DELEGATED EXAMINING (DE) EXAM Complete Questions
and 100% Correct Answers (Updated 2026)
Section 1: Fundamentals of Delegated Examining
Q1: Under 5 CFR 337, what is the fundamental purpose of Delegated
Examining (DE)?
A) To allow agencies to hire non-competitively for any position.
B) To grant Federal agencies the authority to examine and rate
applicants for competitive service positions.
C) To bypass Office of Personnel Management (OPM) approval for
Senior Executive Service (SES) hires.
D) To exclusively hire veterans into excepted service positions.
CORRECT ANSWER>: B) To grant Federal agencies the authority to
examine and rate applicants for competitive service positions.
Rationale: DE allows agencies that have an examining agreement with
OPM to assess, rate, and refer applicants for competitive service
positions without sending the applications to OPM for processing.
Q2: Which Federal regulation primarily governs the Delegated
Examining process?
A) 5 CFR 211
B) 5 CFR 300
C) 5 CFR 337
D) 5 CFR 731
,CORRECT ANSWER>: C) 5 CFR 337.
Rationale: Title 5, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 337 (5 CFR 337)
outlines the requirements for competitive service examining, including
category rating and Delegated Examining Operations.
Q3: All examining actions carried out under a Delegated Examining
agreement must adhere to:
A) The Merit System Principles (5 U.S.C. 2301)
B) The Hatch Act
C) The Fair Labor Standards Act
D) The Government in the Sunshine Act
CORRECT ANSWER>: A) The Merit System Principles (5 U.S.C. 2301).
Rationale: The Merit System Principles are the foundation of Federal
hiring, ensuring that recruitment is from qualified individuals and that
selection is based on fair and open competition without political
influence.
Q4: Which OPM publication serves as the primary operational guide for
Federal agencies conducting Delegated Examining?
A) Classification and Qualifications Standards Operating Manual
B) Delegated Examining Operations Handbook (DEOH)
C) Federal Hiring Handbook
D) HR University Guidebook
,CORRECT ANSWER>: B) Delegated Examining Operations Handbook
(DEOH).
Rationale: The DEOH is the comprehensive guidebook issued by OPM
that instructs agencies on the day-to-day procedures, policies, and legal
requirements for conducting delegated examining.
Section 2: Category Rating System
Q5: Under the Category Rating method, applicants are placed into
distinct categories based on their level of qualification. What is the
standard number of categories used?
A) Two
B) Three
C) Four
D) Five
CORRECT ANSWER>: B) Three.
Rationale: The standard category rating system consists of three
categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, and Qualified. (Note:
Agencies may use different alphabetic or numeric names, but there
must be at least two, and typically three are used).
Q6: Under Category Rating, is an agency required to select candidates in
the exact numerical order of their scores (e.g., a score of 95 must be
selected before a 92)?
A) Yes, the Rule of Three still applies to scores within a category.
, B) No, the Rule of Three is eliminated; the selecting official may select
any candidate in the highest quality category.
C) Yes, this is mandated by 5 CFR 337.
D) No, the selecting official can select from any category regardless of
ranking.
CORRECT ANSWER>: B) No, the Rule of Three is eliminated; the
selecting official may select any candidate in the highest quality
category.
Rationale: The Category Rating system was designed to replace the
"Rule of Three" (where agencies had to select from the top 3 scores).
The selecting official has the discretion to choose any applicant in the
highest available quality category.
Q7: Can an agency use fewer than three categories for a specific job
announcement?
A) No, 5 CFR 337 mandates exactly three categories.
B) Yes, if the agency determines that fewer categories are appropriate
based on the job's complexity and the applicant pool, but there must be
at least two.
C) Yes, but only if OPM grants a waiver.
D) No, fewer than three categories violates the Merit System Principles.
CORRECT ANSWER>: B) Yes, if the agency determines that fewer
categories are appropriate based on the job's complexity and the
applicant pool, but there must be at least two.
and 100% Correct Answers (Updated 2026)
Section 1: Fundamentals of Delegated Examining
Q1: Under 5 CFR 337, what is the fundamental purpose of Delegated
Examining (DE)?
A) To allow agencies to hire non-competitively for any position.
B) To grant Federal agencies the authority to examine and rate
applicants for competitive service positions.
C) To bypass Office of Personnel Management (OPM) approval for
Senior Executive Service (SES) hires.
D) To exclusively hire veterans into excepted service positions.
CORRECT ANSWER>: B) To grant Federal agencies the authority to
examine and rate applicants for competitive service positions.
Rationale: DE allows agencies that have an examining agreement with
OPM to assess, rate, and refer applicants for competitive service
positions without sending the applications to OPM for processing.
Q2: Which Federal regulation primarily governs the Delegated
Examining process?
A) 5 CFR 211
B) 5 CFR 300
C) 5 CFR 337
D) 5 CFR 731
,CORRECT ANSWER>: C) 5 CFR 337.
Rationale: Title 5, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 337 (5 CFR 337)
outlines the requirements for competitive service examining, including
category rating and Delegated Examining Operations.
Q3: All examining actions carried out under a Delegated Examining
agreement must adhere to:
A) The Merit System Principles (5 U.S.C. 2301)
B) The Hatch Act
C) The Fair Labor Standards Act
D) The Government in the Sunshine Act
CORRECT ANSWER>: A) The Merit System Principles (5 U.S.C. 2301).
Rationale: The Merit System Principles are the foundation of Federal
hiring, ensuring that recruitment is from qualified individuals and that
selection is based on fair and open competition without political
influence.
Q4: Which OPM publication serves as the primary operational guide for
Federal agencies conducting Delegated Examining?
A) Classification and Qualifications Standards Operating Manual
B) Delegated Examining Operations Handbook (DEOH)
C) Federal Hiring Handbook
D) HR University Guidebook
,CORRECT ANSWER>: B) Delegated Examining Operations Handbook
(DEOH).
Rationale: The DEOH is the comprehensive guidebook issued by OPM
that instructs agencies on the day-to-day procedures, policies, and legal
requirements for conducting delegated examining.
Section 2: Category Rating System
Q5: Under the Category Rating method, applicants are placed into
distinct categories based on their level of qualification. What is the
standard number of categories used?
A) Two
B) Three
C) Four
D) Five
CORRECT ANSWER>: B) Three.
Rationale: The standard category rating system consists of three
categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, and Qualified. (Note:
Agencies may use different alphabetic or numeric names, but there
must be at least two, and typically three are used).
Q6: Under Category Rating, is an agency required to select candidates in
the exact numerical order of their scores (e.g., a score of 95 must be
selected before a 92)?
A) Yes, the Rule of Three still applies to scores within a category.
, B) No, the Rule of Three is eliminated; the selecting official may select
any candidate in the highest quality category.
C) Yes, this is mandated by 5 CFR 337.
D) No, the selecting official can select from any category regardless of
ranking.
CORRECT ANSWER>: B) No, the Rule of Three is eliminated; the
selecting official may select any candidate in the highest quality
category.
Rationale: The Category Rating system was designed to replace the
"Rule of Three" (where agencies had to select from the top 3 scores).
The selecting official has the discretion to choose any applicant in the
highest available quality category.
Q7: Can an agency use fewer than three categories for a specific job
announcement?
A) No, 5 CFR 337 mandates exactly three categories.
B) Yes, if the agency determines that fewer categories are appropriate
based on the job's complexity and the applicant pool, but there must be
at least two.
C) Yes, but only if OPM grants a waiver.
D) No, fewer than three categories violates the Merit System Principles.
CORRECT ANSWER>: B) Yes, if the agency determines that fewer
categories are appropriate based on the job's complexity and the
applicant pool, but there must be at least two.
