Civil service eligibility is one of the most important requirements needed by anyone wishing to enter government service.
The purpose of civil service eligibility is to make sure that those who enter government service are those who sport the minimum level of competence, aptitude, and intellect to properly and efficiently meet the demands of public service. After all, the Filipino deserve no less than a competent and professional government workforce.
This is where the Civil Service Examination (CSE) comes into play. Administered by the Civil Service Commission (CSC) simultaneously all over the country, the exam is specifically designed to weed out those who do not possess the mental fortitude and skills needed to carry out work in the government.
It must also be said that it is hard, if not completely impossible, to move up the ranks or career ladder in any government institution if you lack civil service eligibility. Created by law, government positions are supposed to be filled by individuals who meet all the requirements laid down in their respective enabling laws. In this sense, civil service eligibility is determinative of the salary you will be getting down the line.
It is therefore not surprising at all that each year, thousands of hopefuls take the civil service examination.
Who may take the CSE?
- Must be a Filipino citizen;
- There is no educational attainment requirement;
- Must be at least 18 years old at the time of filing of application; and
- Must not have not taken the same level of CSE examination within three months before the date of examination.
There are two types of CSE: Professional (3 hours and 10 minutes) and Sub-Professional (2 hours and 40 minutes).
- Those who pass the Professional CSE are eligible for first-level and second-level positions (scientific, technical, professional) that require a bachelor’s degree; and
- Those who pass the Sub-Professional are eligible for second-level positions (clerical, crafts, trade, etc.).
Fill out the form and submit it along with all the requisite documentary requirements at the nearest CSC office.
Take note of your schedule and testing center, including the exact room assignment.
HOW TO REVIEW FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE EXAM
The application period for the CSE usually begins months before the CSE itself. Essentially, this gives you three or four months at most to prepare for it.
First things first, know that the coverage of the CSE will be as follows:
For the Professional Level, the following constitute the exam: vocabulary, grammar and correct usage, paragraph organization, reading comprehension, analogy, logic, and numerical reasoning. The exam is in English and Filipino.
For the Subprofessional Level, the following constitute the exam: vocabulary, grammar and correct usage, paragraph organization, reading comprehension, spelling, clerical operations, and numerical reasoning. The exam is also in English and Filipino.
For both the Professional and Subprofessional Levels, questions on the following will be asked: 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.
___Here's how you should go about this crucial period:
Did you know that out of hundreds of thousands of CSE examinees, only around 10-20% of takers manage to successfully pass it? That's even lower than the Bar exam.
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1. The most important thing to remember is that there is no shortcut to success.
Sure, a few people are lucky enough to wing it by simply showing up at the exam itself without any sort of preparation whatsoever and still ending up passing.
For the most of us, however, it just doesn't work that way. This means you need to work hard and exert time and energy in order to prepare for the exam.
2. Devote an hour or two everyday for reviewing.
Reviewing for the CSE does not need to interfere and take over your whole life. Understandably, most of the CSE takers are working professionals or full-time parents who have their hands full as it is.
If such is the case, try to spend a minimum of an hour everyday to brush yourself up on topics you need to know. You may also do this during the weekends. The important thing is that you don't slack off.
3. Take sample exams or SAMPLEX.
A good way of getting your mind used to answering questions for the CSE is by poring over sample exams.
There are a lot of reviewer books available at National Bookstore on CSE, such as those published by AHEAD.
These reviewers are great because they come with answer keys and explanations on how the answers are derived, giving you an idea of how to solve the problem.
Check out the Internet, too, for reviewers available for download for free.
You may also use college entrance exam reviewers as alternatives, particularly those for UPCAT, ACET, DLSU-CAT, and USTET.
4. Simulate the actual exam experience by setting a time limit in answering sample questions.
The CSE is a time-bound exam. This means examinees are given a very limited amount of time to answer hundreds of questions. So a key skill to learn is time management.
Getting your nerves ready will help you go a long way in managing your time come the actual CSE. Learning time management will allow you to allocate your time wisely, answer as much questions as you can, and create a logical method of going over the questions.
5. Read, read, read.
Sharpen your brain power by keeping it abreast with the latest news and developments in the country. Instead of watching TV, read newspapers and magazines instead. Doing so will allow you to practice your reading comprehension skills, expand your vocabulary, and learn more about peace and human rights issues as well as Environment Management and Protection -- things that form part of the CSE.
Take the time to read the Philippine Constitution and the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees (R.A. 6713). You will find that these two are actually very easy to read and understand.
6. Master the basics.
This is particularly true in mathematics. The Math portion is probably the part that you will have the hardest time with and spend the most time on, so it is important to at least nail basic mathematical formulas and techniques.
In 200 Math questions, knowledge of basic arithmetic can get you very far. You don't even need to do written computations; you can easily solve them mentally if you practice, practice, and practice some more.
7. Look after your health.
Do not forget to eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly, and take vitamins. You need to take care of your body because how well-rested you are and how you feel physically will play a crucial role in your CSE performance.
TIPS AND POINTERS BEFORE AND DURING THE EXAM ITSELF
The night before the exam, make sure to prepare everything you need for tomorrow: your test permit, government IDs, pencils, pens, and snacks.
Take a rest and have at least six hours of sleep. At this point, it would be of no use to cram reviewing because none of it would probably stick to your mind anyway. Just relax and allow your brain to take the rest it needs for tomorrow.
1. Wake up early.
Set your alarm clock if you have trouble waking up on your own. The CSC is strict when it comes to tardiness. Remember the exam begins on time. Once it has started, late-comers are no longer allowed to get inside the testing venue.
2. Have a full and healthy breakfast.
3. Make a stop at the bathroom and finish your business there before starting with the exam.
During the exam itself, examinees are prohibited to exit the room unless for extreme emergency only.
4. Do not panic.
Regain your composure after getting overwhelmed by the number of questions.
5. If you get stuck in a really difficult question, skip it. Otherwise, make an intelligent guess.
6. When two or more choices sound correct and you can't choose which is the correct one, pick the most sensible.
7. Breathe in, breathe out to calm your nerves.
8. Hungry? Grab a quick bite if you absolutely have to in order to avoid getting dizzy or acidic.
9. Take note of the remaining time so that you can manage your time.
10. When the exam is over, refrain from discussing the questions with your peers. This will only make you feel bad and anxious about your own performance. Just let it go and move on with your life while waiting for the results.
CONTROVERSIES SURROUNDING THE CIVIL SERVICE EXAM (CSE)
Did you know that out of hundreds of thousands of CSE examinees, only around 10-20% of takers manage to successfully pass it? That's even lower than the bar exam.
The very high mortality rate indicates the degree of difficulty of the exam itself. During the exam, you will see and encounter some examinees who have tried taking the exam two, three, four, or even five times, and failing at each of them.
This fact has led many CSE takers in the past to resort to devious means to pass the exam.
The Commission on Civil Service has uncovered some of these devious ways. Among them are: (a) having somebody else take the exam for you; (b) paying off a CSC insider to have your name be included in the list of passers; (c) forging CSC eligibility certificates; and (d) stealing the identity of another CSC passer. These unscrupulous individuals have been meted with administrative and criminal sanctions.
This is precisely the reason why the manner with which the CSE is conducted now is very strict and meticulous. The CSC makes sure that all loopholes are plugged and any opportunity to cheat is prevented right from the get-go.
The CSC allots at least an hour prior to the commencement of the CSE itself to conduct verification of identity by checking IDs, permits, photos, signatures, and taking of fingerprints.
The CSC likewise creates duplicate seating arrangements signed and verified by the staff and later distributed to different offices to guarantee the integrity of the exam itself.
So for CSE takers, it would do well NOT to even think of cheating during the exam. Doing so is a criminal act that would subject you to criminal liability and permanent disqualification from government service.
CONCLUSION
Passing the CSE is a big deal, and for some, it marks a highlight in their career when they are finally able to pursue their dream job in the government.
But the road to success is not easy. As mentioned at the start of this article, there are no shortcuts in passing the CSE. If you refuse to work hard and merely rely on shortcuts, you will definitely end up shortchanging yourself and put your chances of passing at high risk.
The tips mentioned above are geared to help you succeed at the CSE with flying colors. With hard work, dedication, and commitment, nothing is impossible.
Good luck, CSE takers!
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Anxious about the CSE? Don't be. Join in the discussion by posting your thoughts or questions in the comments section below.