, church, community, 

social, or other organizations, unless otherwise stated. 

(2) Some questions ask for experience in a specific type of setting. For example, if 
the question says "Have you done paid work that involved..." then only respond YES 

if your experience was gained in a paid job. 

(3) Do not include personal or home-related experiences unless the question 

specifically mentions them. 

(4) Some questions ask about customers or clients. Customers or clients include any 

individuals who used or received the products or services that you provided, 

including individuals inside or outside of your organization. Keep in mind that you 

may have worked with customers or clients in a variety of settings including those 

listed in guideline #1 above. 

(5) Some questions ask you if you received a grade of B or above on schoolwork. If 

you were not graded on an A, B, C, D, F scale, use the equivalent of a B or above, 

that is, an above average grade, on the type of scale on which you were graded. 

Remember to fill in "A" for YES or "B" for NO. 

A- YES 

B- NO 

17. Have you successfully done work where your primary responsibility was to help 

others work out their problems (for example, worked as a therapist)? 

18. Have you successfully taught a writing course or worked as a professional 

journalist, editor, or writer? 

19. Have you submitted articles or similar types of written work that were published 

in a local newspaper, nationally distributed newsletter, or similar type of publication? 

20. Have you successfully done work that involved writing technical or legal reports, 

or translating technical or other complex material into language that was more easily 

understood? 

21. Have you received formal recognition for your written work (for example, 

received an award, letter of commendation, excellent performance appraisal rating, 

etc.)? 

22. Have you successfully done work that regularly involved using computer software 

to run a payroll, accounting, or inventory system, or to record or track other 

quantitative information? 

23. Have you developed a formal mechanism to learn more about a problem (for 

example, developed a survey, conducted interviews or focus groups, etc.)? 

24. Have you successfully planned for and started a new business or opened a new 

store? 

25. Have you successfully done work that regularly involved installing or configuring 

software on stand-alone PCs or network systems? 

26. Have you participated in training classes, workshops, or seminars outside of 

school that helped you improve your customer service skills? 

27. Have you successfully planned or monitored a large-scale project or program 

that involved several steps that were carried out over an extended period of time? 

28. Have you successfully worked in a newly created organization that was still in the 

process of establishing its policies and procedures? 
29. Have you received a grade of B or above in school courses, taken since high 

school, with a strong emphasis on interpersonal skills (for example, customer 

relations, counseling, etc.)? 

30. Have you learned a hobby or leisure activity well enough that you have been 

asked to do it for others on a voluntary basis? 

31. Have you successfully done work, not including computer applications classes, 

that regularly involved using desktop publishing software to develop page layouts, 

create illustrations, etc.? 

32. Have you used study or review techniques that helped you learn material more 

effectively? 

33. Have you received formal recognition for your oral communication skills (for 

example, received certification from Toastmasters International, won a speech 

contest or debate tournament, etc.)? 

34. Have you successfully done work that regularly involved relaying messages to 

co-workers, or providing information or giving simple instructions to customers or 

the public, either in person or by telephone (for example, worked as a receptionist, 

dispatcher, etc.)? 

35. Have you successfully done work that regularly involved discussing sensitive 

information with others, or interviewing or surveying people, either in person or by 

telephone, to gather information they were reluctant to give? 

36. Have you successfully done work that regularly involved making decisions about 

disclosure of sensitive or confidential information? 

37. Have you successfully done work that regularly required you to make quick 

decisions where the consequences were critical (for example, worked as a 911 

operator, on an ambulance squad, etc.)? 

38. Have you successfully created computerized databases to organize information? 

39. Have you earned a degree in an area of study related to oral communication (for 

example, speech communication, broadcast journalism, etc.)? (Answer YES to this 

question if you anticipate receiving this degree within the next 9 months.) 

40. Have you successfully done work, not including schoolwork, that regularly 

involved receiving varied assignments on short notice that needed to be handled 

immediately? 

41. Have you received formal recognition for providing good service to customers or 

clients (for example, received an award, a letter of commendation, an excellent 

performance appraisal rating, etc.)? 

42. Have you served on a decision-making board or committee (for example, student 

governing board, planning board, homeowners' association board, etc.)? 

43. Have you successfully done work that regularly involved interacting with people, 

other than your co-workers, from a foreign country or from different ethnic or 

cultural backgrounds? 
44. Have you successfully done work that often required you to accommodate last 

minute requests from customers or clients or to provide quality service in situations 

where timeliness is critical (for example, worked as a courier or travel agent, worked 

in newspaper publishing, etc.)? 

45. Have you successfully done work that regularly involved informally providing oral 

explanations of technical information or other complex information, such as 

regulations, policies, or procedures? 

46. Have you successfully done paid work that=20 regularly involved troubleshooting 

and resolving problems with equipment or systems (for example, appliances, 

vehicles, machinery, computer or electrical systems, etc.)? 

47. Have you made decisions that turned an unprofitable business into a profitmaking operation? 

48. Have you successfully done work that regularly required you to respond or react 

quickly in emergency situations (for example, combat duty, firefighting, rescue work, 

police work, natural disaster relief, etc.)? 

49. Have you successfully done work that regularly involved answering questions, 

demonstrating a product or service, or providing assistance to customers, clients, or 

the public? 

50. Have you successfully coordinated work, school, and/or family responsibilities 

under especially difficult circumstances (for example, you and your spouse worked 

full time while raising young children, you went to school full time and worked more 

than 20 hours per week, you worked full time while caring for an elderly parent, 

etc.)? 

51. Have you written procedures or instructions that others have followed 

successfully (for example, instruction manuals, survey instructions, training 

materials, etc.)? 

52. Have you, on short notice, successfully assumed another person's duties without 

the extensive training or preparation that typically is required to perform the duties? 

53. Is your highest level of formal education a bachelor's degree or higher? (Answer 

YES to this question if you anticipate receiving a bachelor's degree within the next 9 

months.) 

54. Have you successfully done work that frequently required you to present 

nontechnical information at briefings, meetings, conferences, or hearings? 

55. Have you successfully done work of a nonemergency nature that required you to 

be flexible about being on call, frequently changing work hours or locations, etc. (for 

example, worked as a substitute teacher, worked as a "temp" for a temporary 

agency, etc.)? 

56. Have you successfully done work that regularly involved planning, prioritizing, 

scheduling, and monitoring work for 10 or more people? 

57. Have you successfully done work that regularly involved answering questions, 

gathering nonsensitive information, or providing assistance to others, either in 

person or by telephone? 
58. Have you performed home repairs that involved determining the specific 

problem, determining how to make the repair, and successfully completing the repair 

(for example, fixed a leaking faucet, re-shingled a roof, etc.)? 

59. Have you devised a strategy to overcome a major setback that successfully 

enabled you to complete a project on time or within budget? 

60. Have you successfully done work that regularly involved conducting quality 

checks or following up with customers or clients to ensure satisfaction with a product 

or service? 

61. Have you suggested or made changes to products or procedures that resulted in 

better meeting customer needs? 

62. Have you successfully done work that required you to keep enough cash on hand 

or maintain an adequate stock of supplies, equipment, or merchandise? 

63. In college, did you have an overall undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 or 

higher on a 4.0 scale, belong to an honor society, or graduate with honors? (Answer 

NO to this question if you did not attend college.) 

64. Have you formally taught, instructed, or trained others in educational or 

occupational settings and received favorable feedback about your ability to do so? 

65. Have you successfully done work that required you to interact with people at 

many levels in an organization? 

66. Have you successfully done work, not including schoolwork, that required you to 

juggle several assignments or projects at the same time? 

67. Have you successfully done work that regularly involved determining appropriate 

products or services for customers or clients? 

68. Have you written a play, script, or novel that was sold, published, or produced? 

69. Have you successfully dealt with a disruption to regular operations in a way that 

allowed for completion of the work or continuation of a noncritical service? 

70. Have you successfully done work that regularly involved planning, prioritizing, 

scheduling, and monitoring work for fewer than 10 people? 

71. Have you successfully done work that regularly involved verifying the accuracy of 

information or the relevance of information to a problem or a situation (for example, 

investigative work)? 

72. Have you successfully taught a computer programming or software applications 

course? 

73. Have you participated in training classes, workshops, or seminars outside of 

school that helped you improve your computer skills? 

74. Have you successfully done work that regularly required you to lead or facilitate 

briefings, meetings, or conferences, or formally present technical or other complex 

information to others? 
75. Have you successfully done work that regularly involved interacting with or 

counseling people with special needs or problems (for example, hospital patients, 

psychiatric patients, prisoners, people who are elderly or disabled, etc.)? 

76. Have you successfully remained polite and tactful while doing work where one of 

your primary responsibilities was to handle customer problems or complaints (for 

example, worked as a customer service representative)? 

77. In high school, did you have an overall grade point average of 3.0 or higher on a 

4.0 scale, belong to an honor society, or graduate with honors? 

78. Have you often been asked to proofread or edit the writing of others for content, 

punctuation, spelling, and grammar? 

79. Have you successfully worked closely with a client over an extended period of 

time to complete a project or resolve a problem? 

80. Have you successfully done work that regularly involved planning, prioritizing, 

and monitoring your own work? 

81. Have you successfully solved problems that occurred because of a critical 

emergency or a disruption of a life-saving operation, with very few resources or 

guidelines (for example, solved problems related to a natural disaster, a power 

outage in a hospital, etc.)? 

82. Have you successfully developed an automated system that improved accuracy, 

efficiency, or productivity? 

83. Have you received formal recognition for your ability to work well with others (for 

example, received a letter of recommendation or appreciation, an excellent 

performance appraisal rating, etc.)? 

84. Have you willingly changed routine tasks to accommodate new systems, policies, 

or procedures (for example, changed to a new filing system, computer system, 

financial record-keeping system, etc.)? 

85. Have you received a grade of B or above in high school computer classes (for 

example, classes in word processing, graphics, programming, etc.)? 

86. Have you received favorable feedback about your ability to provide oral 

instructions or on-the-job training to others, or about your ability to instruct or coach 

others in athletic, leisure, or community activities? 

87. Have you successfully planned an event such as a conference, fund-raiser, etc.? 

88. Have you successfully done work where your primary responsibility was to 

handle customers' problems or complaints, or where you were required to deal with 

customer complaints that could not be resolved by lower level employees? 

89. Have you submitted articles or similar types of written work that were published 

in a professional, trade, or scholarly journal or in a nationally recognized newspaper 

or magazine? 

90. Since high school, have you received a grade of B or above in writing courses 

(for example, composition, creative writing, journalism, etc.) or on essays, reports, 
or term papers written for school courses that were not focused on writing skills (for 

example, history, geography, psychology, etc.)? 

91. Have you successfully owned or managed a business, or done paid work as a 

contractor or consultant, where business depended on establishing and maintaining 

good customer relations? 

92. Have you successfully done work that required you to identify what a customer 

or client needs? 

93. Have you successfully remained friendly and polite while briefly interacting with 

many different clients or customers (for example, worked as a receptionist, bank 

teller, cashier, waiter/waitress, sales clerk, etc.)? 

94. Have you successfully done work that regularly involved listening carefully to 

others to understand a need, problem, or situation (for example, investigative work, 

counseling, etc.)? 

95. Have you successfully done work that regularly involved deciding how best to 

use the strengths of team members (for example, deciding who to assign to various 

projects, which player to put in each position, etc.)? 

96. Have you successfully taught a course that focused on interpersonal skills (for 

example, customer relations, counseling, etc.)? 

97. Have you successfully done work that regularly involved composing letters or 

writing reports containing several short paragraphs, such as investigation reports, 

accident reports, performance evaluations, etc.? 

98. Have you successfully done work that constantly required you to work under 

difficult time constraints? 

99. Have you successfully done work of an emergency nature that required you to be 

flexible about being on call, working for indefinite periods of time, etc. (for example, 

worked as a criminal investigator, emergency medical technician, firefighter, etc.)? 

100. Have you successfully done work where your supervisor regularly relied on you 

to make decisions while he or she was in meetings or out of the office? 

101. Have you successfully done work that regularly involved interacting with 

customers, clients, co-workers, or supervisors who were especially difficult to get 

along with? 

102. Have you successfully done work that involved making personnel decisions (for 

example, who to hire, promote, or discipline) or deciding how to allocate equipment, 

materials, staff, etc.? 

103. Have you successfully determined space layouts or assignments for equipment, 

furniture, displays, etc.? 

104. Have you readily rearranged virtually all of your priorities and much of your 

schedule to accommodate a sudden major change, problem, or setback that had a 

relatively long-term impact on you (for example, assumed the duties of another staff 

member who quit unexpectedly, took in an elderly parent who suddenly became ill, 

etc.)? 
105. Have you written articles or similar types of work that have been included in a 

school newspaper, community newsletter, or similar type of publication? 

106. Have you successfully written reports that presented facts, findings, logical 

conclusions, and persuasive arguments (for example, wrote a thesis, briefing papers, 

policy papers, complex research papers, etc.)? 

107. Have you done work that involved writing brochures, press releases, or 

speeches? 

108. Have you successfully reviewed and evaluated forms, applications, documents, 

or other information, not including contract proposals or bids, to make 

determinations (for example, to determine approval or denial of loans, eligibility for 

claims, etc.)? 

109. Have you received a grade of B or above in school courses, taken since high 

school, that emphasized problem solving (for example, logic, computer 

programming, etc.)? 

110. Have you successfully completed a highly structured, formal training program, 

not including an apprenticeship for a trade or craft, that required you to learn a 

complex body of information (for example, training for jobs in insurance, law 

enforcement, real estate, etc.)? 

111. Have you successfully done work that regularly required you to determine 

resource requirements or monitor the use of resources (for example, staff, space, 

equipment, supplies, materials, etc.)? 

112. Have you received a grade of B or above in school-related computer courses 

taken since high school (for example, courses in word processing, programming, 

etc.)? 

113. Have you successfully done work that involved deciding which supplies, 

equipment, or merchandise to purchase for a group or organization? 

114. Have you been given additional responsibilities because of your ability to 

organize and complete your regular work more quickly than expected? 

115. Have you completed assignments on time and maintained an overall grade 

point average of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale in post-high school courses while 

carrying a full course load? 

116. Have you done work where regularly you were responsible for dealing with 

disruptions that impacted a group of people (for example, rowdy behavior at a public 

pool, weather changes at a camp, altercations in a prison, etc.)? 

117. Have you identified and solved a problem with a procedure, product, or service 

that benefited the organization (for example, saved the organization time or money, 

increased sales, reduced errors, etc.)? 

118. Have you received a grade of B or above on oral presentations made for school 

courses, taken since high school, that did not focus on oral communication skills (for 

example, history, sociology, etc.), or for any oral presentations made for high 

school? 
119. Have you successfully done work that only occasionally involved helping others 

work out their problems (for example, worked as a resident advisor in a dorm, camp 

counselor, etc.)? 

120. Have you participated in training classes, workshops, or seminars outside of 

school that improved your performance at work? 

121. Have you taught yourself skills that improved your performance in school or at 

work (for example, taught yourself typing, computer skills, a foreign language, etc.)? 

122. Have you successfully provided quality service to many different customers or 

clients with whom you interacted only briefly (for example, worked as a receptionist, 

bank teller, cashier, waiter/waitress, etc.)? 

123. Have you received a grade of B or above on essays or reports written for high 

school classes? 

124. Have you made presentations where you successfully persuaded someone to do 

something (for example, support a project, accept your recommendations, purchase 

a product or service, etc.)? 

125. Have you successfully provided quality service to people with special needs or 

problems (for example, worked in a hospital, halfway house, special education 

program, etc.)? 

126. Have you successfully done work that involved reviewing various contract 

proposals or contract bids to determine which one to select? 

127. Have you willingly rearranged many of your priorities and much of your 

schedule to accommodate a major, planned change that had a long-term impact on 

you (for example, worked overtime for several months to implement a new system 

on schedule, had extensive renovations done on your house that required you to live 

elsewhere, etc.)? 

128. Do you have a professional license or certificate issued by a state or other 

official or professional licensing board indicating your mastery of a specialized body 

of knowledge (for example, cosmetology, real estate, certified public accounting, 

etc.)? 

129. Have you received favorable feedback for oral presentations you have given to 

management or other officials, or to the public (for example, for speaking at religious 

services, performing in theatrical productions, etc.)? 

130. Have you successfully responded to external changes that impacted a business 

you owned or managed (for example, responded to changes in the market, new 

laws, etc.)? 

131. Have you successfully planned activities for nonwork groups (for example, 

athletic teams, professional associations, church groups, etc.)? 

132. Have you successfully done work where you were responsible for determining 

appropriate treatment or rehabilitation programs (for example, worked as a 

probation/parole officer, social worker, counselor, etc.)? 
133. Have you successfully remained courteous and tactful while enforcing laws or 

policies or helping customers, clients, or members of the public who were hostile or 

upset, not including handling customer complaints (for example, worked in a crisis 

center, worked as a police officer, parole officer, park ranger, etc.)? 

134. Have you successfully done work that required extensive on-the-job training? 

135. Have you successfully completed a complex research project that included 

collecting and analyzing information, and reporting conclusions or recommendations? 

136. Have you successfully completed an apprenticeship in a trade or craft? 

137. Have you successfully learned a hobby or leisure activity requiring extensive 

study or use of complex directions (for example, constructing stereo or computer 

systems, building a car, making stained glass objects, etc.)? 

138. Have you successfully done work that regularly involved manipulating data in a 

computer database (for example, importing, exporting, merging, updating, sorting 

data, etc.)? 

139. Have you successfully done work, not including computer applications classes, 

that regularly involved using graphics software to create and edit charts, tables, or 

graphs? 

140. Since high school, have you received a grade of B or above in oral 

communication classes (for example, speech, public speaking, theater, etc.) or 

participated in activities that improved your oral communication skills (for example, 

training classes, workshops, seminars, debate team, speech club, etc.)? 

141. Have you successfully done work that regularly involved interacting or 

coordinating with people outside of your immediate work group (for example, people 

from other offices, departments, organizations, etc.)? 

142. Have you successfully done work where your primary responsibility involved 

interacting with current or potential customers or clients for the purpose of selling a 

product or service? 

143. Have you learned a hobby or leisure activity well enough that others have paid 

you to do it? 

144. Have you successfully done work where one of your primary responsibilities was 

to solve customer problems (for example, provided support services for customers 

with software problems)? 

145. Have you successfully done work, not including computer applications classes, 

that regularly involved using statistical software programs to analyze data? 

146. Have you successfully done work, not including computer applications classes, 

that regularly involved using word processing software to create, edit, and format 

documents or correspondence? 

147. Have you successfully provided good customer service while constantly working 

under difficult time constraints (for example, worked in a fast-food restaurant, 

worked as a stockbroker, etc.)? 
148. Have you successfully done work, not including computer programming classes, 

that regularly involved writing or debugging computer programs? 

149. Is your highest level of formal education some college, but no bachelor's 

degree, or completion of technical, trade, or business school training? (Answer NO to 

this question if you anticipate receiving a bachelor's degree within the next 9 

months.) 

150. Have you received favorable feedback about your interpersonal skills when 

serving as a leader, instructor, or supervisor for academic, religious, community, 

sports, leisure, or work activities? 

151. Have you successfully done work that regularly required you to modify plans to 

accommodate unexpected assignments or to respond to changing workloads, 

priorities, or deadlines? 

152. Have you readily rearranged many of your priorities and much of your schedule 

to accommodate an unplanned change that had a short-term impact on you (for 

example, took on additional work for a co-worker who was absent due to a minor 

illness, rescheduled all final examinations due to a death in the family, etc.)? 

153. Have you successfully done work that regularly involved deciding how to handle 

disorderly people or situations? 

154. Have you received formal recognition for solving a work-related problem (for 

example, received an award, a letter of commendation, etc.)? 

155. Have you done work that required you to travel frequently, unexpectedly, or for 

an indefinite period of time? 

156. Have you successfully done work that only occasionally required you to present 

information at briefings, meetings, conferences, or hearings?