CSS Exam comprises the following parts:

1. Written Exam
2. Medical Test
3. Psychological Test
4. Viva Voce

1. The written exam consists of a total of 12 papers: six (06) compulsory papers and six (06) optional papers. Each paper carries 100 marks.
2. The written exam carries 1,200 marks in total – 600 marks for compulsory papers and 600 marks for optional papers.
3. Time allowed for each paper is 3 hours.
4. Each paper has Part-I (MCQs) and Part-II (subjective). Part-I is attempted on a separate computerized OMR sheet, which is collected after 30 minutes. Part-II is attempted on the answer book.
5. The qualifying marks are 40% for compulsory papers and 33% for optional papers.
6. Optional papers are to be selected from the groups of subjects in the list provided specified by FPSC.
7. The list of compulsory and optional papers is as follows:

No.	Subject	Marks
1	Essay	100
2	English (Precis and Composition)	100
General Knowledge:
3	General Science & Ability (General Science: MCQs= 20 marks, subjective = 40 marks Ability: subject = 40 marks)	100
4	Current Affairs	100
5	Pakistan Affairs	100
6	Islamic Studies or Comparative Study of Major Religions (for non-Muslims)	100
Total marks		600

Group-I: (One subject of 200 marks can be selected only)

Code No.	Subjects	Marks
11.	Accountancy & Auditing	200
12.	Economics	200
13.	Computer Science	200
14.	Political Science	200
15.	International Relations	200

Group-II: (Either one subject of 200 marks from code 16-17 or two subjects of 100 marks each from code 18-21can be selected only)

Code No.	Subjects	Marks
16.	Physics	200
17.	Chemistry	200
18.	Applied Mathematics	100
19.	Pure Mathematics	100
20.	Statistics	100
21.	Geology	100

Group-III: (One subject of 100 marks can be selected only)

Code No.	Subjects	Marks
22.	Business Administration	100
23.	Public Administration	100
24.	Governance & Public Policies	100
25.	Town Planning & Urban Management	100

Group-IV: (One subject of 100 marks can be selected only)

Code No.	Subjects	Marks
26.	History of Pakistan & India	100
27.	Islamic History & Culture	100
28.	British History	100
29.	European History	100
30.	History of USA	100

Group-V: (One subject of 100 marks can be selected only)

Code No.	Subjects	Marks
31.	Gender Studies	100
32.	Environmental Sciences	100
33.	Agriculture & Forestry	100
34.	Botany	100
35.	Zoology	100
36.	English Literature	100
37.	Urdu Literature	100

Group-VI: (One subject of 100 marks can be selected only)

Code No.	Subjects	Marks
38.	Law	100
39.	Constitutional Law	100
40.	International Law	100
41.	Muslim Law & Jurisprudence	100
42.	Mercantile Law	100
43.	Criminology	100
44.	Philosophy	100

Group-VII: (One subject of 100 marks can be selected only)

Code No.	Subjects	Marks
45.	Journalism & Mass Communication	100
46.	Psychology	100
47.	Geography	100
48.	Sociology	100
49.	Anthropology	100
50.	Punjabi	100
51.	Sindhi	100
52.	Pashto	100
53.	Balochi	100
54.	Persian	100
55.	Arabic	100

Note:

1. The above groups provide subjects with either 200 marks or 100 marks. A subject carrying 100 marks has one paper, whereas a subject carrying 200 marks has two papers.
2. Question papers in Urdu or other regional languages (i.e., Punjabi, Pashto, Sindhi, or Balochi), Arabic, and Persian must be answered in the respective languages. However, translation questions (from the respective language to English) in the same papers must be answered as directed in the question.
3. There will be 20 MCQs in all compulsory papers except the paper of Essay. There will be 20 MCQs in all optional papers except the papers of Applied Mathematics and Pure Mathematics.