If you are taking the Civil Service Exam (CSE), one of the things you need to know is your school and room assignment. This information is required as you have your schedule for the test. Please follow the guidelines below which explains the steps on how you can check your room and school via Online Notice of School Assignment (ONSA) by the Civil Service Commission team.
As finding jobs in the Philippines, becomes more difficult, having more in terms of career options is a definite advantage. But, career options are not always readily available, especially for people whose educational background isn’t as impressive as having a Master’s or a Doctor’s degree. Luckily, the Philippine government has created yet another opportunity for almost everyone to have more options in the form of the Civil Service Exam.
So, what is the Civil Service Exam?
The Civil Service Exam is an eligibility test created by the Civil Service Commission. It isn’t as prestigious as the PRC Licensure Exam, the Bar Exam, or the Medical Board Exam, but it is something worth putting in your resume as it gives the candidate the qualifications to express their interest to serve the government.
The Civil Service Exam comes in two different forms: The one for professionals and the other one is for sub-professionals. Each comes with its own set of requirements and criteria and passing it offers a totally different eligibility. The exam is also available for taking in two different ways, either through the Paper and Pencil Test (PPT) or thr Computer Assisted Test (CAT).
In terms of scope, this eligibility exam covers the following subject matters:
- English and Filipino vocabulary
- Proper grammar and accurate usage,
- Organizing paragraphs
- Reading comprehension
- Logic and analogy
- Numerical reasoning
- Clerical reasoning, functions, and procedures
- Philippine Constitution, especially the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.
Why should you take the Civil Service Exam?
Passing the Civil Service Exam is your ticket to more job opportunities, especially if you haven’t completed your Bachelor’s, Master’s, or even Doctor’s degree. It opens more doors will open for you career-wise, especially if you are interested in working for the government.
Once you pass the Civil Service Exams, it automatically makes you eligible to work in government agencies like GSIS, SSS, BIR, DSWD and DPWH. That said, being a civil service eligible person allows you to see how and branch out into different career paths. For some people, it opens the doors to heroic and noble jobs like working in the PNP, AFP, and Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP). For some otbers, it grants them the bragging rights for passing a tough exam that requires at least 80% to pass.
Though it does allow the option for more career opportunities, taking the Civil Service Exam is not a walk in the park. In fact, the exam itself is hard, with only 10% average passing rate in the country. Nevertheless, passing the exam also means that you msy be able to work for the government, which isn’t exactly bad at all. In fact, it may even be better in the long run because of the incredibly attractive benefits and compensation package.
Taking the Civil Service Exam
Once you decide to take the Civil Service Exam, there are a few things that you need to prepare and be mindful of.
To make it easier for you, we rounded up the list of requirements and everything else that you’ll ever need, up until the day you take the exam, in one complete guide to taking the Civil Service Exam.
Qualification
Before you can take the Civil Service Exam, here are some things that you need to satisfy first:
- All applicants must be Filipino citizens;
- at least 18 years old on the date of filing of application;
- Has good moral character;
- Have not been convicted by final judgment of an offense or crime involving moral turpitude, or disgraceful or immoral conduct, dishonesty, examination irregularity, drunkenness, or addiction to drugs;
- Have not been dishonorably discharged from military service or dismissed for cause from any civilian position in the government; and
- Have not taken the same level of Career Service Examination, either through PPT or CSC Computerized Examination (CSC COMEX), within three months before the date of examination.
Note that pregnant women are allowed to take the CSE-PPT, but only if the applications were from those who are, at most, 6 months on the way on the day of the exam due. This is to reduce the risk that the strenuous pre-exam to post-exam activities may have for pregnant women.
Documentary Requirements
For applicants looking to take the Civil Service Exam, some documentary requirements will need to be prepared. To apply for the exam, the applicants must submit:
- A fully accomplished application form (CS Form No. 100), which may be downloaded from the CSC website at www.csc.gov.ph, and printed on legal size bond paper;
- Four (4) identical passport size ID pictures with name tag; and
- Original and photocopy of any of the accepted ID cards, preferably valid or not expired on the date of filing of application.
- an examination fee of PHP500.
Some things to remember:
- Applicants without date of birth in their ID cards must present an original and photocopy of their birth certificate issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority or the Local Civil Registry.
- For applicants holding dual citizenship as well as those recognized as citizens of the Philippines under Sec 1, Article IV of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, must present an original and photocopy of their Identification Certificate issued by the Bureau of Immigration.
Applicants must submit the requirements at the CSC RO, or any of its FOs with jurisdiction over the testing center where they wish to take the exam.
New CSC rules for taking the exam in 2021
In view of the restrictions this 2021, the CSC has introduced the following changes in the conduct of the CSE-PPT:
- Only 50% occupancy per testing room is allowed to ensure adequate space for physical distancing.
- Examinees with special needs (e.g., pregnant women, persons with disability, elderly), along with examinees with comorbidities are assigned in separate room/s.
- Examinees are required to pre-accomplish a Health Declaration Form (to be posted on the CSC website for downloading and printing) the day before the exam. The form will include a temperature reading which will be written only upon going through thermal scanning at the school/testing venue main entrance on exam day.
Note that those examinees who did not pre-accomplished the Health Declaration Form shall be required to accomplish the form at the designated area near the entrance.
- Examinees are also required to register an account with StaySafe.PH, a contract tracing app. They are strongly encouraged to update their StaySafe.PH health status every day, within 14 days before and 14 days after the exam date.
- The Orientation/Briefing prior to the test proper has been removed. Instead, the CSC will release an “Examinee’s Guide” approximately 1 to 2 weeks before exam day. This guide will contain comprehensive information on the conduct of the examination, including guidelines and procedures to be observed before exam day, on exam day, and after exam day, as well as all the health and safety protocols to be observed. It shall be the responsibility of each and every examinee to access and be able to understand thoroughly the Examinee’s Guide.
- Examinees are required to wear face masks and face shields and practice physical distancing at all times during physical filing of application and on the day of exam.
- Examinees must bring the Health Declaration Form on the exam day, along with no more than 100 mL of alcohol/hand sanitizer. These are required along with the standard exam requirements like valid ID card, birth certificate (for those without date of birth on their ID card), and black ballpen/s.
- Examinees are also still allowed to bring water or beverage, provided that they are in a transparent container, along with candies or biscuits.
- A Health Monitoring Team will be present on the day of the exam to monitor the observance of health and safety protocols. The team is on charge of handling any case of examinees or examiners who would manifest any COVID-19 symptoms on the day of exam.
How to Know your Online School and Room Assignment (ONSA) for the Civil Service Commission (CSC) Exam
Once the application is filed, examinees will need to check the Online School and Room Assignment (ONSA) page on the Civil Service Commission’s official website for information on the school assignments, as well as the assigned room for the exams.
In this guide, we’ve listed a detailed procedure below on how you can find your room and school assignments through the ONSA. To do this, the applicant must:
1. Go to the Civil Service Commission’s official website.
2. Then, click the ONSA option on the right side of the screen.
3. Once you reach the page and the link appears to be offline, then it only means that there are no upcoming schedules available yet.
Note that you will have to keep revisiting the site from time to time to check if the latest schedules have been posted. Take note that the link for the soonest scheduled exam will be available at least 2 weeks before the exam.
- If schedules are available, the applicant must read the directions carefully before filling out the form with their personal information.
- In the section where you have to put your middle initial, make sure to type it in with no periods.
- Then, fill out space with your birthday in the format MM/DD/YYYY.
- Once done, review the form to ensure that the details are accurate, including the exam type.
- Then, Press the button to create your room.
- Once done, the applicant will need to print the ONSA and carry it on the examination day.
CSC Regional Field Office Inquiries
For any concerns regarding the creation of the ONSA account, it is advisable to check your room assignment and schedule at the nearest CSC Regional/Field Office at least one week before the selected Civil Service examination day.
Note that the applicants for the Civil Service Exam are allowed to request for transfer of testing center, but it jas to be done no later than five (5) working days after the deadline of filing of application.
To request for transfer of testing center, the applicant must submit a written request to the CSC RO/FO where the application was filed, along with the reason for the transfer of testing center, along with supporting evidence and a copy of the Application Receipt.
For any other inquiries, applicants may reach out to CSC ROs VI, VII, XII, and CSC for BARMM.
For even more complete details regarding application requirements and procedures, applicants may also visit the CSC website directly.