FPSC has finally released the CSS 2026 written result, and the numbers tell a familiar story: only a small fraction of candidates made it through.
Out of the thousands who sat for the exam, just 476 candidates cleared the written stage.
That puts the pass rate at roughly 2.74% — one of the toughest filters in the country's competitive exam landscape.
Below, you'll find everything you need: the qualified list, the stats breakdown, what a withheld result means, and what happens between now and the final merit list.
Three different numbers get thrown around every year, and they mean three different things.
24,321 candidates applied for the CSS 2026 written exam.
17,351 showed up for at least one paper.
16,342 sat through the entire written examination, start to finish.
If you're comparing your own attempt to these figures, use the 16,342 number. That's the real base the pass percentage is calculated from.
|
Metric |
Number |
|---|---|
|
Applied |
24,321 |
|
Appeared (at least one paper) |
17,351 |
|
Completed all papers |
16,342 |
|
Qualified |
476 |
|
Pass rate |
2.74% |
FPSC has published three separate lists this year:
Qualified candidates — those who cleared the written stage
Failed candidates — those who did not meet the required marks
Withheld results — cases FPSC is still reviewing
If your roll number shows up in the withheld list, don't jump to conclusions either way. Read the specific remark FPSC has attached to your case before assuming anything.
A high aggregate score does not automatically mean you've passed.
FPSC applies three separate conditions, and missing any one of them fails the entire attempt:
40% minimum in every compulsory subject
33% minimum in every optional subject
50% overall aggregate
Here's where it catches people off guard. Say a candidate ends up with a strong overall percentage, but one compulsory paper falls to 38%. That attempt is unsuccessful — the aggregate doesn't save it.
This is exactly why the detailed marksheet matters more than the pass/fail list itself. It shows you precisely which subject pulled the result down.
Clearing the written exam is a milestone, not the finish line. Three stages remain:
Medical examination
Psychological assessment
Viva voce
FPSC will announce each schedule separately, so there's no fixed countdown yet.
That said, "no fixed date yet" isn't the same as "nothing to do yet." The viva and psychological assessment test a different skill set than the written papers — composure, judgment, and how you carry yourself under questioning, not how well you can write under exam pressure. Candidates who start preparing early for this shift tend to walk in more comfortable.
Once all three stages wrap up, FPSC compiles the final merit list. And one more thing worth remembering: your position on that list — not just your written score — is what decides your allocation, along with your group preferences, available seats, and quota.
Before you start analyzing what went wrong, confirm exactly where you stand:
Check the qualified list first, in case of any confusion with your roll number.
Check the failed list next.
Check the withheld list last, if the first two don't show your number.
Once your detailed marksheet is out, that's when the real diagnosis begins — was it one compulsory paper, an optional subject under 33%, or a weak spread across the board? Each of those points to a different fix for next year.
Q: When was the CSS Result 2026 announced?
FPSC announced the CSS 2026 written result on August 31, 2026. The written exam itself was held between 4 and 15 February 2026.
Q: How can I check my CSS Result 2026 by CNIC?
Go to the official FPSC result portal, find the CSS 2026 written result, and enter your CNIC number to see your status.
Q: What is the CSS Result 2026 pass ratio?
476 candidates qualified out of 16,342 who completed the full written exam — a pass ratio of 2.74%.
Q: What is the minimum passing percentage in the CSS exam?
You need 40% in each compulsory subject, 33% in each optional subject, and 50% overall to pass.
Q: What happens after the CSS written result?
Qualified candidates move on to a medical examination, psychological assessment, and viva voce. The final merit list comes after all three are done.
Q: Is a withheld CSS result the same as failing?
No. Withheld means FPSC is still reviewing your case. Check the note against your roll number instead of assuming either way.
Q: Can a good aggregate still result in failure?
Yes. If you score below 40% in even one compulsory subject, or below 33% in an optional subject, you fail — no matter how high your overall aggregate is.
Q: Where can I see my subject-wise marks?
Your detailed marksheet (DMC) shows subject-wise scores for both compulsory and optional papers, so you can pinpoint exactly where marks were lost.