A lot of people ask this when they sign up for the Civil Service Exam: "Which one should I take? Professional or Sub-Professional?"
Your choice here is super important. It decides how hard the test will be, and it also limits what kind of government jobs you can apply for later on.
1. Eligibility and Job Positions
The biggest difference is what jobs you're allowed to get:
- Professional: This is the higher one. If you pass this, you can apply for first-level jobs (like clerks or admin) AND second-level jobs (like technical, scientific, or manager positions up to Division Chief).
- Sub-Professional: This only lets you apply for first-level jobs. If you pass this and later want to get promoted to a manager or technical role, you'll need to take the Professional exam anyway.
2. Exam Coverage and Difficulty
Since the Professional level gives you better job options, the test is a bit longer and harder.
- Professional Level: 170 questions for 3 hours and 10 minutes. What makes it different is the Analytical Ability part (Logic, Word Association, Data Interpretation).
- Sub-Professional Level: 165 questions for 2 hours and 40 minutes. Instead of Logic, you'll be tested on Clerical Ability (Spelling, Filing, Alphabetizing).
Which One Should You Choose?
If you are a college grad or still in college, just go straight for the Professional Level. You don't even need a degree to take it (high school grads can take it too!). Having Professional eligibility means you won't have to retake exams when you want a promotion.
But if you only want clerical work and you hate logic questions, the Sub-Professional level is a good place to start.