EXPANDED SCOPE

FOR

ASSESSMENT ASSISTANT OC 1,2,3,4

ASSESSMENT ASSISTANT PR 1,2,3,4

LAND MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST III OC 1,4,5,6

LAND MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST IV OC 1,4,5,7

LAND MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST IV PR 1,4,5,7

LAND MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST V PR 3,4,5,8

REAL PROPERTY RECORDER I OC 1,9,10,11

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. REAL PROPERTY ACQUISITION, APPRAISAL, NEGOTIATIONS, RELOCATION, PROPERTY MANAGEMENT AND APPLICABLE STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS- These questions test for knowledge of terms, principles and processes relating to the State of New York's ability to acquire and sell real property. They cover such subjects as the role of negotiators in real property acquisition; right of landowners and tenants when the State acquires property; factors influencing property value determinations and rent determinations; types and characteristics of leasing agreements; eligibility for relocation payments and calculation of payment amounts; and management of State property as an asset, including disposition. The information needed to answer some of these questions can be found in the Eminent Domain Procedure Law, Environmental Conservation Law, Public Lands Law and State Highway Law.

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. REAL PROPERTY TERMINOLOGY, DOCUMENTS AND FORMS- These questions test for a knowledge of terminology, documents, and forms pertaining to real property. While some questions ask for only straight definitions, others are situational questions which require the use of real property terms to determine the answer to the questions.

8. 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.

9. NAME AND NUMBER CHECKING- These questions test for the ability to distinguish between sets of words, letters, and/or numbers that are almost exactly alike. Material is usually presented in two or three columns, and you will have to determine how the entry in the first column compares with the entry in the second column and possibly the third. You will be instructed to mark your answers according to a designated code provided in the directions.

10. 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.

11. 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

Test guide: 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.cf

USE OF CALCULATORS IS RECOMMENDED