7.24. Study of candidates, qualifying written examination of CSS showed that 69% candidates in Islamiat, 33% in Every Day Science, 7% in Current Affairs, 5% in English Essay and 3% in English (Precis&Composition) got above 60% marks in the said subjects. Analysis showed that performance of qualified candidates in written examination in the subjects of Islamiat and Every-Day Science was much better than other compulsory subjects. (Appendix- XVI, Table- 8).


7.25. Following are observations of the examiners on performance of candidates in compulsory and optional subjects offered in written part of the Competitive Examination 2009.


7.26. Essay: Majority of the candidates had produced crammed knowledge obtained from available stereo-type sources. They had invalid and expired pieces of information/knowledge without any sense to update it. However, 5 percent candidates showed commendable originality of approach, precision of comprehension and clarity of expression. More importantly, one third of the total candidates who appeared in the subject had no logic of the basic English grammar, punctuation and sentence formation.

7.27. General Knowledge-I (Every Day Science): Although 60 percent candidates passed in the subject but they still seemed depending upon traditional help/guide books. They should not be confined within the boundaries of classrooms. The candidates were lacking conceptual background of the subject. 8 percent candidates secured marks in the range of 70-79%, which reflects better tendency, competency and aptitude of the candidates towards the CSS Examination. Majority of the candidates reflected a casual approach and ill preparation.

7.28. General Knowledge-II (Current Affairs): General level of awareness of the candidates seemed improved to certain extent, but their level of understanding, depth of knowledge and analysis of issues was weak. It reflects that the standard and quality of higher education had not made any significant improvement in-spite of heavy investment during the last five years. The preparation level of the candidates for the examination was also found to be sub-standard. The overall impression of erosion in the public delivery could be a reason for the lack of interest in the examination.

7.29. General Knowledge-III (Pakistan Affairs): Overall standard of the answer scripts was poor. Answers were not according to the requirement of the questions. Creative and thought provoking answers were very rare.

7.30. Islamiat: Performance of the candidates was not bad in general. However, their knowledge was superficial and shallow. The general deficiency seems to be because of lack of extensive reading. Knowledge of Quran & Hadith was quite unsatisfactory due to insufficient practice in the youngsters’ life. For better performance, grammar based translation activity of Quran & Hadith should be introduced at graduation level. Overall 26 percent candidates obtained 60% and above marks. 35 percent secured between 50-59% marks while 39 percent obtained between 40-49%. In all, no candidate failed in the subject.


7.31. Accountancy & Auditing: Candidates had a poor knowledge of the basic concepts of Accounting. Their primary focus was on practical work, though practical accounting was not possible without proper knowledge of basic concepts, rules/regulations, techniques and standards of accounting. In Paper-II, performance of majority of the candidates was good in Cost Accounting (Section-A) and Business Organization & Finance (Section-D), but very weak in sections B&C i.e. Auditing & Income Tax. It was also observed that candidates showing poor results in MCQ were also weak in other sections.

7.32. Agriculture: Overall performance of the candidates was satisfactory. Depth of knowledge of some candidates was excellent but majority were lacking it. Comprehension of the subject needed improvement. Some candidates made grammatical mistakes in their writing.

7.33. Applied Math: More than 62 percent candidates had failed in the paper. 6 percent candidates secured 60% and above marks. Ability of candidates to analyse the questions and provide relevant information was very poor. Attitude of majority of the candidates appeared as non-serious. Performance of candidates in Paper-II of the subject was comparatively better than Paper-I. About 34 percent candidates failed in the paper while 12 percent candidates got 60% and above marks.

7.34. Arabic: Performance of candidates in objective part was very poor as they had no knowledge in the applied grammar of the subject. However, their performance in subjective part was comparatively satisfactory as 43 percent candidates got 60% and above marks.

7.35. Balochi: Performance of all candidates was very good and 50% of them expressed their thoughts in proper language and showed command in Balochi literature while remaining 50 percent candidates used other languages i.e. Urdu, Sindhi and English to express their views in answers. The candidates opting for this subject should learn proper terms, idioms, proverbs, phrases and quotations of Balochi language and literature. 98 percent candidates secured between 60-64% marks while only 2 percent obtained less than 60% marks.

7.36. British History: Performance of the candidates was satisfactory. Some answer scripts were impressive while others were moderate. Percentage of passed candidates manifested that the questions in the subject were understandable, comprehensive and the topics were explorable as well.

7.37. Business Administrations: Performance of the candidates was not satisfactory. It showed lack of knowledge about the questions asked.

7.38. Chemistry: Performance of majority of the candidates was poor. Only 5 percent got 60% and above marks. 22 percent secured between 44-59% marks, while 38 percent candidate attained between 33-43% marks whereas 36 percent candidates failed in the subject. Syllabus of the subject needs to be reviewed and improved.

7.39. Computer Science: Overall performance was not satisfactory. A majority of the candidates were not even able to attempt all questions and were not able to express their views adequately. Only 6 percent candidates got 60% and above marks. 23 percent obtained between 44-59% marks, while 31 percent secured between 33-43% marks and 4 percent candidates failed in the subject.

7.40. Economics: Performance of the candidates on the average was good. 34 percent candidates obtained 60% and above marks, 29 percent secured between 55-59% while 36 percent attained 33-54% marks. Only 1 percent failed in the subject.

7.41. English Literature: Answers of the candidates reflected that they lacked in-depth study of the subject. They had made preparations from the guide books and exhibited lack of originality and analysis. Improvement in teaching is required at the graduation and under graduation levels to inculcate accuracy and fluency in English language and grammar. Mistakes committed generally by the candidates included use of articles, direct/indirect speech, active/passive voice, use of prepositions, sequence of tenses and syntax. Only 1 percent candidates got above 60% marks, 27 percent obtained between 44-59% marks, 42 percent secured between 33-43% marks, while 30 percent candidates failed in the subject.

7.42. European History: Candidates performed satisfactorily but they had very limited knowledge of geographical locations of various countries.

7.43. Geography: Overall performance of the candidates was satisfactory. In certain cases their answers were not to the point and gave irrelevant and unnecessarily lengthy answers. They failed to draw required diagrams which could help attain good marks.

7.44. Geology: Geology is not a common subject. The candidates opting it for CSS Examination must have background of the subject at graduate and post graduate level, so that concept of subject is cleared in their minds for better performance in the examination.

7.45. History of Pak & India: Performance of the candidates was average. Some of them produced totally irrelevant material in their answer books. Majority of the candidates suffered due to lack of expression in English language inspite of mushroom growth of English Medium Schools in the Country.

7.46. History of USA: The performance of the candidates was satisfactory. The proficiency in English language was the most worrying aspect. Government should pay more attention towards qualification and training of the school and college teachers instead of concentrating only at university level teachers. 23 percent candidates got 60% and above marks. 39 percent obtained between 44-59% marks. 21 percent secured between 33-43% marks while 17 percent candidates failed in the subject.

7.47. International Law: Overall standard of answer scripts was satisfactory. The knowledge and expression of the candidates in the subject was quite clear. However, majority of the candidates had poor expression in English as well as in their hand writing.

7.48. International Relations: Majority of the candidates were not well versed with the subject. The general performance was below average. They should improve their analytical ability and refer to standard books and newspapers.

7.49. Islamic History & Culture: Performance of the candidates was good. Majority of the candidates produced very good answers. Only few candidates failed in the subject. They should improve English language and writing skill for better performance in the subject.

7.50. Journalism: Majority of the candidates had attempted papers in this subject in a stereotyped way and were below average in their performance. They had tried either to reproduce material from the books or provided irrelevant material.

7.51. Law: It reflects that majority of the candidates who opted for this subject have no background/familiarity with law subjects whereas it was clear that it was a specialized field and needed specialized knowledge. Moreover, the candidates were not able to write even a single paragraph in correct English. Majority of the candidates produced lengthy answers and gave unnecessary details/irrelevant material.

7.52. Mercantile Law: The answer scripts reflected that some candidates had neither attempted the paper seriously nor did they have even basic level of knowledge of this subject. 41 percent candidates got 60% and above marks, 30 percent obtained between 44-59% marks, 21 percent candidates secured between 33-43% marks while 9 percent candidates failed in the subject.

7.53. Persian: Overall performance of the candidates was satisfactory. 51 percent candidates got 60% and above marks, 37 percent obtained between 44-59% marks, 10 percent secured between 33-43% marks while 2 percent failed in the subject. However, some candidates had written too much irrelevant/unwanted material and thus wasted their time. They should follow logical and analytical order in writing. Majority of the candidates were weak in Persian writing, translation and grammar. They were also weak in text comprehension, particularly in poetry.

7.54. Philosophy: Performance of candidates was satisfactory to some extent. The candidates were required to emphasize on logic and present the facts/material with analytical approach. 20 percent candidates got 60% and above marks, 30 percent obtained between 44-59% marks, 20 percent secured between 33-43% marks and 30 percent candidates failed in the subject.

7.55. Physics: Performance of the candidates was satisfactory. The general response of concepts in Physics and Mathematical background of the candidates was not very good. There was a real need to improve Physics and Mathematics of the students from the grass roots level. 14 percent candidates got 60% and above marks, 35 percent candidates secured between 44-59% marks, 25 percent obtained between 33-43% marks while 26 percent candidates failed in the subject.

7.56. Psychology: Performance of the candidates in Paper-I was better than Paper-II. Their writing ability as well as power of expression was good. 69 percent candidates got 60% and above marks, 20 percent secured between 44-59% marks, 10 percent obtained between 33-43% marks, while only 1 percent failed in the subject.

7.57. Public Administration: Overall standard of the candidates was not satisfactory as majority of them seemed to have made preparation from guide books and had not actually studied the recommended books. 15 percent candidates got 60% and above marks, 51 percent obtained between 44-59% marks, 27 percent secured between 33-43% marks while 7 percent candidates failed in the paper.

7.58. Punjabi: About 50 percent candidates did not seem to have studied the recommended books. 25 percent candidates produced irrelevant material. Remaining 25 percent candidates performed comparatively better with good knowledge of the subject. Majority of the candidates got less marks due to lack
of comprehension of Punjabi Language and Literature.

7.59. Pure Math: Overall performance of the candidates was poor. The main reason for such performance was that at college/university level, students were not encouraged to do simplification themselves which may improve their confidence. The teaching staff should lay emphasis on introducing new concepts with full clarification.

7.60. Pushto: Overall performance of the candidates was good. However, the candidates were unable to write correct Pushto script due to unfamiliarity with the subject. Particularly, they could not differentiate between soft and hard dialect of Pushto. 37 percent candidates got 60% and above marks, 54 percent secured between 44-59% marks, 8 percent obtained between 33-43% marks and 1 percent candidates failed in the subject.

7.61. Sindhi: Performance of the candidates was good. The candidates are advised to use relevant reference books for the preparation of the examination. 52 percent candidates secured 60% and above marks, 30 percent got between 44-59% marks, 13 percent obtained between 33-43% marks, while 5 percent candidates failed in the subject.

7.62. Sociology: Overall performance of the candidates was good. 60 percent got 60% and above marks showing clear concept of the subject, 18 percent secured between 44-59% marks while 22 percent obtained between 33-43% marks which clearly indicates their poor concept and expression of the subject.

7.63. Statistics: Performance of the candidates was not satisfactory. Majority of the candidates lacked in communication skill. They should learn to apply theoretical concepts objectively. 13 percent candidates obtained 60% and above marks, 22 percent got between 44-59% marks, 18 percent secured between 33-43% marks and 47 percent candidates failed in the subject which is a higher rate of failure.

7.64. Urdu: Paper contained questions which could only be attempted by those candidates who had prepared according to the entire suggested course and recommended books. But their answers showed single book study and lacked in-depth ideas. 5 percent candidates got 60% and above marks, 40 percent secured between 44-59% marks, 40 percent obtained between 33-43% marks, while 15 percent candidates failed in the subject. In Paper-II, the performance of candidates was better than in Paper-I. Grammar and spelling mistakes were also common and there was no flow in their answer. 12 percent candidates got 60% and above marks. 61 percent obtained between 44-59% marks, 19 percent secured between 33-43% marks while 8 percent candidates failed in the subject.

7.65. Zoology: Majority of the candidates produced poor answers with lack of understanding. Technical terms were not used correctly by several candidates. They could not produce correct diagrams for cell-membrane, endoplasmic reticulum etc. 29 percent candidates got 60% and above marks, 38 percent secured between 44-59% marks, 15 percent obtained between 33-43% marks, while 18 percent candidates failed in the subject.

Surprised to see that performance of the candidates in almost all science subjects is poor ! Even Everyday science statistics shows the understanding level of candidates is not up to mark! Although in other subjects performance is not satisfactory, but this somehow alarming. Yea, the only area of good performance is regional languages like Baluchi , Sindhi , Persian.

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To succeed,look at things not as they are,but as they can be.:)

what about 2011 written examination performance?
.

More any passed candidate who secure maximum marks in CSS ...can write the technique of their paper solving strategy? as the results showing in 2009 written examination is very alarming, it revealed the poor strategy of attempting papers, as we never experienced such strict marking in our previous college or university examinations.

It will be published after their FPOE.

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The Me you have always known, the Me that's a stranger still.