Canada Post GAT Practice

If you have just applied for a job at Canada Post, you might be staring at your email invitation and wondering what all these acronyms mean. You applied to be a Letter Carrier or a Clerk, so why are you seeing information about the GAT, the GCT, and the PPFA?

It can be confusing, but don't panic. The test you take depends entirely on the job you want.

Here is the "Plain English" guide to the differences, so you know you are studying for the right one.

1. The GAT (General Abilities Test)
If you are on this page, this is likely the one you need. The GAT is the standard entry-level test for operational roles. If you are applying to be a Letter Carrier, Postal Clerk, or Mail Handler, this is your starting line.

What it is: It’s a test of speed and precision.

The Challenge: The questions themselves aren't rocket science—they involve checking addresses, spotting differences between two lists, or basic patterns. The hard part is the clock. You have very little time to answer a lot of questions.

The Goal: Canada Post wants to know if you can sort mail quickly without making mistakes.

2. The PPFA (Pre-Placement Functional Assessment)
The "Physical" Partner to the GAT. You will often hear the GAT and PPFA mentioned together. Think of them as a two-part interview.

What it is: While the GAT tests your eyes and brain, the PPFA tests your back and legs.

The Challenge: This isn't a written test. It is a physical evaluation where you might simulate carrying a mail bag, lifting parcels, or walking a route.

The Connection: Usually, you need to pass the GAT (the mental sorting) before you are invited to the PPFA (the physical lifting).

3. The GCT (General Competency Test)
The "Office" Test. If you see people talking about the GCT, they are likely applying for a different type of job. The GCT is used for administrative, officer, or management positions (or sometimes as an equivalency exam if you don't have a specific university degree).

What it is: This measures logical reasoning, vocabulary, and problem-solving skills.

How it differs: If the GAT is a sprint (fast and focused), the GCT is a marathon (slower and deeper thinking).

Do you need it? Unless you are applying for an office or superintendent role, you usually won't touch the GCT.

Summary: If your goal is to get out there delivering or sorting the mail, focus your energy on the GAT. It is the first gatekeeper you need to get past!

A: The questions themselves are simple. If you had an hour, you would get 100%. But you don't have an hour—you have about 10 minutes. The difficulty isn't intellectual; it’s the extreme time pressure. Most candidates fail not because they can't do the work, but because they panic and lose their rhythm.

A: For the GAT (General Abilities Test), you won't need one. This test measures your ability to spot details and sort patterns, not your math skills. (Note: If you are taking the GCT for office roles, that is a different story!)

A: Canada Post generally doesn't publish a strict "pass/fail" number like 50%. Instead, they use a "cut-off" score based on the hiring pool. This means you are competing against other applicants. To be safe, you need to aim for speed and high accuracy.

A: In speed tests like this, accuracy is critical. Random guessing can hurt your "accuracy rating," which is often a key metric for hiring managers. It is better to skip a question you are truly stuck on than to wildly guess on ten in a row just to finish.

A: You will usually have to wait a mandatory period (often 3-6 months) before you can re-apply or re-test. This is why we recommend preparing thoroughly the first time—waiting half a year for another chance is a long time!