Hi everyone,

I'm interested in writing the CSS exams for 2018. As the title says, I'm a canadian-Pakistani female. The reason I mention this is because I'm not living in Pakistan so I don't have a lot of exposure to what information is available regarding the CSS exams in Pakistan.

Also, the style of study in Canada is quite different from the way things are taught in Pakistan (so I'm told).

What would be the best way for me to prepare? I can't join any academies of course because I'm not in Pakistan and the suggested reading list in insanely long.

I don't have much background in Pakistan Affairs, or islamiat so that is what I am really concerned about.

Whats the criteria for selection, if I am specifically interested in foreign services of Pakistan is CSS the right exam for me, or is there a different exam I should be focusing on? How does the female quota thing work?

Sorry about all these questions but this is my only source of information since the info on the official css website is very limited.

Hey,

I've lived and studied in the UK and UAE most of my life, so that's no issue. In fact because the exams are all in English you would have a major advantage from the get go.

Study style isn't different. Don't buy into theories that 'Pakistanis learn a certain way' or that the 'CSS must be written a certain way'. An good answer is a good answer is a good answer.

The best way to prepare is to go through the syllabi and past papers of your chosen subjects. Do not use 'academies' (they are a fraud) or online 'summary/help books'. The time it takes you to study will depend on your background. I have an LLB and an MPhil, with a background in politics, and I only needed around 2 months to cover the 6 compulsory and 5 optional subjects. I wouldn't recommend going overboard and memorising everything for a year as a lot do. Nor would I recommend reading through the whole reading lists (most of them are quite rubbish tbh). Study as you did for your undergrad. The CSS exams, although they might be quite arbitrary nowadays, are meant to ascertain a candidates general abilities, not his specialisation in a subject. Don't sweat the exams at all, I've known some real peaches get in.

Pakistan Affairs and Islamiyat aren't very difficult to study for.

Selection depends on:
1. Position in exams (usually in February)
2. Added to position in Viva Voce/Psych (December/Jan of the same year)

Then you have training which starts from October the following year and lasts from 1.5-2.5 years at the academy and elsewhere.

FS positions are through the CSS. There is no female quota I think, only provincial quotas.

Some things to note:
- The application process is quite long.
- Don't join if your motivating goal in life is money. Your salary will be rubbish.
- The process and the eventual job will be quite frustrating (unless there is a dramatic change in govt. soon) as corruption has broken all institutions in Pakistan leading to the rule of the inept.

But, that said, Pakistan has a serious lack of good decision makers and the CSS needs better young civil servants. If you think you're good enough, then you would be doing your country an invaluable service.

There are outcries for only one thing regarding CSS exam (as you may feel by going through previous threads), and that is English. This does not suggest to mean that other subjects are less important.
I am no authority on this matter, but what I have seen so far, is that there are candidates who passed the exam without going to any academy.
You are not supposed to go through all the recommended readings, a handful of them will be enough for your task.
Go through syllabus and past papers of each subject. And you will know where you stand as you prepare.
You will find the relevant threads for PA and Islamiat useful. Go through the pinned posts (common queries) in each thread.
http://www.cssforum.com.pk/css-compu...istan-affairs/
http://www.cssforum.com.pk/css-compu...ects/islamiat/

I agree with everything but the claim that "CSS mustn't be a a certain way". CSS must be in a certain way that reflect how things are in Pakistan. Try to be liberal in Islamiat, and you won't probably pass it no matter how good the answer. Same is the case with bashing army or any other state institution. you have to be extra careful to tread that fine line between open bashing and constructive criticism. As long as the OP is aware of these little intricacies, THEN her good answer would be considered a good answer.

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There is no one to stop you from succeeding other than yourself

Sure, that goes without saying - stay within the 'Pakistani ideology'.

I was referring more to exam answering style and structure, not content.

Oh, sorry for misunderstanding then.

__________________
There is no one to stop you from succeeding other than yourself

If you are a canadian citizen, you can not join the service unless you forfeit your canadian citizenship.

As for your query itself. You can do it. Every subject follows the same pattern, there are important topics, prepare notes for them, memorize your notes, and write down the answer when it comes in the exam. That's all there is to it.

The essay requires some guidance from Pakistani teachers in terms of what kind of structure and approach you should have, but even that is all very common sense.

Yes, forgot about forfeiture of second nationalities. But you only have to forfeit it before joining the academy once your acceptance is confirmed, not before sitting any exams.