CSS Main Examination Syllabus & Scheme
The CSS Main Examination is the written stage of the Competitive Examination, carrying 1200 marks — 600 from six compulsory subjects and 600 chosen from seven optional groups. The scheme below is the FPSC revised syllabus that has applied from CE-2016 onwards, and you can download the complete 158-page document covering every subject in full.
Scheme at a glance
| Part | Detail | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| A — Compulsory subjects | Six subjects, all required | 600 |
| B — Optional subjects | Selected from Groups I–VII | 600 |
| Total | 1200 |
A — Compulsory subjects (600 marks)
Every candidate sits all six. Each paper carries 100 marks.
| Code | Subject | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | English Essay | 100 |
| 2 | English (Precis and Composition) | 100 |
| 3 | General Science & Ability | 100 |
| 4 | Current Affairs | 100 |
| 5 | Pakistan Affairs | 100 |
| 6 | Islamic Studies OR Comparative Study of Major Religions (for non-Muslims) | 100 |
| Total | 600 |
B — Optional subjects (600 marks)
You build 600 marks from the seven groups below. Group II is the only group from which you may select more than one subject — the rest allow exactly one each.
| Group | Selection rule | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| Group I | One subject of 200 marks | Accountancy & Auditing · Economics · Computer Science · Political Science · International Relations |
| Group II | Subject(s) totalling 200 marks | Physics (200) · Chemistry (200) · Applied Mathematics (100) · Pure Mathematics (100) · Statistics (100) · Geology (100) |
| Group III | One subject of 100 marks | Business Administration · Public Administration · Governance & Public Policies · Town Planning & Urban Management |
| Group IV | One subject of 100 marks | History of Pakistan & India · Islamic History & Culture · British History · European History · History of USA |
| Group V | One subject of 100 marks | Gender Studies · Environmental Sciences · Agriculture & Forestry · Botany · Zoology · English Literature · Urdu Literature |
| Group VI | One subject of 100 marks | Law · Constitutional Law · International Law · Muslim Law & Jurisprudence · Mercantile Law · Criminology · Philosophy |
| Group VII | One subject of 100 marks | Journalism & Mass Communication · Psychology · Geography · Sociology · Anthropology · Punjabi · Sindhi · Pashto · Balochi · Persian · Arabic |
Rules worth knowing before you choose
- Papers and duration: a 200-mark subject is examined in two papers of 100 marks each; a 100-mark subject has one paper. Every paper is 3 hours.
- MCQ ratio (CE-2016): 20 MCQs in each compulsory paper except English Essay, and 20 MCQs from each optional paper except Pure Mathematics and Applied Mathematics.
- Language: papers in Urdu, the regional languages (Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashto, Balochi), Persian and Arabic must be answered in that language. Islamic Studies / Comparative Study of Major Religions may be answered in English or Urdu. All other papers must be answered in English unless the question paper directs otherwise.
- Non-Muslim candidates may opt for either Islamic Studies or Comparative Study of Major Religions, whichever suits them.
What the compulsory papers actually test
A summary of the heads FPSC lists for each compulsory paper:
- English Essay (100) — one or more essays from a wide choice of topics, marked on comprehensive, research-based knowledge plus articulation, expression and technical treatment of style.
- English (Precis & Composition) (100) — Precis Writing (20), Reading Comprehension (20), Grammar & Vocabulary (20), Sentence Correction (10), Grouping of Words (10), Pairs of Words (10), Translation from Urdu into English (10).
- General Science & Ability (100) — Part I General Science (60) covering physical, biological and environmental sciences, food and information technology; Part II General Ability (40) covering quantitative ability/reasoning, logical and mental abilities.
- Current Affairs (100) — Pakistan’s Domestic Affairs (20), Pakistan’s External Affairs (40), and Global Issues (40).
- Pakistan Affairs (100) — the ideology and making of Pakistan, its land and people, and the political, constitutional, economic and foreign-policy record since 1947.
- Islamic Studies (100) — or Comparative Study of Major Religions for non-Muslim candidates, which covers Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity and other major religions.
Download the official syllabus
The complete FPSC revised syllabus for CE-2016 and onwards — the scheme plus the detailed syllabus and suggested readings for all compulsory and optional subjects.
Frequently asked questions
How many marks is the CSS Main Examination?+
1200 marks in total — 600 from the six compulsory subjects and 600 from optional subjects selected across Groups I to VII.
How do I pick my optional subjects?+
You need 600 optional marks in total. Group I gives you one 200-mark subject and Group II lets you take subject(s) worth 200 marks; Groups III to VII each allow exactly one 100-mark subject. Combinations must add up to 600.
Are there MCQs in the Main Examination papers?+
Yes. For CE-2016 the ratio is 20 MCQs in every compulsory paper except English Essay, and 20 MCQs from each optional paper except Pure Mathematics and Applied Mathematics.
How long is each paper?+
Three hours. Subjects carrying 200 marks are split into two papers of 100 marks each, so they are examined in two three-hour sittings.
Can I answer in Urdu?+
Only where the syllabus allows it. Islamic Studies and Comparative Study of Major Religions may be answered in English or Urdu, and language papers must be answered in their own language. Everything else is English unless the paper says otherwise.
Is this syllabus still current?+
This is the FPSC revised syllabus notified for CE-2016 and onwards. FPSC issues the authoritative version, so confirm against the current year’s advertisement before you finalise your subject choices.
More Central Superior Services (CSS) guidance
Guidance is provided for candidates' convenience and is not an official CPSP publication. Always confirm current rules and criteria at cpsp.edu.pk.