200 Essential Vocabulary Words for CSE: Civil Service Exam Guide

Building a strong vocabulary is one of the most effective ways to improve your score in the Civil Service Examination (CSE). Many CSE questions—especially in Reading Comprehension, Sentence Completion, and Analogy sections—directly test your understanding of word meanings, nuances, and proper usage.

This guide presents 200 essential vocabulary words commonly encountered in the CSE. Each word is explained clearly, with simple definitions and practical context. The list is organized by functional categories, making it easier to study strategically rather than memorizing randomly.

Why Vocabulary Matters in the Civil Service Exam

A strong vocabulary helps you:

• Understand passages faster in Reading Comprehension

• Choose the correct word in Sentence Completion

• Identify relationships in Analogies

• Avoid traps caused by similar-looking words

• Improve overall English proficiency for government communication

The CSE does not test obscure or literary words. Instead, it focuses on practical, academic, and professional vocabulary used in official documents, reports, and everyday workplace communication.

How to Study This Vocabulary List Effectively

Before diving into the words, use these proven strategies:

• Study 20–25 words per day

• Read example sentences aloud

• Group words by meaning (synonyms & contrasts)

• Create flashcards

• Practice using each word in your own sentence

1. Common Academic and Formal Vocabulary (1–40)

These words frequently appear in official texts and exam passages.

1. Analyze – to examine carefully

2. Assess – to evaluate or judge

3. Assume – to accept without proof

4. Clarify – to make clear

5. Conclude – to decide or end

6. Context – surrounding information

7. Criteria – standards for judgment

8. Demonstrate – to show clearly

9. Emphasize – to give importance

10. Establish – to set up or prove

11. Evidence – proof or support

12. Factor – an element contributing to a result

13. Function – purpose or role

14. Implement – to put into action

15. Indicate – to show or suggest

16. Interpret – to explain meaning

17. Maintain – to keep in condition

18. Method – a way of doing something

19. Objective – goal or purpose

20. Outcome – result or effect

21. Policy – official rule or plan

22. Procedure – step-by-step method

23. Process – series of actions

24. Require – to need

25. Significant – important or meaningful

26. Strategy – plan of action

27. Structure – arrangement of parts

28. Sufficient – enough

29. Theory – explanation based on ideas

30. Valid – logically sound

31. Variable – changeable element

32. Accurate – correct and precise

33. Consistent – steady and uniform

34. Efficient – productive with minimal waste

35. Relevant – related to the topic

36. Reliable – dependable

37. Subsequent – coming after

38. Synthesize – combine ideas

39. Trend – general direction

40. Utilize – to make use of

2. Vocabulary for Reading Comprehension (41–80)

These words often appear in passages and questions asking about main ideas and details.

41. Abstract – theoretical, not concrete

42. Argument – reasoned opinion

43. Assumption – belief without proof

44. Bias – unfair preference

45. Brief – short

46. Coherent – logically connected

47. Comprehensive – complete

48. Convey – to communicate

49. Credible – believable

50. Definite – clear and certain

51. Derive – to obtain from

52. Distinguish – to recognize differences

53. Explicit – clearly stated

54. Implicit – suggested but not stated

55. Infer – to conclude from evidence

56. Logical – reasonable

57. Notion – idea or belief

58. Objective – unbiased

59. Perspective – point of view

60. Primary – main or first

61. Secondary – less important

62. Subtle – not obvious

63. Summary – brief restatement

64. Theme – central idea

65. Tone – author’s attitude

66. Viewpoint – opinion or stance

67. Accumulate – to gather

68. Contrast – to show differences

69. Illustrate – to explain with examples

70. Indicate – to point out

71. Interpretation – explanation of meaning

72. Outline – general description

73. Paraphrase – restate in own words

74. Relevant – connected to the subject

75. Sequence – order of events

76. Specify – to state clearly

77. Supporting – providing help or proof

78. Underlying – hidden or basic

79. Valid – acceptable and logical

80. Vague – unclear

3. Vocabulary for Sentence Completion (81–120)

These words often appear as choices in fill-in-the-blank questions.

81. Abundant – plentiful

82. Adequate – sufficient

83. Ambiguous – unclear or double meaning

84. Apparent – obvious

85. Beneficial – helpful

86. Consequence – result

87. Controversial – causing disagreement

88. Deficient – lacking

89. Diligent – hardworking

90. Diverse – varied

91. Evident – clear

92. Feasible – possible

93. Frequent – happening often

94. Hostile – unfriendly

95. Inconsistent – not steady

96. Inevitable – unavoidable

97. Limited – restricted

98. Moderate – average or controlled

99. Negligent – careless

100. Obsolete – outdated

101. Persistent – continuing

102. Preliminary – introductory

103. Prominent – well-known

104. Questionable – doubtful

105. Rapid – fast

106. Scarce – rare

107. Significant – important

108. Stable – steady

109. Substantial – large or important

110. Temporary – not permanent

111. Tolerant – accepting

112. Transparent – clear and open

113. Uncertain – unsure

114. Uniform – consistent

115. Urgent – requiring immediate action

116. Viable – workable

117. Voluntary – done by choice

118. Widespread – common

119. Withdraw – to remove

120. Worthwhile – valuable

4. Vocabulary for Analogies and Word Relationships (121–160)

Understanding relationships between words is key for analogy questions.

121. Cause – reason

122. Effect – result

123. Increase – to grow

124. Decrease – to reduce

125. Approve – to accept

126. Reject – to refuse

127. Create – to make

128. Destroy – to ruin

129. Encourage – to support

130. Discourage – to prevent

131. Expand – to enlarge

132. Contract – to shrink

133. Combine – to unite

134. Separate – to divide

135. Arrive – to reach

136. Depart – to leave

137. Begin – to start

138. End – to finish

139. Increase – growth

140. Decline – reduction

141. Majority – greater part

142. Minority – smaller part

143. Benefit – advantage

144. Drawback – disadvantage

145. Permanent – lasting

146. Temporary – short-term

147. Public – open to all

148. Private – restricted

149. Legal – lawful

150. Illegal – unlawful

151. Positive – favorable

152. Negative – unfavorable

153. Strong – powerful

154. Weak – lacking strength

155. Success – achievement

156. Failure – lack of success

157. Gain – obtain

158. Loss – decrease

159. Active – energetic

160. Passive – inactive

5. Workplace and Government-Related Vocabulary (161–200)

These words reflect real-life usage in civil service and public administration.

161. Authority – power to decide

162. Compliance – following rules

163. Confidential – private information

164. Consensus – general agreement

165. Constitution – fundamental law

166. Delegate – assign responsibility

167. Documentation – written records

168. Efficiency – productivity

169. Ethical – morally right

170. Framework – basic structure

171. Governance – system of control

172. Guideline – recommendation

173. Jurisdiction – legal authority

174. Legislation – law-making

175. Liability – legal responsibility

176. Mandate – official order

177. Oversight – supervision

178. Protocol – official procedure

179. Public service – work for the government

180. Regulation – rule

181. Resource – available supply

182. Responsibility – duty

183. Safeguard – protect

184. Standard – accepted level

185. Stakeholder – interested party

186. Sustainability – long-term viability

187. Transparency – openness

188. Accountability – responsibility for actions

189. Bureaucracy – administrative system

190. Coordination – organized effort

191. Implementation – execution of plans

192. Initiative – first step or plan

193. Integrity – honesty

194. Obligation – duty

195. Policy-making – creating rules

196. Public interest – benefit of society

197. Regulatory – controlling by law

198. Service-oriented – focused on helping

199. Supervision – oversight

200. Workforce – employees

Final Study Tips for CSE Vocabulary Mastery

• Focus on meaning in context, not memorization alone

• Practice with mock exams and sample questions

• Review weak words weekly

• Read government-related articles to see real usage

• Combine vocabulary study with reading comprehension practice

Mastering these 200 essential vocabulary words will significantly improve your confidence and performance in the Civil Service Examination. Consistent study, even 30 minutes a day, can make a real difference.

Vocabulary Problem Sets for CSE

(With Complete Answer Keys)

Problem Set 1: Sentence Completion (Questions 1–20)

Choose the word that best completes each sentence.

1. The committee decided to __________ the new policy after reviewing all relevant data.
   A. reject
   B. implement
   C. postpone
   D. withdraw

2. The report was clear, concise, and __________, making it easy to understand.
   A. vague
   B. ambiguous
   C. coherent
   D. deficient

3. His explanation was __________, leaving no room for confusion.
   A. implicit
   B. obscure
   C. explicit
   D. subtle

4. The project was delayed due to __________ resources.
   A. abundant
   B. sufficient
   C. scarce
   D. stable

5. The candidate’s performance was __________ enough to meet the minimum requirements.
   A. obsolete
   B. negligent
   C. adequate
   D. questionable

6. Public officials must act with honesty and __________ at all times.
   A. integrity
   B. liability
   C. tolerance
   D. urgency

7. The instructions were __________ written, resulting in many errors.
   A. clearly
   B. efficiently
   C. poorly
   D. consistently

8. The effects of climate change are now __________ across the country.
   A. limited
   B. negligible
   C. widespread
   D. temporary

9. The proposal was considered __________ because of its high cost.
   A. feasible
   B. viable
   C. controversial
   D. transparent

10. He showed __________ effort in completing the task before the deadline.
    A. diligent
    B. moderate
    C. passive
    D. negligent

11. The law was passed to __________ public safety.
    A. discourage
    B. safeguard
    C. restrict
    D. eliminate

12. Her tone during the discussion was calm and __________.
    A. hostile
    B. rational
    C. biased
    D. urgent

13. The results were __________ with previous findings.
    A. inconsistent
    B. conflicting
    C. consistent
    D. irrelevant

14. The organization promotes __________ in government operations.
    A. secrecy
    B. transparency
    C. ambiguity
    D. negligence

15. His claim was __________ by reliable evidence.
    A. derived
    B. supported
    C. interpreted
    D. rejected

16. The meeting was __________ due to the absence of key members.
    A. implemented
    B. postponed
    C. concluded
    D. maintained

17. A __________ solution must be effective and realistic.
    A. viable
    B. vague
    C. obsolete
    D. limited

18. The employee failed to comply with company __________.
    A. outcomes
    B. perspectives
    C. regulations
    D. assumptions

19. The data must be __________ before making a final decision.
    A. ignored
    B. analyzed
    C. withdrawn
    D. concealed

20. His argument lacked __________ and logical reasoning.
    A. clarity
    B. urgency
    C. bias
    D. brevity

✅ Answer Key – Problem Set 1

1. B

2. C

3. C

4. C

5. C

6. A

7. C

8. C

9. C

10. A

11. B

12. B

13. C

14. B

15. B

16. B

17. A

18. C

19. B

20. A

Problem Set 2: Synonyms (Questions 21–35)

Choose the word closest in meaning to the underlined word.

21. Abundant
    A. scarce
    B. limited
    C. plentiful
    D. rare

22. Explicit
    A. vague
    B. unclear
    C. indirect
    D. clear

23. Diligent
    A. careless
    B. hardworking
    C. lazy
    D. hesitant

24. Feasible
    A. impossible
    B. unrealistic
    C. workable
    D. doubtful

25. Significant
    A. minor
    B. important
    C. irrelevant
    D. trivial

26. Obsolete
    A. modern
    B. outdated
    C. useful
    D. essential

27. Transparent
    A. hidden
    B. clear
    C. confusing
    D. secretive

28. Reliable
    A. dependable
    B. weak
    C. uncertain
    D. fragile

29. Maintain
    A. destroy
    B. improve
    C. keep
    D. abandon

30. Outcome
    A. cause
    B. process
    C. result
    D. theory

31. Objective
    A. biased
    B. neutral
    C. emotional
    D. personal

32. Sufficient
    A. excessive
    B. minimal
    C. enough
    D. lacking

33. Interpret
    A. ignore
    B. explain
    C. simplify
    D. reject

34. Implement
    A. cancel
    B. delay
    C. execute
    D. revise

35. Urgent
    A. optional
    B. immediate
    C. casual
    D. minor

✅ Answer Key – Problem Set 2

21. C

22. D

23. B

24. C

25. B

26. B

27. B

28. A

29. C

30. C

31. B

32. C

33. B

34. C

35. B

Problem Set 3: Antonyms (Questions 36–50)

Choose the word opposite in meaning to the given word.

36. Frequent
    A. regular
    B. repeated
    C. rare
    D. common

37. Consistent
    A. stable
    B. reliable
    C. irregular
    D. steady

38. Hostile
    A. friendly
    B. aggressive
    C. negative
    D. harsh

39. Permanent
    A. lasting
    B. stable
    C. temporary
    D. solid

40. Expand
    A. increase
    B. enlarge
    C. grow
    D. contract

41. Approve
    A. accept
    B. confirm
    C. reject
    D. support

42. Transparent
    A. clear
    B. visible
    C. open
    D. secretive

43. Accurate
    A. precise
    B. correct
    C. exact
    D. incorrect

44. Efficient
    A. productive
    B. effective
    C. wasteful
    D. useful

45. Majority
    A. crowd
    B. group
    C. minority
    D. population

46. Positive
    A. favorable
    B. beneficial
    C. negative
    D. optimistic

47. Active
    A. energetic
    B. passive
    C. alert
    D. lively

48. Legal
    A. lawful
    B. official
    C. illegal
    D. permitted

49. Stable
    A. firm
    B. steady
    C. secure
    D. unstable

50. Gain
    A. profit
    B. increase
    C. benefit
    D. loss

✅ Answer Key – Problem Set 3

36. C

37. C

38. A

39. C

40. D

41. C

42. D

43. D

44. C

45. C

46. C

47. B

48. C

49. D

50. D

Problem Set 4: Analogies (Questions 51–65)

Choose the word that best completes the relationship.

51. Cause : Effect :: Question : ______
    A. Answer
    B. Problem
    C. Reason
    D. Inquiry

52. Expand : Contract :: Increase : ______
    A. Grow
    B. Develop
    C. Decline
    D. Extend

53. Permanent : Temporary :: Public : ______
    A. Legal
    B. Private
    C. Visible
    D. Open

54. Teacher : Student :: Supervisor : ______
    A. Manager
    B. Worker
    C. Employer
    D. Employee

55. Law : Regulation :: School : ______
    A. Policy
    B. Student
    C. Teacher
    D. Class

56. Begin : End :: Enter : ______
    A. Open
    B. Arrive
    C. Exit
    D. Close

57. Honesty : Integrity :: Carelessness : ______
    A. Negligence
    B. Diligence
    C. Accuracy
    D. Precision

58. Majority : Minority :: Success : ______
    A. Failure
    B. Outcome
    C. Result
    D. Process

59. Transparent : Clear :: Vague : ______
    A. Bright
    B. Obvious
    C. Unclear
    D. Certain

60. Resource : Supply :: Demand : ______
    A. Shortage
    B. Request
    C. Need
    D. Requirement

61. Delegate : Assign :: Withdraw : ______
    A. Remove
    B. Accept
    C. Extend
    D. Support

62. Efficient : Wasteful :: Accurate : ______
    A. Correct
    B. Exact
    C. Wrong
    D. Detailed

63. Authority : Power :: Responsibility : ______
    A. Duty
    B. Control
    C. Command
    D. Order

64. Expand : Enlarge :: Reduce : ______
    A. Minimize
    B. Improve
    C. Extend
    D. Combine

65. Public Service : Government :: Workforce : ______
    A. Economy
    B. Company
    C. Society
    D. Industry

✅ Answer Key – Problem Set 4

51. A

52. C

53. B

54. D

55. A

56. C

57. A

58. A

59. C

60. A

61. A

62. C

63. A

64. A

65. B

Final Tip for CSE Vocabulary Practice

• Review mistakes carefully

• Identify why an option is correct

• Focus on context, not memorization

• Practice daily with mixed question types

Civil Service Exam Philippines: Complete Preparation and Passing Guide