Overview
The Common Recruitment Examination (CRE) is run by the Hong Kong Civil Service Bureau. Applicants for civil service posts at degree or professional level generally need CRE results to show they meet the language proficiency requirements, and for some posts an aptitude result as well. The Bureau also runs the Basic Law and National Security Law Test (BLNST), which is an entry requirement for all civil service jobs.
The CRE is held independently of any recruitment exercise. You apply for posts separately, directly to the recruiting department or grade. Having CRE results does not mean you meet every entry requirement for a post.
Who can apply
For the coming CRE, applicants should be one of the following:
a degree holder (an Associate Degree does not count);
someone who will have attained a degree in the 2026-27 or 2027-28 academic year;
someone holding a qualification that meets the entry requirement on professional qualifications for civil service degree or professional posts.
Exam pattern
The CRE has three multiple-choice papers of 45 minutes each. You may sit all, any one or any combination of them, depending on what the posts you want require.
| Paper | What it tests | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Use of English (UE) | English proficiency | Level 2, Level 1 or Fail (Level 2 is the highest) |
| Use of Chinese (UC) | Chinese proficiency | Level 2, Level 1 or Fail |
| Aptitude Test (AT) | Reasoning ability | Pass or Fail |
Level 2 in both UE and UC meets the general language requirements of all degree or professional grades. Certain other results are accepted in place of a CRE paper, for example Level 5 or above in HKDSE English Language for UE Level 2, or an IELTS Academic overall band of 6.5 with no subtest below 6 (within its 2-year validity) for UE Level 2. Applicants who hold such results are not arranged to sit that paper.
The BLNST (Degree / Professional Grades) is a 30-minute bilingual test of 20 multiple-choice questions. Answering at least 10 correctly is a pass.
Marking and results
Level 2 and Level 1 results in UE and UC, and a Pass in the AT, are valid permanently. A BLNST pass is also valid permanently. For paper-based sessions, the Bureau aims to issue results within one month of the exam. The Bureau also issues electronic result certificates.
Important dates
3 October 2026: CRE in Hong Kong. The application period closed on 7 August 2026.
5 December 2026 (tentative): CRE and paper-based BLNST in Beijing, Shanghai, London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver and Sydney. Applications run from 12 September to 2 October 2026, and examination details are emailed before 23 November 2026.
For some civil service posts whose recruitment begins in September 2026, a BLNST pass is needed by 5 December 2026.
How to apply
Applications for the CRE and the BLNST go through the Bureau's online application system. Applications by post, fax or email are not accepted, and only one application per person is allowed. The Bureau also runs a Digitalised BLNST (launched May 2025) all year round at its examination centre in Wan Chai, so you can take the BLNST without waiting for a set date.
After the exam
The recruiting department or grade checks your qualifications and may add its own exams or interviews. If you have not yet passed the BLNST when you apply for a job, you can still apply, but you will not be considered for appointment unless you pass it during the recruitment process.
Preparation tips
Check which papers your target posts require, and which other results are accepted instead, before deciding what to sit. The Bureau publishes the exam format and sample questions for each paper on the same page.
How many papers are in the CRE?
Three: Use of English, Use of Chinese and the Aptitude Test, each 45 minutes long.
How long are CRE results valid?
Level 2 and Level 1 results in the language papers and a Pass in the Aptitude Test are valid permanently, as is a BLNST pass.