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Free Practice Questions for ERA Cadre Civil Servant Exam

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Key Facts: ERA Cadre Civil Servant Exam Exam

205 positions

Authorized 12th-batch cadre trainee quota for municipal, district and khan administrations; 177 candidates were finally recruited

https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501816075/candidates-sit-12th-civil-servant-exam-competing-for-205-final-positions-video

16,425 applicants

Eligible candidates who sat the 12th-batch first written multiple-choice paper on 25 December 2025, from over 20,000 applicants

https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501816075/candidates-sit-12th-civil-servant-exam-competing-for-205-final-positions-video

90 minutes

Official duration of the first written multiple-choice general knowledge paper

https://www.information.gov.kh/articles/145554

12 months

Training duration at the Royal School of Administration (ERA) prior to permanent appointment

https://era.gov.kh

200 of 400

Final score a 12th-batch cadre candidate needed to pass, after average scores were multiplied by 400 (stated by ERA)

https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501819505/177-candidates-recruited-for-civil-service-posts

Free 100-question English MCQ practice for Cambodia's ERA cadre civil-servant concours (សិស្សមន្ត្រីក្រមការ). Independent study aid covering sub-national administration, civil service law, constitution, and policy—not an official MoCS or ERA paper.

Sample ERA Cadre Civil Servant Exam Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the ERA Cadre Civil Servant Exam exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Under the 2008 Organic Law on Administrative Management of the Capital, Provinces, Municipalities, Districts and Khans, what is the official mandate duration for elected sub-national Councils?
A.5 years
B.3 years
C.4 years
D.6 years
Explanation: Article 15 of the 2008 Organic Law provides that a council shall have a mandate of five years, ending when the new council takes office. Capital, provincial, municipal, district and khan councils are chosen by indirect election in which sitting commune and sangkat councillors are the electors.
2In the administrative structure of a Cambodian district (Srok) or municipality (Krong), which body serves as the executive arm responsible for executing decisions made by the elected council?
A.The District Planning and Budget Committee
B.The Board of Governors (គណៈអភិបាល)
C.The Commune/Sangkat Chief Conference
D.The Provincial Treasury Sub-branch
Explanation: Under Article 161 of the 2008 Organic Law the board of governors (គណៈអភិបាល), chaired by the Governor and assisted by deputy governors, acts on behalf of the council to run the council's daily affairs and to implement the council's decisions, bylaws (Deika) and development plans.
3What is the primary operational purpose of the One Window Service Office (OWSO / ការិយាល័យច្រកចេញចូលតែមួយ) established in municipalities, districts, and khans across Cambodia?
A.To centralize the adjudication of criminal offenses committed by public officials
B.To audit the annual financial statements of provincial state-owned enterprises
C.To provide administrative services, licenses, and permits to citizens through a unified, transparent front office
D.To inspect and enforce labor standards in private commercial garment factories
Explanation: The One Window Service Office (OWSO) is designed to streamline citizen administrative services by consolidating application, processing, fee collection, and permit issuance into a single transparent office, reducing red tape and informal fees at sub-national levels.
4Which independent sub-national administrative mechanism works alongside the One Window Service Office to receive and investigate citizen complaints regarding administrative delivery and staff conduct?
A.The Commune Disciplinary Tribunal
B.The Ministry of Inspection Provincial Bureau
C.The District Judicial Police Headquarters
D.The Citizen Office (Ombudsman / ការិយាល័យប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ)
Explanation: The Citizen Office (ការិយាល័យប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ), often described in English as the District Ombudsman, was created alongside the One Window Service Office by a 2008 Royal Government decision and a 2009 Ministry of Interior Prakas covering targeted municipalities, districts and khans. It receives, mediates and helps resolve citizen complaints about administrative service delivery and staff conduct.
5In Cambodian administrative terminology, what constitutes the fundamental legal distinction between 'decentralization' (វិមជ្ឈការ) and 'deconcentration' (វិសហមជ្ឈការ)?
A.Decentralization transfers decision-making powers and resources to autonomous elected local councils, while deconcentration delegates administrative responsibilities to subordinate line agencies acting on behalf of central ministries
B.Decentralization applies only to rural communes, whereas deconcentration is restricted exclusively to urban municipalities and the capital
C.Decentralization allows subordinate bodies to issue national statutory laws (Kram), whereas deconcentration permits only ministerial circulars
D.Decentralization abolishes central ministry oversight, while deconcentration transfers judicial authority to provincial governors
Explanation: Decentralization (វិមជ្ឈការ) involves the legal devolution of power, functions, and budgets to elected local governing bodies (such as Councils) possessing their own legal personality. Deconcentration (វិសហមជ្ឈការ) refers to the delegation of executive and operational authority from central ministries to sub-national field administrations or line offices operating within the administrative hierarchy.
6What is the official legal instrument issued by a sub-national Council (Capital, Provincial, Municipal, District, or Khan) to enact local regulations within its jurisdiction?
A.Prakas (ប្រកាស)
B.Deika (ដីកា)
C.Anukret (អនុក្រឹត្យ)
D.Kret (ព្រះរាជក្រឹត្យ)
Explanation: Articles 53 to 57 of the 2008 Organic Law give each sub-national council power to issue bylaws called Deika (ដីកា). A Deika binds the whole of the council's jurisdiction, and under Article 57 any Deika contrary to the Constitution, laws, royal decrees or sub-decrees is invalid.
7How are members of Municipal (Krong), District (Srok), and Khan Councils chosen under Cambodia's sub-national electoral framework?
A.Through direct universal suffrage by all adult residents living in the district
B.Through direct appointment by the Minister of Civil Service
C.Through non-universal, indirect elections where elected Commune and Sangkat councillors vote as electors
D.Through competitive written examination administered by the Royal School of Administration
Explanation: Capital, provincial, municipal, district, and khan councils are chosen through indirect, non-universal elections. The voting electorate consists exclusively of sitting councillors elected to Commune and Sangkat councils in the respective territorial area.
8Under the 2008 Organic Law, which official serves as the legal representative of the Royal Government and ministries at the district level to oversee public security and legal compliance?
A.The Chief of the District Military Sub-operational Area
B.The President of the Provincial Court of First Instance
C.The Director of the Provincial Department of Economy and Finance
D.The District Governor (អភិបាលស្រុក)
Explanation: Article 154 of the 2008 Organic Law gives the governor a dual role: leading the sub-national administration, and representing the Royal Government and its ministries and institutions on security, social and public order, law and human rights within the jurisdiction.
9What are the two mandatory planning instruments that every Municipal, District, and Khan administration in Cambodia must prepare and adopt to guide territorial development?
A.A Five-Year Development Plan and a rolling Three-Year Investment Program
B.A Ten-Year Master Urban Zoning Map and an Annual Garment Export Quota
C.A Twenty-Year Infrastructure Concession and a Monthly Revenue Statement
D.A Quarterly Sectoral Review and a Biannual Tax Assessment Schedule
Explanation: Articles 36 and 37 of the 2008 Organic Law require every sub-national council to decide on, and to formulate and approve, a five-year development plan together with a three-year rolling investment program, with the plan updated annually.
10In Cambodia's administrative division, Phnom Penh is classified as the Capital (Reach Theani). What are the two administrative subdivisions directly underneath the Capital?
A.Provinces (Khaet) and Municipalities (Krong)
B.Khans (ខណ្ឌ) and Sangkats (សង្កាត់)
C.Districts (Srok) and Communes (Khum)
D.Special Economic Zones (SEZ) and Urban Hamlets (Phum)
Explanation: Phnom Penh is divided administratively into Khans (urban districts), which are further divided into Sangkats (urban quarters). In contrast, Provinces (Khaet) are subdivided into Municipalities (Krong) and Districts (Srok), which divide into Communes (Khum) and Sangkats.

About the ERA Cadre Civil Servant Exam Exam

The Ministry of Civil Service and the Royal School of Administration (ERA / សាលាភូមិន្ទរដ្ឋបាល) organize the national competitive recruitment examination for cadre trainee officials (សិស្សមន្ត្រីក្រមការ). The 12th batch (2025/2026) advertised 205 posts for municipal, district and khan administrations (រដ្ឋបាលក្រុង ស្រុក ខណ្ឌ); 16,425 eligible candidates sat the first written paper and 177 were finally recruited. That first paper is a 90-minute multiple-choice examination covering general culture, law, administration, politics, ASEAN affairs, economics and finance, and a second written paper follows. Trainees undergo 12 months of instruction at ERA before being integrated into Category B of the civil service. This bank provides free independent English-language MCQ practice for the tested knowledge areas; it is not an official government exam paper or a substitute for the official testing stages.

Exam sponsor: Ministry of Civil Service (MoCS / ក្រសួងមុខងារសាធារណៈ) and Royal School of Administration (ERA). The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Assessment

12th batch (MoCS announcement of 18 November 2025; press reporting December 2025 – January 2026): candidates sat a first written paper on 25 December 2025 — a 1 hour 30 minute multiple-choice examination on general culture, law, administration, politics, ASEAN affairs, economics and finance — at four Phnom Penh centres (Royal University of Law and Economics, National Institute of Education, National University of Management, Royal University of Phnom Penh). Those who passed sat a second written paper on 28 December 2025 combining an essay on law, administration, economics and general culture with short-answer questions on history, literature, geography, ethics and civics and a one-hour English or French section. No oral stage is reported for the cadre concours. Successful candidates undergo 12 months of training at the Royal School of Administration before assignment to municipal, district and khan administrations.

Time Limit

First written paper: 1 hour 30 minutes (90 minutes). A second written paper, including a one-hour English or French section, follows for shortlisted candidates.

Passing Score

Competitive merit ranking against the batch quota. ERA stated for the 12th batch that average scores are multiplied by 400 and a final score of 200 or above is required to pass; 177 candidates were recruited against an authorized quota of 205, from 16,425 who sat the first paper.

Exam / Certification Fees

Application/registration fee charged through ERA portal on active batches; current amount not published on era.gov.kh

Exam sponsor website

Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.

Official sources

Our practice resources: topics covered

We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.

Official weight unpublished (25 practice questions)

Public administration and sub-national governance

Sub-national administrative structure under the 2008 Organic Law, municipal/district/khan councils, boards of governors, one-window service offices (OWSO) and the Citizen Office, and administrative procedures.

Official weight unpublished (20 practice questions)

Constitutional law and state institutions

1993 Constitution as amended, constitutional monarchy, National Assembly, Senate, executive governance, and the Constitutional Council.

Official weight unpublished (25 practice questions)

Civil service statute, ethics, and anti-corruption

1994 Common Statute of Civil Servants, Category B cadre duties, the 12-month trainee probation, rights and prohibitions, disciplinary sanctions and the disciplinary council, and 2010 Anti-Corruption Law oversight.

Official weight unpublished (15 practice questions)

Public policy, Pentagonal Strategy, and economics/finance

Pentagonal Strategy Phase I priorities and pillars, economic structures, Public Financial Management Reform Program (PFMRP), and state budget formulation.

Official weight unpublished (15 practice questions)

ASEAN affairs, civics, and general knowledge

ASEAN Charter, community pillars, Cambodian membership milestones, sub-national geography, river systems, and cultural heritage.

Preparing for the ERA Cadre Civil Servant Exam Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: Competitive merit ranking against the batch quota. ERA stated for the 12th batch that average scores are multiplied by 400 and a final score of 200 or above is required to pass; 177 candidates were recruited against an authorized quota of 205, from 16,425 who sat the first paper.
  • Assessment: 12th batch (MoCS announcement of 18 November 2025; press reporting December 2025 – January 2026): candidates sat a first written paper on 25 December 2025 — a 1 hour 30 minute multiple-choice examination on general culture, law, administration, politics, ASEAN affairs, economics and finance — at four Phnom Penh centres (Royal University of Law and Economics, National Institute of Education, National University of Management, Royal University of Phnom Penh). Those who passed sat a second written paper on 28 December 2025 combining an essay on law, administration, economics and general culture with short-answer questions on history, literature, geography, ethics and civics and a one-hour English or French section. No oral stage is reported for the cadre concours. Successful candidates undergo 12 months of training at the Royal School of Administration before assignment to municipal, district and khan administrations.
  • Time limit: First written paper: 1 hour 30 minutes (90 minutes). A second written paper, including a one-hour English or French section, follows for shortlisted candidates.
  • Exam / certification fees: Application/registration fee charged through ERA portal on active batches; current amount not published on era.gov.kh Official sources

Using Our Practice Resources

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ERA Cadre Civil Servant Exam: Suggested Study Strategy

1Focus on the 2008 Organic Law on Sub-national Administration: understand the distinct roles of elected Councils versus the executive Board of Governors.
2Master the 1994 Common Statute of Civil Servants: Article 11 entry conditions, Article 18 (twelve-month trainee probation), Article 35 prohibitions, Article 40 first- and second-degree sanctions, and Article 46 suspension rules.
3Review the core mechanisms of One Window Service Offices (OWSO / ការិយាល័យច្រកចេញចូលតែមួយ) for transparent citizen administrative service delivery.
4Understand the Pentagonal Strategy Phase I: the five pentagons (Human Capital, Diversification, Private Sector, Resilient Development, Digital Economy) and the overarching foundation of institutional governance.
5Know key ASEAN dates and institutional pillars, especially Cambodia's 1999 accession and the three ASEAN Community pillars (APSC, AEC, ASCC).
6Prepare for the second written paper as well: it asks for an essay on law, administration, economics and general culture, short answers across history, literature, geography, ethics and civics, and a one-hour English or French section.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the official ERA cadre civil-servant examination held in English?

No. The concours is conducted in Khmer. Reporting on the cadre papers does, however, describe a foreign-language section worth one hour in the second written paper, in which candidates answer in English or French. This OpenExamPrep bank is an independent English-language MCQ study adaptation intended to help candidates study the core syllabus areas in English; it is not an official translation and it does not simulate the essay, short-answer or foreign-language sections.

What is the difference between the cadre exam (សិស្សមន្ត្រីក្រមការ) and the senior civil service exam (សិស្សមន្ត្រីជាន់ខ្ពស់)?

The cadre examination (សិស្សមន្ត្រីក្រមការ) recruits candidates mainly for Category B posts in municipal, district and khan administrations (រដ្ឋបាលក្រុង ស្រុក ខណ្ឌ), with one year of ERA training. The senior civil service concours (សិស្សមន្ត្រីជាន់ខ្ពស់) recruits Category A officials for senior policy and management functions, runs two years of training, includes an English or French multiple-choice paper in its first stage and an oral examination, and is numbered as a separate batch series.

What is the training requirement following selection?

Under the Royal Decree on the Organization and Operation of the Royal Administrative School dated 20 February 2019, successful candidates must complete 12 months of intensive administrative and professional training at the Royal School of Administration (ERA) before being formally integrated into the permanent civil service.

How many posts were available in the recent 12th batch, and how many candidates were recruited?

The Ministry of Civil Service and ERA advertised 205 positions for the 12th cadre batch. Over 20,000 people applied, 16,425 met the conditions and sat the first written paper on 25 December 2025, and after the second written paper on 28 December the committee recruited 177 candidates — fewer than the authorized quota, because ERA applies a pass threshold as well as a ranking.

Does the cadre concours include an oral examination?

No oral stage is reported for the cadre concours. Coverage of the 12th batch describes two written papers, and the Ministry of Civil Service announced the final result after those two rounds. An oral examination is reported for the separate senior civil servant (សិស្សមន្ត្រីជាន់ខ្ពស់) concours, so do not assume the two contests share the same structure.