- The multiple-choice test requires at least 70% to pass - no partial credit tricks, just accuracy.
- Exam No. 2060 carried a $61 application fee, a 2% card fee, and a separate $20 physical-test fee.
- Seven job-task domains plus seven cognitive factors define everything the test can ask.
- Eligible lists typically stay active for four years, so timing your application matters.
Exam Overview at a Glance
If you need the entire NYC Sanitation Worker exam boiled down to one page, this is it. The New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) runs the open-competitive exam on behalf of the Department of Sanitation (DSNY), and the whole process - application, computer-terminal test, physical, and background review - follows a predictable structure once you know the pieces. This cheat sheet compresses the numbers and domains you need before test day. For the long-form version of each topic, see the full NYC-SW Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt.
Fees, Notice Numbers, and Registration Mechanics
Exam No. 2060 listed a $61 application fee plus a 2% card service fee if you pay online, and a separate $20 qualifying physical-test fee charged later in the process. That's three distinct charges, not one flat number - budget for all of them.
- $61 - base application fee
- 2% - card service surcharge on top of the application fee for card payments
- $20 - separate qualifying physical-test fee, billed when you're scheduled for the physical
A breakdown this granular deserves its own read - check NYC-SW Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown for the full pricing picture, and NYC-SW Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling for how application windows and testing windows typically line up.
Key Takeaway
Once you're placed on the eligible list, it typically stays active for four years - plan your CDL timeline and physical readiness around that window, not around a single test date.
Eligibility Snapshot
Eligibility has two checkpoints: one to apply, one to be appointed.
- To apply: at least 17 1/2 years old by the end of the application period (per the Exam No. 2060 notice).
- To be appointed: age 21, a high school diploma or equivalent, and a valid New York State Class A or B commercial driver license with the required tanker endorsement and no prohibited restrictions.
- Additional appointment checks: physical exam, medical exam, drug-and-alcohol screening, background investigation, residency verification, and driver-license record review.
This gap between the age-17 1/2 application floor and the age-21 appointment requirement trips people up every cycle. Full detail lives at NYC-SW Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify.
The 7 Job-Task Domains
The multiple-choice test is built around seven job-task areas that mirror the actual work of a DSNY sanitation worker. Memorize these names - they are the skeleton of every question you'll see.
Domain 1: Roll Call Activities
Covers the start-of-shift routine - briefings, assignment sheets, equipment checks, and instructions given before a route begins.
- Know how instructions at roll call translate into on-route actions
Domain 2: Waste Collection and Removal
The core of the job: proper collection procedures, handling different waste and recycling streams, and following collection sequence and safety rules.
- Expect scenario questions about correct collection order and handling
Domain 3: Operation, Maintenance, and Preparation of Department Vehicles and Equipment
Basic vehicle checks, safe operation practices, and preparing equipment before and during a shift.
- Pre-trip and equipment-readiness logic shows up here repeatedly
Domain 4: Communicating Information (Physical and Verbal)
Radio communication, hand signals, and verbal exchanges with coworkers and supervisors during operations.
- Questions test judgment about what and how to communicate, not just vocabulary
Domain 5: Garage Tasks
Activities that happen at the garage - vehicle assignment, fueling, cleaning, and related routine duties.
- Sequence and responsibility questions are common
Domain 6: Snow Removal, Weather-Related Conditions, and Emergencies
Procedures for snow operations and how weather emergencies change normal routines and priorities.
- Expect situational judgment items about shifting priorities during storms
Domain 7: Preparation, Completion, and Review of Forms, Reports, and Logs
Filling out and reviewing paperwork accurately - logs, incident reports, and standard department forms.
- Attention-to-detail and accuracy questions dominate this domain
For a deeper breakdown of question types and sample scenarios within each domain, read NYC-SW Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 7 Content Areas.
The Cognitive Ability Factors
Beyond the seven job-task domains, the exam also measures general cognitive abilities. These aren't separate "sections" you study in isolation - they're the lens through which domain questions get written.
| Ability Factor | What It Tests |
|---|---|
| Written Comprehension | Understanding written instructions, policies, and passages |
| Problem Sensitivity | Recognizing when something is wrong or about to go wrong |
| Written Expression | Communicating information clearly in writing |
| Information Ordering | Arranging steps or items in the correct sequence |
| Deductive Reasoning | Applying general rules to specific situations |
| Spatial Orientation | Understanding position, direction, and relative location |
| Inductive Reasoning | Combining separate pieces of information into a general rule |
If you're still forming a mental model of question difficulty, How Hard Is the NYC-SW Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026 walks through what makes these combined domain-plus-ability questions harder than plain trivia recall.
Passing Score and Test Format
The test is administered on a computer terminal in multiple-choice format. You need a score of at least 70% to pass - there's no curve to bank on, so accuracy across all seven domains matters more than being brilliant in just one or two.
- Format: computer-terminal, multiple-choice
- Passing threshold: 70% minimum
- Prohibited items: calculators and electronic devices are not allowed in the test room
Since calculators are banned, any numeric or sequencing question involving times, quantities, or logs must be worked out mentally or on scratch material provided at the site. Practice doing this deliberately before test day - see NYC-SW Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass for how the 70% threshold interacts with question weighting across domains.
Key Takeaway
Because no calculators are permitted, rehearse sequencing and log-review questions from Domain 7 without any digital aid - that's exactly the condition you'll face on test day.
Curious how this format historically plays out for candidates? NYC-SW Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows looks at what's publicly known about outcomes.
Pay Scale Reference
Knowing the pay structure helps frame why the application fees and physical-test fee are worth the effort. Current DSNY pay starts at $47,752 and rises to $95,316 after 5 1/2 years, before assignment differentials and overtime.
| Stage | Pay |
|---|---|
| Starting pay | $47,752 |
| After 5 1/2 years | $95,316 |
| Additional | Assignment differentials and overtime not included above |
For the full context on how this pay scale compares across tenure and how it factors into career decisions, see NYC-SW Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis and Is the NYC-SW Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026.
One-Week Cram Schedule
If you're reading this cheat sheet close to your test date, don't try to relearn everything generically - sequence your remaining days around the domains that carry the most scenario weight and the ability factors most often paired with them.
Waste Collection and Garage Fundamentals
- Drill Domain 2 (Waste Collection and Removal) and Domain 5 (Garage Tasks) scenario questions
- Pair each scenario with Problem Sensitivity and Information Ordering practice
Vehicles, Communication, and Roll Call
- Review Domain 3 (vehicle operation/maintenance) and Domain 4 (communicating information)
- Practice roll-call sequencing questions tied to Domain 1
Weather, Emergencies, and Paperwork
- Work through Domain 6 (snow removal/emergencies) situational judgment items
- Practice Domain 7 forms-and-logs questions without a calculator
Full Simulation
- Run a full timed practice test on the main practice test platform to simulate the computer-terminal format
- Review missed items by domain, not just by right/wrong count
This condensed structure works because it front-loads the domains with the heaviest scenario density (collection and garage operations) while your energy is freshest, then finishes with a full simulated run using realistic practice questions so the format itself isn't a surprise.
FAQ
You need at least 70% on the computer-terminal multiple-choice test to pass.
The notice listed a $61 application fee, a 2% card service fee for card payments, and a separate $20 qualifying physical-test fee.
No. Calculators and electronic devices are prohibited in the testing room.
Applicants had to be at least 17 1/2 by the end of the application period for Exam No. 2060, but appointment requires being 21 years old.
The eligible list typically remains active for four years after it's established.
For more foundational context on the credential itself - from what the exam covers to who administers it - browse What Is NYC-SW?, NYC-SW Meaning, and NYC-SW Jobs. When you're ready to test your recall against the domains covered on this page, run a timed set on our practice test platform.