English Precis and Composition (CSS 2026)

ENGLISH (PRECIS AND COMPOSITION) FOR CSS 2026 & CSS 2027 | DETAILED SYLLABUS & PAST PAPERS ANALYSIS

The examination in this subject will be based upon a paper carrying 100 marks to test the candidate’s abilities to handle Precis Writing, Reading Comprehension, Sentence Structuring, Translation, Grammar and Vocabulary, etc.

1. Precis Writing (20 marks): A careful selected passage with an orientation of generic understanding and enough flexibility for compression shall be given for précising and suggesting an appropriate title. Out of the total 20 marks allocated to this question, 15 shall go to précising the text and 5 to suggesting the title.
2. Reading Comprehension (20 marks): A carefully selected passage that is rich in substance but not very technical or discipline- specific shall be given, followed by five questions, each carrying 4 marks.
3. Grammar and Vocabulary (20 marks): Correct usage of Tense, Articles, Prepositions, Conjunctions, Punctuation, Phrasal Verbs, Synonyms and Antonyms etc.
4. Sentence Correction (10 marks): The sentences shall be given each having a clear structural flaw in terms of grammar or punctuation. The candidates shall be asked to rewrite them with really needed correction only, without making unnecessary alterations. No two or more sentences should have exactly the same problem, and 2-3 sentences shall be based on correction of punctuation marks.
5. Sentence Correction (10 marks): The sentences shall be given each having a clear structural flaw in terms of grammar or punctuation. The candidates shall be asked to rewrite them with really needed correction only, without making unnecessary alterations. No two or more sentences should have exactly the same problem, and 2-3 sentences shall be based on correction of punctuation marks.
6. Grouping of Words (10 marks): A random list of twenty words of moderate standard (neither very easy nor utterly unfamiliar) shall be given, to be grouped by the candidates in pairs of those having similar or opposite meaning, as may be clearly directed in the question.
7. Pairs of Words (10 marks): Ten pairs shall be given of seemingly similar words with different meanings, generally confused in communication, for bringing out the difference in meaning of any five of them by first explaining them in parenthesis and then using them in sentences.
8. Translation (10 marks): Ten short Urdu sentences involving structural composition, significant terms and figurative/idiomatic expressions shall be given, to be accurately translated into English.

DOWNLOAD STUDY MATERIAL / CONTENT FOR ENGLISH PRECIS AND COMPOSITION PAPER FOR FREE (IN PDF FORMAT)

• Pair of Words (CSS 2000 – 2010)
• Pair of Words (CSS 2011 – 2024)
• Precis Passages (CSS 2001 – 2024)
• Translation Passages (CSS 2016 – 2024)
• Punctuation Questions (CSS 2016- 2024)
• Comprehension Passages (CSS 2001- 2024)
• Synonyms and Antonyms (CSS 2000 – 2024)
• Idiomatic Expressions, Idioms, and Phrases (CSS 1971 – 2001)
• Idiomatic Expressions, Idioms, and Phrases (CSS 2002 – 2024)

RECOMMENDED BOOKS (BY THE FEDERAL PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION (FPSC), ISLAMABAD) FOR ENGLISH PRECIS AND COMPOSITION PAPER

1. English Grammar in Use by Raymond Murphy (Cambridge University Press).
2. Practical English Usage by Swan (Oxford University Press).
3. The Little, Brown Handbook by H. Ramsey Flower & Jane Aaron A
4. University English Grammar by R Quirk &  S. Greenbaum  (ELBS; Longmans)
5. Write Better, Speak Better by Readers Digest Association.
6. Modern English in Action by Henry Christ (D.C. Heath & Co.)