Free CRE Exam Prep
Common Recruitment Examination (CRE)
Prepare for the CRE exam without spending hundreds on expensive prep courses. Free study guides, practice questions, flashcards, and related exam resources.
Quick Facts
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Can You Take the CRE Exam?
Check if you meet the basic eligibility requirements
- •CRE results are recognised for recruitment to civil service grades whose entry requirements specify a degree or professional qualification.
- •Candidates may take one, two or all three papers and may re-sit to improve results.
Free CRE Prep Tools
100 original practice questions
Covers the Use of English paper (comprehension, error identification, sentence completion, paragraph improvement) and the Aptitude Test reasoning formats.
Exam Topic Review
Reflects the three-paper multiple-choice CRE administered by the Hong Kong Civil Service Bureau, with Level 2/Level 1/Fail grading for language papers.
Free English-focused practice
Built for the Use of English paper and English-language Aptitude Test reasoning, with explanations for every option.
What You'll Study
9 chapters covering the exam topics in this guide
Chapter 1: CRE Structure, Eligibility, Administration, and the BLNST
4 sections
Chapter 2: Use of English — Reading Comprehension
3 sections
Chapter 3: Use of English — Error Identification & Grammar Foundations
3 sections
Chapter 4: Use of English — Sentence Completion & Paragraph Improvement
3 sections
Chapter 5: Aptitude Test — Verbal & Deductive Reasoning
3 sections
Chapter 6: Aptitude Test — Data Sufficiency & Numerical Reasoning
3 sections
Chapter 7: Aptitude Test — Interpretation of Tables & Graphs
3 sections
Chapter 8: Use of Chinese — Reading Comprehension and Character Recognition (閱讀理解與字詞辨識)
4 sections
Chapter 9: Use of Chinese — Sentence Analysis and Usage (句子辨析與詞句運用)
5 sections
CRE Exam Details
Common Recruitment Examination (CRE)
Administered by Civil Service Bureau, Government of the Hong Kong SAR
Exam Content Breakdown
Based on the official Civil Service Bureau, Government of the Hong Kong SAR content outline
Reading Comprehension questions in the 40-question Use of English paper test the ability to understand written passages, including main idea, detail, inference, tone and vocabulary in context.
Error Identification questions require candidates to spot lexical, grammatical or stylistic errors in underlined parts of sentences.
Sentence Completion asks candidates to choose the best word or phrase for blanks; Paragraph Improvement tests editing and writing skills across short draft passages.
Verbal Reasoning, Numerical Reasoning, Data Sufficiency, Interpretation of Tables and Graphs and Deductive Reasoning, all multiple choice, assessing logical and quantitative reasoning.
What's Included
9 Chapters
Complete exam coverage
Practice Quizzes
With detailed explanations
Free to Start
No credit card required

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CRE Exam FAQ
Official Civil Service Bureau, Government of the Hong Kong SAR Resources
Verify information with these official sources
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Ready to Start Your Free CRE Prep?
Review the study guide, practice key concepts, and use the free tools at your own pace.