They are intended as a method to achieve an effective, rational public administration on a merit system for recruiting prospective politicians and public sector employees.
[1][2][3] Competitive examinations are tests where candidates are ranked according to their grades and/or percentile and then top rankers are selected.
If the examination is open for n positions, then the first n candidates in ranks pass, the others are rejected.
Types are civil service examinations, required for positions in the public sector; the U.S. Foreign Service Exam, and the United Nations Competitive Examination.
Competitive examinations are considered an egalitarian way to select worthy applicants without risking influence peddling, bias or other concerns.