EXPANDED SCOPE

FOR

ASSESSMENT ASSISTANT OC & PR 1,2,3,4

DEPUTY TOWN ASSESSOR OC 1,3,5,6,7

REAL PROPERTY APPRAISAL TECHNICIAN II OC 1,2,4,8,9

REAL PROPERTY RECORDER IV PR 4,6,7,8,9

SENIOR ASSESSMENT ASSISTANT OC & PR 2,3,4,6,10

TAX DEED SPECIALIST OC 4,6,7,10

1. PREPARING WRITTEN MATERIAL - These questions test for the ability to present information clearly and accurately, and to organize paragraphs logically and comprehensibly. For some questions, you will be given information in two or three sentences followed by four restatements of the information. You must then choose the best version. For other questions, you will be given paragraphs with their sentences out of order. You must then choose, from four suggestions, the best order for the sentences.

2. DATA COLLECTION - These questions test for a knowledge of the variables that are collected for residential, commercial, vacant and farm properties. Hypothetical situations may be used to test for candidate knowledge, skill, and ability in this area. The majority of these questions are based on the terms, concepts, and principles of data collection that are contained in the Department of Taxation and Finances' data collection manuals which can be found at www.tax.ny.gov/research/property/assess/manuals/assersmanual.htm.

3. PRINCIPLES, PRACTICES AND THEORY OF REAL PROPERTY ASSESSMENT - These questions test for a knowledge of the equalization rate process, the assessors' calendar, the content of the assessment roll, and the exemptions from real property taxes in New York State. These questions will also test for the ability to use public relations skills when confronted by individuals in your municipality.

4. UNDERSTANDING AND INTERPRETING ABSTRACTS, DEEDS, AND OTHER DOCUMENTS RELATED TO REAL PROPERTY - These questions test for the ability to understand and apply information contained in documents related to real property and include examples, illustrations and applications of laws and procedures in relation to the reading and interpretation of title abstracts, deeds and other related documents.

5. PRINCIPLES AND TECHNIQUES OF REAL PROPERTY APPRAISAL - These questions test for a knowledge of principles and practices used in the appraisal of agricultural, commercial, and residential real property including knowledge of the three approaches to value; sales comparison, income, and cost estimation.

6. SUPERVISION - These questions test for knowledge of the principles and practices employed in planning, organizing, and controlling the activities of a work unit toward predetermined objectives. The concepts covered, usually in a situational question format, include such topics as assigning and reviewing work; evaluating performance; maintaining work standards; motivating and developing subordinates; implementing procedural change; increasing efficiency; and dealing with problems of absenteeism, morale, and discipline.

7. UNDERSTANDING AND INTERPRETING REAL PROPERTY TAX LAW - These questions test for the ability to read, interpret and apply the New York State Real Property Tax Law. You will be provided with brief reading selections based on or taken from the New York State Real Property Tax Law, followed by one or more questions. All the information needed to answer the questions is contained in the reading selections. No prior knowledge of the subject is required.

The subject matter of the selections may not be specific to the titles for which we are testing. The purpose of these questions is only to test for the ability to read and interpret this type of material at an appropriate level of difficulty.

8. UNDERSTANDING AND INTERPRETING WRITTEN MATERIAL - These questions test for the ability to understand and interpret written material. You will be presented with brief reading passages and will be asked questions about the passages. You should base your answers to the questions only on what is presented in the passages and not on what you may happen to know about the topic.

9. UNDERSTANDING AND INTERPRETING TAX MAPS AND SITE PLANS - These questions test for the ability to read, analyze and perform computations based on various types of maps and plans, and may include tax maps, deed descriptions, site plans, survey maps and building layouts. All the information needed to answer the questions will be provided in the maps, plans, layouts or related written material. A calculator and magnifying glass may be helpful for answering some of these questions. Candidates may bring their own calculator and magnifying glass if they so choose.

10. WORKING WITH OFFICE RECORDS - These questions test your ability to work with office records. The test consists of two or more sets of questions, each set concerning a different problem. Typical record keeping problems might involve the organization or collation of numerical data from several sources; maintaining a record system using running balances; or completion of a table summarizing data using totals, subtotals, averages and percents. You should bring with you a hand-held battery- or solar-powered calculator for use on this test. You will not be permitted to use the calculator function of your cell phone.

The New York State Department of Civil Service has not prepared a test guide for this examination. However, candidates may find information in the publication 'General Guide to Written Tests' helpful in preparing for this test. This publication is available on line at: https://www.cs.ny.gov/testing/testguides.cfm.

USE OF CALCULATORS IS RECOMMENDED