Introduction:
The Central Superior Services (CSS) exam stands as a cornerstone in Pakistan’s bureaucracy, serving as a gateway to twelve prestigious careers in public administration and governance.
- Foreign Service of Pakistan
- Pakistan Administrative Service
- Police Service of Pakistan
- Inland Revenue Service of Pakistan
- Pakistan Customs Services
- Commerce & Trade Group
- Information Services of Pakistan
- Military Lands & Cantonment Group
- Office Management and Secretariat Group
- Pakistan Audit and Accounts Service
- Postal Group
- Railways (Commercial & Transport) Group
Understanding the criteria for passing this rigorous examination is necessary to structure your preparation for crossing the passing thresh hold. This blog elaborates the marks required to pass the CSS exam, current standards, evaluation process, and challenges to pass the exam. A candidate has to appear in following four parts of the exam, but it is pertinent to qualify written part for progressing to subsequent steps.
- Written exam
- Medical test
- Psychological exam
- Viva voce
Passing Criteria in Written exam as per FPSC: To qualify in the CSS exam, candidates must navigate through a comprehensive evaluation process. This includes achieving a set minimum score across various papers, covering a wide spectrum of subjects. The total marks for this exam are 1200; 600 from six compulsory subjects and remaining 600 from the optional subjects of the candidate. Aspirants have the liberty to choose any six optional subjects as per their interest, but compulsory subjects remain the same for all.
A subject carrying 100 marks has one paper; whereas a subject carrying 200 marks has two papers.
Urdu, Persian or Arabic and regional languages such as Punjabi, Pashto, Sindhi, Balochi, must be answered in their respective language.
There will be 20 MCQs in all compulsory papers except Essay. There will be 20 MCQs in all Optional subjects except Applied Mathematics and Pure Mathematics.
Passing marks for Compulsory Subject:
40 out of 100 marks are considered passing marks in compulsory subject which are English Essay, English precis and Composition, and Islamic studies. The key to reach this barrier is to prepare well for 20 marks MCQs portion and attempt four questions in the given time limit.
Passing marks for Compulsory General Knowledge troika:
120 combined marks out of 300 in General Science and Ability, Current Affairs, and Pakistan Affairs are required to ace these subjects. For example if one scores below 40 in any of these subjects, but scores above 40 in any other subject, such that the sum total of 3 subjects is 120 or above, the particular subject in which one has scored less than 40 would be considered pass.
Passing marks in optional subjects:
The passing target for optional subjects is even lower than compulsory that is only 33 marks out of 100. But it is of high concern that most of the candidates in this exam flank these subjects. The reason being unable to grasp the core concepts of the subject to the point that when tougher questions are being asked in the exam, they are unable to solve all four questions. Remember! Solving complete four questions increase the chances of passing the optional subjects.
50 percent conditionality:
In the CSS exam, mere passing all the subjects is not enough. There is one strict condition that one has to fulfil to finally pass the written part of CSS exam, that is the securing above 50 percent overall marks which means if a candidate has passed individual subjects by scoring 40 in compulsory and 33 in optional, but the sum total of all subjects is below 600, then the candidate would be considered failed in the attempt.
The stringent passing criteria demand excellence, underscoring the importance of thorough preparation and a deep understanding of the subject matter.
Evaluation Process:
The evaluation process of the CSS exam is meticulous, with examiners tasked with assessing candidates’ knowledge, analytical skills, and aptitude for decision-making. Mere cramming of subject matter is not sufficient as it requires critical thinking and articulating the answers as per the demand of question.
Challenges and Criticisms:
Despite its revered status, the CSS exam is not without its challenges and criticisms. Some argue that the passing criteria may be overly demanding, deterring potential candidates and limiting the diversity of perspectives within the civil service as students from less privileged backgrounds and smaller provinces are unable to meet the toughest criteria. Others raise concerns about the adequacy of preparation resources and the need for reforms to align the exam with contemporary governance requirements.
Success Stories:
Abundant success stories have emerged as beacons of inspiration for CSS aspirants. These narratives of triumph highlight the dedication, perseverance, and strategy required to navigate the complexities of the exam. From humble beginnings to distinguished civil servants, these individuals exemplify the transformative power of the CSS exam in shaping futures and serving the nation.
The passing criteria illuminates the significance of this examination in Pakistan’s governance landscape. The transparency and integrity of this process uphold the credibility of the CSS exam, instilling confidence in both candidates and the public