ALARMING COMBINATIONS!

Take a moment to read and understand this. For last many years there was a long debatable and often dependable issue under discussion while selecting the optional subjects, i.e., whether a particular subject is scoring or not!

I guess hardly a few people tried to know the logic behind these low and high scoring subjects. Most of the people believe in the hearsay and since the trend of score variate each year (almost) further firming the concept of such aspirants. Here are few things to know:

1. Marking in CSS is relative, except in Mathematics, Statistics and Accounting and Audit. It means that examiners don't mark your papers by the standard of your attempt merely, rather they mark your paper while seeing others efforts too. For instance if a series of papers are getting 70 plus marks, it shows that these papers are well equipped with desired answer (in both quality and quantity), and if right after these papers, your paper comes for checking and it doesn't fall near the standard of its predecessors, even if you have written everything required, you won't get 70 plus marks. This makes CSS a matter of time and luck! This is also the very same reason why we curse the examiners because we simply cannot believe that we have scored such low marks
2. Second thing to bear in mind, is that any subject which is a scoring for any year is because of the comparative lower strength of participants; lower participants reduce the competition, and as in CSS marking is relative, we get good marks in this case

I have been noticing here that most of us have picked JOURNALISM. This is surely because of increased awareness about its high scoring attribute among the aspirants by different academies, recommendations by ex-participants and presently working CSPs. It seems in 2014, unlike the previous years, this subject might disturb us badly

Lastly: Why I'm saying this all is for a reason of course. I believe everyone has taken these high scoring subjects to be on a safer side on the long tiresome journey of CSS. But if any subject is taken by the majority and so it has created enough competition too, our expectations with that subject shouldn't be high. So, what if we have already picked and locked the combination? No need to worry! Because we can still revise our strategy to cope up with this problem. Not everyone knows what the readers of this post will know after reading it. When we have the date sheet in our hands, we can easily figure out which subjects can hit us the most, by:

* Any subject which comes right after the compulsory series, has the maximum number of participants on board. For many decades, History Group used to be right after the compulsory series because it had the maximum candidates registered. In 2013, Journalism/Political Science/Sociology have replaced History Group and came right after the compulsory series. This shows how many people have registered for these subjects. Likewise, these subjects would not probably bless them with expected marks due to increased competition. So if you know what's designed to hit you, revise it well enough

Secondly, such papers are generally easy. When we look at them on the exam day, we laugh on the examiners for their simplicity. We think that the subject is already high scoring and now its easy too. ITS A SIGN OF DANGER. It for sure makes us fool, because its another mean to create further competition. Like in 2013, most of compulsory papers were extremely easy: that was a trap for sure!

So what I believe is that we should not believe in high or low scoring marks. Because the trend is volatile and is purely based on competition (which changes every year). Another example is of compulsory papers, anyone figured why people score low in compulsory papers? Its because of the very same reason that where there is a huge strength, competition is high: and as in CSS marking is relative, its harder to get the expected marks. So whats the point of calling any subject high or low scoring? When everyone knows Journalism, Sociology and Psychology are high scoring subjects and everyone picks them, would they be scoring? No!

Summary: Don't rely on any subject that so and so is high scoring and it will save me so. Don't deceive yourself. We can clearly see a huge competition ahead for Journalism and Psychology this year. Be aware!

My Combination for 2013:
1. History of the USA (100)
2. Journalism (100)
3. Sociology (100)
4. Business Administration (100)
5. Geography (200)

My Combination for 2014:
1. History of the USA (100)
2. Journalism (100)
3. Sociology (100)
4. Business Administration (100)
5. Psychology (200)

aoa:i have done ma MSC in defense and strategic studies. I am very confuse in selecting optional subjects can you please guide me in selecting subjects?

is there any lectures of compulsory subjects on your website?

@Mavesh

1. Indo Pak History (200)
2. Muslim Law (200)
3. Sociology (100)
4. Public Administration (100)

This combination would bless you with great marks this year
Indo-Pak History: This year the trend of marks will most probably be increasing. Chose this subject only if can write in detail, don't cram! Work out on the analogies.
Sociology: This one is ever high scoring. Make a smart plan. Please consult Naveed Bhutto's posts on Sociology section. He has made good study plan there
Public Administration: Suggested you by keeping in view your academic background. However, it also demands you an equal serious study

Tips:
1. Take it easy
2. Stay away from IR, and European History
3. You can replace Indo-Pak History with Psychology. Psychology is easy and scoring
4. Complete 'Optionals' first and pack these 600 Marks latest by the end of December
5. Don't panic, pray five times

Good Luck!

__________________
No Retreat - No Surrender

go with
Islamic History
Geography
and Arabic

beside this there are
any regional language
i. law
p. ad
c. law
sociology little bit risky one

__________________
LOVE all, TRUST a few, do WRONG to none......

AS PREDICTED IN MY ABOVE POST:

Journalism and Sociology disturbed the majority, a big time!
This will repeat for the next year as well, plus Psychology will be hitting us as well

MARK THIS
Good Luck

__________________
No Retreat - No Surrender

islamic history,arabic,international law and sociolog?/is this combination fine?

Why you have replaced Geography with Psychology for 2014 attempt?
Any speific reason?

So it all always depends on your answer's effort for scoring in Acc: and Aud: irrespective of relative marking.??

@Mahvesh:
Yes, it seems all good. Make smart study plans, don't cram

@Aqib Shahzad Bhatti:
Both are equally scoring, but geography part 1 requires in-depth study. Its however a piece of cake for the students who have already studied geography. But since the time was short, I had to chose 200 marks which I could learn quickly. Psychology was a good option therefore. I attempted geography in 2013 and got 23 marks in Geography paper 1 and 67 marks in geography paper 2. I cannot afford it in 2014. It doesn't mean that geography is low scoring or difficult. Its only about tastes. I couldn't manage it because I found it not of my taste: I misjudged and overrated my capacities after knowing the syllabus. I won't suggest you anything regarding that therefore, make your own decision. Good Luck

@Syed Azmat:
Yes!

__________________
No Retreat - No Surrender

Accounting and Auditing
British History
Journalism
Mercantile Law

What do you say about my combination? Although I believe that journalism gonna hit us again in 2014 coupled with mercantile law, i want to go with it as i have no other choice.