100+ Free CRE Practice Questions

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Practice Questions100 questions

2026 Statistics

Key Facts: CRE Exam

3 papers

Use of English, Use of Chinese and Aptitude Test, all multiple choice

Civil Service Bureau - CRE Format

45 minutes

Time limit for each of the three CRE papers

Civil Service Bureau - CRE Format

40 questions

Number of questions in the Use of English paper

Civil Service Bureau - Use of English Question Types

4 sections

Use of English: Comprehension, Error Identification, Sentence Completion, Paragraph Improvement (10 each)

Civil Service Bureau - Use of English Question Types

Level 2 / Level 1 / Fail

Grading of the Use of English and Use of Chinese papers

Civil Service Bureau - CRE

Pass / Fail

Grading of the Aptitude Test paper

Civil Service Bureau - Aptitude Test

No fee

The CRE is provided free of charge by the Civil Service Bureau

Civil Service Bureau - CRE

100

Free original practice questions in this bank

OpenExamPrep

The Common Recruitment Examination (CRE) is Hong Kong's standard civil-service entry test, made up of three separate 45-minute multiple-choice papers: Use of English, Use of Chinese and the Aptitude Test. The Use of English paper has 40 questions divided equally into Reading Comprehension, Error Identification, Sentence Completion and Paragraph Improvement. The Aptitude Test covers Verbal Reasoning, Numerical Reasoning, Data Sufficiency, Interpretation of Tables and Graphs and Deductive Reasoning. Language papers are graded Level 2, Level 1 or Fail (Level 2 highest), while the Aptitude Test is graded Pass or Fail. This 100-question bank focuses on the Use of English paper and the English-language Aptitude Test reasoning formats.

Sample CRE Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your CRE exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Read the passage: 'Although the new policy was intended to reduce traffic, its main effect was to push congestion onto smaller residential streets, where it caused more complaints than ever.' What was the unintended result of the policy?

A.Traffic on main roads disappeared entirely

B.Congestion shifted to residential streets

C.Complaints from residents decreased

D.The policy was abandoned immediately

Explanation: The passage states the policy's 'main effect was to push congestion onto smaller residential streets', which is the unintended result. The word 'although' signals a contrast between intention and outcome.

2Passage: 'The report acknowledged the project's delays but stressed that, on balance, the long-term benefits would outweigh the short-term inconvenience.' The phrase 'on balance' most nearly means:

A.In financial terms

B.When everything is considered together

C.Without any exceptions

D.At the present moment

Explanation: 'On balance' is an idiom meaning 'after weighing all the relevant factors' or 'all things considered'. The report weighs delays against long-term benefits.

3Passage: 'Critics argue that the museum's renovation, while visually striking, sacrificed function for form: visitors now struggle to find the exits.' What is the critics' main objection?

A.The renovation was too expensive

B.The new design looks unattractive

C.The design prioritised appearance over usability

D.The museum has too few exhibits

Explanation: 'Sacrificed function for form' means usefulness was given up for the sake of appearance. The detail about struggling to find exits supports this objection about usability.

4Passage: 'Far from discouraging her, the early rejections only sharpened her resolve to publish.' How did the rejections affect her?

A.They made her give up writing

B.They strengthened her determination

C.They had no effect at all

D.They forced her to change careers

Explanation: 'Far from discouraging her' means the opposite of discouragement occurred; the rejections 'sharpened her resolve', strengthening her determination to publish.

5Passage: 'The committee's recommendations were comprehensive yet practical, addressing not only the symptoms of the problem but also its underlying causes.' Which word best describes the recommendations?

A.Vague

B.Thorough

C.Impractical

D.Contradictory

Explanation: 'Comprehensive' and addressing both symptoms and underlying causes indicate the recommendations were thorough. 'Thorough' captures the breadth described.

6Passage: 'The author's tone shifts in the final chapter from cautious optimism to outright scepticism about whether reform is possible.' What is the author's attitude by the end?

A.Hopeful and confident

B.Doubtful and unconvinced

C.Angry and resentful

D.Indifferent and bored

Explanation: The tone shifts to 'outright scepticism', meaning the author becomes doubtful and unconvinced that reform is possible.

7Passage: 'Whereas earlier studies relied on small samples, this research drew on data from over ten thousand participants, lending its conclusions far greater weight.' Why are this study's conclusions stronger?

A.They were published more recently

B.They used a much larger sample

C.They cost more to produce

D.They agreed with earlier studies

Explanation: The contrast word 'whereas' sets up the comparison: unlike earlier small-sample studies, this one used over ten thousand participants, giving its conclusions 'far greater weight'.

8Passage: 'The proposal, though ambitious, was not without precedent; similar schemes had succeeded in three neighbouring cities.' What does 'not without precedent' mean here?

A.It had never been tried before

B.It had been done successfully elsewhere

C.It was illegal

D.It was very expensive

Explanation: 'Not without precedent' is a double negative meaning 'there is a precedent' - it had been done before. The clause about three neighbouring cities confirms this.

9Passage: 'The minister was careful to praise the volunteers while stopping short of promising any new funding.' What can we infer about the minister?

A.He promised generous funding

B.He criticised the volunteers

C.He avoided making a financial commitment

D.He resigned from his post

Explanation: 'Stopping short of promising any new funding' means he deliberately avoided committing money, even while offering praise. This is an inference about his intent.

10Passage: 'The findings are preliminary and should be treated with caution; further trials are needed before firm conclusions can be drawn.' What is the author's main point?

A.The findings are final and reliable

B.The findings need more confirmation

C.The trials have all been completed

D.The findings should be ignored entirely

Explanation: Calling the findings 'preliminary' and saying 'further trials are needed' shows the author's main point: the results require more confirmation before firm conclusions.

About the CRE Exam

The Common Recruitment Examination (CRE) is the standard entry test used by the Hong Kong Civil Service Bureau to assess applicants for civil-service grades whose entry requirements specify a degree or professional qualification. It comprises three separate 45-minute multiple-choice papers: Use of English (UE), Use of Chinese (UC) and the Aptitude Test (AT). The Use of English paper has 40 questions split equally across Reading Comprehension, Error Identification, Sentence Completion and Paragraph Improvement. The Aptitude Test assesses reasoning through Verbal Reasoning, Numerical Reasoning, Data Sufficiency, Interpretation of Tables and Graphs and Deductive Reasoning. Language papers are graded Level 2, Level 1 or Fail, and the Aptitude Test is graded Pass or Fail; candidates may sit any combination of papers and re-sit to improve results.

Assessment

Three separate multiple-choice papers: Use of English (40 questions), Use of Chinese, and Aptitude Test (35 questions). The Use of English paper has four sections of 10 questions each: Reading Comprehension, Error Identification, Sentence Completion and Paragraph Improvement.

Time Limit

Each paper lasts 45 minutes. Candidates may sit one, two or all three papers.

Passing Score

Use of English and Use of Chinese are graded Level 2, Level 1 or Fail (Level 2 highest). The Aptitude Test is graded Pass or Fail. The level required depends on the grade or post applied for.

Exam Fee

There is no fee to sit the CRE; it is provided free of charge by the Civil Service Bureau. (Civil Service Bureau, Government of the Hong Kong SAR (Civil Service Examinations Unit))

CRE Exam Content Outline

25%

Use of English - Reading Comprehension

Official paper: 10 questions. Tests the ability to understand written passages, including main idea, supporting detail, inference, tone, purpose and vocabulary in context. Practice here uses short passages at upper-intermediate to advanced level.

25%

Use of English - Error Identification

Official paper: 10 questions. Candidates spot the lexical, grammatical or stylistic error in an underlined part of a sentence. Practice here covers subject-verb agreement, tense, prepositions, articles, word choice, parallelism and idiom.

25%

Use of English - Sentence Completion and Paragraph Improvement

Official paper: 10 + 10 questions. Sentence Completion asks for the best word or phrase to fill blanks; Paragraph Improvement tests editing of draft passages for coherence, conciseness and correctness. Practice here covers connectives, vocabulary, register and sentence structure.

25%

Aptitude Test

Official paper: 35 questions across Verbal Reasoning, Numerical Reasoning, Data Sufficiency, Interpretation of Tables and Graphs and Deductive Reasoning. Practice here covers logical deduction, number series, percentages and ratios, table and graph reading, and data-sufficiency judgement.

How to Pass the CRE Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: Use of English and Use of Chinese are graded Level 2, Level 1 or Fail (Level 2 highest). The Aptitude Test is graded Pass or Fail. The level required depends on the grade or post applied for.
Assessment: Three separate multiple-choice papers: Use of English (40 questions), Use of Chinese, and Aptitude Test (35 questions). The Use of English paper has four sections of 10 questions each: Reading Comprehension, Error Identification, Sentence Completion and Paragraph Improvement.
Time limit: Each paper lasts 45 minutes. Candidates may sit one, two or all three papers.
Exam fee: There is no fee to sit the CRE; it is provided free of charge by the Civil Service Bureau.

Keys to Passing

Complete 500+ practice questions
Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
Focus on highest-weighted sections
Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

CRE Study Tips from Top Performers

1Learn the four Use of English question types separately - Reading Comprehension, Error Identification, Sentence Completion and Paragraph Improvement each reward a different reading strategy.

2For Error Identification, read the whole sentence first, then check each underlined part against grammar rules for agreement, tense, prepositions and word form rather than relying on what 'sounds right'.

3For Reading Comprehension, find the exact words in the passage that justify your answer; this avoids choices that are true in general but not stated in the text.

4For the Aptitude Test Data Sufficiency questions, decide whether each statement alone, or both together, is enough to answer - do not actually solve for the final value.

5Practise Interpretation of Tables and Graphs by reading the title, axes and units before the question, since most errors come from misreading the scale.

6Time yourself: roughly one minute per Use of English question and about 75 seconds per Aptitude Test question, so you learn to move on and return to hard items.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many papers are in the CRE and how long are they?

The CRE has three separate multiple-choice papers: Use of English, Use of Chinese and the Aptitude Test. Each paper lasts 45 minutes, and candidates may take one, two or all three.

How is the Use of English paper structured?

The Use of English paper has 40 multiple-choice questions divided equally into four sections of 10 questions each: Reading Comprehension, Error Identification, Sentence Completion and Paragraph Improvement.

How is the CRE graded?

Use of English and Use of Chinese results are reported as Level 2, Level 1 or Fail, with Level 2 the highest. The Aptitude Test is reported as Pass or Fail. The level you need depends on the grade or post you apply for.

What does the Aptitude Test cover?

The Aptitude Test covers Verbal Reasoning, Numerical Reasoning, Data Sufficiency, Interpretation of Tables and Graphs and Deductive Reasoning. All questions are multiple choice and assess logical and quantitative reasoning.

Is there a fee to sit the CRE?

No. The Common Recruitment Examination is provided free of charge by the Civil Service Bureau. Candidates may also re-sit papers to improve their results.

Are these official CRE practice questions?

No. These are original OpenExamPrep questions modelled on the official CRE question types. The Civil Service Bureau publishes its own sample questions for the Use of English and Aptitude Test papers.