1. What is the CSS Exam?
The CSS is Pakistan’s premier competitive exam for recruiting officers into BS17 positions in federal
departments like:
Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS)
Foreign Service of Pakistan (FSP)
Police Service of Pakistan (PSP)
Customs & Revenue Groups .
Success Rate: Only ~3% of candidates clear the exam due to its difficulty .
2. Eligibility Criteria
A. Nationality
Pakistani citizens or permanent residents of AJK/GilgitBaltistan .
B. Education
Bachelor’s degree (14+ years) with 2nd Division (Grade C).
Candidates with a 3rd Division can apply if they hold a higher Master’s degree .
C. Age Limit
21–30 years (general candidates).
Up to 32 years for government employees/tribal areas .
3. Key Dates for CSS 2025
MPT (Screening Test): 6 October 2024 .
Written Exam: Starts 15 February 2025 .
Last Date to Apply: 16 December 2024 .
4. Exam Structure
A. Phases
1. MPT (MCQBased Test): 200 MCQs on English, GK, and Analytical Skills .
2. Written Exam:
Compulsory Subjects (600 marks): English Essay, Pakistan Affairs, Islamic Studies .
Optional Subjects (600 marks): Choose from groups like International Relations, Political Science, etc. .
1. List of CSS Optional Subjects (FPSC Approved)
Group 1: Humanities & Social Sciences
1. Political Science
2. International Relations (Highly Recommended)
3. Sociology
4. Psychology
5. Gender Studies
6. Public Administration (Popular Choice)
7. Governance & Public Policies
8. History of Pakistan & India
Group 2: Law & Criminology
9. Law (Recommended for Law Graduates)
[Link]
[Link] Law
Group 3: Economics & Finance
[Link] (Scoring but Requires Strong Concepts)
[Link] Administration
[Link] & Auditing (For Commerce Background)
Group 4: Sciences & Mathematics
[Link] Science (Easier for Science Students)
[Link] (Recommended for Diagram-Based Answers)
[Link] Mathematics (For Engineering/CS Graduates)
Group 5: Languages & Literature
[Link] Literature (High-Scoring if Well-Prepared)
[Link] Literature
[Link]
Group 6: Journalism & Media
[Link] & Mass Communication
Group 7: Agriculture & Forestry
[Link] & Forestry
2. Best Optional Subjects for High Scores (Recommended Choices)
Based on past results and candidate feedback, the most scoring and
manageable optional subjects are:
✔ International Relations (Conceptual, current affairs-based)
✔ Political Science (Overlaps with Pakistan Affairs)
✔ Public Administration (Theoretical but straightforward)
✔ Gender Studies (Subjective, high scoring if well-prepared)
✔ Environmental Science (Scientific, less competition)
✔ Journalism & Mass Communication (Practical, media-focused)
Avoid if weak in the field:
❌ Applied Mathematics (Very technical)
❌ Law (Only for law graduates)
❌ Economics (Tough if concepts unclear)
3. How to Choose the Right Optional Subjects?
1. Interest & Background: Pick subjects aligned with your degree (e.g., IR for
Political Science grads).
2. Scoring Potential: Some subjects (like Gender Studies) have higher pass rates.
3. Syllabus Overlap: E.g., Political Science helps in Pakistan Affairs.
4. Availability of Resources: Check past papers and books (e.g., "CSS Solved Past
Papers" by JWT).
4. FAQs on CSS Optional Subjects
Q1. Can I take a combination of science and arts subjects?
✅ Yes! FPSC allows mixing subjects (e
3. Interview/Viva Voce (300 marks) .
B. Passing Marks
44% in compulsory subjects, 33% in optional subjects .
5. How to Apply?
1. Online Registration: Via [FPSC’s website]([Link] .
2. Fee Payment: Rs. 2,200 via National Bank/State Bank .
3. Submit Documents: Hard copies to FPSC Islamabad by 26 December 2024 .
6. Preparation Tips
Study Syllabus: Focus on FPSC’s revised syllabus (e.g., [CSS Syllabus 2025
PDF]([Link] .
Current Affairs: Follow newspapers like Dawn and Jang .
Past Papers: Practice FPSC’s past papers for pattern familiarity .
Coaching: Consider institutes like Nearpeer for MPT preparation .
7. Exam Centers
Major cities include Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, and Quetta .
8. FAQs
Attempts Allowed: 3 times .
Best Optional Subjects: International Relations, Public Administration .
Result Timeline: Written results take ~9 months; final merit list by May 2025 .
Conclusion
The CSS exam demands early preparation, strategic subject selection, and consistent effort. For updates,
refer to the official [FPSC website]([Link] or trusted portals like [CSS Past
Papers]([Link] .
Need more details? Ask about specific subjects or preparation resources!
