The MTA or Metropolitan Transportation Authority is responsible for providing public transportation to 12 counties in New York State and parts of Connecticut. With an average daily passenger load of 11 million people, they are the largest public transportation system in the United States.
To meet the qualifications to be an MTA bus operator you do not have to have any formal training, but you must have a high school diploma, driver’s license or commercial driver’s license (CDL) that has been valid in the state of New York for at least 3 years. If you do not already have your CDL you will need to have a class B learner permit at the time of application, and test to get your CDL at the same time you are in the bus operators training program. Train operators are required to have their high school diploma, or GED, and a valid New York driver’s license.
To apply for the exam, you will need to submit an online application along with the required examination fee. 10 days prior to the test date, you will be sent an admission letter. You will need to hold onto this letter because you will not be allowed to take the test without it. The letter will notify you of the time, date, and place you will be testing at.
The tests are multiple-choice, and to be considered for a position you must achieve a score of at least 70%. Tests will be ranked, with the highest-scoring individuals being placed in priority. It can take several months to receive your test results.
Following the tests, those who have passed will be required to complete a training course that is six weeks long. If you do not complete the training program, or fail to meet their standards, you will no longer be considered for a position.
There are several tests that are given to those who are hoping for careers with MTA. The admission letter you receive will tell you the tests you will be taking.
This exam is for those who have applied for positions as bus operators. The Boss Exam is 75 questions long. You will have 75 minutes to complete it. This is a personality profile made up of a set of themes with subcategories within each theme:
Each section will be made up of 8 statements. You will need to rank each statement from most to least likely. Many of the questions are the same but rephrased to show that you have consistency in your answers.
The MTA multiple-choice exam is a cognitive abilities test. It helps measure your capacity to learn new things and problem solve. You will need to get a 70% on this exam to qualify, but scores will be ranked. This test is made up of several sections that test your capabilities with different types of reasoning. These sections are:
Short Term MemorizationThis category will measure your memory abilities by showing you information for a short duration for you to memorize and then asking questions about what you saw.The full preparation pack includes times short-memory practice drills just like the one on the MTA exam.
| Police | Firefighters | Paramedics | |
|
Class I Fire |
2 |
5 |
2 |
|
Class II Fire |
4 |
10 |
6 |
|
Class III Fire |
4 |
20 |
10 |
|
Crime With No Injuries |
3 |
0 |
0 |
|
Crime With Minor Injuries |
3 |
0 |
1 |
|
Crime with Serious Injuries |
5 |
2 |
2 |
|
Class I Car Crash |
3 |
2 |
1 |
|
Class II Car Crash |
3 |
2 |
2 |
|
Class III Car Crash |
3 |
2 |
3 |
Written Expression Example Question:
“Dirt is to flower as nectar is to ____.”
✯ What is the MTA BOSS?
The BOSS (Bus Operator Selection Survey) Exam was developed in 1996 by EB Jacobs and APTA (American Public Transportation Association) and is used by various public transportation employers in the U.S, the major of which is the MTA.
It is a personality profiling test, which means it evaluates your personality traits and whether they are a good fit for the job.
FAQ
Is the MTA bus operator exam hard?
What is top pay for MTA bus driver?
The middle 57% of Mta Bus Drivers makes between $36,680 and $75,421, with the top 86% making $153,474.
Is the MTA conductor test multiple-choice?
