EXPANDED SCOPE

FOR

AGRONOMIST OC 1,2,3,4,5

SOIL DISTRICT TECHNICIAN OC 2,3,6,7,8

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. PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES OF SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION - These questions test for knowledge of the proper methods and techniques used to facilitate land and water conservation, and may include such areas as: proper drainage and erosion control, soil types, and watershed, stream, and stream bank protection.

3. CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION PROJECTS - These questions test for knowledge of the methods, procedures and equipment used for building and maintaining conservation projects and may include such areas as: runoff diversions; farm ponds; stream protection; and drainage and erosion control.

4. RESOURCE CONSERVATION PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT - These questions test for knowledge of planning principles and practices in the soil and water conservation field and may include such areas as: interpreting topographic maps; erosion and sediment control; and proper conservation tillage and land, project, and construction management techniques.

5. NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT PLANNING, INCLUDING AGRICULTURAL WASTE AND BARNYARD RUNOFF CONTROL - These questions test for knowledge of the concepts and practical applications involved in the evaluation and planning of soil nutrient control programs and projects; and the design and construction of drainage structures and other measures used to treat and control water and waste from agricultural operations.

6. READING AND INTERPRETING MAPS, PLANS, CHARTS AND GRAPHS - These questions test for the ability to understand and evaluate topographic maps, site and construction plans, and various types of graphic presentations. All the information needed to answer the questions will be contained in the maps, plans, graphs, and charts or within related written descriptions.

7. BASIC SURVEYING, INCLUDING COMPUTATIONS - These questions test for knowledge of the elementary concepts, procedures, and computations involved in performing surveys of various projects and land areas.

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.

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 "How to take a written test" 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

3/16/2019