Digitalised Basic Law and National Security Law Test (Degree / Professional Grades)

About the Digitalised Basic Law and National Security Law Test (Degree / Professional Grades) (Digitalised BLNST)

The Civil Service Bureau (CSB) launches Digitalised BLNST in May 2025 for prospective applicants for civil service jobs requiring degree or professional qualifications to take the Basic Law and National Security Law Test (BLNST) (Degree / Professional Grades) at their own selected timeslots throughout the year. In view of the launch of Digitalised BLNST, with effect from June 2025, the CSB will no longer organise the paper-based BLNST on the same day of the Common Recruitment Examination (CRE) in Hong Kong.

The examination format, duration and content of Digitalised BLNST are identical to those of the paper-based BLNST. The only change is that the test would be conducted by computer and the results of Digitalised BLNST will be issued by e-mail to the candidates in the form of electronic result certificates on the same day as the examination.

Who may apply

Applicants should be holders of Hong Kong Identity Card and aged 18 or above (including those who will turn 18 in the year the applicant takes the examination), and should be –

(a) holders of degree (not including Associate Degrees); or

(b) individuals who will have attained a degree (not including Associate Degree) in the current or next academic year; or

(c) holders of a qualification meeting the entry requirement on professional qualifications for civil service degree or professional posts [only applicable to those who are not in the above two categories of (a) or (b)].

[Note: Before submitting application form, applicants should refer to the “Frequently Asked Questions” for information about the eligibility of applicants for Digitalised BLNST. Applicants under category (c) should check with the government departments / grades concerned to confirm whether the qualification that they are holding is accepted for appointment to the relevant post(s).]

For applicants under category (b), viz. those who will have obtained a bachelor’s degree (not including Associate Degree) in the current or next academic year, the eligible applicants for taking Digitalised BLNST to be held in 2025 and 2026 are as follows –

Examination dates	Eligible applicants who will have attained a degree (not including Associate Degree) in the current or next academic year
First half of 2025 (i.e. on or before 30 June 2025)	Those who will have attained a degree (not including Associate Degree) in the academic year of 2024-25 (i.e. the current academic year) or 2025-26 (i.e. the next academic year)
Second half of 2025 (i.e. from 1 July 2025 to 31 December 2025)	Those who will have attained a degree (not including Associate Degree) in the academic year of 2025-26 (i.e. the current academic year) or 2026-27 (i.e. the next academic year)
First half of 2026 (i.e. from 1 January 2026 to 30 June 2026)
Second half of 2026 (i.e. from 1 July 2026 to 31 December 2026)	Those who will have attained a degree (not including Associate Degree) in the academic year of 2026-27 (i.e. the current academic year) or 2027-28 (i.e. the next academic year)

Applicants who have questions about their attaining the degree qualification in a particular academic year should first confirm with their respective tertiary institutions.

Applicants who fail to meet the above eligibility shall be liable to disqualification from examination and / or voiding of examination results.

The Civil Service Examinations Unit (CSEU) will conduct random checks after examination. Applicants selected for random checks will receive an e-mail the day after the examination. They should follow the instructions and provide copies of their academic transcripts and / or certificates within the specified timeframe to prove their highest academic qualification / professional qualification reported. Applicants who fail to provide the required proof within the specified timeframe shall be liable to voiding of examination results.

Examination Schedule

Generally speaking, Digitalised BLNST is conducted from Monday to Friday (except public holidays) at the Recruitment Centre, General Grades Office (Address: 37th Floor, Revenue Tower, 5 Gloucester Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong). There are six examination timeslots per day. Limited quotas will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. In case of any special event (e.g. system maintenance), no examination will be scheduled on certain days or in certain timeslots.

Subject to availability of quota, applicants can choose the timeslot for Digitalised BLNST to be conducted in the coming 8 weeks from the day of application. The earliest date that can be selected is the next working day. New quota on the timeslot after 8 weeks (if it is a working day) will be opened for booking after midnight.

How to apply

Applicants must submit the application through Digitalised BLNST online application system. Applications submitted in person or by mail, fax, or e-mail will NOT be processed. Applicants should read the "Notes for Applicants" and "Frequently Asked Questions" carefully before making an application.

Upon completion of application procedures, applicant will be provided with an application reference number immediately. A confirmation e-mail will also be sent to the applicant’s e-mail address. Applicants should keep the application reference number until the examination result is available. Applicants should contact the CSEU by phone at (852) 2537 6429 during office hours if they do not receive the confirmation e-mail after submitting the application. Applicants should enter their e-mail address correctly. To avoid missing any notification, applicants should ensure that their e-mail accounts can receive e-mails from the CSEU, and check each incoming mailbox (including the folders for spam, bulk and junk mails) regularly.

Each applicant can only reserve one examination timeslot. Subject to availability of quota, applicants can amend or cancel the reserved examination timeslot not later than one day before the scheduled examination date.

Applicants may click here if they are ready to make an online application.

Suspension Period

To ensure optimal use of government resources, Digitalised BLNST has a three-month suspension period. If an applicant is absent from the examination or has not attained a pass result in the examination, he / she can only take Digitalised BLNST again three months after the date of absence or the date of failing the examination. To avoid affecting other candidates who have applied for Digitalised BLNST, applicants should attend Digitalised BLNST timely. Otherwise, applicants will not be allowed to sit the examination and will be treated as absentees.

Guidance Notes for Candidates

Applicants should read the "Guidance Notes for Candidates of Digitalised Basic Law and National Security Law Test (Degree / Professional Grades)" carefully before attending the Digitalised BLNST. If applicants violate the rules set out in those Guidance Notes, they are liable to a penalty, e.g. written warning, mark penalty, result downgrading, disqualification from examination, voiding of examination result, etc.

BLNST (Degree / Professional Grades)

For details about the BLNST (Degree / Professional Grades) including the examination format and sample questions, and the BLNST in the civil service recruitment, please refer to the Common Recruitment Examination and the Basic Law and National Security Law Test (Degree / Professional Grades) webpage.

Enquiries

Should there be any enquiries about Digitalised BLNST, please contact the Civil Service Examinations Unit by phone at (852) 2537 6429 or by e-mail to csbcseu@csb.gov.hk.