CSS Exam Preparation Online 2025, Past Papers, MCQs

CSS 2020 Result

As per result announced by FPSC for CSS 2020 written Examination Statistics are as below with average passing percentage.

Total Candidates who applied for CSS: 39630

Candidates who attempted the written examination: 18553

Passing Candidates in written Examination: 376

Passing Percentage of CSS Examination: 2.03%

Now, We all know that CSS Exam is toughest to clear but Can someone pass CSS Exam in First Attempt? 

Yes, a candidate with dedication and passion can easily clear CSS Examination in 1st attempt and If you want to be among them to clear this competitive examination then you should start preparation right away.

Here we have prepared a Handful guide for CSS aspirants to clear Exam in the first attempt, This whole article is a step by step guide to pass CSS Examination by preparing at home. This CSS Guide has divided into multiple sections from basic information about CSS to advance such as Paper Pattern and Important Subjects as mentioned below

• What is CSS Exam
• Age Limit for men and women
• Eligibility
• How to Apply for CSS Examination Online
• CSS Syllabus
• Compulsory and Optional subjects for CSS
• What optional subjects you should choose from the available 45 Subjects.
• CSS Exam Pattern with Examples
• Where you should study home or in a Library for preparation
• CSS Past Papers
• CSS Practice Quiz for Interview Questions

What is CSS Exam in Pakistan?

Central Superior Services or Civil Superior Services is a bureaucratic authority meant to run civilian operations under the Government of Pakistan.

To hire for CSS Positions FPSC which is also known as the Federal Public Service Commission of Pakistan conducts a Competitive Examination every year following Written Tests, Psychological Test and Panel Interviews.

Toughest Exam in Pakistan

Is CSS Exam the most toughest examination in Pakistan ? Well its straight answer would be yes due to its extremely low pass to fail ratio.

When a Candidate is selected in this process, he/she can choose one of the available Service Groups as mentioned below.

FPSC Service Groups

• Pakistan Audit and Accounts Service
• Pakistan Administrative Service
• Information Services of Pakistan
• Commercial and Transport Group (Pakistan Railways)
• Postal Group
• Office Management and Secretariat Service
• Foreign Service of Pakistan
• Pakistan Customs Services
• Commerce and Trade Group
• Inland Revenue Service of Pakistan
• Military Lands and Cantonment Group
• Police Service of Pakistan

CSS is an exam with a reputation of very low passing percentage due to its difficult paper and tough interview practices which are on purpose to filter only quality candidates for the bureaucratic positions. CSS is not only focused on a single subject but rather multiple subjects just to make it more difficult to clear below we will discuss CSS Syllabus and Important Subjects.

Tip: How many Attempts an Aspirant can Make?

A Candidate may avail only 3 chances of this examination within defined age limits.

CSS Age Limit for Men and Women

• Maximum age limit for both Men and Women is 30 years old with starting age of 21 Years without any gender discriminations.
• Anybody within this age period is eligible to participate in CSS Competitive Examination.
• Although FPSC has given age relaxation of 2 years making it to 32 years to those who are currently Government Employee or are from known Tribes of FATA which is now merged with KPK Province or from Gilgit Baltistan Agencies.

CSS Eligibility, Who can Apply in CSS

Anybody who is in defined age range as mentioned above along with 14 years of education or any Undergraduate Degrees for example Bachelors degree with second division from an HEC recognized University is eligible

Or If the aspirant has passed Bachelors with 3rd division and Masters with 1st division is eligible for CSS Competitive Examination.

How to Apply for CSS Examination

CSS Online Application on FPSC has 5 Stages as mentioned below

1. Online Registration (Create an Account on FPSC Site) Only once if not already created
2. You can Modify your Profile If there is something missing or needs to be updated
3. Confirm Apply in the next step you will have to submit Challan # that you have submitted in National Bank of Pakistan worth of PKR 2200/- 
4. In 4th stage you can now print Computer generated slip of your Application Form.

Finally you can now dispatch your Application form with following documents attached

1. Original Challan Receipt
2. Four Passport size pictures
3. Attested copy of CNIC
4. Attested copies of your Academic Degrees

For More details on how to Apply for CSS Examination with step by step guide Please read on FPSC Site

CSS Syllabus and Subject List

In this section, we will cover the CSS Syllabus which includes 6 subjects for each Compulsory and Optional papers which makes 12 Papers with total 1200 Marks.

CSS Compulsory Subjects - Total 600 Marks

Compulsory subjects are those important subjects that every CSS Aspirant has to select as a standard given by FPSC.

CSS Optional Subjects - Total 600 Marks

There are 45 total optional subjects in CSS Examination divided into 6 different groups of subjects from which you can choose as optional subjects but keep in mind that you can only select subjects within 600 Marks. We have enlisted all these six groups for you along with their subjects and marks.

From Group 1 you can choose the following subjects with 200 Marks only

1. Accountancy & Auditing - 200 Marks
2. Economics - 200 Marks
3. Computer Science - 200 Marks
4. Political Science - 200 Marks
5. International Relations - 200 Marks

Group 2 can choose the following subjects with 200 Marks only

1. Pure Mathematics - 100 Marks
2. Physics - 200 Marks
3. Chemistry - 200 Marks
4. Applied Mathematics - 100 Marks
5. Statistics - 100 Marks
6. Geology - 100 Marks

From Group 3 select only one subject of 100 marks

1. Business Administration 100
2. Public Administration 100
3. Governance & Public Policies 100
4. Town Planning & Urban Management 100

From Group 4 select one subject with 100 marks

1. History of Pakistan & India 100
2. Islamic History & Culture 100
3. British History 100
4. European History 100
5. History of USA 100

From Group 5 you can select one subject of 100 marks

1. Gender Studies 100
2. Agriculture & Forestry 100
3. Environmental Sciences 100
4. Botany 100
5. Zoology 100
6. English Literature 100
7. Urdu Literature 100

From Group 6 select one subject of 100 marks

1. Law 100
2. Muslim Law & Jurisprudence 100
3. Constitutional Law 100
4. Philosophy 100
5. International Law 100
6. Mercantile Law 100
7. Criminology 100

From Group 7 select one subject only of 100 marks

1. Journalism & Mass Communication 100
2. Anthropology 100
3. Balochi 100
4. Psychology 100
5. Geography 100
6. Sociology 100
7. Persian 100
8. Punjabi 100
9. Sindhi 100
10. Pashto 100
11. Arabic 100

How to Choose Optional Subjects in CSS 2023

Many CSS Aspirants get confuse while choosing Optional subjects for the competitive examination because they do not discuss with old aspirants who attempted or cleared the examination. But as we have interviewed a couple of aspirants who cleared this Competitive Exam from Lahore and Islamabad, they told us that Aspirants should choose subjects which they can handle easily.

After compiling multiple opinions from former aspirants and candidates we agree to enlist the following subjects that you should go with making a total of 600 required marks

1. US History from Group 4 with 100 Marks
2. Political Science from Group 1 with 200 Marks
3. International Relations from Group 1 with 200 Marks
4. History of Pakistan & India from Group 4 with 100 Marks

CSS Exam Pattern and Process 2023

Civil Superior Services hiring process which is conducted by FPSC is divided into four different stages

1. The 1st stage is written examination
2. 2nd stage is a Medical Test of Candidate
3. 3rd Psychological Test is conducted of Candidate
4. 4th stage consists a Panel Interview or Viva Voice

CSS Written Exam Pattern 2023

• As there are 12 Papers in CSS Written Examination and Each Paper duration is of 3 Hours
• Paper written in any Native language like Balochi, Sindhi, Pashto or Punjabi must be answered by candidate in same language and rest of the papers will be answered in English Language.
• But, for Islamic Studies or Comparative Subject for Non-Muslims must be answered in Urdu/English or instructions given on Paper
• Candidate will be considered failed if he/she has missed any compulsory or optional paper and may not be allowed in other papers

After a candidate who passed the written examination, as well as interview, will be selected after the last stage of checking the candidate's background.

Also If the passing Candidate is married to a person of a different nationality he/she may be rejected and will not be eligible to be appointed to any government position.

Start CSS Preparation at Home

There is no place like Home where a normal human being feels safe, fresh and confident and it is even better if you have a couple of book shelves along with a Study table and chair.

If you have all these necessary things to study you are good to go, but if you lack of books and comfortable environment in home due to some reasons we will suggest you to get membership in your nearest libraries as mentioned in our article about Libraries in Pakistan.  

Because in a Public Library you can get a nice comfortable environment with all of related books and readable material that you have selected for CSS Examination. Also you will get to know other aspirants who are going to attempt CSS Examination.

Tip: Pro Tip suggests you to communicate with other aspirants, share thoughts have some productive discussions. In this way you will not only enhance your knowledge but also Confidence which is required while sitting in front of FPSC Interview Panel.

CSS Past Papers 2021

To download Past Papers for CSS Exam 2021 see following list

CSS Past Papers 2020

Following is the list of Last Years Past Paper for CSS Examination

• General Science and Ability CSS paper2020

To download CSS General Science paper in high quality resolution for year 2020 Click Here

• Current Affair CSS paper 2020

To download CSS Current Affair Paper for year 2020 Click Here

• Pakistan Affairs CSS paper 2020

To download Pakistan Affairs CSS Past Paper for year 2020 Click Here

• CSS Essay paper 2020

To download Essay Paper for CSS 2020 Click Here

• English Grammar CSS Paper 2020

To download CSS Paper of English Grammar for year 2020 Click Here

CSS Quiz and MCQs

Team Graduate.Pk is working very hard to provide free of cost Informative Articles and Useful content for Aspirants of Pakistan to help win Government Jobs. We will soon be launching a User Friendly MCQs App where you can Play MCQs related to CSS and other Competitive Exams such as PMS, PPSC, SPSC, NTS.

We urge you to stay tuned and visit our site on daily basis.