100+ Free USA Hire Practice Questions
Pass your USA Hire Assessment (OPM Federal Clerical and Administrative Hiring Assessment) exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.
Assume true: (1) Every item in Bin A is also logged in System X. (2) Some items in System X are flagged for audit. Which statement must be true?
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Key Facts: USA Hire Exam
$0
Cost to Applicants
OPM USA Hire
48 hours
Window to Complete
OPM / agency guidance
5 min/item
Cognitive Pace
OPM sample items
~2-3 hrs
Total Battery Time
OPM applicant resources
12 months
Score Reuse Window
OPM USA Hire
GS-5 to 12
Typical Grade Range
OPM / DOI guidance
USA Hire is OPM's free online assessment battery for federal competitive-service jobs, commonly GS-5 to GS-12. After applying on USAJOBS, applicants have 48 hours to complete sections such as Occupational Reading, Math, Reasoning, Attention to Detail, and a video Situational Judgment test. The battery takes about 2-3 hours, most items allow 5 minutes each, and you must meet each position's cut score.
Sample USA Hire Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to test your USA Hire exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1On the USA Hire Occupational Reading Assessment, the instructions state: "All of the information you need to answer the questions is provided in the question text. Knowledge of Federal rules, regulations, or policies is NOT required." What is the best test-taking strategy this implies?
2Passage: "All travel vouchers must be submitted within 30 calendar days of the trip's end date. Vouchers received after this window require a written justification approved by the supervisor before processing." An employee returns from travel on March 3 and submits a voucher on April 10 with no attachment. Based only on the passage, what happens?
3Passage: "The records room is open to staff Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. On Fridays, access is limited to 8:00 a.m. to noon for scheduled maintenance." A clerk needs to retrieve a file at 2:00 p.m. on a Friday. According to the passage, can the clerk access the room?
4Passage: "New employees complete orientation in their first week. Within 90 days, each must finish mandatory cybersecurity and ethics training. Failure to complete either course suspends system access until both are done." What is the main idea?
5Table: Office Supply Requests — Pens: 50; Notebooks: 30; Folders: 75; Staplers: 12. Which item was requested most often?
6Passage: "The customer service line operates from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Calls received outside these hours are routed to voicemail and returned within one business day." A caller leaves a message at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday. By when should the caller expect a return call?
7Passage: "Reimbursable expenses include lodging, ground transportation, and meals up to the daily per diem. Personal entertainment, alarm-clock rentals, and minibar charges are non-reimbursable." An employee submits a claim for a hotel room, a taxi to the office, and a $40 movie rental. Which item will be denied?
8Passage: "Although the report was due Friday, the analyst requested an extension because two key data sources were delayed. The supervisor granted three additional business days." If the original due date was Friday, October 10, what is the new due date?
9Passage: "The policy applies to full-time employees who have completed their probationary period. Part-time and probationary staff are covered by a separate guideline." A part-time employee who finished probation last year asks whether this policy applies. What is the correct answer?
10Table: Monthly Help-Desk Tickets — January: 220; February: 180; March: 260; April: 240. Between which two consecutive months did the ticket count increase the most?
About the USA Hire Exam
The USA Hire Assessment is OPM's suite of online, skills-based pre-employment assessments used across federal agencies to evaluate applicants for competitive-service jobs, commonly at the GS-5 through GS-12 levels in clerical, administrative, and professional series. After applying on USAJOBS, qualified applicants receive an email from Assessments@usahire.opm.gov and typically have 48 hours after the announcement closes to complete the battery. Depending on the job, assessments may include Occupational Reading, Occupational Math, Occupational Reasoning, Attention to Detail, and a video-based Occupational Judgment (situational judgment) test. Most cognitive assessments give 5 minutes per item, and applicants must meet each position's minimum proficiency cut score to advance; scores are reused for the same series and grade for up to 12 months.
Questions
100 scored questions
Time Limit
Approximately 2-3 hours total; about 5 minutes per item on most cognitive assessments
Passing Score
Meet or exceed the position's minimum proficiency cut score on each assessment
Exam Fee
Free (no cost to applicants) (U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), delivered online through USA Staffing)
USA Hire Exam Content Outline
Occupational Reading
Reading comprehension of passages and tables answered strictly from the provided text; no outside federal policy knowledge required.
Occupational Math
Arithmetic and mathematical reasoning including percentages, fractions, decimals, proportions, basic algebra, geometry, and probability; calculator permitted.
Attention to Detail / Clerical
Exact matching of names, numbers, codes, dates, and addresses, plus alphabetizing, sorting, and spotting transposition and duplicate errors.
Occupational Reasoning
Logical reasoning from given facts: formal logic, seating/ordering arrangements, and number or letter pattern series.
Occupational Judgment (Situational Judgment)
Video-based workplace scenarios where you select the most and least effective courses of action covering teamwork, service, and integrity.
How to Pass the USA Hire Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: Meet or exceed the position's minimum proficiency cut score on each assessment
- Exam length: 100 questions
- Time limit: Approximately 2-3 hours total; about 5 minutes per item on most cognitive assessments
- Exam fee: Free (no cost to applicants)
Keys to Passing
- Complete 500+ practice questions
- Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
- Focus on highest-weighted sections
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
USA Hire Study Tips from Top Performers
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the USA Hire Assessment?
USA Hire is a suite of online, skills-based assessments developed by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to evaluate applicants for federal competitive-service jobs. It measures general competencies such as reading comprehension, mathematical reasoning, logical reasoning, attention to detail, and situational judgment.
Who has to take the USA Hire Assessment?
Applicants to covered competitive-service positions on USAJOBS, commonly at GS-5 through GS-12 in clerical, administrative, and professional series, are invited to complete USA Hire after they apply. The specific assessments assigned depend on the job series and grade.
How much does the USA Hire Assessment cost?
There is no cost. The USA Hire Assessment and OPM's official sample items are free to applicants; you only need to apply to a position on USAJOBS to be invited.
How long do I have to complete it, and how long does it take?
You typically have 48 hours after the job announcement closes to complete the assessments. The full battery generally takes about 2-3 hours, and most cognitive assessments give you 5 minutes per item. The non-cognitive Occupational Interaction Assessment is untimed.
What is a passing or cut score on USA Hire?
Each position has a minimum proficiency cut score set by assessment experts. You must score at or above the cut score on each assessment to advance. Cut scores are always enabled for Delegated Examining vacancies and vary by series and grade.
Can I retake the USA Hire Assessment?
Your scores are reused for the same occupational series and grade for up to 12 months. If you do not meet a cut score, you generally must wait before retaking for the same series and grade, though you can complete different assessments when applying to other series.
What sections will I see?
It varies by job, but common assessments include Occupational Reading, Occupational Math, Occupational Reasoning, Attention to Detail, and a video-based Occupational Judgment (situational judgment) test. Some jobs also include a writing or interaction assessment.
Is the assessment taken online?
Yes. USA Hire is delivered online through USA Staffing and is usually unproctored, so you complete it on your own device after receiving the invitation email from Assessments@usahire.opm.gov.