The Central Superior Services (CSS) Competitive Examination is conducted annually by the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC). This guide covers the complete CSS exam structure, all 52 subjects with detailed outlines, and the full syllabus breakdown for CE-2016 and onwards.
CSS Exam Structure at a Glance
| Component |
Details |
| Total Marks |
1200 |
| Compulsory Subjects |
6 subjects - 600 marks |
| Optional Subjects |
Select from 7 groups - 600 marks |
| Total Groups |
7 |
| Total Subjects |
52 |
Compulsory Subjects (600 Marks)
All candidates must attempt these 6 subjects. There is no choice within these.
1. English Essay - 100 Marks
- Write one or more essays on social, political, economic, and philosophical themes
- Marks distribution: Content (40%), Expression (30%), Organization (30%)
- Critical thinking, structured argumentation, and depth of knowledge assessed
2. English (Precis & Composition) - 100 Marks
- Precis Writing - condensing passages to one-third of original length
- Reading Comprehension
- Grammar and Sentence Correction
- Vocabulary - synonyms, antonyms, idioms, phrases
- Pair of Words
- Translation from Urdu to English
3. General Science & Ability - 100 Marks
- Physical Sciences: Mechanics, Electricity, Magnetism, Atomic Structure
- Biological Sciences: Cell Biology, Genetics, Biotechnology
- Environmental Science: Ecology, Pollution, Climate Change
- Information Technology: Computer Fundamentals, Networking, Cyber Security
- Quantitative Ability: Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Statistics
- Logical Reasoning and Mental Ability
4. Current Affairs - 100 Marks
- Pakistan Domestic Affairs: Political developments, governance, economy
- Pakistan External Affairs: Relations with major countries
- Global Issues: Terrorism, nuclear proliferation, climate change, human rights, UN reforms
5. Pakistan Affairs - 100 Marks
- Historical perspective: Independence movement, creation of Pakistan
- Constitutional development: All constitutions and amendments
- Political history: Martial laws, democratic transitions
- Economy: Five-year plans, fiscal policy, trade, industry
- Society: Education, health, population, urbanization
- Foreign relations: India, China, USA, Afghanistan, Middle East
6. Islamic Studies - 100 Marks (for Muslim candidates)
- Quran: Major themes, tafseer of selected surahs
- Hadith: Major collections, selected ahadith
- Fiqh: Schools of Islamic jurisprudence
- Islamic History: Prophet's life, Khulafa-e-Rashideen, Umayyad and Abbasid periods
- Islam and modern challenges
Optional Subject Groups
Group I - Commerce, Computing & Political Science
- Accountancy & Auditing (200 marks)
- Computer Science (200 marks)
- Economics (200 marks)
- Political Science (200 marks)
Group II - History & International Relations
- History of Pakistan & India (200 marks)
- Islamic History & Culture (200 marks)
- British History (100 marks)
- European History (100 marks)
- History of USA (100 marks)
- International Relations (200 marks)
Group III - Law, Governance & Public Administration
- Constitutional Law (200 marks)
- International Law (200 marks)
- Mercantile Law (200 marks)
- Muslim Law & Jurisprudence (200 marks)
- Criminology (200 marks)
- Philosophy (200 marks)
- Public Administration (200 marks)
- Governance & Public Policies (200 marks)
Group IV - Social Sciences
- Gender Studies (200 marks)
- Sociology (200 marks)
- Social Work (200 marks)
- Psychology (200 marks)
- Journalism & Mass Communication (200 marks)
- Anthropology (200 marks)
Group V - Business & Urban Planning
- Business Administration (200 marks)
- Town Planning & Urban Management (200 marks)
Group VI - Pure & Applied Sciences
- Agriculture & Forestry (200 marks)
- Applied Mathematics (200 marks)
- Botany (200 marks)
- Chemistry (200 marks)
- Environmental Sciences (200 marks)
- Geography (200 marks)
- Geology (200 marks)
- Mathematics (200 marks)
- Physics (200 marks)
- Pure Mathematics (200 marks)
- Statistics (200 marks)
- Zoology (200 marks)
Group VII - Languages, Literature, Law & Geography
- English Literature (200 marks)
- Urdu Literature (200 marks)
- Sindhi (200 marks)
- Pashto (200 marks)
- Punjabi (200 marks)
- Balochi (200 marks)
- Persian (200 marks)
- Arabic (200 marks)
Subject Selection Tips
- Choose subjects with overlapping content - International Relations and Pakistan Affairs share significant overlap
- Pick from your educational background - Science students should consider Group VI subjects
- Check scoring trends - Some subjects consistently have higher pass rates
- Availability of study material - Ensure enough books and past papers exist
- Interest matters - You will study for months, so pick subjects you enjoy
- Consider the interview - Your optional subjects may be discussed in the viva
Frequently Asked Questions
How many subjects should I prepare?
You need to attempt 12 papers total: 6 compulsory + enough optional papers to reach 600 marks. If you choose all 200-mark subjects, that means 3 optional subjects.
Can I pick subjects from different groups?
Yes. You can mix and match optional subjects from different groups as long as they total 600 marks.
Is the syllabus the same every year?
The current syllabus (CE-2016 onwards) has been in effect since 2016. FPSC occasionally updates it, but the core structure remains the same.
What is the minimum passing score?
You need at least 40% in each paper and 50% in aggregate (600 out of 1200 marks) to qualify the written exam.
When is the CSS exam held?
The exam is typically held in February each year. Applications open around September-October of the preceding year.
Next Steps