Islamic Studies
Those who have been following me since last year know that the only subject which I failed in 2018 was Islamic Studies. This year, I have scored 69. I have been receiving emails to share my strategy which helped me fetch such good marks after my failure. Here is my story with reason behind my failure and what I did to get better marks:
I appeared in 2017 without any preparation at all. I attempted it in Urdu and I got 69 marks. I became over confident. I did prepare the subject for my 2018 attempt but I did not prepared as much as I should have. I did not took proper guidance for that. In my overconfidence, I went to the examination hall and wrote all the questions satisfactorily (in my opinion only :p ). I was sure that my 16+ MCQs are correct which was verified by me after the paper. Before the official declaration of result, there were rumours that many have failed in Islamic Studies. I literally laughed at the rumour and said, "I can fail in all subjects but not this one". I was so sure about success in that paper but when the result came, I was only failed in this subject. I kept wondering that why I failed? Even if it was on target, I should have passed it at least.
One senior by name of RAZ on this forum helped me realize that what can be the reason behind my failure. It can be approach or it can be content. I told him my approach was not the problem and also, I did not write any controversial stuff. However, I realized that the reason behind my failure was inadequate content. In all papers, I write 6 to 8 pages per question. I attempted Islamic Studies paper in Urdu. My Urdu writing is good but I write with speed of a tortoise and I barely wrote 4-5 pages per question in Islamic Studies paper. Papers checkers of such subjects are from government universities mostly who see both quality and quantity. My paper had quality but not quantity.

Soon after that, I saw a post from another senior member of the forum TASSAWUR. He shared his experience from his failure in Islamic Studies to getting exceptional score. He shared what material to consult and how one can improve score. I interacted with him to get some ambiguities cleared.

Please read his strategy here:

http://www.cssforum.com.pk/css-compu...-68-marks.html

After getting guidance from him,
1-I read 4 books of Prof. Khursheed Ahmed (Also available in one compiled book in pirated edition).
2- I consulted Hafiz Karim Dad Chugatai's book (English Version) published by Caravan for different ideas and points which can be included in questions to increase length and also, to improve quality. His book is good but too lengthy.
3- I bought to the point Islamic Studies in English published by JWT. I started to add points on this book from Caravans book.
4- I have problem with cramming especially Arabic verses and Hadiths. Seniors suggested that one should write verses in Arabic. I started searching for relevant verses and Hadiths which are short and one could easily remember. I added those in my book as well. To avoid any mistake, they were written without phonetics(Arbi Araab). Wherever I did not have any verse or hadith to quote, I simply wrote English translation.
5- Switched to English (Wrote 7-8 pages for each question)
6- Improved presentation. I wrote Arabic in Arabic style and not in Urdu style. (I was familiar with that as I have studied subject of Arabic in middle school). Used a lot of different simple and cut markers (Only blue and black)
7- As suggested by Tassawur, I bought one point MCQs notes of Professor Zaka from STC photocopy shop inside Punjab University.
8- Solved MCQs of all available past papers of CSS+PMS
9- Solved all 3 subjective past papers of CSS and 3 of PMS. Syllabus is same so was trying to get idea that what can they ask by connecting Islamic Studies to current era.

Tip 1: Avoid controversial stuff. Here are few examples in which one can fell prey and can be compelled to write such stuff:
i) Recent wave of feminism and Islam
ii) Islamic and Western Society comparison
iii) Do not criticise other religions
iv) Do not write about sects.
v) No political debate
etc.

Tip 2: Select the medium in which you are comfortable. If you can write eleven papers in English, you can write twelfth too. Only go for Urdu if you have good handwriting and good speed. Some people give excuse that their English is not good. Buddy then why are you appearing in CSS examination?

Tip 3: Write as many headings as you can but they should be relevant and there should be reasonable material under each heading

Tip 4: Write verses and Hadiths but do not flood your paper with them. Relevant explanation of the topic is also required. If you cannot quote them, memorize their translations in medium you are going to attempt and just quote them in paper. Do not write anything wrong. You will not lose many marks for this. Difference can be of 2-4 marks not more than that. Usually 3-5 verses or Hadiths per question are considered good.

Tip 5: You can give references of other people as well. For example, if Imam-e-Kabbah has given Sermon on occasion of Hajj and you think that it is relevant and can be quoted,write it in answer and give reference of him by writing his full name and also who he is (Designation).


My scores in Islamic Studies:
CSS 2019-69 (English)
CSS 2018-35 (Urdu)
CSS 2017-69 (Urdu)
PMS 2019-69 (English)
PMS 2017-65 (Urdu)

International Law

I am not an expert in this subject but still some of you have asked me for my strategy as I have passed it twice . They asked me to share because papers of last two years were highly unconventional and tough and scoring trend was generally very low but still I was successful in getting a stable score both times. I have medium low to medium scores in this subject which are given at end. It was my subject in 2018 and 2019 attempt.

I do not have much to say about this subject but still sharing what I have done to fetch stable score despite being low scorer/targeted subject this year. Moreover, it might give you motivation to write even if you have not prepared those topics.

1- Major book was S.K Kapoor's book. You can also use Agarwal's book. Both are pretty much same. They are from Indian Authors and I have found them better than International Books.
2- If want to go for other International Standard authored books, Malcolm & Shaw is best. I had soft copy of this book. I did few topics from this book.
3- Law of seas from online sources. Just google it. You will find it easily. Rest of the subjects are covered in above books. Remember, those books are not according to syllabus. Find relevant topics and study them.
4- I did not have time to make notes but I came across a book by JWT written by a CSP (Rahim Baksh Maitlo) which was a mini book with solved questions. I bought it and it certainly helped me in revising.
5- For MCQs, please memorize past paper MCQs from forum. Almost half of them are repeated every year.
6- For More MCQ practice, you can practice from Indian Civil Service preparation websites or other online sources. You can also buy a book if it is available.
7- Do solve subjective papers of last four years to see the variety of questions being asked by examiner these days. Highly unconventional and difficult papers for majority
8- Do prepare articles and famous cases since they are being asked in papers. Also, by quoting them you can fetch good marks
9- Solve questions according to statement. I remember, in 2018 paper, there were 3 questions related to United Nations. People wrote the same stuff in all without understanding the topic and demand of examiner. Many of them did not solve them because they were unable to produce content for all questions. I solved all three of them because I did not have option to attempt other questions (Muje UN ka aik question theak sa ata tha aur aik he doosra topic so, muje paper nhe ata tha. MCQ b 10 k ass pass he theak thay per meine phr b himmat nhe hari aur kch na kch likh k paper pass kia). I tried to understand the topics, then made points according to statement and lastly, I worked on those points to make them different from each other. I was not prepared for it either but in examination you have to write with the little knowledge you have. For me, they were general topics. I love to solve them if I have no other option. When I was attending academy, there was one person who was teaching International Relations there. He was an excellent teacher for International Relations. Those topics were covered by him in his classes (According to IR off course but I tried to convert them in Law language) but I did not revise them for examination. I wrote with a little knowledge in my memory.
You should solve all questions which you know the best first. After that, at least try to write about topics in which you think you can write a little. Go for general topics in this situation. Complete all four questions and do not leave your paper blank. You can tackle difficult and unconventional papers this way. Mostly, general questions give people tough time. You should not panic. You should understand the topic and write with the knowledge you have. You can solve it. Just a little effort is required. I did the same this year( Iss bar 3 question atay thay. 2 full and aik gunja kaana. Mein phr b 4 question pooray kar k aye. Jo nhe ata tha uspay b 5 page create ker k likh he deay :p ).
I was sure about my failure in this paper after hearing rumors. Still, I passed. Score in MCQs certainly played its part.

Score in International Law:
CSS 2019- 52
CSS 2018- 58

History of USA

A lot of you have asked about my strategy in History of USA since I have got good score in it in my 2019 attempt.

Majumdar book was read by me at least twice. I had read it like a story book to get sense of the events. It helped me understand the main events occurred and the reasons behind their occurence. Since book is not according to syllabus, I bought History of USA by Umair Khan published by JWT. I prepared from that book. That part was done for 2018 attempt. Did not pay any attention to past papers and MCQs. Subjective paper was easy but MCQ paper was hell difficult. I only knew answer of 1 MCQ. It was hard to apply any technique for guessing the answers because each MCQ had 3 dates with fourth none of these option. I randomly marked all of them and managed to get 8 answers right. I was not that well prepared but I passed that paper when even the best prepared ones failed in it.

My marks were very poor and I wanted to improve them for next attempt because I did not want to change the subject at that stage. Therefore, I started searching for more books and sources to achieve my purpose.
Few of the high scorers and qualifiers of 2018 suggested to watch US history crash course on youtube. They are good. I will advise everyone to watch those lectures. It will certainly help you tackle unconventional questions which are not present in usual books. I bought book of Sir Zulqarnain (teaches at KIPS academy) on US history. I liked his book for some of the topics. They are well written. If someone want to see contents of his book or want to buy, please follow this link. It is of his page from where you can get the addresses of book shops which keep his books.

https://www.facebook.com/AcademicCounsellingForCss/

Before result, I also read a book on American history by Howard Zinn. It was a wonderful book. I also solved MCQs of past papers. Also, Umair Khan from JWT has solved MCQ book which I used for MCQ preparation.

Prepared recent events/current topics especially about Trump and his policies from articles published in Dawn and different journals and magazines (Both national and international).

Now, here is honest story of 2019 paper. Like I law paper, despite good preparation, I was only able to fully solve 3 questions i.e. Question number 3,6 and 7. I could not solve question 8. To solve question 3 and 4, I needed to scratch my brains out. I am not good at cramming. I was sure that I will commit blunder if I attempt any of the two since people around me were well prepared for the two and were writing tons of pages on those questions. Now, only option left for me was question number two which I had not prepared at all. Still, I dared to attempt it. Being a Commerce graduate, I had knowledge of Economics (I have studied four subjects of Economics at various levels of my degrees). I had a slight idea that what could have been the challenges of that area. I created around 12 points on economic issues by using Economic terminologies while keeping the timeline of Bill Clinton's presidency in mind. In second part, I tried to connect the issues with some of the steps taken during that time and just mentioned that Mr. Clinton did that. (Still not sure if those were the real problems or Mr. Clinton took those steps. :p) In short, I did not leave my paper blank and tried to solve it with my existing knowledge even if I was not prepared. If someone has studied all topics, he will be able to solve such twisted questions because we do have some knowledge about the things being asked. We are used to straight questions and crammed stuff which do no work anymore. Now, questions are twisted. Therefore, you need to twist your knowledge to give answers of such questions. No need to panic. Solve what you can solve easily. Rest, use your brains to come up with the solution.

About MCQs, all 20 were from past papers. Got 19 right since one was incorrect due to accidental filling of wrong bubble. It certainly helped in getting that score. They do repeat MCQs of past papers. Eat them; drink them. They are available on forum. It does not mean you should rely on those. Prepare as much as you can. Examiners are unpredictable. In 2018, MCQs were like hell and in 2019, they were like Sweetest Halwa. Do not push your luck. Prepare well.

My scores in History of USA
2019- 75
2018- 48

Ma'am @A Zeee You are a true inpiration for us

Have you qualified CSS?

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