Originally Posted by Ainuddin Kibzai

#Subject_Selection
#CSS_2018
Assalam-u-Alaikum Dear Aspirants.
This very post is about the criteria for selecting your #Optional_Subjects
a. Choose your optional subjects according to your educational background but bear in mind that you need not go for natural sciences.
b. At the same time, you need to be aware of subjects that are literary in nature such as English literature and Urdu Literature.
c. Do go through the prescribed revised syllabus by FPSC that has seen drastic changes since CE 2016.
d. Past Papers always provide you with different perspectives relating various topics.
e. It will enable you decide whether you are able to handle that very subject.
f. The FPSC does not have any hard and fast rules to sticking to its syllabus. It may ask you for the applications of any subject. For instance, you might be asked to resolve any international conflict by applying international law principles.

Scoring Trend vs. Overlapping Subjects
a. There had been a general perception that there are a few particular subjects reckoned as scoring ones. This phenomenon is true to some extent ONLY.
b. Since 2016, the perception of scoring has shifted towards overlapping of Subjects. For instance, IR does overlap with Essay, Current Affairs, International Law, and Pakistan Affairs.
c. However, regional languages and history subjects do tend to help you gain more marks.
d. Basically, supporting subjects are those that help you build your knowledge base along with expanding your intellectual capacity.
e. Optional subjects do overlap with one another in the following ways:
i. International Relations= International Law, USA History/European History
ii. Political Science= Constitutional Law, any History Subject

Aptitude
a. It includes the ability and competence to handle the subject.
b. Never go into conflict with yourself. If your heart does not accept any subject, your mind never will.

4. Safe Choice
a. Try to opt a subject that provides you safer passage on the basis of your educational background, precise syllabus, repetition of questions from past papers, and overlapping.
b. Try to opt subjects that give you the freedom to express your own general opinion e.g. sociology, journalism.

5. Maximum Marks
a. CSS is not about clearing/passing the written exams only but it is also about scoring maximum marks.
b. Compulsory Subjects such as Essay, English Composition, and Islamiat are the most vulnerable subjects. You had better focus on MERELY passing these papers rather than scoring very highly.

Here are various combinations you can go for.

#Economics / #Accounting_and_Auditing

CHOICE 1: Economics, Business Ad, Mercantile. Law, Any History, Any one subject from Group 7

CHOICE 2: Economics,Business Ad , Mercantile Law, Town Planning, Geography

CHOICE 3: Economics,Business Ad , Mercantile Law, Environmental Science, Any one subject from Group 7

CHOICE 4: Accounting & Auditing, Business Ad , Mercantile Law, Any History, Any one subject from Group 7

CHOICE 5: Accounting & Auditing, Business Ad , Mercantile Law, Town Planning, Geography

CHOICE 6: Accounting & Auditing, Business Ad , Mercantile Law, Environmental Science, Any one subject from Group 7

#IR./ #Political_Science

CHOICE 1: Political Science, Constitutional Law, Any History, (Public Ad / Governance &Public Policies / Gender Studies), Any one subject from Group 7

CHOICE 2: Political Science, Constitutional Law, Any History, Town Planning, Geography

CHOICE 3: Political Science, Constitutional Law, Any History, Gender Studies, Public Ad / Governance &Public Policies)

CHOICE 4: I.R., International Law, Any History, (Public Ad / Governance & Public Policies / Gender Studies), Any one subject from Group 7

CHOICE 5: I.R. , International Law, Any History, Town Planning, Geography

CHOICE 6: I.R., International Law, Any History, Gender Studies, (Public Ad / Governance & Public Policies)

P.S. Individual consultation will be highly appreciated.

6. All the Best!

Regards
Ainu...