CSS Subjects List — Every Compulsory and Optional Paper, With Marks
How many subjects does CSS have? Twelve papers in total, worth 1,200 marks — six compulsory subjects everyone sits, and six optional papers you choose yourself from seven official groups.
CSS Subjects at a Glance
|
Category |
Papers |
Marks |
|---|---|---|
|
Compulsory |
6 |
600 |
|
Optional |
6 |
600 |
|
Total |
12 |
1,200 |
CSS Compulsory Subject List
Every candidate, regardless of background, sits all six of these. Each is worth 100 marks, and you need at least 40% in each one individually — scoring well in five and failing the sixth still eliminates you.
|
Subject |
Marks |
|---|---|
|
English Essay |
100 |
|
English (Precis and Composition) |
100 |
|
General Science & Ability |
100 |
|
Current Affairs |
100 |
|
Pakistan Affairs |
100 |
|
Islamic Studies (or Comparative Study of Major Religions for non-Muslim candidates) |
100 |
|
Total |
600 |
CSS Optional Subjects List — Full Group Breakdown
This is the complete official structure across all seven groups. You select optional papers totaling exactly 600 marks, and you're not required to touch every group — just hit 600 marks using the rules attached to each one.
Group I — Choose One Subject (200 Marks)
|
Subject |
Marks |
|---|---|
|
Accountancy & Auditing |
200 |
|
Economics |
200 |
|
Computer Science |
200 |
|
Political Science |
200 |
|
International Relations |
200 |
Group II — Choose Subject(s) Totaling 200 Marks
|
Subject |
Marks |
|---|---|
|
Physics |
200 |
|
Chemistry |
200 |
|
Applied Mathematics |
100 |
|
Pure Mathematics |
100 |
|
Statistics |
100 |
|
Geology |
100 |
You can take one 200-mark subject here (Physics or Chemistry) or combine two 100-mark subjects (say, Statistics + Geology) to reach the same 200.
Group III — Choose One Subject (100 Marks)
|
Subject |
Marks |
|---|---|
|
Business Administration |
100 |
|
Public Administration |
100 |
|
Governance & Public Policies |
100 |
|
Town Planning & Urban Management |
100 |
Note: Business Administration and Public Administration cannot be selected together — a restriction some older FPSC rule versions carried over.
Group IV — Choose One Subject (100 Marks)
|
Subject |
Marks |
|---|---|
|
History of Pakistan & India |
100 |
|
Islamic History & Culture |
100 |
|
British History |
100 |
|
European History |
100 |
|
History of USA |
100 |
Group V — Choose One Subject (100 Marks)
|
Subject |
Marks |
|---|---|
|
Gender Studies |
100 |
|
Environmental Sciences |
100 |
|
Agriculture & Forestry |
100 |
|
Botany |
100 |
|
Zoology |
100 |
|
English Literature |
100 |
|
Urdu Literature |
100 |
Group VI — Choose One Subject (100 Marks)
|
Subject |
Marks |
|---|---|
|
Law |
100 |
|
Constitutional Law |
100 |
|
International Law |
100 |
|
Muslim Law & Jurisprudence |
100 |
|
Mercantile Law |
100 |
|
Criminology |
100 |
|
Philosophy |
100 |
Group VII — Choose One Subject (100 Marks)
|
Subject |
Marks |
|---|---|
|
Journalism & Mass Communication |
100 |
|
Psychology |
100 |
|
Geography |
100 |
|
Sociology |
100 |
|
Anthropology |
100 |
|
Punjabi |
100 |
|
Sindhi |
100 |
|
Pashto |
100 |
|
Balochi |
100 |
|
Persian |
100 |
|
Arabic |
100 |
Papers in Urdu or a regional language (Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashto, Balochi) or in Persian/Arabic must be answered in that language — this trips up candidates who assume they can write in English regardless of the subject chosen.
CSS Subject Selection Rules You Must Know
-
Total optional marks must equal exactly 600 — no more, no less.
-
You can't take more than 200 marks from a single group, except where the group rule explicitly allows it (like Group II).
-
Optional subjects can't be changed after you submit your application. Whatever you select at registration is what you sit for in the written exam.
-
A 100-mark subject is one paper; a 200-mark subject is two papers, each still tested at the standard 3-hour format.
How to Approach CSS Subjects Selection
Picking your six optional papers is arguably a bigger strategic decision than most candidates treat it as. A workable framework:
-
Look for overlap with compulsory papers first. Political Science and International Relations both draw heavily on the same base knowledge as Current Affairs and Pakistan Affairs, cutting your effective workload.
-
Match subjects to genuine ability, not comfort. A subject from your own degree isn't automatically the safer choice if you can't write structured, examiner-friendly answers in it.
-
Weigh preparation time realistically. Law and science-heavy Group II subjects demand more technical precision; humanities and social-science subjects generally reward strong argumentation and current-affairs integration.
-
Treat "high-scoring" subject lists as informal, not official. FPSC doesn't publish subject-wise averages, so any claim about which subjects "score better" comes from candidate patterns and topper mark sheets — useful as a signal, not as certainty.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many subjects are in the CSS exam?
Twelve total — six compulsory and six optional, each worth 100 marks (or 200, for a handful of Group I and Group II options).
What are the CSS compulsory subjects?
English Essay, English Precis and Composition, General Science and Ability, Current Affairs, Pakistan Affairs, and Islamic Studies (or Comparative Religion for non-Muslims).
How many optional subject groups are there in CSS?
Seven groups, covering everything from Accountancy and Political Science to regional languages and natural sciences.
Can I choose two subjects from Group I?
No. Group I allows only one subject, worth 200 marks. Group II is the one that permits splitting into two 100-mark subjects.
Can I change my optional subjects after applying?
No. FPSC locks in your subject selection once you submit your written exam application.
