Why do you need to take the CRE?

Almost every university graduate is advised to sit for the Common Recruitment Examination (CRE). But why? What is the reason for taking the examination?

In fact, applicants for civil service posts at degree or professional level are required to obtain either Level 2 or Level 1 in the Use of English (UE) and Use of Chinese (UC) papers of the CRE for meeting the language proficiency requirements as stipulated by individual recruiting departments / grades.

Please note that, however, specific requirements of individual recruiting departments / grades on the UE and UC papers will be set out in the relevant recruitment advertisements. Applicants for some posts at degree or professional level are also required to obtain a Pass in the Aptitude Test paper in addition to the requisite results in the UE and UC papers.

Persons who wish to apply for civil service posts at degree or professional level should first obtain the requisite CRE results unless otherwise specified in the relevant recruitment advertisements.  Applicants may choose to attempt all, any, or any combination of the papers.  

The CRE is independent of the recruitment process for any civil service post.  Applications for individual civil service posts should be made to the recruiting departments / grades direct.  The attainment of the requisite CRE results, however, does not imply that a candidate has fully met the entry requirements of any civil service post at degree or professional level. Vetting of academic or professional qualifications will be carried out by the recruiting departments / grades which may also conduct separate examinations and interviews.

You may also contact the Civil Service Examinations Unit by phone at 2537 6429, by e-mail to csbcseu@csb.gov.hk, or by post to Room 718, 7/F, West Wing, Central Government Offices, 2 Tim Mei Avenue, Tamar, Hong Kong for relevant details.

Contributing Editor: Sophie