This free Civil Service Exam study guide walks through the highest-yield content tested on the — the exam the uses to grant civil service for government work — organized by its four subtests: Verbal Ability, Numerical Ability, Analytical Ability, and General Information.[1]
It is interactive, not a wall of text: every subtest has worked examples, quick-reference tables, labeled diagrams, and built-in flashcards, taught the way the exam is actually tested — clean grammar, fast arithmetic and number series, valid logic, and the Constitution-and-ethics facts of .
Read it subtest by subtest, then round out your prep with our practice questions and flashcards. The guide covers the (170 items); the drops Analytical Ability and leans more on clerical operations, but the Verbal, Numerical, and General Information skills are the same.
Civil Service Exam Snapshot
| Detail | Civil Service Exam (Professional) |
|---|---|
| Items | 170 multiple-choice questions |
| Subtests | Verbal Ability, Numerical Ability, Analytical Ability, General Information |
| Time limit | 3 hours 10 minutes (190 minutes) |
| Passing rating | 80.00% general rating (no per-subtest minimum) |
| Delivery | Pen-and-paper (CSE-PPT) at CSC testing venues |
| Eligibility to take | Filipino citizen, at least 18, good moral character, not disqualified |
| Result | Civil service eligibility → placement on the register of eligibles |
| Administering body | Civil Service Commission (CSC), Republic of the Philippines |
All four subtests fold into a single general rating, and you need 80.00% overall to pass — there is no separate minimum for each subtest.[1] The CSC does not publish a fixed percentage weight per subtest; the 170 items are spread roughly evenly across the four, so this guide treats them as roughly equal quarters and teaches all four in depth.
Grammar & usage, vocabulary (synonyms/antonyms), sentence completion, paragraph organization, and reading comprehension.
Basic operations, word problems, number series & sequences, and data interpretation (averages, ratios).
Word association & analogies, logic & syllogisms, data sufficiency, and reasoning (Professional level only).
The 1987 Constitution, RA 6713 ethics, peace & human rights, and environmental management laws.
Percentages are approximate, equal shares of the 170 items (the CSC does not publish exact subtest weights).[1] This guide teaches all four subtests as four study modules, so the structure matches the exam.
How the Exam Is Built
The Civil Service Exam — formally the Career Service Examination–Pen and Paper Test (CSE-PPT) — is given at two levels. This guide teaches the Professional level (170 items, all four subtests), which also covers everything on the Sub-Professional level except Analytical Ability.[1]
- Verbal Ability (~25%) — grammar and correct usage, vocabulary (synonyms and antonyms), sentence completion, word analogies, paragraph organization, and reading comprehension.
- Numerical Ability (~25%) — basic operations with fractions, decimals, and percentages, word problems, ratio and proportion, number series, and data interpretation.
- Analytical Ability (~25%, Professional only) — word association, logic and syllogisms, data sufficiency, and reasoning from premises to conclusions.
- General Information (~25%) — the 1987 Constitution and the Bill of Rights, the RA 6713 Code of Conduct, peace and human rights, and environmental management laws.
Every item is multiple choice with one best answer, and there is no penalty for guessing, so you should attempt all 170 questions. Because the four subtests are combined into a single , a weak subtest can be balanced by a strong one — but you still need 80.00% overall to earn .
Verbal Ability
Verbal Ability is about using English correctly and reading it carefully.[1] It tests grammar and usage, vocabulary, sentence completion, word analogies, paragraph organization, and reading comprehension — roughly a quarter of the exam.
Grammar & Correct Usage
The most-tested grammar point is : the verb must match the true subject in number. In “The list of approved applicants ___ posted,” the subject is the singular list — not applicants — so the verb is the singular is posted. The phrase “of approved applicants” is a distractor.
Watch verb tense, too: the past perfect(“had finished”) marks an action completed before another past action (“By the time the examiner arrived, the candidates had already finished”). Keep pronouns clear and modifiers next to what they describe.
Locate the noun that performs the action — not every noun in the sentence is the subject.
Cross out prepositional phrases between the subject and verb: 'The list of applicants…' — the subject is 'list,' not 'applicants.'
A singular subject takes a singular verb: 'The list … IS posted' (not 'are'). A plural subject takes a plural verb.
'Neither/nor' and 'each/every' are singular; 'and' usually makes a plural subject; collective nouns ('committee') are usually singular.
| Rule | Example | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Subject-verb agreement | The list of applicants IS posted | The verb agrees with 'list' (singular), not the nearby plural 'applicants' |
| Past perfect for the earlier action | She HAD finished before he arrived | Marks the action completed first among two past events |
| Neither/nor & each are singular | Each of the forms IS required | 'Each,' 'every,' 'neither,' and 'either' take a singular verb |
| Pronoun agreement | Every employee filed THEIR (or his/her) SALN | The pronoun must match its antecedent in number |
Vocabulary: Synonyms & Antonyms
Vocabulary items ask for the word most nearly the same (a ) or most nearly opposite (an ) in meaning. Diligent means hardworking (its synonym); abundant (plentiful) has the antonym scarce.
When a word is unfamiliar, break it into roots and prefixes and use the context. Read the whole option list carefully — a common trap puts a synonym among the choices when the question wants an antonym.
| Word | Synonym | Antonym |
|---|---|---|
| Diligent | Hardworking, industrious | Lazy, careless |
| Abundant | Plentiful, ample | Scarce, sparse |
| Candid | Frank, honest | Evasive, secretive |
| Tedious | Boring, monotonous | Engaging, interesting |
| Prudent | Careful, sensible | Reckless, rash |
Sentence Completion & Analogies
Sentence completionasks you to pick the word or phrase that fits the logic of the sentence. Signal words matter: “because” sets up a cause, “although” sets up a contrast. In “Because the typhoon damaged the roads, relief goods were ___ to the remote village,” the cause demands a negative result — difficult to deliver.
A gives a related pair and asks for a second pair with the same relationship. PEN is to WRITER (tool to user) as BRUSH is to PAINTER. Name the relationship in a short sentence, then apply it.
PEN : WRITER — a pen is the tool a writer uses. The link is tool → user. Make a short sentence that states the link exactly.
BRUSH : ? — a brush is the tool a painter uses, so the answer is painter. The relationship must be identical, in the same direction.
Paragraph Organization & Reading
Paragraph organization asks you to arrange jumbled sentences into a logical order. Find the topic sentencefirst (the general statement), then order the rest by their signal words — “First,” “Next,” “Finally.”
Reading comprehension tests the (the single point all details support) and (what the passage implies). Separate the main idea from the supporting details, and base any inference only on what the text actually says.
Spelling & Idioms
A handful of items test spelling (pick the correctly spelled word — e.g. accommodate, with double c and double m) and idiomatic expressions(“to throw in the towel” means to give up). Memorize commonly misspelled words and the most frequent idioms.
Checkpoint · Verbal Ability
Question 1 of 10
On the Verbal Ability subtest, which sentence shows correct subject-verb agreement?
Numerical Ability
Numerical Ability tests arithmetic, problem solving, and pattern recognition.[1] It covers basic operations, fractions, decimals and percentages, word problems, ratio and proportion, number series, and reading data — roughly a quarter of the exam, and the part most often won or lost on speed.
Basic Operations, Fractions & Percent
Be fast and accurate with addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of whole numbers, fractions, and decimals. A is a part out of 100: to find 25% of 80, multiply 0.25 × 80 = 20. To find what percent one number is of another, divide the part by the whole and multiply by 100.
| Fraction | Decimal | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| 1/2 | 0.5 | 50% |
| 1/4 | 0.25 | 25% |
| 3/4 | 0.75 | 75% |
| 1/5 | 0.2 | 20% |
| 1/3 | 0.333… | 33.3% |
Word Problems & Ratio
Translate the words into an equation. A compares two quantities; a proportion sets two ratios equal and is solved by cross-multiplying (if 3/4 = x/20, then 4x = 60, so x = 15). To split a total in a ratio, add the parts, divide the total by the sum, and multiply by each share.
Work problemsadd rates: a worker who finishes in 4 hours does 1/4 of the job per hour, so two workers’ rates combine. Age problemsset up an equation from “is now” and “in/ago” clues. Keep units consistent before you solve.
Number Series & Sequences
A follows a hidden rule. Check the differences first: a constant difference is arithmetic (3, 6, 9, 12 adds 3, so the next is 15). A constant ratio is geometric (2, 4, 8, 16 doubles, so 32). If neither fits, test perfect squares (1, 4, 9, 16, 25 → 36) or a Fibonacci rule (1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8 → 13, each term the sum of the two before it).
Subtract each term from the next. A constant difference means it is arithmetic — e.g. 3, 6, 9, 12 adds 3 (next is 15).
If the differences grow fast, try a ratio. 2, 4, 8, 16 doubles (×2 → 32); 81, 27, 9, 3 divides by 3 (→ 1).
Look for perfect squares (1, 4, 9, 16, 25 → 36) or a second-level difference that is constant (4, 9, 16, 23, 30 → 37).
If neither fits, test 'add the two before it' (1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8 → 13) or 'double then add 1' (2, 5, 11, 23 → 47).
Apply the rule to get the next term, then check it backward across the whole series before you choose.
| Pattern | Example | Next term |
|---|---|---|
| Arithmetic (add a constant) | 3, 6, 9, 12, … | 15 (+3) |
| Geometric (multiply by a constant) | 2, 4, 8, 16, … | 32 (×2) |
| Perfect squares | 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, … | 36 (6²) |
| Growing difference | 4, 9, 16, 23, 30, … | 37 (+5, +7, +9, +11…) |
| Fibonacci (sum of the two before) | 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, … | 13 |
Data Interpretation & Averages
Some items give a small table or chart. The average (mean) is the sum divided by the count; the median is the middle value when the numbers are ordered. Read the question carefully — it may ask which month was highest, the difference between two values, or a percentage change.
Checkpoint · Numerical Ability
Question 1 of 10
On the Numerical Ability subtest, what number comes next in the series 3, 6, 9, 12, ___?
Analytical Ability
Analytical Ability tests logical reasoning — and it appears on the Professional level only.[1] It covers word association and analogies, logic and syllogisms, data sufficiency and arrangement, and reasoning from premises to conclusions.
Word Association & Analogies
Like the verbal analogy, an analytical analogy hinges on the relationship. DOCTOR is to HOSPITAL as TEACHER is to SCHOOL (worker to workplace). Identify the relationship type — worker-to-workplace, cause-and-effect, part-to-whole — and keep the direction consistent.
Logic & Syllogisms
A draws a conclusion from . If all mammals are warm-blooded and all whales are mammals, then all whales are warm-blooded — a valid conclusion. Validity is about the form, not whether the premises are true in reality.
Beware the invalid converse: “All A are B” does notmean “All B are A.” And the negationof “All applicants submitted requirements” is “At least one applicant did not,” not “No applicant did.”
| Statement | Valid conclusion | Invalid trap |
|---|---|---|
| All A are B; x is an A | x is a B | — |
| If signed, then valid; this is NOT valid | It was NOT signed (contrapositive) | It was signed |
| All A are B | Some B are A | All B are A (converse) |
| Negate 'All A did X' | At least one A did NOT do X | No A did X |
Data Sufficiency & Arrangement
Logical sequencing problems give position clues and ask for the order. If Lina is to the left of Mae and Mae is to the left of Nita, the order is Lina, Mae, Nita, so Lina is leftmost. Mark the fixed clues first, then use the relative ones (“left of,” “between”) to place the rest. Data-sufficiency items ask whether the clues are even enough to answer.
Reasoning, Assumptions & Conclusions
moves from general rules to a guaranteed conclusion; moves from examples to a probable pattern (such as predicting the next term in a series). Some items hide an assumption— an unstated premise the argument needs to hold (“We must hire more clerks because the backlog is growing” assumes that hiring clerks will reduce the backlog).
Checkpoint · Analytical Ability
Question 1 of 10
On the Analytical Ability subtest, complete the relationship: DOCTOR is to HOSPITAL as TEACHER is to ___.
General Information
General Information is knowledge of the Philippine government, ethics, rights, and the environment.[1] It is the most memorization-heavy subtest, and the most predictable: master the 1987 Constitution, the RA 6713 Code of Conduct, peace and human rights, and the environmental laws, and you can score it reliably.
The 1987 Constitution & Bill of Rights
The is the supreme law of the land, ratified in 1987. It divides power among three branches (), creates three independent (the CSC, COMELEC, and COA), and enshrines the in Article III.
The Bill of Rights guarantees and , freedom of speech, religion, and the press, protection against unreasonable searches, the right against self-incrimination, the right to bail and counsel, and the protection against double jeopardy. Know the basic facts: the President serves a single 6-year term, the Senate has 24 members, and begins at 18.
| Topic | Fact |
|---|---|
| Bill of Rights | Article III |
| President's term | Six years, no re-election |
| Senate | 24 senators, elected nationally |
| Suffrage (voting age) | 18 years old |
| National language | Filipino |
| Constitutional Commissions | CSC, COMELEC, COA (independent) |
RA 6713 — Code of Conduct
, the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, is the most-tested law in this subtest. It sets eight and requires every official and employee to file a — the Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth — on entry and every year after, supporting the principle that .
Put the public good above personal interest; use public funds and property economically.
Perform duties with the highest degree of excellence, skill, and dedication.
Act with justice, fairness, and honesty; refrain from doing acts contrary to law and good morals.
Provide service to everyone without unfair discrimination and regardless of party affiliation.
Extend prompt, courteous, and adequate service; provide information on policies and procedures.
Be loyal to the Republic and the Filipino people; promote the use of locally-made goods.
Uphold the Constitution; put loyalty to country above loyalty to persons or party.
Lead modest lives appropriate to one's position and income; avoid extravagant display of wealth.
Peace, Human Rights & Filipino Values
This area covers the State’s commitment to peace and human rights: resolving disputes through dialogue rather than violence, respecting human dignity (including the prohibition against torture), protecting the rights of women (the Magna Carta of Women, RA 9710) and indigenous peoples, and the work of the independent Commission on Human Rights. Expect scenario items that reward the peaceful, rights-respecting choice.
Environmental Protection Laws
Several environmental laws are fair game. , the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, is the most frequent — it requires segregation at source, recycling and composting, and sanitary landfills instead of open dumps. Know the others by their popular names, too.
| Republic Act | Popular name | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| RA 9003 | Ecological Solid Waste Management Act (2000) | Waste segregation, recycling, sanitary landfills |
| RA 8749 | Philippine Clean Air Act (1999) | Air-pollution control |
| RA 9275 | Philippine Clean Water Act (2004) | Protecting water bodies from pollution |
| RA 9147 | Wildlife Resources Conservation Act | Protecting wildlife and habitats |
| RA 10173 | Data Privacy Act (2012) | Protecting personal information |
Checkpoint · General Information
Question 1 of 10
On the General Information subtest, in what year was the present Philippine Constitution ratified?
How to Use This Study Guide
Work through the guide one subtest at a time. After each one, check it off in the contents to raise your exam-readiness score, then drill the same content in our free practice questions and flashcards — active recall and timed practice are what turn knowledge into a passing rating.
- 1
Step 1
Find your weakest subtest with a quick diagnostic — because all four fold into one general rating, raising your lowest score lifts your overall fastest.
- 2
Step 2
Drill Verbal Ability: lock in subject-verb agreement, build vocabulary (synonyms/antonyms), and practice analogies and reading for the main idea.
- 3
Step 3
Build Numerical speed: percentages and fractions, ratio and work problems, and the number-series rules (arithmetic, geometric, squares, Fibonacci).
- 4
Step 4
Train Analytical reasoning: valid vs invalid syllogisms, logical sequencing, and spotting hidden assumptions (Professional level).
- 5
Step 5
Memorize General Information: the 1987 Constitution and Bill of Rights, the 8 norms of RA 6713 and the SALN, and the environmental laws. Then take full practice tests and aim for 80%+.
- Balance, then attack your weakest. One combined 80% rating means lifting your lowest subtest is the fastest path to passing.
- Make number series and subject-verb agreement automatic. They are the most repeatable, learnable points on the exam.
- Memorize General Information cold. Article III, the 8 norms, the SALN, and RA 9003 recur every administration — they are free points.
- Attempt every question. There is no penalty for guessing, so never leave an item blank.
- Then prove it. When a subtest feels easy, confirm it with our practice questions and flashcards.
Common questions Civil Service Exam reviewers search and get asked — each answered briefly and backed by an official source (the CSC, the 1987 Constitution, or the cited Republic Acts). Tap any card to test yourself.
Civil Service Exam Concept Questions
Civil Service Exam Glossary
Key Civil Service Exam terms in one place. Hover any dotted term throughout the guide for its definition; the full list is below.
- Civil Service Exam
- The Career Service Examination (CSE), administered by the Civil Service Commission, that grants civil service eligibility for government employment.
- CSC
- Civil Service Commission — the central personnel agency of the Philippine government and one of three independent Constitutional Commissions; it administers the Career Service Examination.
- CSE-PPT
- Career Service Examination–Pen and Paper Test — the standard paper-based version of the civil service exam, offered at the Professional and Sub-Professional levels.
- Professional level
- The higher CSE level (170 items) that tests Verbal, Numerical, and Analytical Ability plus General Information; eligibility qualifies a person for first- and second-level government positions.
- Sub-Professional level
- The lower CSE level (165 items) that omits Analytical Ability and emphasizes clerical operations; eligibility qualifies a person for first-level (clerical) positions.
- eligibility
- The status earned by passing the CSE, which makes a person qualified to be appointed to a career government position.
- register of eligibles
- The official list of people who passed the CSE, from which appointing officers may select qualified candidates.
- general rating
- The single combined score across all subtests; a candidate must reach 80.00% to pass — there is no per-subtest minimum.
- Verbal Ability
- The CSE subtest covering grammar and correct usage, vocabulary, sentence completion, paragraph organization, and reading comprehension.
- Numerical Ability
- The CSE subtest covering basic mathematical operations, word problems, number series, and data interpretation.
- Analytical Ability
- The CSE subtest (Professional level only) covering word association, logic and syllogisms, data sufficiency, and reasoning.
- General Information
- The CSE subtest covering the 1987 Constitution, the Code of Conduct (RA 6713), peace and human rights, and environmental management.
- synonym
- A word that means nearly the same as another word — for example, 'diligent' and 'hardworking.'
- antonym
- A word that means the opposite of another word — for example, 'abundant' and 'scarce.'
- analogy
- A comparison that identifies a relationship between one pair of words and applies the same relationship to a second pair.
- main idea
- The central point a paragraph makes, which all of its supporting details back up.
- inference
- A conclusion drawn from what a passage implies rather than what it states directly.
- subject-verb agreement
- The grammar rule that a verb must match its subject in number — a singular subject takes a singular verb.
- number series
- A sequence of numbers that follows a rule (such as adding, multiplying, squares, or Fibonacci); the task is to find the next or missing term.
- percentage
- A part expressed out of 100; 'percent' means 'per hundred.'
- ratio
- A comparison of two quantities; a proportion sets two ratios equal to each other.
- syllogism
- A logical argument with premises that lead to a conclusion; it is valid when the conclusion must follow from the premises.
- deductive reasoning
- Reasoning from general rules to a conclusion that must be true if the premises are true.
- inductive reasoning
- Reasoning from specific observations to a general pattern that is probable but not guaranteed.
- premise
- A statement assumed to be true that supports a conclusion in a logical argument.
- 1987 Constitution
- The current supreme law of the Philippines, ratified in 1987, which establishes the structure of government and the rights of citizens.
- Bill of Rights
- Article III of the 1987 Constitution, which lists the fundamental civil and political rights the government must protect.
- due process
- The constitutional guarantee that the government must follow fair procedures and law before depriving a person of life, liberty, or property.
- equal protection
- The constitutional guarantee that the State treats persons in similar situations alike, without unfair discrimination.
- RA 6713
- The Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, which sets the eight norms of conduct and requires the SALN.
- norms of conduct
- The eight ethical standards under RA 6713 that every government worker must observe, from commitment to public interest to simple living.
- SALN
- Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth — the sworn disclosure of wealth that public officials and employees must file under RA 6713.
- public office is a public trust
- The constitutional principle that public officials are accountable to the people and must serve with integrity and efficiency.
- separation of powers
- The division of government authority among the Legislative, Executive, and Judicial branches.
- Constitutional Commissions
- The three independent bodies created by the Constitution — the CSC, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), and the Commission on Audit (COA).
- RA 9003
- The Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, which requires waste segregation at source, recycling, and sanitary landfills.
- RA 8749
- The Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999, which sets standards to control air pollution.
- RA 9275
- The Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004, which protects the country's water bodies from pollution.
- suffrage
- The right to vote, granted under the Constitution to citizens at least 18 years of age.
Civil Service Exam Study Guide FAQ
The Professional level of the Career Service Examination (CSE-PPT) has 170 questions, drawn from four subtests: Verbal Ability, Numerical Ability, Analytical Ability, and General Information. The Sub-Professional level has 165 questions and omits Analytical Ability, focusing more on clerical operations.
You need a general rating of 80.00% to pass. The rating is the combined score across all subtests — there is no separate minimum for each subtest. Passing earns civil service eligibility and a place on the register of eligibles for government employment.
The Professional level allows three hours and ten minutes (190 minutes) for the 170 items. Manage your time so you can attempt every question, since unanswered items simply count as wrong — there is no penalty for guessing.
Four subtests. Verbal Ability covers grammar, vocabulary, sentence completion, and reading comprehension. Numerical Ability covers operations, word problems, and number series. Analytical Ability covers logic, analogies, and reasoning (Professional level only). General Information covers the 1987 Constitution, the RA 6713 Code of Conduct, peace and human rights, and environmental laws.
The Professional level (170 items) includes Analytical Ability and qualifies you for both first- and second-level positions, while the Sub-Professional level (165 items) omits Analytical Ability, leans more on clerical operations, and qualifies you for first-level (clerical) positions. Both require a general rating of 80.00% to pass.
RA 6713 — the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees — lists eight norms: commitment to public interest, professionalism, justness and sincerity, political neutrality, responsiveness to the public, nationalism and patriotism, commitment to democracy, and simple living. These are heavily tested in General Information.
The Bill of Rights is Article III of the 1987 Constitution. It guarantees fundamental rights such as due process and equal protection, freedom of speech, religion, and the press, protection against unreasonable searches, the right against self-incrimination, and the right to bail and counsel.
Because all four subtests fold into one combined rating, study them all, but spend extra time where you are weakest. Drill grammar and vocabulary for Verbal, practice number series and word problems for Numerical, work logic puzzles for Analytical, and memorize the 1987 Constitution and RA 6713 for General Information. Then take full practice tests and aim for 80%+.
Yes — the full guide, the glossary, the concept questions, the practice questions, and the flashcards are 100% free with no account required.
References
- 1.Civil Service Commission (CSC). “Career Service Examination — Examinations, Eligibility & the CSE-PPT.” Republic of the Philippines. ↑
- 2.Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. “The 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines.” officialgazette.gov.ph. ↑
- 3.Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. “Republic Act No. 6713 — Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.” officialgazette.gov.ph. ↑
- 4.Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. “Republic Act No. 9003 — Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.” officialgazette.gov.ph. ↑
Career Employer
Career Employer is the ultimate resource to help you get started working the job of your dreams. We cover topics from general career information, career searching, exam preparation with free study materials, career interviewing, and becoming successful in your career of choice.
All PostsCareer Employer’s Editorial Process
Here at Career Employer, we focus a lot on providing factually accurate information that is always up to date. We strive to provide correct information using strict editorial processes, article editing, and fact-checking for all of the information found on our website. We only utilize trustworthy and relevant resources. To find out more, make sure to read our full editorial process page here.