General Knowledge
General Knowledge rewards breadth. Items in this area draw on Philippine geography and national symbols, basic science, international organizations, and everyday civics - facts a police officer is expected to recognize without looking them up.
High-yield areas
- Geography: 7,641 islands, three island groups (Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao), highest peak Mount Apo, longest river the Cagayan, and the country's position in Southeast Asia.
- National symbols: sampaguita (flower), narra (tree), anahaw (leaf), Philippine eagle (bird), carabao (animal), Filipino (language), Lupang Hinirang (anthem), arnis (national martial art).
- Basic science: photosynthesis, the water cycle, the order of the planets, and the major body systems.
- International bodies: the UN (1945), ASEAN (1967), WHO, and the Red Cross - know which the Philippines helped found.
- Civics basics: the three branches of government and the agencies that touch police work.
Worked example
Which of these is the national tree? (a) sampaguita (b) narra (c) anahaw (d) Philippine eagle Sort by category: sampaguita is a flower, anahaw is a leaf, the Philippine eagle is a bird, and narra is a tree → (b) narra. When options belong to different categories, eliminate by category before recalling specifics.
Traps that cost marks
- Mixing up the national flower, leaf, and tree.
- Using an outdated island count - older reviewers still say 7,107.
- Guessing on "first" and "largest" items instead of checking the qualifier.
- Answering from a headline memory when the item asks for a category.