What is the passing rate for the professional and subprofessional levels of the Civil Service Exam?
The passing rate for the Civil Service Exam
Getting a score below that rating simply means you failed the test and need to retake the exam.
Professional and Subpro Levels of Civil Service Exam
While knowing the Civil Service Exam passing rate is important so that you can try to target how much you will get in the exams.
You can’t really guess what items will come out unless you have an idea from review centers or exam reviewers you can find online.

Civil Service Exam, Professional Level
- Test questions: 170
- Score needed to pass: 136
- Time allotted: 3 hours and 10 minutes
With a total of 190 minutes, you only have roughly a minute to answer each test question. That is why it is important to come well prepared with some basic knowledge of what to expect so you won’t be rattled once you are at the testing center.
Read each test question as quickly but also as carefully as you can; then, choose the answer you think if best or what you have remembered from your review.
See
Top 5 Tips for Successful Civil Service Exam Preparation
Take note that calculators are not allowed inside the testing center. Don’t have to worry because the numerical questions won’t really require one.
And if you’re stumped over a question, just pick an answer and move on to the next one.

The Civil Service exam covers the following subjects, English and Filipino:
Analytical Ability (Professional Level Only)
- Word association (Single word and paired-analogy approach)
- Identifying assumptions and conclusion
- Logic
- Data interpretation
Verbal Ability
- Grammar and Correct Usage
- Vocabulary
- Paragraph Organization
- Reading comprehension
Numerical Ability
- Basic Operations
- Worded Problems
- Number Series and Sequence
General Information
- Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees (R. A. 6713)
- Environment management and protection.
- Peace and human rights issues and concepts
- Philippine Constitution
Civil Service Exam, Sub-Professional Level
- Test questions: 165
- Score needed to pass: 132
- Time allotted: 2 hours and 40 minutes
With just 160 minutes to take the sub-professional exam, you have a little less than 1 minute to spend on each test question.
The good news is that the sub-professional exam is supposedly easier than the professional exam.
The exam covers subjects similar to the professional exam but does not include the Analytical Ability.
Instead of that subject, the sub-professional exam covers Clerical Ability.