Selection of optional subjects is the key factor in all competitive exams, candidates must ensure proper selection, and avoid subjects which are alien to them, 200 marks subjects are better to opt, rather than going for many 100 marks subjects, I attempted CSS three times with Urdu, Journalism, Sociology and Business admin, only business admin. Was related to my academics, this wrong selection ruined my attempts, personally I don't have any experience of the PMS scenario, thus it would be better to have subject suggestions from respectd members, this will help all the aspirants to make fruitful selection.

Brother go with the subjects you're comfortable in and have some background. Low Scoring/High Scoring thing is just a myth. I would suggest to opt the ones where your pen doesn't betray you. Try to consult books given in the syllabus and provided you have completed the syllabus A to Z there is no chance of getting low scores

Can u load suggested books list

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The suggested books are already mentioned in the syllabus. Here is the link to it. http://kppsc.gov.pk/pms/docs/PMS%20Syllabus.pdf

This is the syllabus, the topics to be covered.

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http://www.fpsc.gov.pk/icms/admin/fi...us-updated.pdf
Consult the above mentioned old syllabus of CSS, it is same as of PMS. It contains all the suggested readings. Now you have to act smartly as it contains a lot of readings and it can take years to go through all. Just consult the ones which cover all the topics mentioned in the syllabus. If you're 27 or below try to consult books which can help you in CSS as well.

For instance English composition remains the same in old and new syllabus so just consult two books. Similarly, Pakistan Affairs and Current Affairs are almost same so along with newspapers and periodicals two or three books of each subject will do the work. Current Affairs wont be done alone by Dawn, you need to consult some readings as well.

Coming to optional subjects, lets say Islamic History or Indo-Pak one is going with. The History of Arabs by Philip K. Hitti for paper 1 and Dozy. R for paper 2 are enough and cover every content. Whereas, for Indo-Pak, A Short History of Pakistan by I.H. Qureshi, Struggle for Pakistan by I.H. Qureshi, The Idea of Pakistan by Stephen.P. Cohen and the Future of Pakistan by Stephen.p.Cohen. If you include the book by Hamid Khan as well then you cover all of the contents of paper 1 & 2. Value addition= Pakistan Affairs gets done with it too.

Plus If you have money and can buy 4 or 5 books of each subject that would be amazing. Then you just need to look the contents, refer to the parts in those books and take your own notes. Not only it would be a great research and splendid preparation, but most importantly it will reward you. Though hectic this exercise will be beneficial for CSS as well.

However, If you are nearing the age bar, then you should consult these books by just tweaking your strategy a bit considering the paucity of time and age factor at hand, just pick your contents rather than thoroughly reading.

Thanks Ahmad Abbas for such a detailed explanation.

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My bad.

Finally decided to go for it with a bulk of optionals. replacing all my three times CSS optionals except Journalism. i am going to defeat it with 6 optionals.

1.Public Administration. (though i have done MBA )
2. Forestry . (Have Bachelors in Botany Zoology
3. journalism (Born Writer )
4. Mercantile Law ( I am a Banker by prof. )
5. International Law (int.Relations had no boundaries )
6. Pashto (Extempore writer in Pashto ).

I left Business admin, Sociology, Urdu and Int.Relations. hope that this will not be a wrong decision.

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