The civil service exam is a comprehensive exam given to those who want to become a civil servant, a term often used to refer to a professional job in government. Passing the exam is a prerequisite to many government jobs at the local, state and federal levels. These civil service jobs may each require a different civil service exam, depending on the situation. Questions are generally split between those related to general knowledge and academics, as well as specific knowledge requirements based on the job.

The general knowledge portion of the civil service exam will cover things such basic arithmetic and possibly even advanced arithmetic, depending on the job. These questions may be particularly suited to money handling or word problems based on different jobs. Interpretation of graphs and statistics may also be a portion of the test, especially for those going into fields that are more analytical in nature, such as finance and government accounting jobs.

The civil service exam will also focus a great deal on language skills, especially English. Those interested in taking the exam should make sure they understand the basic concepts of grammar, can spell adequately, and write a composition well. These basic skills are required in every civil service exam.

Job-specific questions, in addition to the general knowledge portion of the test, will focus on things any professional in that prospective capacity should know. For example, those who are applying to be a police officer will be required to answer questions based on state law and general law enforcement. This may also include questions relating to ethics and best police practices. While civil service exams hardly ever get so detailed as to include municipal law, they will be very specific to each individual state.

A civil service exam may also touch on other job-related duties, such as customer service, reasoning and memory. These questions are very important for those in most civil service jobs, nearly all of which require some interaction with the public. Many of these jobs require such interaction on a continuous basis, each and every day, which is why it is included on the tests. For those interested in management positions, there are civil service exams that may directly address issues in this area as well.

Taking a civil service exam often requires registering ahead of time. In many cases, the exam is administered by the agency that is going to be doing the hiring. Therefore, they could be administered at different times. Depending on turnover, some will be given on a regular schedule. At other times, they may be offered as needed to fill a position. In such cases, it is necessary to check back regularly with the hiring organization.