Career Civil Service Sub-professional & Professional Book Reviewers

What is Career Civil Service (CSC) Examination?
It's a pencil-and-paper test conducted by Civil Service Commission (CSC) in the Philippines for the purpose of readying aspiring takers to get into government service. Government offices in the Philippines are mostly requiring applicants to have this exam, passed.

When can i take the CSC exam?
The test holds two times per year. For this year, the examination dates April 14, 2013 (ended already) and October 13, 2013. The period of application for October exam already started April 15, 2013 to August 30, 2013.

Where can i take the test?
CSC will inform the applicant or will send you the "Notice of School Assignment". Examinations are to be taken on the assigned public elementary schools.

How much is examination fee?
It will cost you 500.00 pesos.

For more information not answered to this post, you may visit their site here: http://excell.csc.gov.ph/cscweb/geninfo_cse.html

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Based from Experience

I took the CSC examination back year 2010 and unfortunately, I didn't passed because i didn't reviewed much back that time. I thought the exam would be easy like a simple IQ test but it is NOT.

Is there a reason for you or me to take the CSC exam? Back the time i finished my college (circa 2010), CSC exam was a requirement. Yes, I may need it because I'm job hunting. It's a need to qualify for a job in Government office. Luckily, upon receiving the failed result of my exam, I already landed a job in a private company where I still work as of today.

Though I'm working in a private company now, I'm still going to retake the CSC Examination. There's an urge inside me to retake the exam. Maybe, I just want to achieve something or maybe i just want to support our Government (now, i'm getting nationalistic but no).

Next, I'll discuss the book reviewer I'm using.

Recommended Book Reviewer for Sub-pro & Professional Takers:

Book Title: MSA™ Civil Service Reviewer for Professional and Sub-Professional Levels
Edition: The New Millennium Edition
Authors: Merle S. Alferez, Amacha A. Feliciano
ISBN: None
Price: ₱225.00 in National Bookstore, Philippines
Comment: This is the first reviewer i bought back year 2010. I haven't answered all the questions in this book and one factor why i failed the test. The publisher of this book actually has an establishment - a review and a training center in 315 Katipunan Avenue, Loyola Heights, Quezon City, Philippines 1105. (see below the front cover of the book)

MSA Civil Service Reviewer (2010) - published with quality

MSA Civil Service Reviewer (2010) - sneak peek

What i like about the MSA CSC reviewer is their high-quality paper and good printing. The choices in the test questions are shade'able.

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Book Title: Career Civil Service Sub-Professional & Professional Reviewer
Author: Arellano V. Busto
Publisher: A. V. B. Printing Press
ISBN: 97189-6103-8
Price: ₱275.00 in National Bookstore, Philippines
Other Inclusion: with CSC Form 100 for applicant to fill up
Comment: This is the second reviewer i just bought last month. I thought my first reviewer is lost but I found it eventually in my bookshelf (my poor eyesight). Anyway, It's still a good thing i bought it because it's aimed for 2013 exams. (see front cover below)

Well, compare to MSA reviewer which will show you ahead the questions in the next 3 pages, this book by Busto is a comprehensive one. It tells you first everything about CSC (not the answers of course). It's very informative and the context sounds like the author came from a Government office, If you know what i mean. (see pictures below)

CSC Reviewer by Busto (2013) - he added the 10 Commandments, really

CSC Reviewer by Busto (2013) - informative

CSC Reviewer by Busto - additional commandments in the rear cover 

The con of Busto's CSC reviewer is that the included Form 100 is poorly attached. (see below)

CSC Reviewer by Busto (2013) - Free Form 100 is Poorly Attached

I detached the form carefully but the Form 100 is, the margin of it is bounded. So how careful i try, It will mess up. I actually checked the other copies in National Bookstore and some of them are poorly attached too.

If you will ask me which one to buy, I would still buy the book by Busto because of its comprehensiveness and full of details about taking the exam (never mind the attached Form 100, I can download the form from CSC site anyway).

As for the contender, I checked the latest MSA reviewer in National Bookstore and the book is still straight-forward. Anyway, the CSC site is there to check for information.

Here's my tip for you about buying these book reviewers, If you have a friend who will also going to take the exam, set a condition with him/her. He/she may bought the MSA reviewer while you bought the reviewer book by Busto. When both parties are done answering their book, exchange or trade books to try-out the other.

Hope my tips helps.

Good luck to all of us on taking the October CSC exam.

Thanks!