Civil Service Exam Reviewer with Answer Keys (March 2024)

People who are planning to join or are currently employed in any government service can take the Career Service Examination, popularly known as the Civil Service Exam. The exam is conducted multiple times a year through the Paper and Pencil Test (CSE-PPT) or Computerized Examination (CSC-COMEX). There are two types of Civil Service Exams: the CSE-Professional and Sub-Professional levels. The former will grant you 2nd-Level Eligibility, which qualifies you for a second-level position, whereas the latter will qualify you for clerical and custodial service roles in the government.

The Civil Service Examination (CSE) is one of the most popular government tests in the Philippines. Indeed, over 340,000 examinees took the August 2023 CSE-PPT examination in various testing venues across the country. It is also one of the most challenging tests, particularly the professional-level examination, which only 10–12 percent of examinees pass. As a result, we developed this CSE reviewer to assist you in studying for the first- and second-level Career Service Eligibility Exams. We hope that this online civil service exam reviewer exposes you to the actual examinations you will take, mentally prepares you, and eliminates mental blocks and anxieties that are deterrents to passing the examination.

Civil Service Exam Reviewer and Coverage

The first thing you have to do to pass the examination is to know the coverage. It will familiarize you with the actual exam questions and let you know what you are getting into. If you are taking either the professional or sub-professional level, both have almost the same scope and coverage. However, the sub-professional level includes questions on clerical operations to evaluate your understanding of filing, alphabetizing, and similar skills. In contrast, the professional-level exam includes topics such as logic, data interpretation, and abstract reasoning.

If you are looking for proven and tested reviewers, we recommend the NCV Civil Service Reviewer from NCV Review Books and Dr. Carl Balita Ultimate Learning Guide to Civil Service Examination from CBRC. Dr. Balita’s CBRC CIVIL SERVICE EXAM REVIEWER (PROF and SUB PROF) is also a good option. They are available on Shopee using the COD payment option.

They are good review materials if you are willing to spend money on your review; otherwise, use our free online reviewer below.

CSE Reviewer for March 2024 CSE-PPT

The Philippine Civil Service Examination covers the following subjects, written in either English or Filipino:

• General Information
  • Philippine Constitution
  • Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees (R.A. 6713)
  • Peace and Human Rights Issues and Concepts, and
  • Environment Management and Protection
• Numerical Ability
  • Basic Operations
  • Worded Problems
  • Number Series and Sequence
• Analytical Ability – Professional Level Only
  • Word association (Single word and paired-analogy approach)
  • Identifying assumptions and conclusion
  • Logic`
  • Data interpretation
• Verbal Ability
  • Grammar and Correct Usage
  • Vocabulary
  • Paragraph Organization
  • Reading comprehension
• Clerical Ability – Sub-Professional Level Only
  • Filing/Clerical Operations/Alphabetizing
  • Spelling

As expected, the professional level is a lot harder than the sub-professional level. The former is a 170-item test with an allotted time of 3 hours and 10 minutes, while the latter is comprised of 165 multiple-choice questions, and you have to finish it in 2 hours and 40 minutes.

Passing Rate

The Civil Service Examination-Professional and Sub-Professional Levels (CSE-PPT and COMEX) require a passing rate of 80%.

Review Techniques to Pass the Civil Service Exam

Here are some techniques to prepare yourself for the examination and ensure your success:

1. Condition yourself that you have to sufficiently and effectively prepare for the examination through a comprehensive review. It is the first step to boost your chances of passing the exam.
2. Obtain the official objective list or coverage of the examination you are taking. This CSE-PPT online reviewer should outline the major topics and issues that will be covered. Gather review materials and use the practice tests above to maximize your potential to pass.
3. Divide the review materials to be studied into reasonable-sized study blocks that can be completed in a single-study session setting. A two- to three-hour study session is the most effective way to review. This time frame maximizes your attention span without pushing you toward mental exhaustion or fatigue. According to some studies, the average human brain can only absorb a maximum of 3 to 4 hours of absorption. Beyond that, your brain may experience mental fatigue. Limit the number of study sessions to two (one in the morning and another in the afternoon or evening, with breaks in between).
4. A month of review is highly recommended. Stop the review a few days before the examination day to give yourself time to relax.
5. Reserve some of your study block time periods for self-assessment, using the practice tests above to test and evaluate your knowledge and preparedness.
6. Take time to review more on verbal, numerical, and analytical skills, for these subjects form a substantial 80% of the Civil Service Exams.
7. Eat nutritious and brain-boosting food to have good memory retention.
8. Have a good night’s sleep before the examination, and you’re likely to do better. Cramming the night before the exam is a bad idea, for many reasons.
9. Do not forget to pray and implore for divine guidance, assistance, and strength as you go through your review and preparations.

By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.- Benjamin Franklin