One of the many questions to answer when selecting your optional papers for the CSS exam, is of course, which are the high-scoring subjects in previous CSS exams. While scoring trends are worth taking a look at, and so we will, they may not be the end-all when you are making your decision.
Before we move on to the analysis of scoring trends and the list of high-scoring subjects in the CSS Exam, you might find it useful to consult strategies on optional subject selection, so that you know how much weightage to give to scoring trends, when making your final decision.
Now that you have a good idea of the subjects available to you and the restrictions for making choices, it can be useful to draw up a list of pros and cons for each choice. We recommend that you base your decision on the following factors:
One of the most important aspects to consider is your existing skill level in a particular discipline. Choosing subjects that you already have an aptitude for or have studied during your degree, certainly makes the preparation process significantly easier.
Additionally, for some subjects (such as the sciences), having prior knowledge is almost a prerequisite. Without it, the chances of performing well are quite low.
Although this may coincide with your skills, having an interest in a subject, even if you haven’t studied it for your college degree, is very useful. If you are familiar with the language of a particular discipline and find it easy to understand the content, you could have a significant edge. Preparation becomes a lot easier if the subject already appeals to you.
Many of the CSS subjects have syllabi that overlap with one another on multiple topics. Given the extensive course content to cover, time management is perhaps the most essential part of passing the CSS exam .
This includes not just how fast you can attempt the exam, but also how much you can optimize time management in your preparation. Acquiring a lot of new knowledge in a small amount of time can be quite challenging, so you should definitely consider saving yourself some trouble by picking courses that intersect with one another.
Read More: Couldn't Clear CSS? Learn How to Clear CSS Exam on 2nd/3rd attempt
Another significant consideration is the nature of the subject and its exam papers. By this, we mean the length of the syllabus to cover, and the types of questions that are generally asked in exams.
Different subjects have varying lengths of syllabi, with some significantly longer than others. Depending upon how much time you have available to prepare for the CSS exam , you should ensure that the material to cover is realistically doable.
As for the questions asked, they are usually either “open-ended” or “closed-ended” in nature. The former includes questions that do not lay out their structure or talking points for you but expect you to come up with an analysis that is applicable. In short, there could be a wide variety of answers.
Example: A single catastrophic event, “Nine Eleven”, has turned the world topsy turvy. Discuss.
These may be harder to score in since the examiner sometimes expects a different set of examples or arguments than what the candidate presents.
Closed-ended questions lay out the exact structure of the argument to be presented, along with clearly defined concepts that you would be required to use.
Example: What are the essential differences between the liberal internationalist and realist theories? In your opinion, why is realism the most dominant theory in the discipline of international relations?
These are easier to score higher in if you have the requisite knowledge. They require little interpretation on the part of the candidate.
Although candidates often stress out about which subjects were the highest scoring in the CSS exam, this is not a good barometer for selecting your optional papers.
Scoring trends do not reflect the examiner’s grading patterns, but rather depend on which exam paper was made slightly harder or easier in that year. This usually involves changing the mix of open and closed-ended questions, or including niche knowledge.
So an analysis of scoring trends is ultimately arbitrary and not valuable, except in that it gives you a rough idea of which subjects you might find more open-ended questions in.
Read More: After Intermediate, Which Subjects Should I Choose for CSS?
Needless to say, not all of the aforementioned considerations will be satisfied for every subject you select. However, striking a balance between each of the factors can help you make the best choices for your CSS optional subjects.
While you can consult the CSS syllabus and CSS past papers to assist you in analyzing along these lines, we have made your task much easier by developing this list of the best scoring CSS subjects, along with an analysis of the other factors:
Scoring Trend (marks): <50 = Low; 50-60 = Medium; 60-65 = Good; 65+ = High
CA = Current Affairs;
PA = Pakistan Affairs;
IR = International Relations.
| Subject | Prerequisite | Nature of Subject | Scoring Trend | Overlaps |
| Physics | Yes | Long Syllabus & Closed-ended | High | None |
| Chemistry | Yes | Long Syllabus & Closed-ended | High | None |
| Applied Math | Yes | Long Syllabus & Closed-ended | Low | None |
| Pure Math | Yes | Long Syllabus & Closed-ended | Low to Medium | None |
| Statistics | Yes | Long Syllabus & Closed-ended | Medium | None |
| Geology | Yes | Long Syllabus & Closed-ended | Good | Geography |
| Subject | Prerequisite | Nature of Subject | Scoring Trend | Overlaps |
| Accounting and Auditing | Yes | Long Syllabus & Closed-ended | High | None |
| Economics | Yes | Long Syllabus & Closed-ended | High | Essay, PA, CA |
| Computer Science | Yes | Long Syllabus & Closed-ended | High | None |
| International Relations | No | Long Syllabus & Open-ended (Mostly) | Low to Good (Mixed) | Essay, PA, CA, US History, International Law |
| Political Science | No | Long Syllabus & Closed-ended (Mostly) | (Mostly) High | Essay, PA, CA, Sociology, Gender, Public Admin, Governance, US History, Constitutional Law. |
| Subject | Prerequisite | Nature of Subject | Scoring Trend | Overlaps |
| Business Administration | Yes | Long Syllabus Closed-ended | High | None |
| Public Administration | No | Long Syllabus Closed-ended | Medium | Essay, PA, CA, Political Science |
| Governance and Public Policy | No | Long Syllabus Open-ended | Good | Essay, PA, CA, Political Science |
| Town Planning | No | Long Syllabus Closed-ended (Partially) | Medium (Mixed) | Geography |
| Subject | Prerequisite | Nature of Subject | Scoring Trend | Overlaps |
| Indo-Pak History | No | Long Syllabus Closed-ended (Partially) | Medium (Mixed) | Essay, PA, CA, Political Science |
| Islamic History | No | Long Syllabus Closed-ended (Partially) | Medium | Islamic Studies |
| British History | No | Long Syllabus Closed-ended (Partially) | Medium | Essay, Political Science, IR |
| EU History | No | Long Syllabus Closed-ended (Partially) | Good | Essay, IR, Political Science |
| US History | No | Medium Syllabus Closed-ended (Partially) | Medium to High (Mixed) | Essay, CA, Political Science, IR |
| Subject | Prerequisite | Nature of Subject | Scoring Trend | Overlaps |
| Gender Studies | No | Medium Syllabus Closed-ended (Partially) | Good (Mixed) | Essay, PA, CA, Political Science, Sociology, Anthropology |
| Environmental Science | Partially Yes | Long Syllabus Closed-ended | Medium | Essay, CA, Geography |
| Agriculture and Forestry | Partially Yes | Medium Syllabus Closed-ended | Mixed | None |
| Botany | Yes | Medium Syllabus Closed-ended | Good | None |
| Zoology | Yes | Long Syllabus Closed-ended | Good | None |
| English Literature | Yes | Long Syllabus Open-ended | Medium | Essay |
| Urdu Literature | Yes | Long Syllabus Closed-ended (Partially) | Medium | None |
| Subject | Prerequisite | Nature of Subject | Scoring Trend | Overlaps |
| Law | Yes | Long Syllabus Closed-ended (Partially) | Good | None |
| Constitutional Law | No | Medium Syllabus Closed-ended (Partially) | Good | Essay, PA, CA, Political Science, US History, Indo-Pak History |
| International Law | No | Medium Syllabus Closed-ended | Medium (Mixed) | Essay, CA, IR |
| Muslim Law and Jurisprudence | Partially Yes | Medium Syllabus Closed-ended | Good | Islamic Studies |
| Mercantile Law | Yes | Long Syllabus Closed-ended | Good | No |
| Criminology | No | Medium Syllabus Closed-ended (Partially) | Good | Essay, Sociology |
| Philosophy | Partially Yes | Short Syllabus Closed-ended (Partially) | Good | Political Science |
| Subject | Prerequisite | Nature of Subject | Scoring Trend | Overlaps |
| Journalism and Mass Comm. | No | Long Syllabus Closed-ended (Partially) | Good | Essay |
| Psychology | Partially Yes | Long Syllabus Closed-ended | Good | No |
| Geography | Partially Yes | Long Syllabus Closed-ended | Medium (Mixed) | Economics, Environmental Science |
| Sociology | No | Medium Syllabus Closed-ended (Partially) | High | Essay, PA, Political Science, Gender, Criminology |
| Anthropology | No | Long Syllabus Closed-ended (Partially) | Good (Mixed) | Essay, Political Science, Gender, Economics, Town Planning |
| All Languages | Yes | Medium Syllabus Closed-ended | Medium to High (Mixed) | No |
After this detailed discussion of the criteria you should use, we can leave you with this final list of the 15 highest-scoring subjects in the CSS exam.
1. Political Science
2. Sociology
3. Economics
4. Computer Science
5. Accountancy and Auditing
6. Business Administration
7. US History
8. Governance and Public Policy
9. Psychology
10. Philosophy
11. Criminology
12. Zoology
13. Journalism and Mass Communication
14. Constitutional Law
15. Regional Languages (Punjabi, Pashto, Sindhi, Balochi)
We hope the research we have done proves useful for your endeavors in the future. While talk of high-scoring subjects in CSS is always raging on at every forum, we highly recommend considering all the other aspects as well. Most of them are more important than scoring trends.
However, if you have any confusion or need guidance, you can join our WhatsApp Community Group, and utilize the services for free!