Examinees should be physically, emotionally, and mentally prepared, the CSC said.

The Commission cited the importance of the career service examinations as those who passed the tests are given civil service eligibility, one of the basic requirements for permanent appointment in government career service positions.

The CSC warned examinees against engaging in any form of cheating. Republic Act 9416, "An Act Declaring as Unlawful Any Form of Cheating in Civil Service Examinations, Unauthorized Use, and Possession of CSC Examination-Related Materials, and Granting the CSC Exclusive Jurisdiction Over These Cases, Including Those Committed by Private Individuals," penalizes persons, whether employed in the government or not, found involved in any exam irregularity.

Out of the total 55,112 registered examinees from across the country, 79.46 percent or 43,794 examinees will take the professional level tests, while the remaining 11,318 or 20.54 percent will take the subprofessional category tests.

The career service examination is an aptitude test designed to measure an individual’s preparedness to enter government service. Those taking the professional test, the CSC said, should review on vocabulary, grammar and correct usage, paragraph organization, reading comprehension, analogy, logic, and numerical reasoning.

On the other hand, those taking the sub-professional level tests, should study the same subject areas, except analogy and logic, and in addition, spelling, and clerical operations.

Examinees for both levels should also review the Philippine Constitution, the Code of Conduct, and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees (Republic Act 6713), peace and human rights issues and concepts, and environment management and protection.

Examinees should aim to get a rating of at least 80 percent, for both levels, to pass the examinations.

Examinees should be at their assigned school by 7 a.m. on March 9 for the preliminary activities.

They should bring the following items: Notice of admission or examination permit, lead pencils (No. 1 or 2) and erasers, blue or black ballpen, and the same valid ID cards presented upon the filing of application.

Examinees from the National Capital Region are required to bring two valid ID cards, one of which should be the same as the one presented upon the filing of application.

Examinees are further advised to visit the school they are going to take the exams a day or two before the examination day to familiarize themselves with the school’s location and facilities. Those in Metro Manila may verify their school and room assignments at the CSC website where an alphabetized list of examinees for the professional and sub-professional levels may be accessed, together with the names and addresses of the different schools serving as testing centers.

Meanwhile, the CSC reported that the concentration of examinees is in Metro Manila where a total of 9,838 examinees for both examination levels are registered. Other regions with sizeable number of examinees include Southern Tagalog (Region IV) with 5,296 examinees, Central Visayas (Region VII) with 4,242 examinees, Bicol (Region V) with 3,796 examinees, Zamboanga Peninsula (Region IX) with 3,730 examinees, and Central Luzon (Region III) with 3,578 examinees.