CSE-PPT · Subprofessional level
The Subprofessional exam covers 4 subjects and 15 official topics: General Information, Verbal Ability, Numerical Ability, and Clerical Ability. It has 145 scored items and a 2h 40m time limit, or about 66 seconds per item.
Official scope
This is the scope of examination for the 14 March 2027 sitting, from Section F of Examination Announcement No. 06, s. 2026.
| Subject | Language | Official topics | Our mock items* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verbal Ability | English and Filipino | Word meaning, Sentence completion, Error recognition, Sentence structure, Paragraph organization, Reading comprehension | ~45 |
| Numerical Ability | English | Basic operations, Number sequence, Word problems | ~30 |
| General Information | English | Philippine Constitution, Code of Conduct (R.A. 6713), Peace and Human Rights Issues and Concepts, Environment Management and Protection | ~30 |
| Clerical Ability | English | Filing, Spelling | ~40 |
*CSEPass estimates used to build our full mocks. CSC does not publish a per-subject split. The total of 165 items includes 20 unscored Examinee Descriptive Questionnaire items.
Subject 1 of 4
Verbal Ability is the widest subtest on both levels. It checks whether you can understand, build, and fix written sentences and passages — the everyday work of reading memos, drafting letters, and following instructions in government service.
Synonyms, antonyms, and the meaning of a word or idiom from its context, in English and Filipino.
Read the guideChoosing the word or phrase that completes a sentence correctly in grammar, tense, logic, and tone.
Read the guideSpotting the underlined part with a grammar or usage error — subject–verb agreement, tense, pronouns, prepositions, articles.
Read the guidePicking the correctly built sentence: parallelism, modifiers, fragments, run-ons, and clear word order.
Read the guideArranging jumbled sentences into a logical paragraph using topic sentences, transitions, and pronoun references.
Read the guideMain idea, supporting details, inference, author's purpose and tone, and vocabulary in context from short passages.
Read the guideAnswer: B. Bitterness Acrimony is bitterness or ill feeling, usually expressed in sharp words. Indifference means not caring, which is the opposite of strong feeling.
Subject 2 of 4
Numerical Ability tests practical arithmetic and problem solving without a calculator. CSC prohibits calculators of any kind at the examinee's seat, so speed with fractions, decimals, and percent matters as much as knowing the formulas.
Fractions, decimals, percent, ratio and proportion, exponents, and order of operations (PEMDAS/MDAS).
Read the guideFinding the next or missing term in arithmetic, geometric, alternating, and mixed-rule series.
Read the guideAge, work, distance–rate–time, mixture, percent increase/decrease, discount, simple interest, and averages.
Read the guideAnswer: B. 1 5/12 Use the common denominator 12: 9/12 + 8/12 = 17/12, which is 1 5/12. Adding numerators and denominators straight across (5/7) is the classic trap.
Subject 3 of 4
General Information covers the laws and civic values every government worker is expected to know. Unlike the skills subtests, it rewards plain recall of facts — so a steady review schedule beats last-minute cramming.
The 1987 Constitution: Preamble, national territory, Bill of Rights, citizenship, suffrage, the three branches, and constitutional commissions (CSC, COMELEC, COA).
Read the guideThe Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees: the eight norms of conduct, duties, SALN, and prohibited acts.
Read the guideThe Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Commission on Human Rights, civil and political vs economic and social rights, and peace-building concepts.
Read the guideKey laws such as R.A. 9003 (solid waste), R.A. 8749 (Clean Air), R.A. 9275 (Clean Water), and R.A. 9729 (Climate Change), plus core environmental concepts.
Read the guideAnswer: B. Six years, without reelection Article VII sets a six-year term for the President, who is not eligible for any reelection.
Subject 4 of 4 · Subprofessional only
Clerical Ability appears only on the Subprofessional level. It measures the accuracy and attention to detail that first-level (clerical) positions need every day — filing records correctly and writing without spelling errors.
Alphabetical filing of names and organizations, plus numeric and chronological order — which record comes first, next, or between.
Read the guideChoosing the correctly spelled word, including double letters, silent letters, and commonly confused endings.
Read the guideAnswer: B. Accommodate Accommodate has a double c and a double m. It is one of the most commonly misspelled words in office writing.
Study order
It has the most official topics on the paper, and vocabulary builds slowly. Start here and keep it running through your whole review.
Filing and spelling appear only on this level. The rules are few, so accuracy comes quickly with short timed sets.
Calculators are prohibited at your seat. Build speed on basic operations first, then number sequences and word problems.
The Constitution, R.A. 6713, peace and human rights, and environment reward steady recall more than long sessions.
Career Service Subprofessional Eligibility. A first level eligibility, appropriate only for first level (clerical) government positions that do not involve practice of profession and are not covered by special or other laws. (Announcement No. 06, s. 2026, Section I.)
Professional has Analytical Ability instead of Clerical Ability, with 150 scored items and a 3h 10m time limit. General Information, Verbal Ability, and Numerical Ability are on both levels.
FAQ
CSE Subprofessional covers four subjects: General Information, Verbal Ability, Numerical Ability, and Clerical Ability. This is the scope of examination in CSC Examination Announcement No. 06, s. 2026.
Per CSC examinee materials, Subprofessional has 145 scored items plus 20 Examinee Descriptive Questionnaire items, for 165 in total. The time limit is 2 hours 40 minutes.
No. Analytical Ability appears only on the Professional level. The Subprofessional paper has Clerical Ability instead.
An examinee should get a general rating of at least 80.00, per Announcement No. 06, s. 2026. CSC does not publish how raw scores convert to that rating.
Passing gives you the Career Service Subprofessional Eligibility: a first level eligibility, appropriate only for first level (clerical) government positions that do not involve practice of profession and are not covered by special or other laws. You must still meet the other qualifications of each position.
It is the scope published in Announcement No. 06, s. 2026. CSC says it will issue a subsequent or supplemental announcement if the scope is amended, so check csc.gov.ph before exam day.
No. CSC publishes the total items for each level. The per-subject counts on this page are CSEPass estimates used to build our mocks, not an official split.
~40 questions. ~40 minutes. No signup. A topic map when you submit.
Source: CSC Examination Announcement No. 06, s. 2026 (14 March 2027 CSE-PPT), checked 1 November 2026. Item counts and time limits follow CSC examinee materials. CSEPass is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Civil Service Commission. How we source facts.
