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The CSS written examination is the most critical component of the selection process, carrying 1,200 marks out of the total 1,500. Understanding the paper structure, compulsory subjects, optional subject groups, and subject combination rules is essential for planning your preparation strategy.
What is the Overall Structure of the CSS Written Exam?
The CSS written exam consists of:
| Component | Number of Papers | Marks Per Paper | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compulsory Subjects | 6 papers | 100 marks each | 600 marks |
| Optional Subjects | 3 papers | 200 marks each | 600 marks |
| Grand Total | 9 papers | - | 1,200 marks |
What Are the 6 Compulsory Subjects?
Every CSS candidate must appear in all 6 compulsory papers. These papers carry 100 marks each:
| Paper No. | Subject | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English Essay | 100 | 3 hours |
| 2 | English (Precis and Composition) | 100 | 3 hours |
| 3 | General Science and Ability | 100 | 3 hours |
| 4 | Current Affairs | 100 | 3 hours |
| 5 | Pakistan Affairs | 100 | 3 hours |
| 6 | Islamiat (or Comparative Study of Major Religions for non-Muslim candidates) | 100 | 3 hours |
Key Points About Compulsory Subjects
- All 6 papers are mandatory for every candidate
- Non-Muslim candidates appear in "Comparative Study of Major Religions" instead of Islamiat
- Qualifying marks for compulsory papers: 40% in each paper
- Failure in even one compulsory paper means disqualification
- These papers test general knowledge, analytical ability, and writing skills
What Are the Optional Subject Groups?
Optional subjects are organized into 7 groups. You must select 3 optional subjects from these groups, with certain combination rules.
Group I
- Accountancy and Auditing (200 marks)
- Economics (200 marks)
- Computer Science (200 marks)
Group II
- Political Science (200 marks)
- International Relations (200 marks)
- Sociology (200 marks)
Group III
- History of Pakistan and India (200 marks)
- Islamic History and Culture (200 marks)
- British History (200 marks)
- History of USA (200 marks)
- European History (200 marks)
Group IV
- Constitutional Law (200 marks)
- Mercantile Law (200 marks)
- Muslim Law and Jurisprudence (200 marks)
- International Law (200 marks)
- Criminology (200 marks)
Group V
- Philosophy (200 marks)
- Psychology (200 marks)
- Public Administration (200 marks)
- Governance and Public Policies (200 marks)
- Gender Studies (200 marks)
Group VI
- Agriculture and Forestry (200 marks)
- Botany (200 marks)
- Chemistry (200 marks)
- Applied Mathematics (200 marks)
- Pure Mathematics (200 marks)
- Physics (200 marks)
- Statistics (200 marks)
- Geology (200 marks)
- Zoology (200 marks)
- Geography (200 marks)
Group VII
- Journalism and Mass Communication (200 marks)
- Urdu (200 marks)
- Sindhi (200 marks)
- Pashto (200 marks)
- Balochi (200 marks)
- Punjabi (200 marks)
- Persian (200 marks)
- Arabic (200 marks)
What Are the Subject Combination Rules?
When selecting your 3 optional subjects, you must follow these rules:
Rule 1: No Two Subjects from the Same Group
You cannot select more than one subject from any single group. Each of your 3 optional subjects must come from a different group.
Rule 2: Restricted Combinations
Certain subject combinations are not allowed regardless of the group rule:
- You cannot take both Applied Mathematics and Pure Mathematics
- You cannot take both Political Science and International Relations
- Other restricted combinations may be specified in the advertisement
Example of Valid Combinations
| Optional 1 | Optional 2 | Optional 3 | Valid? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economics (Group I) | Political Science (Group II) | Constitutional Law (Group IV) | Yes |
| Sociology (Group II) | History of Pakistan and India (Group III) | Psychology (Group V) | Yes |
| Computer Science (Group I) | International Relations (Group II) | Geography (Group VI) | Yes |
| Economics (Group I) | Accountancy (Group I) | Law (Group IV) | No (two from Group I) |
| Applied Mathematics (Group VI) | Pure Mathematics (Group VI) | Physics (Group VI) | No (all from Group VI) |
How Should You Choose Your Optional Subjects?
Consider These Factors:
- Your educational background - Choose subjects related to your degree for a stronger foundation
- Availability of study material - Some subjects have more comprehensive preparation resources
- Scoring trends - Research past results to see which subjects have higher average scores
- Interest and aptitude - You will spend months preparing, so choose subjects you genuinely find engaging
- Overlap with compulsory papers - Subjects like Pakistan Affairs, Current Affairs, and optional subjects like Political Science or International Relations have significant overlap
Popular Optional Subject Combinations:
| Combination | Why It Is Popular |
|---|---|
| Political Science + International Relations + Constitutional Law | Not valid - Political Science and IR are restricted |
| Economics + International Relations + Public Administration | Good overlap with Current Affairs and Pakistan Affairs |
| Political Science + History of Pakistan & India + Constitutional Law | Strong overlap with compulsory papers |
| Economics + Sociology + Journalism | Diverse but manageable combination |
Warning: Your subject selection is generally final once submitted. Choose very carefully before confirming your application.
What is the Duration of Each Paper?
- Each compulsory paper (100 marks): 3 hours
- Each optional paper (200 marks): 3 hours
- The examination typically spans 2-3 weeks with one or two papers per day
What is the Medium of Examination?
- The medium of the CSS examination is English
- All compulsory papers are in English
- Optional language papers (Urdu, Sindhi, Pashto, etc.) are written in the respective language
- Answers must be written in the language specified for each paper
Quick Summary
- CSS written exam: 1,200 marks (600 compulsory + 600 optional)
- 6 compulsory papers at 100 marks each (English Essay, Precis, General Science, Current Affairs, Pakistan Affairs, Islamiat)
- 3 optional subjects at 200 marks each from 7 groups
- Each optional must be from a different group
- Certain subject combinations are restricted
- Medium of examination is English
- Each paper is 3 hours long
- Subject selection is final once submitted
To understand the qualifying marks and exam day rules, read our guide on CSS Qualifying Marks and Exam Day Rules.