Civil Service General Exam cheat sheet

Deduction vs. inference: a valid deduction follows necessarily from stated premises; an inference is a probable conclusion that needs supporting evidence from the passage.

Scope words decide truth value: all, some, none, only, unless, except. "Some X are Y" is true if at least one X is Y, and does not exclude all X being Y.

Necessary vs. sufficient: A is necessary for B when B cannot occur without A; A is sufficient for B when A alone guarantees B. Necessary does not imply sufficient.

Negation test for assumptions: negate a candidate assumption; if the argument collapses, the assumption is required; if it survives, the assumption is not needed.

Weaken/strengthen questions target the link between evidence and conclusion; attacking a premise or an unrelated detail does not affect the argument's validity.

Analogy and metaphor items: map the relationship (part-to-whole, cause-to-effect, degree) before comparing options; reject options that match topic but not relation.

Reading comprehension order: identify main idea, then author's tone, then specific detail; detail questions are answered only from stated text, not outside knowledge.

Word-in-context items: substitute each option into the sentence and check grammatical fit and register, not just dictionary meaning.

Percentage change = (new − old) ÷ old × 100. A rise from 80 to 100 is 25 percent; a fall from 100 to 80 is 20 percent - same absolute change, different base.

Successive percentage changes multiply: a 20 percent rise then a 10 percent fall gives 1.20 × 0.90 = 1.08, a net 8 percent increase, not 10 percent.

Work-rate formula: combined rate = 1/a + 1/b; time together = ab ÷ (a + b). If A finishes in 6 days and B in 3, together they take 2 days.

Simple vs. compound interest: SI = P × r × t; CI = P(1 + r)^t − P. Compound interest exceeds simple interest whenever t > 1.

Ratio and proportion: keep units consistent; a ratio a:b partitions a total T into aT/(a+b) and bT/(a+b).

Average (mean) = sum ÷ count. If every value rises by k, the mean rises by k; if every value is multiplied by k, the mean is multiplied by k.

Speed problems: distance = speed × time; average speed for equal distances = 2xy ÷ (x + y), which is the harmonic mean, not the arithmetic mean.

Profit and loss: profit percent is calculated on cost price unless the question states selling price as the base; discount percent is calculated on marked price.

Syllogism validity: with "All A are B" and "All B are C", "All A are C" follows; "All C are A" does not follow.

Contrapositive is always valid: "If P then Q" implies "If not Q then not P". The converse "If Q then P" is not valid.

Exclusive vs. inclusive or: "P or Q, but not both" is exclusive; standard logic treats "or" as inclusive unless stated otherwise.

Series rules to test in order: constant difference, constant ratio, alternating operations, squares/cubes, and sums of prior terms (Fibonacci-type).

Odd-one-out items: check classification dimensions (function, material, living/non-living, number of parts) before choosing; the intended rule is the one shared by all but one item.

Seating and ordering puzzles: draw positions and fix absolute anchors first, then apply relative constraints; eliminate options that violate any single constraint.

Matrix and figure-series items: track rotation (clockwise/counter-clockwise), reflection, shading count, and element count separately, one rule at a time.

Counterexample method: a claim of the form "all X are Y" is refuted by one X that is not Y; a single counterexample is sufficient.

Read the axis and legend before computing: check whether the chart starts at zero, whether units are thousands or millions, and whether bars are stacked or grouped.

Percentage of total = part ÷ total × 100; percentage point difference between two shares is not the same as percentage change in a share.

In tables, verify row and column totals reconcile; a mismatch signals a misread cell or a subtotal row counted twice.

Pie charts: each sector angle = share × 360 degrees; a 25 percent sector is 90 degrees. Compare sectors only within the same pie.

Growth rate over multiple years uses CAGR = (end ÷ start)^(1/n) − 1, not the arithmetic average of annual rates.

Averages in grouped data use class midpoints; medians require cumulative frequency and the median class, not the midpoint of the whole range.

Correlation does not imply causation: two series rising together may share a third driver; state the limitation explicitly in analysis.

Rounding discipline: keep full precision through intermediate steps and round only the final answer; premature rounding can shift a multiple-choice option.

Priority order in public service scenarios: public safety and legal compliance first, then service continuity, then efficiency, then convenience of staff.

Escalation rule: report upward when a matter exceeds your authority, involves legal risk, or affects safety; do not resolve it silently.

Transparency with citizens is the default; withholding information requires a specific legal ground such as privacy or an ongoing investigation.

Conflict of interest: disclose and recuse when a personal, family, or financial interest could influence an official decision.

When a colleague errs, correct the process rather than the person; document facts, address privately first, escalate if repeated or serious.

Deadline versus quality: communicate early about slippage, propose a revised timeline with a mitigation step; silence is the worst option.

Use of discretion must be consistent and reasoned: similar cases should receive similar treatment, and the reasoning should be recorded.

Handling an angry citizen: acknowledge the concern, state what can be done and when, avoid promising outcomes outside your authority.

Key values of public administration: rule of law, accountability, transparency, impartiality, efficiency, and responsiveness to the public interest.

Separation of powers: legislature makes law, executive implements, judiciary interprets; each branch checks the others.

Good governance indicators include participation, consensus orientation, equity, effectiveness, and accountability (UNDP-style framework).

New Public Management emphasizes performance measurement, citizen-as-customer orientation, contracting out, and managerial autonomy.

Public accountability has vertical (electoral, ministerial) and horizontal (audit, ombudsman, courts, legislature) dimensions.

Merit-based recruitment: selection on qualifications and demonstrated competence, free from patronage and nepotism, is a core civil service principle.

Budget cycle stages: formulation, legislative approval, execution, and audit/evaluation; each stage has a distinct accountability owner.

Decentralization transfers authority to local units; deconcentration merely relocates central staff, and delegation transfers limited functions.

Natural justice: audi alteram partem (hear the other side) and nemo judex in causa sua (no one judges their own cause).

Grounds for judicial review of administrative action: illegality, irrationality/unreasonableness, procedural impropriety, and proportionality where applicable.

Ultra vires: an act beyond the powers conferred by statute is void; delegated legislation must stay within the parent Act.

Legitimate expectation: a clear representation may create a procedural (sometimes substantive) expectation that can be enforced.

Reasoned decisions: administrative bodies must give reasons where required by statute, and unreasoned decisions are vulnerable to challenge.

Delegatus non potest delegare: a delegate cannot sub-delegate power unless the statute expressly permits it.

Constitutional supremacy: a law inconsistent with the constitution is invalid to the extent of the inconsistency.

Proportionality test: legitimate aim, suitable means, necessity (least restrictive means), and balance between public interest and individual rights.

Report structure: purpose/terms of reference, methodology, findings, analysis, conclusions, recommendations, and appendices.

Executive summary is standalone: it states the problem, key findings, and recommendations in one short block, readable without the body.

Active voice for actions ("The office approved the policy"), passive voice when the actor is unknown or irrelevant.

One idea per paragraph; topic sentence first, supporting detail next, transition to the next idea last.

Recommendations must be specific and actionable: who does what, by when, with what resource, and how success will be measured.

Avoid nominalizations and jargon; "decide" beats "make a decision" where brevity matters, and define technical terms on first use.

Official correspondence register: formal, courteous, concise; state reference number, subject, and required action in the opening lines.

Proofread for subject-verb agreement, parallel structure in lists, and consistent tense; errors in official documents undermine credibility.