What is the Civil Service Exam?
The Career Service Examination (CSE) is the test given by the Civil Service Commission to create a register of eligibles for first- and second-level positions in the Philippine government. Passing it gives you a civil service eligibility, which is one of the requirements for a permanent appointment to many government jobs — from administrative aides and clerks to officers and analysts in national agencies, LGUs and GOCCs.
The CSC gives the exam mainly through the Pen and Paper Test (CSE-PPT), held twice a year in testing centers nationwide. The CSC notes the register may also serve as a reference for private-sector employment.
Professional vs Sub-Professional: coverage, items and passing rate
| Professional | Sub-Professional | |
|---|---|---|
| Resulting eligibility | Career Service Professional Eligibility (second level) | Career Service Sub-Professional Eligibility (first level) |
| Positions covered | First-level (clerical) and second-level (technical, including executive/managerial in the second level) positions | First-level (clerical) positions only |
| Number of items | 170 (150 test items + 20 personal-data questions) | 165 (145 test items + 20 personal-data questions) |
| Time limit | 3 hours 10 minutes | 2 hours 40 minutes |
| Unique part | Analytical Ability | Clerical Ability (Filing and Spelling) |
| Verbal Ability | English and Filipino | English and Filipino |
Both levels are available in the reviewer: choose Professional or Sub-Professional under “Exam level”. The scope follows CSC Examination Announcement No. 03, s. 2026: Sub-Professional replaces Analytical Ability with Clerical Ability, and Verbal Ability is given in both English and Filipino at both levels. Sub-Professional mock exams draw from Verbal, Numerical, Clerical and General Information at an easy-to-medium difficulty, and run at the real pace of 165 items in 2 hours 40 minutes.
Positions that involve the practice of a profession (for example, nurses, engineers or teachers) or are covered by special laws need a different eligibility, such as a PRC board license under RA 1080. If you are unsure which level to take, choose Professional: it covers both first- and second-level positions.
Exam coverage by part
Based on the scope of examination published in CSC announcements:
Verbal Ability (English and Filipino)
Word meaning, sentence completion, error recognition, sentence structure, paragraph organization and reading comprehension. In this reviewer these are grouped as Vocabulary, Grammar, Idioms & Spelling, Paragraph Organization, Reading Comprehension and Verbal Ability (Filipino).
Numerical Ability (English)
Basic operations, number sequences and word problems — fractions, percentages, ratios, work and age problems — plus reading tables and graphs. Calculators are not allowed, so practice fast mental and pen-and-paper arithmetic.
Analytical Ability (English) — Professional only
Word analogy, symbolic logic/abstract reasoning, identifying assumptions and drawing conclusions, and data interpretation.
General Information (English)
The 1987 Philippine Constitution; the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees (RA 6713); peace and human rights issues and concepts; and environment management and protection.
Clerical Ability (English) — Sub-Professional only
Filing and spelling only. The reviewer's Clerical Ability: Filing & Spelling items are official-scope and appear in Sub-Professional mock exams. The Clerical extras category (checking, coding, table lookup and similar drills) goes beyond the official scope, so it is labelled “extra practice” and is available only in “Practice by Category”.
Read the complete CSE exam guide for a topic-by-topic breakdown and an 8-week study plan.
Number of items and time limit
According to the CSC's examination advisories, the Professional level has 170 items in 3 hours and 10 minutes (test proper from 8:00 a.m. to 11:10 a.m.), while the Sub-Professional level has 165 items in 2 hours and 40 minutes (8:00 a.m. to 10:40 a.m.). Twenty of those items are the Examinee Descriptive Questionnaire about your personal data, so the scored test proper is 150 items (Professional) and 145 items (Sub-Professional). Plan for about an hour of activities before and after the test proper.
That works out to roughly 67 seconds per item for Professional and 58 seconds per item for Sub-Professional. Turn on “Use CSE timing” in the reviewer above to practice at the pace of the level you selected. The CSC does not publish how many items each topic gets, so the topic mix of our mock exams (for example Verbal 40%, Numerical 20%, Clerical 20%, General Information 20% for Sub-Professional) is an estimate.
Passing rate
To pass, you need a general rating of at least 80.00. The reviewer marks your result as PASSED or FAILED using the same 80% line so you know how far you are from the target. Note that the CSC computes the official rating; a practice percentage is only an estimate of your readiness.
CSE 2027 schedule & registration
The Civil Service Commission (CSC) has released its calendar of pen-and-paper civil service examinations for 2027 through Examination Announcement No. 05, s. 2026 (dated 03 September 2026). There are two Career Service Examination – Pen and Paper Test (CSE-PPT) dates for both the Professional and Subprofessional levels:
| Exam date | Application starts | Application ends | Target release of results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday, 14 March 2027 | 02 November 2026 | Continuous until slots are filled, or until the CSC announces otherwise | 11 May 2027 |
| Sunday, 08 August 2027 | 10 May 2027 | Continuous until slots are filled, or until the CSC announces otherwise | 05 October 2027 |
The CSC targets 350,000 examination slots for each 2027 CSE-PPT. Because filing is continuous and first-come, first-served, slots at popular testing centers can run out early — file as soon as your CSC Regional or Field Office opens applications. A detailed announcement (testing centers, requirements, filing mode) is issued about three weeks before each application period, and an examination advisory about two weeks before exam day.
For reference, the 2026 pattern was: the 08 March 2026 CSE-PPT (applications 03–28 November 2025; results targeted on or before 11 May 2026) and the 09 August 2026 CSE-PPT (applications 14 May – 10 June 2026; results targeted on or before 12 October 2026). The 2027 calendar replaces the fixed closing date with continuous filing.
Always verify at csc.gov.ph. Dates, slots and target release dates can be adjusted by the CSC. Last checked: .
Sources: CSC Exam Announcement No. 05, s. 2026 (CY 2027 calendar) · CSC Exam Announcement No. 03, s. 2026 (09 August 2026 CSE-PPT) · CSC: 2026 exam schedule and application timelines
Requirements and how to apply
Who can take the CSE? (qualification requirements)
- Filipino citizen (dual citizens under RA 9225 may apply with the required documents);
- At least 18 years old on the date of filing;
- Of good moral character;
- Not convicted by final judgment of an offense involving moral turpitude, disgraceful or immoral conduct, dishonesty, examination irregularity, drunkenness or drug addiction;
- Not dishonorably discharged from military service or dismissed for cause from a civilian government position;
- Has not taken the same level of CSE within the last three (3) months before the exam date; and
- Has not previously passed the same level of CSE.
Bar and PRC board passers are already considered civil service eligibles under RA 1080, and some grantees of special eligibilities (for example, honor graduates under PD 907) do not need to take the CSE.
Exam fee and how to apply
The examination fee in the 2026 announcements was ₱500.00. Check the 2027 specific announcement for any change. To apply:
- Prepare the application form — CS Form No. 100 (Revised 2023), downloadable from csc.gov.ph or available at CSC offices.
- Prepare four identical ID photos — passport size (4.5 cm × 3.5 cm), colored with white background, taken within the last three months, bare face showing both ears, with a hand-held name tag showing your handwritten signature over printed full name.
- Bring an original and photocopy of a valid ID from the CSC's list of accepted IDs (e.g., PhilID/ePhilID, passport, driver's license, UMID, PRC ID, postal ID, voter's ID).
- File with your chosen CSC Regional or Field Office using its filing mode (walk-in, CSC eServe or the Online Civil Service Examination Application System, depending on the region) and pay the fee.
- Keep your application receipt, then check your testing venue through the CSC's Online Notice of School Assignment (ONSA) before exam day.
Test-taking tips for the CSE
- Answer everything. The CSE is multiple choice; eliminate the obviously wrong options and make your best choice rather than leaving an item blank.
- Skip and return. Don't let one hard word problem eat five minutes. Mark it in your test booklet and come back.
- Read the question stem last in reading items. Skim the question first so you know what to look for, then read the passage.
- Practice arithmetic without a calculator. Calculators are prohibited; learn shortcuts for percentages, fractions and ratios.
- Memorize the fundamentals of General Information: the articles of the 1987 Constitution, the eight norms of conduct in RA 6713, and major environmental laws.
- Simulate the real exam. Take full 170-item timed mock exams in the final two weeks to build stamina.
- Review your weakest category. The results screen above highlights it — do a Practice by Category round on it right away.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Civil Service Exam in 2027?
The CSC scheduled the 2027 CSE-PPT (Professional and Subprofessional) on 14 March 2027 and 08 August 2027. Applications for the March exam start on 02 November 2026 and for the August exam on 10 May 2027, on a continuous basis until slots are filled. Always confirm the latest advisory on csc.gov.ph.
What is the passing score for the Civil Service Exam?
You need a general rating of at least 80.00 for both the Professional and Sub-Professional levels.
How many items are in the CSE exam (Professional and Sub-Professional)?
The Professional level has 170 items (150 test items plus 20 personal-data questions) to be answered in 3 hours and 10 minutes. The Sub-Professional level has 165 items in 2 hours and 40 minutes.
Does this reviewer cover the Sub-Professional exam?
Yes. Pick Sub-Professional under “Exam level”. Per CSC Examination Announcement No. 03, s. 2026, the Sub-Professional exam covers General Information, Verbal Ability (English and Filipino), Numerical Ability and Clerical Ability (Filing and Spelling), with no Analytical Ability. Mock exams use only official-scope items; extra practice items, such as Clerical extras, are labelled and appear only in Practice by Category. All items are original practice items.
How much is the Civil Service Exam fee?
The fee in the 2026 CSC announcements was ₱500.00. Check the specific 2027 announcement for any change before filing.
Are these the actual Civil Service Exam questions?
No. Actual CSE items are confidential. All questions in this reviewer are original practice items written to match the publicly announced coverage of the exam, with explanations to help you learn the concepts.
Can I use a calculator in the Civil Service Exam?
No. Calculators of any kind, including watch calculators, and mobile phones or smart watches are prohibited at your seat. Practice solving numerical items by hand.
If I fail, when can I retake the CSE?
You may not take the same level of the Career Service Examination within three months of your last attempt. Since the CSE-PPT is held about twice a year, you can usually apply for the next scheduled exam.
Is this reviewer really free?
Yes. The reviewer is free and needs no account. It is supported by ads that are kept away from the questions and answer buttons.