The CSS is a competitive exam held by the Government of Pakistan, specifically the Federal Public Service Commission.
We at Nearpeer understand how important past papers truly are. This is why we have attached FREE compulsory and optional previous year papers in PDF form for your understanding and to benefit from. Click on the subject name to access CSS Compulsory and Optional Previous Year Past Papers.
CSS Compulsory Subjects
There are six CSS compulsory subjects for the CSS examination. Below are the subjects and the marks breakdown:
# | CSS Compulsory Subjects | Marks |
1 | 100 | |
2 | 100 | |
3 | 100 | |
4 | 100 | |
5 | 100 | |
6 | Islamic Studies/ Comparative Study of Major Religions ( Non-Muslims) | 100 |
English Essay
The English essay requires basic English writing knowledge, along with how to structure an essay in terms of grammar, vocabulary, coherence, clarity of thought, and content.
English Precis and Composition
This subject focuses on understanding the English language through passages and answering questions in terms of sentence completion, structure, synonyms, antonyms, nouns, and pronouns.
General Knowledge
Paper-1: General Science & Ability
General Science & Ability focuses on how to approach and answer questions in a quantitative sense. It includes arithmetic, geometry, algebra, triangles, sets, and more.
Paper - 2: Current Affairs
In the Current Affairs paper, you are to focus on exhibiting your knowledge of international affairs and relations, history, and politics.
Paper -3: Pakistan Affairs
The CSS Pakistan Affairs subject deals with pre-partition and post-partition affairs pertaining to Pakistan's relations, affairs, history, and the economy.
Islamic Studies/ Comparative Study of Major Religions ( Non-Muslims)
The Islamic Studies subject builds a better understanding of religious history, writings, and Islam’s current state in the world. Comparative Study of Major Religions does the same, but for other religions.
CSS Optional Subjects
# | CSS Optional Subjects (Group 1 = 200 Marks) | Marks |
1 | 200 | |
2 | 200 | |
3 | 200 | |
4 | 200 | |
5 | 200 |
Accountancy & Auditing focuses on building a deeper understanding of the subject matter through financial accounting, the different types of accounting, auditing, business taxation business studies as well as cost and managerial accounting.
Economics
Economics for the CSS exam explores the types of economics which include microeconomics and macroeconomics, as well as money, banking, and the economic development of Pakistan.
Computer Science
The Computer Science subject for the CSS examination develops the learner's understanding of an introduction to the subject matter, then data structure, programming, computing algorithm as well as software engineering.
Political Science
Political Science relies on engaging with western political thought, Muslim political thought, state systems, political concepts (western as well as Islamic), comparative and analytic study of political systems integrations, political movements, and international relations.
International Relations
The CSS examination subject International Relations explores an introduction to the subject matter, theories, and approaches, international political security, international political economy, community and institutions, approaches to peace, wars, weapons as well as contemporary issues.
# | CSS Optional Subjects (Group 2 = One Subject 200 Marks or two Subjects 100 Marks) | Marks |
1 | 200 | |
2 | 200 | |
3 | 100 | |
4 | 100 | |
5 | 100 | |
6 | 100 |
Physics
Physics develops a deeper understanding of the learner’s concepts of mechanics, fluid mechanics, optics, heat, electricity, modern and quantum, solid-state as well as nuclear physics.
Chemistry
The CSS examination subject Chemistry engages with atomic structure and quantum chemistry, electrochemistry, thermodynamics, kinetics, surface chemistry and catalysis, chemometrics, separation methods, inorganic chemistry as well as more topics.
Applied Mathematics
Applied Mathematics focuses on how to approach and answer questions in a quantitative sense. It includes vector cactus, statics, dynamics, ordinary differential equations, Fourier series and partial differential equations, and numerical methods.
Pure Mathematics
Pure Mathematics focuses on how to approach and answer questions in a quantitative sense. It includes modern algebra, calculus, geometry, and complex variables.
Statistics
The CSS examination subject Statistics explores descriptive statistics, basic portability, probability distributions, regressive and correlation analysis, non-parametric methods, sampling distributions, statistical inferences, design of experiments and population analysis, and vital statistics.
Geology
The CSS subject Geology develops a deeper understanding for the learner’s concepts of physical geology, stratigraphy, paleontology, mineralogy, structural geology, petrology and petrography, geophysics, sequence stratigraphy, petroleum geology, engineering and environmental geology, mineral, and energy resources, and economic and applied geology.
# | CSS Optional Subjects (Group 3 = 100 Marks) | Marks |
1 | 100 | |
2 | 100 | |
3 | Governance and Public Policies | 100 |
4 | Town Planning and Urban Management | 100 |
Business administration explores various facets of the business world, broadly focusing on management, HR management, financial management, operations and supply chain management, and marketing.
Public Administration
The CSS subject Public Administration engages with the approaches, concepts, and content to the subject, as well as theories. It also focused on public policy planning and implementation and evaluation, as well as budgeting and financial management, human resources, administrative law, public management skills, civil service, provincial and local government, reforms, accountability, and development.
Governance and Public Policies
Governance and Public Policies focuses on how to approach basic concepts of the matter, theories, indicators, public policy institutions, accountability, beurocracy, public policy formulation and implementation, multilevel governance, federalism, devolution, and decentralization, the role of citizens, and good governance in Islam.
Town Planning and Urban Management
Town Planning and Urban Management explore perspectives surrounding the subject matter, the definition, urban-rural differences, management, communities, economic development, urban design, sustainability, and urban information systems.
# | CSS Optional Subjects (Group 4 = 100 Marks) | Marks |
1 | History of Pakistan & India | 100 |
2 | 100 | |
3 | 100 | |
4 | 100 | |
5 | 100 |
The CSS subject History of Pakistan & India engages with Muslim rule and heritage, British rule, reforms, Independence, the Pakistan movement, the history of Pakistan, military, East Pakistan separation, Democracy, and foreign policy.
Islamic History & Culture
Islamic History & Culture dates from pre-Islamic near East to the dawn of Islam, the Caliphate, the Political system of Islam, institutional development, Umayyads, the Abbasids, Muslim Spain rule, The crusades, The Ottoman Empire, Sufism, and Islam, and modernity in the contemporary world.
British History
British History visits the vast depth of the Britain's past, from the glorious revolution to the union of England and Ireland, the Industrial and agricultural revolution, the victorian Era to Thaterism,
European History
The CSS subject European History explores the french revolution, the eastern question, the first world war, post-war Europe, and Europe now, along with many topics in between.
History of USA
The History of the USA visits the vast depth of the USA’s past, from ancient times to 1492, the civil war, the great depression, congress, and international conflicts, along with many more topics in between.
# | CSS Optional Subjects (Group 5 = 100 Marks) | Marks |
1 | 100 | |
2 | 100 | |
3 | 100 | |
4 | 100 | |
5 | 100 | |
6 | 100 | |
7 | 100 |
Gender Studies
The CSS subject Gender Studies focuses on the social constriction of gender, feminist theories, movements, gender and development, the status of women in Pakistan, Gender and governance, Gender-based violence, and various case studies.
Environmental Sciences
Environmental Sciences zones in on the history, sustainable developmental issues, the interdisciplinary nature, environmental pollution, climate change, environmental governance, global initiatives, and environmental assessment and management.
Agriculture and Forestry
Agriculture and Forestry are divided into two parts, with agriculture focusing on integrated agriculture, challenges, elements of climate, and relationship with crop growth, genetic improvement, horticulture, and rainfed agriculture. Forestry focuses on rangelands’ importance and significance, wildlife, statistics, socio-economic impacts of man-made forests, and more.
Botany
The CSS subject botany explores Algae, Pteridophyta, Anatomy and Embryology, Taxonomy of Angiosperms, Plant Physiology, Ecology, Cytology, Genetics, Evolution, and molecular biology.
Zoology
Zoology focuses on the topics Animal Diversity-Invertebrates, Animal Diversity-Chordata, Principles of Animal Life, and Animal Form and Function.
English Literature
The CSS subject English Literature can be broadly divided into six sections: Essays, short stories, poetry, drama, novels, and literary theory and criticism.
Urdu Literature
Urdu literature is under similar divisions i.e. Essays, short stories, poetry, drama, novel.
# | CSS Optional Subjects (Group 6 = 100 Marks) | Marks |
1 | 100 | |
2 | 100 | |
3 | 100 | |
4 | 100 | |
5 | 100 | |
6 | 100 | |
7 | 100 |
Law
Law focuses on broadly Law of contracts, sales of goods act, partnership act, negotiable instrument act, electronic funds transfer, and many more.
Constitutional Law
This subject focuses on the definition and scope of Constitutional Law, principles, history, and legal development.
International Law
International law ranges from nature and origin, to state to humanitarian law, international institutions, state responsibility, war, and neutrality.
Muslim Law and Jurisprudence
This subject explores the sources of Islamic law, family law, the law of contract, banking and insurance, and more
Mercantile Law
Mercantile law focuses on the Law of contracts, sales of goods act, partnership act, negotiable instrument act, and more.
Criminology
The topics for criminology range from crimes, criminals, and theoretical perspectives to juvenile delinquency and the justice system, to criminal investigations, and modern concepts in contemporary criminology.
Philosophy
Philosophy extends on Philosophical Methods, Epistemology, Ontology, Ethics, Muslim Thinkers and Contemporary Philosophical Movements.
# | CSS Optional Subjects (Group 7 = 100 Marks) | Marks |
1 | 100 | |
2 | 100 | |
3 | 100 | |
4 | 100 | |
5 | 100 | |
6 | 100 | |
7 | 100 | |
8 | 100 | |
9 | 100 | |
10 | 100 | |
11 | 100 |
Journalism and Mass Communication involve theories, communications, media and society, mass media development support communication, public relations, media laws, and ethics.
Psychology
The CSS subject Psychology focuses on nature, biological basis, perception, learning and memory, motivation, psychological assessment, personality, intelligence, and more.
Geography
This subject focuses on physical geography which includes landform development, climate, seas, and climate change, along with human geography which includes culture, languages, agriculture, population growth, and politics.
Sociology
Sociology explores the individual, culture, society, social interaction, social control, public option, community, and social problems in Pakistan.
Anthropology
Anthropology relies on social, urban, and socio-cultural definitions and changes, along with an emphasis on race, theories and research methods.
Punjabi
Punjabi focuses on the language’s origin, grammar, movements, translations, poetry, and folk literature.
Sindhi
Sindhi focuses on the language’s origin, grammar, movements, translations, poetry, and folk literature.
Pashto
Pashto focuses on the language’s origin, grammar, movements, translations, poetry, and folk literature.
Balochi
Balochi focuses on the language’s origin, grammar, movements, translations, poetry, and folk literature.
Persian
Persian focuses on the language’s origin, grammar, movements, translations, poetry, and folk literature.
Arabic
Arabic focuses on the language’s origin, grammar, movements, translations, poetry, and folk literature.
So, why are CSS past papers so important? Can't you study without them? Well, there are multiple reasons why CSS Past Papers are absolutely essential in how well you score on the CSS.
The first main benefit for the CSS past papers is just to understand how the paper functions. You will get a good idea of which CSS questions are worth how many marks, how many CSS Compulsory and Optional questions are in the section, and prepare you for what to expect during the exam. It is important to note just how crucial it is to be well acquainted with the structure of the paper since you should be extremely comfortable with it by the day of the exam to make sure you do not lose out unnecessarily on marks in any way.
It is important to see the paper through the lens of the examiner also, and that can only happen when we study and practice past papers then work on solved past papers. This will help us understand what points are more scoring in the eyes of the examiner and can guide us in the right direction of maximizing our score on the CSS examination.
Working on past papers within the time frame can do wonders for your reading speed. When you are aware there is a time limit, you become more conscious of your time and learn to use it more wisely. This way you also learn to be more efficient with your time and you will read sifting through the long paragraphs and your reading time will decrease eventually.
Another great reason to work on CSS compulsory and optional past papers as a form of studying is that it will improve your writing over time. If you are not just writing mindlessly, and are actually writing critically and being aware of your quality of writing and engaging with CSS compulsory and optional answer keys and patterns, your writing is bound to improve by leaps also. Only as long as you are not simply reading the CSS questions in the past paper and actually attempting them. With a strategy to actually test or recheck your answers along with constantly brushing up on the theory, and if you perform these tasks as efficiently as you can, there is no way your writing won't improve!
Believe it or not, past papers help a ton with revision. Performing and practicing CSS compulsory and optional questions can test your memory and knowledge of a topic, and can truly help you engage with how much you know and don't know. If you actually attempt the CSS compulsory and optional questions and assess your answer and progress according to the answer key, it is a great way to revise. You are bound to make mistakes initially. That is good even because you are identifying areas of improvement. As long as you revise based on your weak spots, these can be simple ways to improve your memory and cognitive skills, as well as to sit the information concretely in your mind.
CSS Current Affairs Past Papers are arguably the most important puzzle piece in your preparation for the CSS exam. These, as the points above state, help develop your analysis. When you have any topic, related to gender, politics, or current affairs, you have to give your stance and also subsequently improve your stance in the exam. For this, your analytical powers need to be strong and you will be able to improve them through CSS past paper practice. You will be able to represent these better if you read more newspapers for your CSS preparation.
Don't forget, Nearpeer is here to help you with all your CSS troubles with our high-quality, online CSS classes, along with other courses. Competitors simply can not match. Check out our courses for our reasonable prices and exciting discounts. Stay informed with future CSS updates through Nearpeer Blogs and our social media handles, including our official Facebook and Instagram. We know how to prepare for the CSS the RIGHT way. And as always, happy learning!