Civil Service General Exam study plan
Civil Service General Exam · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 7 hours per week
Verbal Reasoning and Comprehension & Numerical Reasoning and Quantitative Analysis
Map the full Verbal Reasoning syllabus into a one-page checklist of question types, then rate your confidence on each type from 1 to 5
Complete 60 mixed verbal items under timed conditions (45 seconds per item) and log every error by cause: misread stem, vocabulary gap, or faulty inference
Drill 40 numerical estimation items without a calculator to rebuild speed on percentages, ratios, and unit conversions
Build a personal formula sheet covering averages, weighted mixtures, work-rate, and compound interest, and solve one worked example for each formula
Your checkpoint
A two-column error log listing at least 40 verbal and numerical mistakes with the cause and the corrected reasoning for each
Verbal Reasoning and Comprehension & Numerical Reasoning and Quantitative Analysis
Practice passage-based comprehension on 12 passages, writing a one-sentence main-idea summary before answering any question
Apply a systematic method to assumption, strengthen, and weaken questions: identify the conclusion, then the gap, then the answer choice
Solve 50 word problems from tables and word problems from charts, converting each into an equation before computing
Review week 1 error log and re-solve every item you got wrong until you can explain the trap out loud
Your checkpoint
A timed 40-item verbal and numerical mock scored against a target of 70 percent, with a written review of each wrong answer
Logical and Abstract Reasoning & Data Interpretation and Analytical Skills
Classify abstract reasoning items into rotation, reflection, progression, and distribution families, then solve 20 of each family
Practice series completion and odd-one-out items while verbalizing the rule you used for each answer
Interpret 15 data sets (tables, bar charts, line graphs) and state the trend, the outlier, and one limitation of each
Compute percentage change, index numbers, and moving averages by hand from raw data to confirm you understand the mechanics
Your checkpoint
A one-page rule catalogue for abstract reasoning with a worked example of each rule family plus a 10-question data interpretation set scored at 80 percent or better
Verbal Reasoning and Comprehension & Numerical Reasoning and Quantitative Analysis & Data Interpretation and Analytical Skills
Re-test verbal and numerical domains under full exam timing to confirm retention from weeks 1 and 2
Complete a 30-question data interpretation set with a strict two-minute-per-question limit
Diagnose your three weakest question types across domains 1, 2, and 4 using your error logs, and drill 20 items per weak type
Write a half-page summary of the calculation shortcuts that actually saved you time and discard the ones that did not
Your checkpoint
A full-length diagnostic mock covering domains 1, 2, 3, and 4, scored and compared against the week 2 baseline
Situational Judgment and Decision Making & Public Administration and Governance Fundamentals
Work through 15 situational judgment scenarios and justify each choice against a stated decision rule such as public interest, proportionality, and procedural fairness
Distinguish the roles of elected officials, career civil servants, and oversight bodies by writing a short definition for each and one example of a conflict between them
Summarize core governance concepts including accountability, transparency, rule of law, and separation of powers, and explain how each applies to a routine administrative decision
Analyze two short case descriptions and identify the point where a procedural safeguard was missed
Your checkpoint
A decision-rule reference card for situational judgment plus written analyses of two cases identifying the correct action and the governing principle
Administrative Law and Constitutional Principles & Written Communication and Report Writing
Outline the constitutional principles most tested: separation of powers, due process, equal protection, and delegation of authority, with one scenario illustrating each
Apply administrative law concepts such as natural justice, legitimate expectation, ultra vires, and reasons for decision to five short fact patterns
Draft three documents: a formal memo, an incident report, and a citizen-facing response, each under 300 words and each following a clear structure
Edit your drafts for concision, active voice, and consistent terminology, cutting at least 15 percent of the words without losing meaning
Your checkpoint
A portfolio of three polished written documents plus a one-page legal-principles summary with a scenario for each principle
Situational Judgment and Decision Making & Public Administration and Governance Fundamentals & Administrative Law and Constitutional Principles & Written Communication and Report Writing
Complete a 40-question mixed set covering domains 5 through 8 and review every wrong answer against your reference cards
Rewrite one situational judgment answer and one legal analysis under time pressure to practice producing structured reasoning quickly
Produce a one-page report from a supplied data table, including a headline finding, two supporting figures, and a recommendation
Self-assess your writing against a checklist of clarity, structure, accuracy, and tone, and fix the two weakest areas
Your checkpoint
A one-page analytical report with a data table, findings, and recommendation, plus a scored mixed set for domains 5 through 8
Verbal Reasoning and Comprehension & Numerical Reasoning and Quantitative Analysis & Logical and Abstract Reasoning & Data Interpretation and Analytical Skills & Situational Judgment and Decision Making & Public Administration and Governance Fundamentals & Administrative Law and Constitutional Principles & Written Communication and Report Writing
Take two full-length timed mocks under exam conditions and record section-level scores for all eight domains
Review only the errors from the final mocks, re-solving each until correct without looking at the answer key
Consolidate all reference cards, formula sheets, and decision rules into a single review packet of no more than six pages
Simulate exam-day logistics: confirm timing per section, plan your pacing strategy, and rehearse skipping and returning to hard items
Your checkpoint
Two completed full-length mock scores plus a final six-page review packet and a written pacing plan
Milestones
Week 2: Score at least 70 percent on the timed 40-item verbal and numerical mock and show that every error has a written cause and correction
Week 4: Full diagnostic mock for domains 1 through 4 completed within time, with the score at or above the week 2 baseline and no more than three unclassified errors
Week 6: Three polished written documents submitted, each meeting the structure and concision checklist, plus legal-principles summary covering at least four principles with scenarios
Week 8: Both full-length mocks completed under exam conditions with section scores logged for all eight domains, and the six-page review packet finished