Exam Map

Know which paper matters before you start grinding.

Each exam has a different job in the application pipeline. This page keeps format, purpose, prep focus, and official links in one place.

CRE

Common Recruitment Examination

Baseline language and aptitude credential used by many degree or professional-grade civil service posts.

Official

Use of English

40 multiple-choice questions in 45 minutes.

Posts requiring English language proficiency.

main idea extractiongrammar precisiontone and registertime-boxed reading

Use of Chinese

45 multiple-choice questions in 45 minutes.

Posts requiring Chinese language proficiency.

段落主旨語病辨識公文語氣快速排除法

Aptitude Test

35 multiple-choice questions in 45 minutes.

Roles that assess verbal, numerical, and logical reasoning.

ratio and percentagetable interpretationargument validitycondition mapping

Current Notes

Official CRE guidance checked 13 Jun 2026.
The June 2026 Hong Kong CRE was scheduled for 6 Jun 2026, with results expected by 3 Jul 2026.
The next Hong Kong CRE cycle was tentatively listed for 3 Oct 2026; overseas test centres were tentatively listed for 5 Dec 2026.

Study Strategy

Use one timed baseline before studying; it reveals whether the main loss is speed, accuracy, or paper selection.
For aptitude, write down the variable map before reading options. It keeps multi-condition items from becoming memory tests.
For language papers, review only the choices you were tempted by. Wrong-option attraction is the fastest clue to your weak pattern.

BLNST

Basic Law and National Security Law Test

Eligibility-related test covering the Basic Law and the National Security Law for many civil service posts.

Official

Degree or Professional Grades

20 multiple-choice questions in 30 minutes; pass mark is 10.

Degree or professional civil service applications.

constitutional structurerights and dutiesnational security conceptsofficial wording

Non-degree Grades

20 multiple-choice questions in 30 minutes; pass mark is 10.

Non-degree civil service applications.

article-level recognitiongovernance bodiespublic order contextcareful reading

Current Notes

Official BLNST guidance checked 13 Jun 2026.
Digitalised BLNST sittings are offered on working days except public holidays, with six time slots per day.
Bookings are released in an eight-week window, with the earliest test date normally being the next working day.

Study Strategy

Study from official text first, then use practice questions only as retrieval drills.
Make a one-page map of institutions, powers, rights, and duties. Most mistakes come from mixing similar bodies.
Do two short quizzes on separate days instead of one long cram session.

JRE

Joint Recruitment Examination

Written assessment for selected graduate-grade posts, focused on clear public-policy analysis in English and Chinese.

Official

English Written Paper

One part of a three-hour exam, usually based on case background materials.

Administrative Officer, Executive Officer II, and other selected graduate posts.

issue triagestructured recommendationsevidence selectionimplementation risk

Chinese Written Paper

One part of a three-hour exam, usually based on case background materials.

Posts requiring bilingual written policy judgement.

政策脈絡取捨分析建議排序精準書面語

Current Notes

Official JRE guidance checked 13 Jun 2026.
The 2025 JRE was scheduled for 29 Nov 2025, with applications in early October 2025.
JRE preparation should be tied to target posts, not treated as a generic essay exam.

Study Strategy

Build a reusable memo structure: situation, constraints, options, recommendation, risks, follow-up metrics.
Practise extracting stakeholder conflict from source packs before writing full answers.
Keep a weekly issue bank on housing, ageing, manpower, technology, public finance, and district services.