PracticeVideosBlogFlashcardsEspañol
All Practice Exams

Free Practice Questions for Rwanda Public Service Recruitment Exam

Exam-style questions and explanations by OpenExamPrep.

✓ No registration✓ No credit card
100+ Questions
100% Free

Loading practice questions...

Sample Rwanda Public Service Recruitment Exam Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the Rwanda Public Service Recruitment Exam exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Which law is the general statute that sets entry requirements, leave, statutory positions, obligations and termination rules for permanent public servants in Rwanda?
A.Law N° 66/2018 of 30/08/2018 regulating labour in Rwanda
B.Law N° 031/2022 of 21/11/2022 governing public procurement
C.Law N° 017/2020 of 07/10/2020 establishing the general statute governing public servants
D.Organic Law N° 002/2022.OL of 12/12/2022 on public finance management
Explanation: Law N° 017/2020 of 07/10/2020, as amended (including by Law N° 052/2024 of 07/06/2024), is the general statute governing public servants. Under Article 2 it governs public servants employed on a permanent basis, while contractual staff in public service fall under the labour law unless the statute provides otherwise.
2Under Presidential Order N° 128/01 of 03/12/2020, how are marks normally split between the written and oral examinations in a competitive public service recruitment?
A.Written 70%, oral 30%
B.Written 50%, oral 50%
C.Written 30%, oral 70%
D.Written 60%, oral 40%
Explanation: Article 12 of the Order marks the written examination out of 50% and the oral examination out of 50%, so the total for all examinations for one job position is 100%. Only where the public institution in charge of recruitment oversight authorises a single exam is that exam marked out of 100%.
3Under Article 13 of Presidential Order N° 128/01, what minimum score in the first examination makes a candidate eligible for the next step of the recruitment process?
A.30%
B.40%
C.50%
D.70%
Explanation: Article 13 provides that a candidate who scores at least 50% in the first examination is eligible for the next step of the ongoing recruitment. A candidate is successful only with an aggregate of at least 70% at the end of the whole examination process.
4Under Article 7 of Presidential Order N° 128/01, a candidate whom e-recruitment matches to the job profile takes a psychometric test. What happens if the candidate scores below 50% on it?
A.The candidate cannot proceed to the actual examination
B.The candidate sits the written exam with a mark deducted
C.The candidate goes straight to the oral examination
D.The candidate is placed on the waiting list for six months
Explanation: Article 7 says the psychometric test, taken through e-recruitment and tailored to the position applied for, is passed with at least 50%, and a candidate who fails it is not allowed to take the actual examination. MIFOTRA announced in February 2025 that it would apply this test, and the oversight institution may approve leaving it out for some positions.
5How long does a successful but non-appointed candidate remain on the waiting list under Article 26 of Presidential Order N° 128/01?
A.Three months
B.Six months
C.One year
D.Two years
Explanation: Article 26 places a successful candidate who is not appointed on the waiting list of non-appointed successful candidates for six months. During that time a public institution with a vacant position may offer that candidate a job, following the order of merit.
6Through which system must a Rwandan public institution advertise a vacancy, receive applications and publish shortlists for a competitive recruitment?
A.Umucyo e-procurement system
B.IremboGov citizen portal
C.RRA e-Tax portal
D.MIFOTRA e-recruitment
Explanation: Articles 4, 6, 7 and 8 of Presidential Order N° 128/01 require recruitment through e-recruitment: vacancies are advertised there, candidates register and apply there, and shortlists are published there. MIFOTRA's guidance explains that the online written examination also runs in the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS).
7Under Article 9 of Law N° 017/2020 as amended in 2024, what is the general minimum age for entering the public service, and is there an exception?
A.18; from 16 with the Minister's written authorisation
B.21, with no exception for younger applicants
C.18, with no exception for younger applicants
D.16 for everyone, without any ministerial authorisation
Explanation: Article 9 requires a person entering the public service to be at least 18 years old. As rewritten by Law N° 052/2024, it also allows a person who is at least 16 to be integrated into the public service with the Minister's written authorisation, and a Minister's Order lists work prohibited for public servants aged 16 and 17.
8What annual leave does Article 18 of Law N° 017/2020 grant to a public servant?
A.18 working days, which must be taken in one block
B.Two weeks, which may be split into two portions
C.Six weeks, which may be taken only in December
D.One month, split into at most three portions
Explanation: Article 18 entitles a public servant to one month of annual leave, which may be split into a maximum of three portions. A newly recruited public servant becomes entitled to annual leave after 12 months, counting the probationary period.
9After Law N° 052/2024 rewrote Article 21 bis of the general statute, which instrument sets the number of days of maternity leave, paternity leave and additional leave for public servants?
A.An Order of the Minister
B.The internal rules of each public institution
C.Each public servant's individual employment contract
D.A decision of the National Public Service Commission
Explanation: As amended in 2024, Article 21 bis gives maternity leave to a female public servant who gives birth and paternity leave to a male public servant whose spouse gives birth, plus additional leave when there are childbirth-related complications. Paragraph (3) leaves the number of days and the procedures to an Order of the Minister, so the figures are no longer written into the statute itself.
10Two candidates obtain equal marks for one job position. Under Article 17 of Presidential Order N° 128/01, which criterion is applied first to decide who gets the job offer?
A.The candidate from the less represented gender in the institution
B.The candidate with a disability
C.The candidate with more relevant experience
D.The candidate with the highest qualification
Explanation: Article 17 sets the priority order for tied candidates: first the candidate with more relevant experience, then the one with the highest qualification, then a candidate with a disability, and finally a candidate from the less represented gender in the institution. Article 26 applies the same order to ties on the waiting list.

About the Rwanda Public Service Recruitment Exam Exam

Rwanda recruits public servants through job-specific competitions run on MIFOTRA's e-recruitment system under Presidential Order N° 128/01 of 03/12/2020, with oversight by the National Public Service Commission. Each recruiting institution sets its own competence-based written and oral exams, and MIFOTRA's online written format opens with 30 short-answer questions on general knowledge of the public service. This free bank offers 100 independent English-language practice questions on that shared knowledge: Order 128/01, the general statute for public servants, the 2021 professional ethics order, the Constitution and home-grown solutions, NST2 and Vision 2050, and public finance, procurement and anti-corruption law.

Exam sponsor: Recruiting public institutions through MIFOTRA e-recruitment, with oversight by the National Public Service Commission (NPSC). The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Assessment

Recruitment runs through MIFOTRA's e-recruitment system under Presidential Order N° 128/01. Candidates matched to the advertised job profile take an online psychometric test (pass mark 50%). The recruiting institution then sets a competence-based written examination for that job (50% of the total) and an oral examination (50%) before a panel of at least three, recorded on video; a practical test may be added for some jobs. A candidate needs at least 50% in the first examination to continue and an aggregate of at least 70% to be successful. Ties go to relevant experience, then qualification, then disability, then the less represented gender. Successful candidates who are not appointed stay on a six-month waiting list, and the National Public Service Commission oversees recruitment and decides HR appeals. MIFOTRA states that the written exam is prepared in English, French and Kinyarwanda and each candidate chooses one language. This bank is independent English-language MCQ practice by OpenExamPrep on the shared public-service knowledge; it is not an official translation or simulation of the exam and does not cover each job's technical content, the psychometric test or the oral interview.

Time Limit

2 hours 30 minutes (online written examination)

Passing Score

At least 50% on the psychometric test and on the first examination to continue; an aggregate of at least 70% to be successful

Exam / Certification Fees

No fee published in Presidential Order N° 128/01 or MIFOTRA's e-recruitment guidance

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.

Not published

Civil Service Law and Recruitment Regulations

Presidential Order N° 128/01 (psychometric test, exam weights, pass marks, tie-breaks, waiting list, appeals, direct recruitment, induction), Law N° 017/2020 as amended by Law N° 052/2024 (entry requirements, probation, leave, secondment, suspension, termination, retirement), Presidential Order N° 021/01 on professional ethics and discipline, and NPSC's mandate under Law N° 67/2018.

Not published

Transformational Governance and Strategic Policies

Vision 2050 milestones, NST2 (2024–2029) pillars and headline targets, decentralisation and district governance, digital public services, and governance monitoring by RGB and NISR.

Not published

Constitutional Principles and Home-Grown Solutions

Constitution of 2003 revised in 2015 (fundamental principles, power sharing, official languages, hierarchy of laws, national commissions and specialised organs), and home-grown solutions such as Imihigo, Umuganda, Ubudehe, Girinka, Abunzi, Itorero, Urugerero and Umushyikirano.

Not published

Public Finance, Procurement and Integrity

Organic Law N° 002/2022.OL on public finance management (Chief Budget Managers, fiscal year, treasury single account, reallocation limits, internal audit, liability), Law N° 031/2022 on public procurement (Umucyo, methods, tender committees, review), the Auditor General and PAC, and Law N° 54/2018 on fighting corruption, asset declarations and whistleblower protection.

Preparing for the Rwanda Public Service Recruitment Exam Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: At least 50% on the psychometric test and on the first examination to continue; an aggregate of at least 70% to be successful
  • Assessment: Recruitment runs through MIFOTRA's e-recruitment system under Presidential Order N° 128/01. Candidates matched to the advertised job profile take an online psychometric test (pass mark 50%). The recruiting institution then sets a competence-based written examination for that job (50% of the total) and an oral examination (50%) before a panel of at least three, recorded on video; a practical test may be added for some jobs. A candidate needs at least 50% in the first examination to continue and an aggregate of at least 70% to be successful. Ties go to relevant experience, then qualification, then disability, then the less represented gender. Successful candidates who are not appointed stay on a six-month waiting list, and the National Public Service Commission oversees recruitment and decides HR appeals. MIFOTRA states that the written exam is prepared in English, French and Kinyarwanda and each candidate chooses one language. This bank is independent English-language MCQ practice by OpenExamPrep on the shared public-service knowledge; it is not an official translation or simulation of the exam and does not cover each job's technical content, the psychometric test or the oral interview.
  • Time limit: 2 hours 30 minutes (online written examination)
  • Exam / certification fees: No fee published in Presidential Order N° 128/01 or MIFOTRA's e-recruitment guidance 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

Rwanda Public Service Recruitment Exam: Suggested Study Strategy

1Learn the numbers in Presidential Order N° 128/01: 50% psychometric pass mark, 50/50 written and oral weights, 50% to continue, 70% to succeed, six-month waiting list, three-working-day appeals and the 30-working-day timeline.
2Know the general statute (Law N° 017/2020 as amended in 2024): entry requirements in Article 9, six-month probation, one month of annual leave, secondment, suspension and retirement at 65.
3Study Presidential Order N° 021/01: the ethics principles, the two categories of sanctions (warning and reprimand; suspension of up to three months and dismissal) and the rules on gifts and conflicts of interest.
4Review NST2 targets and Rwanda's home-grown solutions, then practise the public finance and procurement rules that govern every public institution, since short-answer questions test general public-service knowledge alongside the job's own content.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is Rwanda's public service recruitment exam structured?

Under Presidential Order N° 128/01, shortlisted candidates take a written examination marked out of 50% and an oral examination marked out of 50%, and a practical test may be added for some jobs. Before that, candidates matched by e-recruitment take an online psychometric test and need at least 50% to continue. MIFOTRA's online written format has 50 MCQs over 2 hours 30 minutes.

What scores are needed to be successful?

A candidate needs at least 50% in the first examination to move to the next step and an aggregate of at least 70% at the end of the process to be successful (Article 13). Job offers follow the order of merit, and tied candidates are ranked by relevant experience, then qualification, then disability, then the less represented gender (Article 17).

How long does the waiting list last?

Successful candidates who are not appointed are placed on the waiting list of non-appointed successful candidates for six months. Institutions with a vacancy can offer them jobs in order of merit, based on marks and the time they were placed on the list (Article 26).

In which languages is the exam offered, and is this bank official?

MIFOTRA states that the written examination is prepared in English, French and Kinyarwanda and each candidate picks one language. This bank is independent English-language MCQ practice by OpenExamPrep on the shared public-service knowledge. It is not an official translation or simulation, and it does not cover each job's technical content, the psychometric test or the oral interview.