Civil Service Basic study guide
Civil Service Basic · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Civil Service Basic examination is an entry-level screening test used by public-sector recruiters to check whether a candidate has the general cognitive and administrative foundation needed for clerical, junior officer and support roles in government. It is aimed at school leavers, graduates and career changers who have not yet held a public-service post, and it typically serves as the first filter before interview or further selection stages. The Civil Service Basic study guide has 7 sections and about 2,750 words.
01Verbal Reasoning and Reading Comprehension
Verbal reasoning and reading comprehension tests how precisely you extract meaning from written text and how well you evaluate arguments. Questions typically present a short passage or a set of statements followed by options that ask for the main idea, a supported inference, an assumption, or a logical conclusion.
374 words, about 2 min02Numerical Reasoning and Quantitative Aptitude
Numerical reasoning and quantitative aptitude tests your ability to solve arithmetic and data-interpretation problems accurately under time pressure. Expect percentages, ratios, averages, rates, simple and compound interest, and questions based on tables, charts or short word problems.
382 words, about 2 min03Logical and Abstract Reasoning
Logical and abstract reasoning tests whether you can draw valid conclusions from given premises and detect patterns in shapes, numbers and codes without relying on outside knowledge. In syllogisms, use Venn diagrams rather than intuition.
404 words, about 2 min04General Knowledge and Current Affairs
General knowledge and current affairs tests the breadth of your awareness of institutions, geography, science, economy, culture and recent public developments. Most items reward recognition rather than reasoning: you either know the fact or you do not.
378 words, about 2 min05Public Administration and Governance Fundamentals
Public administration and governance fundamentals tests how well you understand how public bodies are organised, how policy moves from idea to implementation, and what makes governance accountable and effective. Administrative ethics, citizen participation and digital service delivery are also common themes.
382 words, about 2 min06Constitutional, Administrative and Public Law Basics
Constitutional, administrative and public law basics tests the legal framework that governs public power: how authority is created, limited and reviewed. A constitution allocates power among the legislature, executive and judiciary, and typically includes a bill of rights.
391 words, about 2 min07Office Skills, Data Handling and Written Communication
Office skills, data handling and written communication tests the practical tasks of a public office: managing records, working with spreadsheets, presenting data honestly and writing clear, concise correspondence. Keep a register of incoming and outgoing correspondence, file documents under a consistent classification, and record version numbers and dates.
439 words, about 2 min