Questions and Answers about
Municipal Civil Service Examinations
In New York State, competitive
civil service examinations provide a way to ensure that appointments to municipal
public service jobs are based on merit and fitness. Those people who are interested
in public service employment must demonstrate that they have the knowledge, skills,
and abilities needed to do a particular job by taking a civil service examination.
Examinations are given by municipal civil service
agencies for specific job titles under their jurisdiction. The examinations that
are offered are based on the duties performed by incumbents in the title for which
the examination is announced. Each examination has minimum qualifications that
must be met. (There may only be residency requirements.) Minimum qualifications
and the subjects of examinations for the same or similar titles may vary from
one civil service agency to another based on programs needs, including the way
in which the duties of the positions are defined. An examination most frequently
includes a written test. Also, there is an application fee for most examinations.
You can find out about examinations being offered
and where examination annoncements are posted by contacting the civil service
agency for the municipality in which you are interested in being employed. You
can also watch for postings of examination announcements in your local library
or other public place. Examination announcements provide information on the title,
minimum qualifications, typical qualifications, and the type and subjects of the
examination that will be given.
Most local civil service examinations outside of
New York City are prepared by the New York State Department of Civil Service.
Listed below are answers to the most frequently asked questions about local civil
service examinations prepared by the state. Also addresed are some questions municipal
employees have about promotion examinations.
1.How are test scores on a written civil service test determined?
First, the raw score is determined
which is generally the number of questions the candidate answers correctly. After
the results are analyzed, a band score table is then applied to the raw score
to determine the final score. Typically, a band score covers a range of scores
and bands are reported in five point increments. This method of scoring is called
band scoring.
Example: A range of raw scores from 45 to 47 are assigned a band score
of 80.
If you received a raw score of either 45, 46, 47, your final score would be 80.
Some canidates are entitled to veterans' credits.
In accordance with the New York State Constitution, these credits are added to
the final scores of passing candidates. Veterans' credits cannot be added to failed
scores. On open competitive examinations, which are those open to the general
public, qualified non-disabled veterans receive five points and disabled veterans
receive ten points.
2.Why are tests bands scored?
Band scoring provides a more realistic assessment of a candidate's performance on written tests than point-by-point scoring. It takes into accountant that no test can measure a candidate's abilities with perfect confidence or assess all the abilities revelant to a given job. Also, increasing the use of band scoring on civil service tests considerably opens the field of candidates who can be considered for appointment.
3.Can I see the eligible list?
Yes, you can see an eligible list
at the office of the civil service agency that announced the examination. A copy
of an eligible list may be obtained from the agency under the Freedom of Information
Law; payment of a fee may be required.
4.How can I have the same score as someone else and can be ranked differently?
Municipal civil service rules provide that candidates on an eligible list be ranked. For information on the method used to rank candidates with the same score should consult the agency responsible for administering the examination.5.Who can be considered for appointment from a civil service list?
Everyone ranked above or tied with the third candidate on the eligible list can be considered for appointment. This is sometimes referred to as the Rule of Three.In accordance with Civil Service Law, appointing authorities may elect to give preference in appointment. The Rule of Three is applied to this resident list.
6.How could I get the same failing score on two different tests?
Using the band scoring method,all failing scores are reported as "60". For instance, say a test has 90 questions, and the minimum passing score is set at 54 raw score points. If you answered less than 54 questions correctly, your final score would be reported as "60".7.How can I find out how my score was determined?
An opportunity to do a computational review is provided for most civil service examinations. If a computational review is offered and you would like to review your paper to determine how it was scored, you must submit a request in writing within 10 days after you recieve your score to the municipal civil service commission or personnel office which administered the examination.At the computational review you will be able to determine how many questions you answered correctly and the method by which your final score was determined.
In those few cases where a computational review is not avaliable, the municipal civil service agency, upon request, can provide this information.
Promotion Examinations
1.Why did I get the same score on the open competitive and the promotion examinations? I should have received 3 seniority checks on the promotion examinations.
In band scored promotion examinations, seniority credits are added to passing raw scores. If the combined total of your raw score (generally the number of questions answered correctly) and your seniority credits is in the same score band as your raw score, your score on the promotion examination will be the same as on the open competitive examination.Example:
A final score of eighty is assigned to a range of raw scores from 45 to 48.
A final score of eighty five is assigned to a range of raw scores from fourty nine to fifty three.
If you received a raw score of fourty five and have three seniority credits, your total raw score would be fourty eight. With or without your seniority credits your final score would be eighty. If you had received a raw score of fourty seven and have three seniority credits, your total raw score would be fifty which would place you in the next higher band. In this case, your final score would be eighty five.
2.Why aren't seniority credits added to the final score anymore?
Civil Service Law requires that seniority be given due weight. For examinations that are band scored, the addition of seniority credits to the final score would give undue weight to seniority.3.Why did a co-worker get an eighty two point five on an exam? Don't all final scores now fall into bands that are in five point increments?
This difference is due to the award of veterans' credits. On all examinations, veterans' credits must be added to passing final scores. On promotion examinations non-disabled veterans receive two point five points and disabled veterans receive five points.Municiple Civil Service Agencies
Following are telephone numbers for municipal Civil Service Commissions and Departments of Personnel.315-342-8159
Oswego County
315-349-8367
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