Free Practice Questions for ERA Senior Civil Servant Exam

Exam-style questions and explanations by OpenExamPrep.

✓ No registration✓ No credit card

100+ Questions

100% Free

Loading practice questions...

Exam Review

Key Facts: ERA Senior Civil Servant Exam Exam

50 places

Authorized 13th-batch senior civil-servant trainee quota (2024)

https://thmeythmey.com/detail/143036

68 candidates

Candidates who reached the 13th-batch oral on 20 December 2024 after the second written stage

https://thmeythmey.com/detail/143036

2 hours + 1.5 hours

13th-batch Stage 1 durations: knowledge paper then English or French

https://www.kampucheathmey.com/local-news/809340

12 months

Statutory trainee probation before permanent civil-service employment (Common Statute Article 16)

https://natlex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/natlex2/files/download/63405/KHM63405.pdf

Free 100-question English MCQ practice for Cambodia's ERA senior civil-servant concours (សិស្សមន្ត្រីជាន់ខ្ពស់). Independent study aid for constitution, administration, statute, policy, and civics—not an official MoCS or ERA examination paper.

Sample ERA Senior Civil Servant Exam Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the ERA Senior 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 legal hierarchy of the Kingdom of Cambodia, which legal instrument is signed by the Prime Minister to implement a national law (Kram)?

A.Royal Decree (Preah Reach Kret / ព្រះរាជក្រឹត្យ)

B.Ministerial Proclamation (Prakas / ប្រកាស)

C.Sub-decree (Anukret / អនុក្រឹត្យ)

D.Administrative Circular (Sarachor / សារាចរ)

Explanation: In Cambodian administrative law, a Sub-decree (Anukret) is the executive regulatory act signed by the Prime Minister, following deliberation in the Council of Ministers, to implement national laws (Kram). It sits below Royal Decrees and above Ministerial Prakas.

2What is the primary legal mechanism through which laws passed by the National Assembly and reviewed by the Senate enter into formal legal effect in Cambodia?

A.Promulgation by the King through a Royal Kram (ព្រះរាជក្រម)

B.A declaration of constitutionality issued by the Constitutional Council

C.Publication of an implementing Prakas by the responsible ministry

D.A second confirmatory vote taken by the Senate in plenary session

Explanation: Under Article 28 of the Constitution, the King signs Royal proclamations (Royal Kram / ព្រះរាជក្រម) promulgating the Constitution and the laws passed by the National Assembly and completely reviewed by the Senate. Promulgation, not parliamentary adoption alone, gives a law its formal legal force.

3Under the Law on Administrative Management of the Capital, Provinces, Municipalities, Districts and Khans (Organic Law of 2008), how are capital, provincial, municipal, district and khan councils selected?

A.Appointed by the Ministry of Interior from serving civil servants

B.Indirectly elected by commune and sangkat councillors

C.Directly elected by universal adult suffrage in each jurisdiction

D.Nominated by the Royal Government and confirmed by the Senate

Explanation: Under the 2008 Subnational Organic Law, capital, provincial, municipal, district, and khan councils are chosen through indirect elections in which commune and sangkat council members are the electorate. This creates an indirect layer of local democratic representation above the commune level.

4In the administrative organization of the Royal Government of Cambodia, who serves as the representative of the state and the central government at the provincial level?

A.The President of the Provincial Council elected by commune councillors

B.The Director of the provincial department of the Ministry of Interior

C.The Chair of the Provincial Unified Command Committee for security

D.The Provincial Governor (Chav Vay Khet / អភិបាលខេត្ត)

Explanation: The Provincial Governor represents the Royal Government and line ministries in the province. Leading the Board of Governors, the Governor coordinates state administration, maintains public order, harmonizes deconcentrated line departments, and executes council decisions under Ministry of Interior oversight.

5What is the key administrative distinction between 'decentralization' (វិមជ្ឈការ) and 'deconcentration' (វិសហមជ្ឈការ) in Cambodian administrative reform?

A.Decentralization transfers legal power and resources to autonomous elected local councils, while deconcentration delegates authority downward to field agents of the central government

B.Decentralization applies to the capital and provinces, while deconcentration applies only to districts and communes

C.Decentralization transfers functions to state-owned enterprises, while deconcentration transfers them to private contractors

D.Decentralization concerns budget execution only, while deconcentration concerns personnel management only

Explanation: Decentralization creates self-governing local bodies with legal personality, elected councils, their own budget, and their own decision-making powers. Deconcentration moves administrative tasks and decision-making from central ministries down to their own subnational line departments, which stay inside the central hierarchy.

6Which body in Cambodia's executive branch examines and coordinates draft laws and sub-decrees before they are submitted to the plenary Council of Ministers?

A.The National Audit Authority of Cambodia

B.The Economic, Social and Cultural Council

C.The Office of the Council of Ministers (ទីស្តីការគណៈរដ្ឋមន្ត្រី / OCM)

D.The Commission on Legislation and Justice of the National Assembly

Explanation: The Office of the Council of Ministers (OCM) is the central administrative apparatus of the executive. It houses the Council of Jurists, provides legal clearance for government legislation, and coordinates inter-ministerial policy before matters reach the plenary Council of Ministers.

7When an administrative decision issued by a provincial department infringes a citizen's rights, which administrative remedy is normally pursued before turning to the courts?

A.A complaint lodged with the Supreme Council of the Magistracy

B.A hierarchical administrative appeal (recours hiérarchique / បណ្តឹងតវ៉ាតាមឋានានុក្រម) to the supervising Minister or Governor

C.A petition for constitutional review by the Constitutional Council

D.An arbitration request filed with the Arbitration Council

Explanation: Cambodian administrative practice follows the French model of prior administrative recourse: the aggrieved party may lodge a recours gracieux with the official who issued the act, or a recours hiérarchique with that official's hierarchical superior, asking for review or revocation before starting judicial action.

8What is the role of a Secretary of State (រដ្ឋលេខាធិការ) in a Cambodian government ministry?

A.The permanent head of the ministry's civil service administration

B.A career civil servant responsible for the ministry's internal audit function

C.A representative chosen by provincial councils to scrutinise ministerial finances

D.A political appointee ranking immediately below the Minister who assists in overseeing assigned portfolios and represents the Minister

Explanation: Secretaries of State, and below them Undersecretaries of State, are political appointees named by Royal Decree upon the proposal of the Prime Minister. They rank below the Minister and assist with political and administrative oversight of specific portfolios.

9In Cambodian local administration, which unit is the lowest statutory tier of decentralized governance with legal personality and a directly elected council?

A.District (Srok / ស្រុក)

B.Khan (ខណ្ឌ)

C.Commune and Sangkat (ឃុំ-សង្កាត់)

D.Village (Phum / ភូមិ)

Explanation: The Commune (Khum, rural) and Sangkat (urban) form the lowest statutory tier of decentralized territorial authority. Under the 2001 Law on Commune/Sangkat Administrative Management they have legal personality, a local budget, and a directly elected Commune/Sangkat Council.

10Which national reform programme established 'One Window Service Offices' (OWSO / ការិយាល័យច្រកចេញចូលតែមួយ) in districts and municipalities?

A.The National Program for Sub-National Democratic Development (NP-SNDD)

B.The Public Financial Management Reform Program (PFMRP)

C.The Rectangular Strategy for Agricultural Modernisation

D.The National Strategic Development Plan for Trade Facilitation

Explanation: One Window Service Offices and Citizens' Offices were rolled out under the National Program for Sub-National Democratic Development (NP-SNDD), led by the NCDD, to consolidate administrative licensing at a single counter, cut informal payments, and improve frontline service delivery.

About the ERA Senior Civil Servant Exam Exam

The Ministry of Civil Service and the Royal School of Administration (ERA / សាលាភូមិន្ទរដ្ឋបាល) run a competitive entrance examination for senior civil-servant trainees (សិស្សមន្ត្រីជាន់ខ្ពស់). The 13th batch (2024) filled 50 places after two written stages and an oral. Stage 1 includes English or French plus a knowledge paper covering civil service, ethics, government policy, public administration, civics, history, geography, ASEAN, and economics. This is a different contest from ERA's cadre concours (សិស្សមន្ត្រីក្រមការ) and from MoCS-organized ministry vacancy recruitments. This free bank offers independent English-language MCQ practice for those knowledge domains; it is not an official paper or a substitute for the dissertation, case, specialty, or oral 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

13th batch (MoCS Facebook of 24 November 2024, as reported by Kampuchea Thmey; Ministry of Information sitting report): Stage 1 knowledge paper (civil service, ethics, government policy, public administration, general culture, civics, history, Cambodian geography, ASEAN, and economics) for 2 hours plus English or French for 1 hour 30 minutes. Stage 2: 3-hour general-knowledge dissertation, 2-hour case study, and 3-hour specialty paper in public administration, economics-finance, or public international law and international relations. Stage 3: 15–30 minute oral on personality and motivation. This bank does not simulate those written or oral formats.

Time Limit

Stage 1: 2 hours plus 1 hour 30 minutes. Stage 2: 3 hours, 2 hours, and 3 hours. Oral: 15–30 minutes.

Passing Score

Competitive ranking to the batch quota (50 places in the 13th batch; 68 reached the oral). No 10/20 cutoff is published on era.gov.kh.

Exam / Certification Fees

Sitting/application fee used in ERA registration on prior 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

Royal School of Administration (ERA) official portal · Source checked 2026-09-19
Ministry of Civil Service official website · Source checked 2026-09-19
Ministry of Information report on the 13th-batch senior and 11th-batch cadre sittings · Source checked 2026-09-19
Law on the Common Statute of Civil Servants (Kram 26 October 1994) — ILO NATLEX English text · Source checked 2026-09-19

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 state governance

Public-administration structure, legal hierarchy, and decentralization/deconcentration.

Official weight unpublished (25 practice questions)

Constitutional law and state institutions

1993 Constitution as amended and the main state institutions.

Official weight unpublished (20 practice questions)

Civil service statute, ethics, and anti-corruption

1994 Common Statute, categories, 12-month probation, discipline, and ethics.

Official weight unpublished (15 practice questions)

Public policy and the Pentagonal Strategy

Government policy themes named on the 13th-batch knowledge paper.

Official weight unpublished (15 practice questions)

History, geography, civics, ASEAN, and economics

Civics, history, geography, ASEAN, and economics named in official 13th-batch coverage.

Preparing for the ERA Senior Civil Servant Exam Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: Competitive ranking to the batch quota (50 places in the 13th batch; 68 reached the oral). No 10/20 cutoff is published on era.gov.kh.
Assessment: 13th batch (MoCS Facebook of 24 November 2024, as reported by Kampuchea Thmey; Ministry of Information sitting report): Stage 1 knowledge paper (civil service, ethics, government policy, public administration, general culture, civics, history, Cambodian geography, ASEAN, and economics) for 2 hours plus English or French for 1 hour 30 minutes. Stage 2: 3-hour general-knowledge dissertation, 2-hour case study, and 3-hour specialty paper in public administration, economics-finance, or public international law and international relations. Stage 3: 15–30 minute oral on personality and motivation. This bank does not simulate those written or oral formats.
Time limit: Stage 1: 2 hours plus 1 hour 30 minutes. Stage 2: 3 hours, 2 hours, and 3 hours. Oral: 15–30 minutes.
Exam / certification fees: Sitting/application fee used in ERA registration on prior batches; current amount not published on era.gov.kh Official sources

Using Our Practice Resources

Work through all 100 available questions
Review every answer and explanation
Track weak areas and revisit them
Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

ERA Senior Civil Servant Exam: Suggested Study Strategy

1Learn the legal hierarchy: Constitution, Royal Kram, Royal Decree (Kret), Sub-decree (Anukret), Prakas, and circular (Sarachor).

2Memorize Common Statute Article 16: permanent employment only after 12 months of trainee service—not Article 15, which concerns exam supervision.

3Use the 13th-batch Stage 1 topic list from Ministry of Information coverage: civil service, ethics, government policy, public administration, civics, history, geography, ASEAN, and economics.

4Practise English or French separately; this English MCQ bank does not replace the official language paper.

5Draft timed dissertations and case answers because Stage 2 is written, not multiple-choice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the official ERA senior concours a multiple-choice exam in English?

No. Stage 1 includes a knowledge multiple-choice paper and a written English or French paper; Stages 2 and 3 are dissertation, case, specialty writing, and an oral, typically in Khmer. This OpenExamPrep bank is an independent English-language MCQ study adaptation of the knowledge domains—not an official translation or format simulation.

How is this exam different from ordinary ministry civil-service hiring?

MoCS also organizes vacancy contests for named ministries (for example AKP, 6 April 2026: 137 posts for Justice, Foreign Affairs, and Border Affairs). Those papers are post-specific. This bank covers only the ERA senior-trainee concours (សិស្សមន្ត្រីជាន់ខ្ពស់), not those ministry contests and not the ERA cadre concours (សិស្សមន្ត្រីក្រមការ).

What was the 13th-batch quota?

MoCS selected 50 senior trainees. After the second written stage, 68 candidates were called to the oral on 20 December 2024 (ThmeyThmey reporting of the MoCS announcement).

What languages are used?

The 13th-batch Stage 1 language paper is English or French. Knowledge papers and later stages are administered in the official concours setting in Cambodia (Khmer, with the chosen foreign language). Registry officialLanguages for this exam are km, en, and fr.