Hi Lovelins! Last year I took my civil service examination for the first time on October 2016 and luckily I have passed. This is also known as Career Service Examination. Many of Filipinos take this examination in order for them to be regularized in the Government because of the benefits they can gain. So after taking this exam, I want to share these tips that help me passed through. The passing rate is 80% of the exam and I got an average of 83.5 with self reviewing.

           This year's schedule will be on  March 12, 2017. Application Period runs from November 14, 2016 to January 13, 2017. Apply early if possible because they may not accept any applicants if they reach the quota even if it is not the deadline yet.  You can check out the list of qualifications requirements and area of coverage here.

          It is composed of two categories, the Professional and Subprofessional Level. The Professional Level is composed of 170 items while Subpro is 165 items. I recommend you to choose the Professional level because the difference is only 5 items :) 

          After you passed the civil service, you can now apply to any government office or even PNP and BFP. But if you already have any license or if you are a latin honor bearer, you are already eligible to take the examination.

So here are the tips I am sharing to you :)

Before the Exam

1. Invest. Okay, so you want to pass the civil service so bad, but in order to do that you need to invest. Invest what? Money, time and effort. Don't regret buying books or even enrolling in a review center. And of course this will save you from a lot of stress and sadness if you fail :) I bought a reviewer on National bookstore for 315 pesos. For me, it is still better to have a hard copy than studying in a pdf. Choose a reviewer that have an explanation in it rather than questions and answers only. What you sow is what you reap.

2. Study. If you really want to pass the exam, you need to study. This is your key to success. What you need is to know the concept and the principles, not the correct answer to your reviewer. Most of the questions in the reviewers don't show up that is why you need to know how to come up with the correct answer. The questions are not so hard to answer but it is very tricky.  Study at least 30 minutes to 1 hour a day. Discipline is a must.

3. Set your Goals. You should know why you are studying or why do you need to pass the exam. This will give you a mind set that you need to study because you want to achieve something. This will be a great motivation for your self. It will also avoid you from cramming and procrastinating.

4. Know your weaknesses. I admit, I am weak when it comes to Math, that is why I am surprised that it ranks the 2nd to the highest in all areas :3 Focus on the area in which you think will be the reason to fail you. Practice solving and answering. Reinforce your knowledge and skills in these areas. This will give you a greater chance to pass the exam.

During the Exam

1. Come Early. The examination will start on time so if you come late, the proctors will not to let you take the exam anymore. All of your investments will just go to waste if that happens. Do your morning rituals and eat a heavy breakfast because you will not have any breaks.

2. Bring ballpen. Last year's examination used ballpen instead of pencil. Bring with you a spare one to avoid trouble if the other one fails. Be sure on your answers because mistake are only allowed once. 

3. Go to the bathroom before your exam starts. Your time is limited that is why avoid wasting doing stuffs at the bathroom. It is also distracting if you need to go to the bathroom but you can't.

4. Pray. One of the best tip I can share you. Before taking the exam close your eyes for a while and send your prayers unto Him. It is good to know that Someone is guiding you along the way. Always remember that prayer works! 

5. Avoid spending time on hard questions. Remember, your time is limited and if you have come across a hard number, don't waste too much time on it, you can always come back to it after answering the other items.

6. Draw illustrations. There are certain questions that will need to picture out. To figure it out draw it on the questionnaire to help you know the correct answer.

7. Review your answers. Before submitting, have a quick review of your answers and if you didn't miss any item.

After the Exam

1. Compose yourself. Don't overthink about the exam, just remember that you've done the best of you whether you pass or fail :) don't forget to treat yourself afterwards!

Hope you've enjoyed these tips and Godbless to your upcoming exams :) Let me know if any of these tips help you along the way. Ciao! :)