Civil Service Exam Professional vs Sub-Professional: which one should you take?
The Civil Service Exam (CSE) has two levels. Both need a general rating of 80.00 to pass, but they qualify you for different jobs and test different subjects. Here is how they compare and how to pick.
Side by side
| Professional | Sub-Professional | |
|---|---|---|
| Positions | First- and second-level: technical, administrative, supervisory jobs that usually need a college degree | First-level only: clerical, trades, crafts and custodial work |
| Items | 170 (150 graded + 20 Examinee Descriptive Questionnaire (EDQ)) | 165 (145 graded + 20 Examinee Descriptive Questionnaire (EDQ)) |
| Time | 3 hours 10 minutes | 2 hours 40 minutes |
| Subjects (items) | Verbal Ability (50), Numerical Ability (40), Analytical Ability (40), General Information (20) | Verbal Ability (68), Numerical Ability (39), Clerical Ability (19), General Information (19) |
| Passing score | 80.00 general rating | 80.00 general rating |
| CSC exam fee | ₱500 | ₱500 |
How to choose
- Look at the job you want. If the position is second-level (most jobs that need a college degree), you need the Professional eligibility.
- Professional covers both levels. A Professional eligibility can also be used for first-level positions; a Sub-Professional eligibility can't be used for second-level ones.
- Clerical work only? If you are aiming at first-level clerical, trades or custodial jobs, the Sub-Professional exam is enough, and it has no Analytical Ability part.
- You can take both. They are separate exams; many examinees pass Sub-Professional first and Professional later.
Not sure what level a position is? The job posting and the agency's HR office will say. When in doubt, aim for Professional.
What changes in the test
Professional has Analytical Ability: word analogy, symbolic logic and abstract reasoning, assumptions and conclusions, and data interpretation. Sub-Professional has Clerical Ability instead: filing and spelling. Both have Verbal Ability, Numerical Ability and General Information, with Sub-Professional putting more weight on Verbal.
See every topic on what's on the Civil Service Exam, or try sample questions with answers from each subject.
Preview a lesson
ReviewTayo has 51 lessons that follow the official scope of the exam, each with rules, worked examples, common mistakes and practice. Open one and read the first part.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Professional and Sub-Professional in the Civil Service Exam?
Professional qualifies you for first- and second-level government positions and includes Analytical Ability. Sub-Professional qualifies you for first-level positions only and includes Clerical Ability instead.
Can I use a Sub-Professional eligibility for a second-level position?
No. Second-level positions need the Professional eligibility. A Professional eligibility can be used for first-level positions too.
Is the Professional exam harder?
It is longer (170 items in 3 hours 10 minutes against 165 items in 2 hours 40 minutes) and has Analytical Ability. Both need a general rating of 80.00.
Can I take both levels?
Yes. They are separate exams, so you can take one and then the other.