The types of questions you can expect to be asked on the 2010 census employment test are roughly the same as what you would expect to find on any clerical type of exam. The big difference is there will also be an number of map related questions since naturally, part of the job as a census taker will involve some map reading.
The test has four parts to it: numerical, reading comprehension, clerical and organization. For the numerical portion, only simply math questions are asked. The most difficult part of the math portion of the test is the questions about percentages.
Other questions on the census test have to do with things like time management, organizing data, including putting files in the correct alphabetical order, or arranging them sequentially by number, etc.
The test also has a reading comprehension section, which for many people is probably one of the longer parts of the test since you may have to read a couple of paragraphs for each section and then answer the related questions, which often means referring back to the reading section to double-check your answer.
There’s also a bit of analysis and interpretation going on here, in addition to comprehension as you have to make the best possible choice of the answers offered. But even this section is multiple choice, so I wouldn’t worry that you have to write an essay or anything. It is still pretty simple.
There may also be one or two questions relating to supervision and/or interpersonal relations. Most supervisory questions can be answered by referring to common sense. The answer is always the solution that is least likely to get someone in trouble with Human Resources.
In addition to the basics, there is also a bit of a map reading section. For this, you’ll view a small line drawn map with a bunch of streets and houses on it. Then you have to answer questions relating to what you see. This is an important part of the test and probably the section that most relates to the actual job itself.
As I’ve mentioned previously, the Census takers practice test is one of the best ways of preparing to take the census examination and it will give you a very good idea of what is on the test. Some test takers feel that the census practice test questions are not so similar, but my own experience is that the practice questions are very good preparation. Are the questions exactly the same? Of course, they are not. That would be cheating and there would be no reason for anyone to take the test. But the kinds of questions are very similar.