CSS exam syllabus and subjects (FPSC)

By the Hunarzai team. Facts checked 3 October 2026.

The short answer

The CSS exam is run by the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) in three stages. First, a 200-mark MCQ screening test (the MPT), which you pass with 33%. Then a written exam of 1,200 marks: 600 marks of compulsory papers and 600 marks of optional subjects you choose. Finally, a medical exam, a psychological assessment and a 300-mark viva voce. To apply you must be 21 to 30 years old and hold at least a second-division bachelor's degree.

CSS at a glance

Stage	What it is	Marks	To pass
1. MPT	One MCQ paper, 200 minutes	200	33%
2. Written exam	6 compulsory papers and 600 marks of optional subjects	1,200	40% in each compulsory subject, 33% in each optional subject, 50% overall
3. Medical exam and psychological assessment	Health check, written tests and group tasks	No separate marks	Must be completed
4. Viva voce (interview)	Interview board	300	At least 100

Your final merit is your written marks plus your viva marks. The MPT only decides who can sit the written exam.

Stage 1: the MPT (MCQ-based Preliminary Test)

The MPT is a single paper of MCQs worth 200 marks, done in 200 minutes:

Subject	Marks
Islamic Studies (non-Muslims may choose Civics and Ethics instead)	20
Urdu, including grammar and translation	20
English, including vocabulary, grammar and comprehension	50
General abilities: SSC-level arithmetic, algebra and geometry, logical problem solving, analytical and mental abilities	60
General knowledge: everyday science, current affairs and Pakistan affairs	50
Total	200

You need 33% to qualify.
A pass counts only for the same year's exam.
There is no separate limit on MPT attempts, but if you have already used your three CSS chances you cannot apply.

Stage 2: compulsory subjects (600 marks)

Each paper is 100 marks and 3 hours.

Paper	Marks
Essay	100
English (Precis and Composition)	100
General Science and Ability	100
Current Affairs	100
Pakistan Affairs	100
Islamic Studies, or Comparative Study of Major Religions for non-Muslims	100

You need at least 40% in each compulsory subject.
The three general knowledge papers (General Science and Ability, Current Affairs, Pakistan Affairs) are passed together: you need 120 marks out of 300 across them.
Expect some MCQs in every paper except Essay and the mathematics papers.

Stage 2: optional subjects (600 marks)

You choose subjects worth 600 marks in total, taking no more than each group allows. Subjects worth 200 marks have two papers.

Group	What you can take	Subjects
I	One 200-mark subject	Accountancy and Auditing, Economics, Computer Science, Political Science, International Relations
II	One 200-mark subject, or two 100-mark subjects	200 marks: Physics, Chemistry. 100 marks: Applied Mathematics, Pure Mathematics, Statistics, Geology
III	One 100-mark subject	Business Administration, Public Administration, Governance and Public Policies, Town Planning and Urban Management
IV	One 100-mark subject	History of Pakistan and India, Islamic History and Culture, British History, European History, History of USA
V	One 100-mark subject	Gender Studies, Environmental Sciences, Agriculture and Forestry, Botany, Zoology, English Literature, Urdu Literature
VI	One 100-mark subject	Law, Constitutional Law, International Law, Muslim Law and Jurisprudence, Mercantile Law, Criminology, Philosophy
VII	One 100-mark subject	Journalism and Mass Communication, Psychology, Geography, Sociology, Anthropology, Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashto, Balochi, Persian, Arabic

You need at least 33% in each optional subject, and 50% across the whole written exam.
Choose carefully. FPSC rejects a wrong combination, and you cannot change your subjects after the closing date.

Stage 3 and 4: medical, psychological assessment and viva

Candidates who pass the written exam take a medical exam, a psychological assessment (written tests and group tasks) and the viva voce. The psychological assessment has no separate marks, but it is reflected in the 300 viva marks. You need at least 100 out of 300 in the viva.

Who can apply

Age: 21 to 30 on 31 December of the year before the exam. For CSS 2027, that is 31 December 2026. Some categories get age relaxation under the rules.
Education: at least a second-division (or grade C) bachelor's degree from a recognised university. A third-division bachelor's is accepted if you have a higher division in a master's.
Nationality: a citizen of Pakistan, or deriving nationality from the State of Jammu and Kashmir.
Attempts: three chances in total within the age limit.

In September 2026 the federal government kept the age limit at 30 and the attempts at three, after a Senate sub-committee had suggested raising them.

CSS 2027 schedule

FPSC's advance notice of 5 July 2026 gave this tentative schedule:

Step	Date
Apply online for the MPT	3 to 20 August 2026
MPT	27 September 2026
Written exam advertisement	8 November 2026
Apply online for the written exam	10 to 25 November 2026
Hard copy of the application and documents to FPSC	by 4 December 2026
Written exam starts	27 January 2027

Always confirm dates on fpsc.gov.pk. FPSC calls this schedule tentative.

How to prepare

Read the official rules and syllabus on the FPSC website before you buy any book.
Start with the MPT. English (50) and general abilities (60) make up 110 of its 200 marks.
Choose optional subjects you already know well. You will study them in depth, so your degree subjects are a natural starting point.
Write every week. Essay and Precis are 200 marks together, and they reward practice and feedback.
Follow the news daily for Current Affairs and Pakistan Affairs.

How Hunarzai helps

Hunarzai is a course marketplace for Pakistan. CSS courses are listed on the CSS page as teachers publish them.

Questions people ask

How many papers are in the CSS written exam?

Twelve papers of 100 marks each: six compulsory papers, and 600 marks of optional subjects (a 200-mark subject counts as two papers).

What are the passing marks in CSS?

33% in the MPT; in the written exam, 40% in each compulsory subject, 33% in each optional subject and 50% overall; and at least 100 out of 300 in the viva.

What is the age limit for CSS?

21 to 30 years on 31 December of the year before the exam, with relaxation for some categories under the rules.

How many attempts are allowed in CSS?

Three chances within the age limit. Appearing in even one paper counts as a chance.

Do MPT marks count in the final merit?

No. The MPT shortlists candidates for the written exam. Final merit is the written exam marks plus the viva marks.