Every Civil Service Exam question, answered.
31free guides to the CSE-PPT: the 2026 schedule, passing score, who's eligible, what to bring, how to apply, and what happens on exam day. Plain answers, backed by the CSC's official announcements.
Mock exam
What a civil service mock exam is and the high-intent pages for this year's CSE-PPT: free online mocks, passing score, and how to pass.
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Civil Service Mock Exam
A civil service mock exam is a timed practice test that mirrors the real Career Service Exam (CSE-PPT): same item types, same distribution, same clock. Ours is free, runs in your browser, and gives you a per-subject score the moment you submit. No signup for the diagnostic.
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CSE Mock Exam 2026
A CSE mock exam is a timed practice test that mirrors the real CSE-PPT: same item types, same clock. Our 2026 mock is free, runs in your browser, and gives you a per-subject score the moment you submit. No signup for the diagnostic.
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CSE Professional Mock Exam 2026
The Professional CSE-PPT is a 170-item paper covering verbal, numerical, and analytical ability plus general information. Our free 2026 diagnostic samples all four; the full 170-item Professional mock lives in the reviewer. To pass you need a general rating of at least 80.00.
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CSE Subprofessional Mock Exam 2026
The Subprofessional CSE-PPT is a 165-item paper covering Verbal Ability, Numerical Ability, Clerical Ability, and General Information. Our free 2026 diagnostic samples the shared subtests; the full Subprofessional mock is in the reviewer. You pass with a general rating of at least 80.00.
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CSE Mock Exam Online 2026
An online CSE mock runs in your browser. No app, no PDF, no download. Ours is free, timed on a server-side clock, and gives you a per-subject score the instant you submit. Take it on your phone in 40 minutes.
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CSE Passing Score 2026
You need a general rating of at least 80.00, the same for Professional and Subprofessional in 2026 and prior years. This is a standardized rating, not a raw percent of items correct. There is no curve you can game, no per-subtest minimum, and no partial pass. A 79.99 is a fail.
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Free CSE Reviewer PDF Download
You can download study-guide PDFs with a free account. But a PDF can't time you or score you by subject. So start with the free online mock, find your weakest subject, then download the guide that fixes it.
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How to Pass the Civil Service Exam 2026
Diagnose with a free mock, find your weakest subject, drill it with explanations, then sit timed full mocks and re-measure. Repeat until your mock scores clear the passing rating with margin. Cramming everything evenly is what fails people.
Scoring & coverage
What gets tested, how it's scored, and the difference between the Professional and Subprofessional exams.
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What is the passing score for the Civil Service Exam?
A general rating of at least 80.00, the same for Professional and Subprofessional. No curve, no partial pass, no make-up for one weak subtest. You either clear 80.00 overall or you don't.
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Civil Service Exam coverage 2026: what's actually on the paper
Professional: 170 items across Verbal Ability, Numerical Ability, Analytical Ability, and General Information. Subprofessional: 165 items across Verbal Ability, Numerical Ability, Clerical Ability, and General Information. You need a general rating of at least 80.00 to pass either level.
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Civil Service Exam Coverage: Professional
The Professional CSE-PPT (170 items) covers verbal ability, numerical ability, analytical ability, and general information. Analytical ability (analogies, logic, data interpretation) is the part Subprofessional takers never see.
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Civil Service Exam Coverage: Subprofessional
The Subprofessional CSE-PPT (165 items) covers verbal ability, numerical ability, clerical ability, and general information. The CSC's official scope for clerical ability is filing and spelling, and this subtest takes the slot that analytical ability holds on the Professional paper.
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Professional vs Subprofessional Civil Service Exam
Professional is for college graduates targeting most government roles. Subprofessional is for non-graduates and clerical positions. Both use the same passing score (a general rating of at least 80.00) but differ in content and eligibility scope.
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Civil Service Exam Scoring Explained
Your number of correct answers is converted into a general rating using a standardized scale set by the CSC. You pass with a general rating of at least 80.00. There is no penalty for wrong answers, so answer everything. Your report shows your overall rating plus your performance per subtest.
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Civil Service Exam vs Board Exam
The CSE-PPT grants general Career Service eligibility for government jobs and is run by the CSC. A board exam (PRC) licenses you to practice a specific profession. Many licensed professionals already hold government eligibility through their license.
Schedule & application
When the exam is, how to apply online, and the documents you need to bring.
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Civil Service Exam schedule 2026
The CSE-PPT runs twice a year, typically March and August. The CSC publishes the exact 2026 dates and registration windows on its official website (csc.gov.ph). This guide explains how to track the schedule and plan your study cycle around it.
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How to apply for the Civil Service Exam
Register on the CSC Online Recruitment System (csc.gov.ph), upload required documents, pay the ₱500 fee, and choose your testing center. The process takes 30-60 minutes once you have your documents ready.
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Civil Service Exam Online Application
The CSC online application runs through the CSC Online Recruitment System (ORS). Create an account, reserve a slot the moment the window opens (they cap per venue and fill fast), upload requirements, pay the fee, and print your Examination Permit. For the broader "should I apply / which level" overview, see the how-to-apply guide.
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Civil Service Exam requirements
Filipino citizens, 18 or older, with valid ID. Bachelor's degree required to use Professional eligibility (but not to take the test). No criminal disqualifications for most applicants.
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Civil Service Exam Valid ID
Bring an unexpired, government-issued ID with your photo, signature, and the same name you registered with: passport, driver's license, UMID, PhilSys (National ID), PRC, voter's, or postal ID. The ID on exam day must match registration exactly.
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When are Civil Service Exam results released?
Results come out about 60-75 days after the exam date. Check on the CSC's official online portal. Passing candidates can then download a Certificate of Eligibility from the same portal.
Exam day & eligibility
What to expect on test day, retake rules, common mistakes, and what eligibility unlocks.
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Civil Service Exam Day Guide
Bring your printed exam permit and the exact valid ID you registered, plus several No. 2 pencils and a black ballpen. Arrive early, follow the dress code, and leave phones and calculators behind. They're prohibited.
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Civil Service Exam Tips & Common Mistakes
Answer every item (no wrong-answer penalty), bank easy points before hard ones, manage the clock per subtest, and practice under timed conditions. The biggest mistake is studying your strong subjects instead of fixing your weak one.
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Civil Service Exam Retake Policy
There's no limit on attempts. The only rule is you can't take the same level within three months of a prior sitting. The CSE-PPT runs about twice a year, so most people simply register for the next administration.
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Civil Service Exam Eligibility Rules
To be eligible you must be a Filipino citizen, at least 18, of good moral character, with no disqualifying record. No minimum education is needed to sit the exam itself. (For the document checklist and what to bring, see our Civil Service Exam requirements guide.)
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Civil Service eligibility benefits
Eligibility is the legal qualification to be appointed to government positions. It does NOT guarantee a job; you still have to apply, qualify by degree and experience, and be selected. It does not expire.
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Jobs You Can Get with Civil Service Eligibility
Subprofessional eligibility qualifies you for first-level (clerical/support) government roles. Professional qualifies you for first- and second-level positions. Eligibility is a requirement for permanent appointment, not an automatic job offer.
More guides
Additional Civil Service Exam guides.
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Civil Service Exam Practice Test
The fastest practice test is the free 40-item diagnostic: it samples all four subtests and scores you instantly, so you find your weakest area before you study. From there, drill that subtest with focused practice questions, then prove progress on a full-length timed mock.
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How long to study for the Civil Service Exam
Most candidates need 8 to 12 weeks of focused study to pass the CSE-PPT comfortably. If you're already strong in math and English, 4 to 6 weeks can be enough. The honest way to decide is a cold diagnostic: your starting score, not a fixed calendar, should set your timeline.
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Civil Service Exam Study Plan
A good study plan starts with a measurement, not a textbook. Take the free 40-item diagnostic first, then spend each week drilling your weakest subtest, timing yourself, and re-measuring. Below are a full 8-week schedule and a crash 2-week version.
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Is the Civil Service Exam Hard?
It's moderately hard but very passable with preparation. The content isn't exotic. The real difficulty is the passing score (a general rating of at least 80.00) and the clock, and most people lose points in the analytical and numerical sections.
Reading is step one.
The free diagnostic takes 40 minutes and shows you exactly which subject is below the 80% pass mark. No signup required.