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A civil service examination is a test used to obtain a job in the civil service, which is the administrative part of the government. Many countries use a merit and seniority system for selecting and promoting civil service employees, which often includes examinations. Historically, sophisticated administrative structures existed in ancient Rome, and China developed a long-lasting civil service system with examinations dating back to the Han dynasty. These examinations aimed to assess candidates' knowledge and virtues, with processes designed to ensure fairness.123

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