Verbal Ability & Grammar Tips for Competitive Exams

The Verbal Ability section of the Civil Service Exam (CSE) and other board tests checks your proficiency in English and Filipino. It evaluates grammar, vocabulary, sentence structure, paragraph organization, and reading comprehension. Scoring high in this section requires understanding rules rather than relying on "how it sounds."

Here are key tips and rules to boost your verbal ability score.

1. Subject-Verb Agreement (SVA) Rules

Many grammatical errors stem from Subject-Verb Agreement mistakes:

• Intervening Phrases: Words that come between the subject and the verb (like "together with", "as well as", "along with", "in addition to") do not change the number of the subject. Example: "The director, together with his staff, is (not are) attending the seminar."
• Indefinite Pronouns: Pronouns like "each", "everyone", "someone", "everybody", and "nobody" are always singular and take singular verbs. Example: "Everyone has (not have) submitted their Personal Data Sheet."

2. Paragraph Organization (Deciphering the Sequence)

Exams often ask you to rearrange a group of sentences into a logical paragraph. Use these cues:

• Look for the Topic Sentence: The first sentence is usually a general statement that does not begin with transition words (like "however", "therefore", "in addition", "then") or pronouns referring to unnamed subjects.
• Find Transition Links: Connect sentences that contain chronological steps or logical continuations.
• Identify Conclusion Signs: The final sentence often summarizes the topic or begins with concluding words like "finally", "therefore", or "consequently".

3. Reading Comprehension Strategies

• Read the Questions First: Before reading long passages, look at the questions. This gives you a focus and helps you locate answers quickly while reading.
• Avoid Personal Assumptions: Choose answers based only on the information provided in the passage, even if you have outside knowledge about the topic.

4. Practice Daily

Consistent practice is key to expanding your vocabulary and spotting grammatical mistakes. Take practice quizzes covering grammar, spelling, and reading passages on our Exam Reviewer.

Official Government Verification Reminder

Exams administered by different national bodies (such as the NAPOLCOM or PRC) may utilize different ratios of English and Filipino questions. Check details on official portals (which you can look up in our Agency Websites Directory) to align your preparation.