New round of applications for Common Recruitment Examination opens tomorrow
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The application details for the CRE will be uploaded to the CSB webpage (www.csb.gov.hk/eng/cre.html) tomorrow. The deadline for online applications is 11.59pm on August 1.
A spokesman for the CSB reminded persons planning to apply for civil service posts at the degree or professional level in the near future that they are required to have valid CRE results and should make use of the opportunity to take part in this round of examination, tentatively scheduled to be held on September 27.
The pool of eligible candidates for civil service jobs requiring an undergraduate degree has been expanded to students in their third year of undergraduate studies (in a four-year curriculum). Therefore, holders of a degree, or a professional qualification meeting the entry requirements of the posts, or undergraduate students graduating in the academic year of 2025/26 or 2026/27 may apply.
The CRE consists of three papers, namely the Use of Chinese (UC), the Use of English (UE) and the Aptitude Test (AT). Applicants may choose to take any of the CRE papers in the coming examination. Results in the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (HKDSEE) or other specified public examinations are accepted as equivalents to different levels of results for the UC and the UE. If applicants have attained the specified results in the language subjects concerned in the HKDSEE or other specified public examinations, they will not be arranged to take the UC and/or UE paper(s). Please visit the CSB webpage for the specified results and the language subjects concerned. Applicants should note that different civil service posts have different Chinese and English language proficiency requirements. No public examination results are accepted as being equivalent to the AT. Applicants for some civil service posts at the degree or professional level are required to obtain a pass result in the AT paper in order to be eligible for applying for the posts concerned.
Prospective candidates for civil service posts of degree or professional grades should also attend the Digitalised Basic Law and National Security Law Test (Degree/Professional Grades) (BLNST) at the Recruitment Centre, General Grades Office of the CSB as soon as possible. For details, please visit the website (www.csb.gov.hk/eng/dblnst.html). Attaining a pass result in the BLNST is an entry requirement for all civil service jobs.
For the convenience of those studying or residing outside Hong Kong, the CRE and the paper-based Basic Law and National Security Law Test (Degree/Professional Grades) are tentatively scheduled to be held on November 29 in Beijing, Shanghai, London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver and Sydney. Applications will open later this year.
General enquiries may be directed to the Civil Service Examinations Unit by phone at 2537 6429 or by e-mail to csbcseu@csb.gov.hk.
Ends/Friday, July 18, 2025
Issued at HKT 11:00
Issued at HKT 11:00
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