DE CERTIFICATION 2026 PRACTICE TEST
SOLVED RESPONSES
◉ True or False: For professional or scientific positions at grades GS-
9 and above, compensably disabled preference eligibles (CPS/CP)
who meet the minimum qualifications and any passing grade
established for the assessment are automatically placed at the top of
the Certificate of Eligibles. Answer: False: DEOH, Ch 6-13:
Compensably disabled preference eligibles (CPS/CP) are NOT
automatically placed at the top of the Certificate of Eligibles (5 U.S.C.
§ 3313).
This means any eligibles with higher category placement, including
non-preference eligibles, would rank above the CPS or CP who has a
lower category placement.
◉ True or False: Under category rating, if there are fewer than three
eligible candidates in the highest quality category you MUST merge
the highest quality category with the next lower category. Answer:
False: DEOH, Ch 6-20: Merging quality categories is not mandatory;
it is an option. You should consult with the hiring manager to decide
whether to merge the top two quality categories.
◉ True or False: If there are no preference eligible Veterans in the
top category but there are preference eligibles in the next highest
category you MUST merge categories. Answer: False: DEOH, 6-20:
,Merging is not mandatory. You may proceed with issuing a
certificate of eligibles in the top category. If there is fewer than three
eligible candidates, then you may merge categories.
◉ True or False: Merging the highest quality category (Best-
Qualified) with the next lower category (Well-Qualified) requires
listing the qualified preference eligible at the top of the newly
merged quality category. Answer: True: DEOH, Ch 6-21: Merging the
highest quality category (Best-Qualified) with the next lower
category (Well-Qualified) requires listing the qualified preference
eligible at the top of the newly merged quality category.
A hiring manager may not move past a preference eligible to select a
nonpreference eligible unless there are grounds for passing over the
preference eligible and the agency has complied with the pass-over
procedures at 5 U.S.C. § 3318 (see Section D).
◉ A hiring manager can move past a preference eligible veteran to
select a non-preference eligible if they feel that they have grounds
for passing over the preference eligible Veteran by following which
procedure:
A. Select the best qualified regardless of Veterans preference.
B. Complete pass-over procedures in order to select a non-Veteran.
C. Ask Human Resources to merge the certificates to move the
preference eligible Veteran to a different category. Answer: B.-
,DEOH, Ch 6-21: Complete pass-over procedures in order to select
non-Veteran.
A hiring manager may not move past a preference eligible to select a
non-preference eligible unless there are grounds for passing over
the preference eligible and the agency has complied with the pass-
over procedures at 5 U.S.C. § 3318
◉ The selecting official has one vacancy. Who can be selected from
this certificate?
Peter Taylor (CP)
Michael Jones (TP)
Barbara Hall (NV)
Sandra Box (NV) Answer: Peter Taylor or Michael Jones- DEOH, Ch
6-22.
◉ The selecting official has two vacancies. Who can be selected from
this certificate?
Peter Taylor (CP)
Barbara Hall (NV)
Sandra Box (NV) Answer: Peter Taylor must be selected first, then
Barbara or Sandra may be selected.- DEOH, Ch 6-22:
, ◉ You have posted a job for a professional GS-11 Architect. There is
an eligible and qualified CPS Veteran in the well-qualified category.
Do they automatically go to the best-qualified category? Answer: No-
DEOH, Ch 6-13: Preference eligible Veterans remain in their category
for professional positions at the GS-9 and higher.
◉ You have posted a GS-12 Human Resources Specialist. There is an
eligible and qualified veteran in the well-qualified category. Do they
automatically go to the best-qualified category? Answer: Yes- DEOH,
Ch 6-12: CP and CPS eligible Veterans who are eligible and qualified
for non-professional positions automatically go to the top of the
highest category.
◉ True or False: You do not need to audit delegated examining
certificates before the selectee's first day. Answer: False: DEOH, Ch
6-25: It is essential that certificates are audited before a selectee's
first day of work. If the certificate was worked improperly, any hiring
commitments made by the appointing official may potentially be
invalid, and, in addition to the problem that appointment itself
presents, may have a cascading effect on subsequent appointments
and/or If the certificate is issued from a competitor inventory
(standing register) where multiple referrals are made, auditing the
certificate closes it out and enables eligibles that were not selected
to be restored to the active inventory for further employment
consideration.
SOLVED RESPONSES
◉ True or False: For professional or scientific positions at grades GS-
9 and above, compensably disabled preference eligibles (CPS/CP)
who meet the minimum qualifications and any passing grade
established for the assessment are automatically placed at the top of
the Certificate of Eligibles. Answer: False: DEOH, Ch 6-13:
Compensably disabled preference eligibles (CPS/CP) are NOT
automatically placed at the top of the Certificate of Eligibles (5 U.S.C.
§ 3313).
This means any eligibles with higher category placement, including
non-preference eligibles, would rank above the CPS or CP who has a
lower category placement.
◉ True or False: Under category rating, if there are fewer than three
eligible candidates in the highest quality category you MUST merge
the highest quality category with the next lower category. Answer:
False: DEOH, Ch 6-20: Merging quality categories is not mandatory;
it is an option. You should consult with the hiring manager to decide
whether to merge the top two quality categories.
◉ True or False: If there are no preference eligible Veterans in the
top category but there are preference eligibles in the next highest
category you MUST merge categories. Answer: False: DEOH, 6-20:
,Merging is not mandatory. You may proceed with issuing a
certificate of eligibles in the top category. If there is fewer than three
eligible candidates, then you may merge categories.
◉ True or False: Merging the highest quality category (Best-
Qualified) with the next lower category (Well-Qualified) requires
listing the qualified preference eligible at the top of the newly
merged quality category. Answer: True: DEOH, Ch 6-21: Merging the
highest quality category (Best-Qualified) with the next lower
category (Well-Qualified) requires listing the qualified preference
eligible at the top of the newly merged quality category.
A hiring manager may not move past a preference eligible to select a
nonpreference eligible unless there are grounds for passing over the
preference eligible and the agency has complied with the pass-over
procedures at 5 U.S.C. § 3318 (see Section D).
◉ A hiring manager can move past a preference eligible veteran to
select a non-preference eligible if they feel that they have grounds
for passing over the preference eligible Veteran by following which
procedure:
A. Select the best qualified regardless of Veterans preference.
B. Complete pass-over procedures in order to select a non-Veteran.
C. Ask Human Resources to merge the certificates to move the
preference eligible Veteran to a different category. Answer: B.-
,DEOH, Ch 6-21: Complete pass-over procedures in order to select
non-Veteran.
A hiring manager may not move past a preference eligible to select a
non-preference eligible unless there are grounds for passing over
the preference eligible and the agency has complied with the pass-
over procedures at 5 U.S.C. § 3318
◉ The selecting official has one vacancy. Who can be selected from
this certificate?
Peter Taylor (CP)
Michael Jones (TP)
Barbara Hall (NV)
Sandra Box (NV) Answer: Peter Taylor or Michael Jones- DEOH, Ch
6-22.
◉ The selecting official has two vacancies. Who can be selected from
this certificate?
Peter Taylor (CP)
Barbara Hall (NV)
Sandra Box (NV) Answer: Peter Taylor must be selected first, then
Barbara or Sandra may be selected.- DEOH, Ch 6-22:
, ◉ You have posted a job for a professional GS-11 Architect. There is
an eligible and qualified CPS Veteran in the well-qualified category.
Do they automatically go to the best-qualified category? Answer: No-
DEOH, Ch 6-13: Preference eligible Veterans remain in their category
for professional positions at the GS-9 and higher.
◉ You have posted a GS-12 Human Resources Specialist. There is an
eligible and qualified veteran in the well-qualified category. Do they
automatically go to the best-qualified category? Answer: Yes- DEOH,
Ch 6-12: CP and CPS eligible Veterans who are eligible and qualified
for non-professional positions automatically go to the top of the
highest category.
◉ True or False: You do not need to audit delegated examining
certificates before the selectee's first day. Answer: False: DEOH, Ch
6-25: It is essential that certificates are audited before a selectee's
first day of work. If the certificate was worked improperly, any hiring
commitments made by the appointing official may potentially be
invalid, and, in addition to the problem that appointment itself
presents, may have a cascading effect on subsequent appointments
and/or If the certificate is issued from a competitor inventory
(standing register) where multiple referrals are made, auditing the
certificate closes it out and enables eligibles that were not selected
to be restored to the active inventory for further employment
consideration.
