Civil Service
ProfessionalSub-Professional
Practice Exams

Introduction to Verbal Ability (Sub-Professional)

The Verbal Ability section for the Sub-Professional level tests your practical command of the English language. The focus is on skills that are directly applicable to clerical and administrative tasks, such as correct spelling, grammar, vocabulary usage, and understanding written instructions.

Exam Tip: Read each question carefully. Sometimes, the questions are designed to be tricky, and a single word can change the correct answer.

Part 1: Spelling

Correct spelling is crucial for any office correspondence. This section tests your ability to identify and correct misspelled words.

Common Spelling Rules

  • i before e, except after c:

    • Examples: believe, field, piece
    • Except after c: receive, deceive, conceive
    • Exceptions to the rule: weird, seize, height, neither

  • Dropping the final 'e': When adding a suffix that starts with a vowel (like -ing, -able), drop the final 'e'.

    • Hope -> hoping
    • Appreciate -> appreciable
    • Keep the 'e' if the suffix starts with a consonant: Hope -> hopeful

  • Doubling the final consonant: For one-syllable words ending in a consonant-vowel-consonant, double the final consonant when adding a suffix.

    • Run -> running
    • Stop -> stopped

Frequently Misspelled Words

Memorize the correct spelling of these common words:

  • accommodation
  • miscellaneous
  • committee
  • necessary
  • separate
  • definitely
  • privilege
  • government
  • receive
  • which

Practice Question (Spelling)

  1. Which of the following words is spelled correctly? a) Privelege b) Definitly c) Acomodation d) Miscellaneous

Answer: (d) Miscellaneous

Part 2: Grammar and Correct Usage

This part focuses on the basic rules of sentence structure.

2.1 Subject-Verb Agreement

A singular subject needs a singular verb. A plural subject needs a plural verb.

  • Singular: The report is on the desk.
  • Plural: The reports are on the desk.

2.2 Simple Tenses

  • Present Tense: Used for facts and regular actions. (She works in the accounting department.)
  • Past Tense: Used for actions that have already happened. (He submitted the document yesterday.)
  • Future Tense: Used for actions that will happen. (They will attend the meeting tomorrow.)

2.3 Correct Word Usage (Homonyms)

Be careful with words that sound the same but have different meanings and spellings.

  • There (location) vs. Their (possession) vs. They're (they are)
    • The files are over there.
    • Their project was approved.
    • They're waiting for the manager.
  • Your (possession) vs. You're (you are)
    • Is this your pen?
    • You're going to be late.
  • To (preposition) vs. Too (also, or excess) vs. Two (the number 2)

Practice Question (Grammar)

  1. The manager, along with her two assistants, ____ attending the seminar. a) are b) is c) were d) have

Answer: (b) is. The subject is "manager," which is singular. The phrase "along with her two assistants" does not make the subject plural.

Part 3: Vocabulary

This section tests your knowledge of word meanings in a practical context.

Context Clues

If you don't know a word, the sentence it's in can give you clues.

  • Example: The task was so arduous that the team was exhausted after completing it.
  • From the context, you can infer that "arduous" means something difficult or tiring.

Common Office Vocabulary

Be familiar with terms used in a professional environment:

  • Agenda: A list of items to be discussed at a meeting.
  • Memorandum (Memo): A written message for internal communication.
  • Itinerary: A detailed plan of a journey.
  • Query: A question or inquiry.
  • Consensus: General agreement among a group.

Practice Question (Vocabulary)

  1. The instructions were explicit; there was no room for confusion. "Explicit" most nearly means: a) Vague b) Difficult c) Clear and direct d) Optional

Answer: (c) Clear and direct

Part 4: Reading Comprehension

This tests your ability to understand a written passage and answer questions about it. The passages are often short and related to workplace situations, such as memos, announcements, or instructions.

Reading Strategy

  1. Read the passage first to get a general understanding.
  2. Read the question carefully to know what is being asked.
  3. Go back to the passage to find the specific sentence or phrase that answers the question.
  4. Choose the best answer based only on the information given in the passage.

Practice Passage

MEMORANDUM

TO: All Employees FROM: Human Resources Department DATE: December 14, 2025 SUBJECT: Holiday Work Schedule

Please be advised that the office will be closed on December 25 in observance of Christmas Day. Operations will resume on December 26. For employees in the Security and Maintenance departments, please coordinate with your respective supervisors for your specific holiday schedules.

  1. According to the memo, who needs to consult their supervisor for their holiday schedule? a) All employees b) Only employees in the Security department c) Employees in the Security and Maintenance departments d) The Human Resources Department

Answer: (c) Employees in the Security and Maintenance departments.