1.2 Paper Formats, Grading, Equivalent Results, and Result Certificates
Key Takeaways
Use of English has 40 questions in four sets of 10: Comprehension, Error Identification, Sentence Completion and Paragraph Improvement, all in 45 minutes.
Use of Chinese has 45 questions in 45 minutes: reading comprehension (8 article plus 6 passage-extract items), 8 character items, 8 sentence-analysis items and 15 word-and-sentence-usage items.
The Aptitude Test has 35 questions in 45 minutes: 8 Chinese deductive reasoning, 6 English verbal reasoning, 8 data sufficiency, 5 number sequence and 8 tables and graphs items.
HKDSE Level 5 or above in English Language or Chinese Language is accepted as Level 2 in the matching CRE paper; HKDSE Level 4 is accepted as Level 1.
IELTS Academic overall band 6.5 with no subtest below band 6 in one sitting counts as UE Level 2 within its two-year validity; no public examination is accepted as equivalent to the Aptitude Test.
1.2 Paper Formats, Grading, Equivalent Results, and Result Certificates
Quick Answer: Each CRE paper is a 45-minute multiple-choice paper. Use of English has 40 questions, Use of Chinese has 45 and the Aptitude Test has 35. UE and UC results are Level 2, Level 1 or Fail. AT results are Pass or Fail. Level 2, Level 1 and Pass results from CREs held from December 2006 onwards have permanent validity. Certain HKDSE, HKALE, GCE A Level and IELTS results are accepted for the language papers only. Nothing is accepted in place of the AT.
The official question types
The CSB's format page and sample-question pages give the question types and the number of questions in each part. There is no prescribed syllabus and the CSB does not publish past papers. The official sample questions are the only first-hand guide to the item styles, so this guide refers to them throughout.
| Paper | Questions / time | Part (number of questions) | Item style in the official samples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Use of English | 40 / 45 min | Comprehension (10) | One prose passage of non-technical background; no sample item published |
| Error Identification (10) | Four underlined parts plus "E No error" | ||
| Sentence Completion (10) | Five options, A to E | ||
| Paragraph Improvement (10) | Two draft passages; four options, one of which can be "no change" | ||
| Use of Chinese | 45 / 45 min | 閱讀理解: 文章閱讀 (8) and 片段╱語段閱讀 (6) | One article plus short extracts; four options |
| 字詞辨識 (8) | Wrongly written characters; simplified-to-traditional correspondence | ||
| 句子辨析 (8) | Faulty sentences; logical errors | ||
| 詞句運用 (15) | Word choice, sentence filling, sentence ordering | ||
| Aptitude Test | 35 / 45 min | 演繹推理 Deductive Reasoning (8, in Chinese) | Choose an inference or a set of inferences |
| Verbal Reasoning (English) (6) | True, False or Can't tell | ||
| Data Sufficiency Test (8) | Choose the two pieces of information that solve the problem; five pair options | ||
| Numerical Reasoning (5) | Number sequences with one or two missing numbers; five options | ||
| Interpretation of Tables and Graphs (8) | Five options |
Two details often surprise candidates:
- The AT is not entirely in English. Its eight deductive reasoning items are set in Chinese, and only the verbal reasoning part is labelled English.
- The CRE Data Sufficiency Test does not use the "Statement (1) alone / Statement (2) alone" format of some overseas admissions tests. You choose which two numbered clues, from a list, together answer the question (see Chapter 6).
How results are graded
| Paper | Possible results | What the CSB says about them |
|---|---|---|
| UE and UC | Level 2, Level 1 or Fail | Level 2 is the highest; Level 2 in both meets the general language requirement of all degree or professional grades |
| AT | Pass or Fail | No levels |
- Results are issued for each paper separately. You may sit one paper, any two, or all three.
- Results from different sittings can be combined, as long as each is valid when you apply for a job. A Pass in AT from one sitting plus Level 2 UE from another is acceptable.
- Level 2 and Level 1 language results and AT Passes from CREs held from December 2006 onwards are of permanent validity. Results from CREs before December 2006 have expired.
- The CSB does not publish raw scores, cut scores or the number of correct answers needed for each level. Treat any claimed "pass mark" from unofficial sources with caution.
Results accepted as equivalents
| Public examination result | Accepted as | Will the CSB arrange you to sit that CRE paper? |
|---|---|---|
| HKDSE English Language Level 5 or above | UE Level 2 | No |
| HKDSE Chinese Language Level 5 or above | UC Level 2 | No |
| HKDSE English Language Level 4 | UE Level 1 | You decide; you may sit UE to try for Level 2 |
| HKDSE Chinese Language Level 4 | UC Level 1 | You decide; you may sit UC to try for Level 2 |
| HKALE Use of English, or GCE A Level English Language, Grade C or above | UE Level 2 | No |
| HKALE Chinese Language and Culture, or Chinese Language and Literature, Grade C or above | UC Level 2 | No |
| Grade D in any of the HKALE or GCE A Level subjects above | Level 1 in the matching paper | You decide |
| IELTS Academic: overall band 6.5 or above, no subtest below band 6, same sitting, within the 2-year validity period | UE Level 2 | You may still sit UE |
Points that cause mistakes:
- IELTS must come from one sitting. The CSB does not combine subtest scores from different IELTS attempts, and the General Training module is not on the list.
- IELTS results expire for this purpose. The result must be within its two-year validity when you apply for the job. For the 2026-27 AO recruitment exercise, the AO recruitment FAQ treats IELTS results obtained between 13 September 2024 and 2 October 2026 as equivalent to UE Level 2.
- Level 1 equivalents do not satisfy Level 2 posts. The CSB's July 2026 announcement reminds applicants that someone holding a Level 1 equivalent who wants a Level 2 post must obtain Level 2 from the CRE paper.
- Mixing is allowed. For the general language requirement, the CSB accepts a combination of CRE, HKDSE, HKALE, GCE A Level and IELTS results, provided all are valid at the time of the job application.
- No equivalent exists for the AT. The CSB states that no public examination results are accepted as equivalent to the AT. Degrees, graduate admissions test scores and professional credentials do not replace it.
Warning
Equivalents only matter for the language papers. If any target grade requires an AT Pass, you must sit the AT, whatever your other qualifications.
Electronic result certificates
The CSB launched electronic result certificates for the CRE and BLNST in November 2024. For examinations held in or after December 2024, only electronic certificates are issued.
- Results are issued within one month of the examination.
- The CSEU emails a download link from eproofcseu@csb.gov.hk.
- The link opens the Government's e-Proof website. You verify your identity with the "iAM Smart" app, or with a one-time password sent to the email address in your application.
- The PDF certificate carries an e-Proof QR code and a digital signature. Scanning or uploading it on the e-Proof website shows "Verified" (green) or "Revoked" (red).
Keep the certificate: it is your proof of results when you apply for posts. If you lose it, retrieve the original email and download it again, or ask the CSEU to resend the link.
Reviewing a result
A review request must be emailed to csbcseu@csb.gov.hk within two weeks of the certificate's issue date. Late requests are not considered. The CSB will not review a paper in which you obtained Level 2 (UE or UC) or a Pass (AT).
A candidate's single IELTS Academic sitting shows an overall band of 7.0 with Listening 7.5, Reading 7.5, Writing 6.5 and Speaking 5.5. Is this accepted as equivalent to CRE Use of English Level 2?
Yes, because the overall band is above 6.5
Yes, if a later IELTS sitting raises Speaking to band 6
No, because a subtest score is below band 6 in that sitting
No, because the CSB accepts only the General Training module
A candidate holds HKDSE Chinese Language Level 4 and wants to apply for Executive Officer II, which requires Level 2 in Use of Chinese. What should the candidate do?
Sit the CRE Use of Chinese paper and obtain Level 2
Nothing, because HKDSE Level 4 is accepted as Level 2
Sit the Aptitude Test, because it can compensate for a lower language level
Submit an IELTS result instead, because IELTS covers both language papers
A candidate receives an electronic result certificate showing Level 2 in Use of English and a Fail in the Aptitude Test, and believes both results are wrong. Under the CSB review rules, what can the candidate request?
A review of both papers, by post, within one month of the examination
A review of the Use of English paper only, because Level 2 results are always rechecked
No review of either paper, because CRE results are final
A review of the Aptitude Test only, by email within two weeks of the certificate's issue date
Sections you finish are checked off in the contents.