Arif Awan (DMG) 40th Common: My story of CSS (Aspire and Achieve)
 

I got the inspiration of CSS from my Father and Uncle as I grew up watching them performing their duties quite differently and confidently as compared to officers of other government departments. I was attracted more by the confidence than the facilities associated with this service. Although I was a little bit interested in joining Army back at Cadet College Kohat, but had to forgo this desire for my father's sake. I took Medical College Entry test, had a good score in FSc. but entry test marks landed me in a newly constructed and far located medical college....And I turned my back on medical career there and then. I was about to join GC Lahore for graduation and planned to join QAU for Masters ultimately leading to CSS. Dad advised me that CSS is somehow a game of luck and if I go without a professional degree, I might be left in a lurch if CSS dream could not be materialized.
So after my Fsc in 2005, I joined Pakistan Forest Institute Peshawar for Bsc Forestry (Range Forest Officer training) which was extended to three years due to administrative issues and MSc forestry (DFO Training) in 2010 ...And CSS 2011 was my first attempt after all these years of unnecessary wait :) . I took PMS and CSS (Jan/feb 2011) with three months preparation. I got failed in PMS English Essay by two mark while scored 808/1200 over all (and here I was convinced of the luck factor involved).
I opted for Islamic history and culture on Dad's advice, Pushto and International law on brother's advice , forestry and sociology were related to my academic background...I was grilled in psychological interview by the psychologist but the interview was quite smooth....

My strategy of Preparation.
 

1.Essay:
Honestly speaking, I haven't solved a single essay during my preparation but had to consult economic survey of Pakistan for various Facts and figures that help in writing a good essay. So I would suggest you to get hold of Economic Survey of Pakistan's hard copy or else read it on-line. Values like literacy rate, demographics, social statistics Etc. will be of considerable help for you. As one goes through the material of compulsory and optional subjects, one gets hold of plenty of knowledge to write essays over various topics. Moreover, it important to make outlines and practice their accuracy, add quotations, definitions and Hadith. The best thing would be to write outlines of essays over; Social, Political, Technical, Religious and Literature topics.

2.Precis:
I barely solved last 5 years papers for Precis practice after getting guidelines from Saadat Ali Shah"s "Exploring the world of English". But as they say, practice makes a man perfect,m the more one practices, the more one gets to know. Solving past papers regularly side by side with other subjects will help reduce the burden. For pair of words, idioms and phrases and all other MCQ's, consult with css forums threads;

Solved Pair of words of Past Papers
[url]http://www.cssforum.com.pk/css-compulsory-subjects/english-precis-composition/45205-solved-pair-words-1971-2011-a.html[/url]


Solved Idioms of Past Papers
[url]http://www.cssforum.com.pk/css-compulsory-subjects/english-precis-composition/29862-solved-idioms-1971-2010-a.html[/url]

3.Current Affairs
There were two types of issues for study;
a. Conventional Issues e.g. Palestine, Kashmir, Nuclearization of Asia (Iran and PK with special focus), Rise and Fall in Pak-US partnership etc.
b. Contemporary Issues

For conventional issues, DSS, ISS, SASSI's websites contain seminar reports and research papers which should be studied along with some old contemporary affairs books while maintaining separate file for such issues. Accumulation of various books should be avoided at best. Mastering Pak-US relations will be the best thing to do for preparing current affairs as this has the largest purview among all the topics and helps one understand relations with India, and Pak's relations with the Muslim world as well. The compilation of a separate file for such issues helps one in saving time and revising these topics more than once.

For the contemporary issues, one may buy yearly review of dawn or any other magazine that will give an insight of the whole year's events. Reading newspapers will create ease in MCQ's. For instance a link that I used in preparation is shared here for your information;

Shahid Javed Burki's Articles
[url]http://www.cssforum.com.pk/general/news-articles/21913-shahid-javed-burki-article.html[/url]


4. EDS
I consulted a local book (by Muhammad Tariq Afridi) with short questions and MCQs, Akram Kashmiri's book and Matriculation books for Human physiology and some other basic concepts. During the paper, I made sure to make a figure/diagram for every question and appropriate labeling. I solved past 15 years papers of CSS and PMS and it worked for mein both exams. Make sure to solve as much MCQs as you can. Imtiaz shahid's MCQs book contains solved MCQs.

5. Pakistan Affairs

Pakistan Affairs subject has some overlapping areas with Current Affairs so those over lapping areas such as the Socioeconomic, demographics, indigenous politics etc. should be studied from various sources like sociology books, Ikram Rabbani's book and some features of newspapers. whereas, for the per-partition topics, "Struggle for Pakistan" by IH Qureshi or "trek to Pakistan" or "Making of Pakistan" are suitable books.

6. Islamiat
Islamiat has proved to be a great challenge for CSS aspirants and has been haunting the candidates since 2007. Contemporary issues have replaced the simple translations and basic concepts. Therefore, many of the topics of Islamiat are in fact Current Affairs topics and a good command over CA can help getting through in Islamiat. For the Ijtehad/Sources of Shariah topics consult Islamic Jurisprudence book whereas for the basic pillars of Islam and other Systems of Islamic society like Judicial, financial, political etc. , Sadruddin Islahi's book can suffice. Dogar Unique's book can be used for MCQs and Comparitive relgions. Since Muslim history was one of my optional subjects, Personality of Muhammad S.A.W and topics like last sermon, social reforms, Sulah e hudaibiya etc. were easily covered. The Ahadith in Matriculation and Fsc books were re-studied and they helped a lot in refrences at appropriate places in Islamiat paper. some of the links from css forum, that were consulted are;

Solved MCQ's of Islamiat past papers
[url]http://www.cssforum.com.pk/css-compulsory-subjects/islamiat/islamiat-notes/23873-solved-mcqs-islamiat-past-papers.html[/url]

Dawn's Friday Feature
[url]http://www.cssforum.com.pk/general/news-articles/dawn/2378-friday-features-dawn.html[/url]

MY OPTIONAL SUBJECTS

Sociology: Sociology and Social Problems by Prof. Abdul Hameed Taga (for social problems, social interactions and social concepts)An Introduction to Sociology by JJ Baloch (Summary and headings of all important topics including Sociologists and their contributions)Sociology by Schaffer and lamm or Hortun and hunt (social research methods, Max weber's theory of bureaucrats, sociological perspectives) Past MCQs

Islamic History: A short history of Islam by K.Ali ( This book can cover all aspects briefly except ottoman part)A Short history of the Saracens by Syed Ameer Ali ( for Muslim Spain)Muslim history by Sohail bhatti (its a bulky book and hence only for Ottoman part such as Muhammad the conqueror, Solomon (Suleman) the Magnificent, Ottoman Tanzimaat)Past MCQs

Pushto: Pohanna book Past MCQs at the end of pohanna book and a good pamphlet for pushto matals and folk culture.

International Law: OH Agarwal (all topics with relevant cases) some prefer Tandon and KapoorEmporium series ( for general questions like recommendations to improve the role of UN)

Forestry: Masood A A Qureshi Forests and Foretry in Pakistan by MI Sheikh (forestry statistics)Environment Chapter of Economic Survey of Pakistan Past MCQs




I believe wise use of cssforum is mandatory for short span of preparation. I didn't do hard work precisely due to shortage of time , but relied on smart work which means study based on past repeated questions but made sure to read the whole of syllabus at least once for MCQs preparation. Take good care of your self.

Keep praying.

Selection of optional subjects!
 

I personally believe (and I can be wrong too ;) ), that one should select optional subjects keeping in view a four point criteria;

1. Academic relevance : For example, selection of a subject which one has already studied at Bachelor/Masters level.

2. Aptitude: Depends upon one's interest.

3. Scoring aspects: Although hard work has a reward and each subject has its importance but somehow some subjects have proved to be more scoring than others.

4. Ease of study/availability of Material/Availability of Tutor etc.

At the end of the day, the best achievement is bringing a smile of satisfaction over the faces of one's parents. That's what I will cherish for the rest of my life. May Allah grant me the courage to do the right things and to do the things right. Ameen

Thanks for your warm reply buddy.First of all we are all proud upon you ,you are the topper of our province . Bro why you didnt join police group any reson ? 2nd I have given my bachelor final year exam ,with a combination of eng. elective nd plitcal science, and now free for 3,4 months what will be you suggestion or advice for me relating to CSS study . What should I do in these free days?///

Congratulations
 

Congratulation on your success and thanks for sharing your personal experiences..

ArifAwan, I agree with your statement on post 5 ..The achievement of CSS has no value in comparison of a moment of smile of parents upon you on your sucess..Stay blessed,

I have a query:

Everyone now a days are saying that the CSS is no longer an exam of good knowledge rather an exam of presenting your knowledge in a good and in a unique way..so how should a person adopt a unique way in attempting papers, what the examiner demand in 3 hours? :thinking

Regards,

[QUOTE=idrees khan;459132]Thanks for your warm reply buddy.First of all we are all proud upon you ,you are the topper of our province . Bro why you didnt join police group any reson ?[/QUOTE]

Both police and DMG are good occupational groups. I preferred DMG as it was the dream of my elders for me. Besides, I love the versatility of DMG.

[QUOTE]2nd I have given my bachelor final year exam ,with a combination of eng. elective nd plitcal science, and now free for 3,4 months what will be you suggestion or advice for me relating to CSS study . What should I do in these free days?[/QUOTE]

Keep reading newspapers regularly and start reading subjects that attract you the most. You will develop a study stamina that will later turn out to be your biggest asset.

[QUOTE=sikander marri;459149]
Everyone now a days are saying that the CSS is no longer an exam of good knowledge rather an exam of presenting your knowledge in a good and in a unique way..so how should a person adopt a unique way in attempting papers, what the examiner demand in 3 hours? :thinking
Regards,[/QUOTE]

No, I don't agree that its not an exam of good knowledge although presentation can save one's face in difficult situations. There is no short cut to success!
People who manage to handle CSS in 3 months have some habits that lands them ahead of all other aspirants. They have a command over English language, better general knowledge (newspaper readers) and reading habits (pleasure reading as well). I believe CSS examines the knowledge level of a person right from his first day of school to last day of university.

Congratulation brother.. :)

Could you guide me how to answer particular question in a paper with respect to the sociology paper of 2011? and how long a particular answer should be...

sir, arif i,m new aspirant for css 2013, i have done m.a political science. i,m confused in selecting subjects till yet i have decided public add, sociology and journalism but what should i opt in british history vs indon pak and international law vs international relation.

congratulations bro on ur success.
i need a help and guidance frm you that how to clear precis nd composition paper what should be the strategy nd every one use to say for css smart study is required what does it mean? can u plz elaborate this smart study procedure. Also i want to know that making ur own notes is beneficial when 6 months are left for exam........
regardz