Assessing Exam Readiness: An Analysis of the 2023 Simulated Civil Service Examination Outcomes

Evaluating student competency prior to official civil service licensing is essential for designing targeted preparatory programs and increasing public service eligibility. Grounded in cognitive learning theory and instructional design frameworks, this study analyzed student performance in the 2023 Simulated Civil Service Exam (Professional Level). Utilizing a quantitative diagnostic-descriptive research design, test results were evaluated for N = 51 student examinees across multiple academic departments using descriptive statistics and sectional benchmark evaluations (passing score benchmark = 80). Findings revealed an overall passing rate of only 9.80% (5 out of 51 takers), with an institutional mean score of 72.96. Examinees showed relative strength in the Verbal section (mean = 42.31/70, or 80.22%), led by Sentence Correction (mean = 7.51/10). Moderate scores were recorded in General Information (75.54%) and Numerical Reasoning (74.73%). Conversely, examinees struggled in the Analytical section, registering the lowest overall mean score of 10.43/20 (63.04%), with double-word analogies emerging as the weakest sub-area (mean = 2.67). The findings also revealed a statistically significant difference between overall student test performance and the standard passing mark of 80 points. The examinees achieved an institutional average score of 72.96, 7.04 points below the passing benchmark, with only 5 of 51 takers (9.80%) meeting or exceeding the standard. Standard undergraduate coursework proved insufficient for exam readiness, revealing critical deficits in abstract relational reasoning and logical analysis. Institutional recommendations include establishing structured civil service review programs, integrating higher-order relational reasoning exercises into general pedagogy, and embedding targeted diagnostic refresher modules into senior-year curricula.