ENGLISH (PRECIS AND COMPOSITION) FOR CSS 2025
DETAILED SYLLABUS AND 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Grammar and Vocabulary (20 marks): Correct usage of Tense, Articles, Prepositions, Conjunctions, Punctuation, Phrasal Verbs, Synonyms and Antonyms etc.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
- English Grammar in Use by Raymond Murphy (Cambridge University Press).
- Practical English Usage by Swan (Oxford University Press).
- The Little, Brown Handbook by H. Ramsey Flower & Jane Aaron A
- University English Grammar by R Quirk & S. Greenbaum (ELBS; Longmans)
- Write Better, Speak Better by Readers Digest Association.
- Modern English in Action by Henry Christ (D.C. Heath & Co.)
Related MCQs
- Fasatat Al Quran Is Other Name Of Surah? (CSS 2018 Islamic Studies Paper)
- Surah An-Nisa
- Surah Al-Fatiha
- Surah A-An’am
- None of these
Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- Nervous system in human body consists of? (CSS 2011 General Science & Ability Paper)
- Brain and nerves
- Brain and spinal cord
- Spinal cord and nerves
- Brain, spinal cord and nerves
Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- The SYNONYM of the word \"MISOPEDIA\" is? (CSS 2011 English Precis & Composition Paper)
- Wholesome
- Middle age
- Family history
- A hatred for children
Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- “Shudhi” movement was started by? (CSS 2013 Pakistan Affairs Paper)
- Jawahar Lal Nehru
- Tilak
- Gandhi
- None of these
Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- The SYNONYM of the word \"FUDGE\" is? (CSS 2017 English Precis & Composition Paper)
- Evade
- Clarify
- Decipher
- Discernment
Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- The planet of the solar system which has maximum number of Moon is? (CSS 2011 General Science & Ability Paper)
- Jupiter
- Venus
- Saturn
- Uranus
Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- Fidk Garden was bestowed to the Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) as? (CSS 2013 Islamic Studies Paper)
- Fay
- Booty
- Gift
- Loan
Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- “FIDK” garden was bestowed to the Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) as? (CSS 2010 Islamic Studies Paper)
- Fay
- Booty
- Gift
- Loan
Submitted by: None of these
- Most hazardous waste is? (CSS 2023 General Science & Ability Paper)
- Hospital waste
- Material waste
- Chemical waste
- nuclear waste
Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- When did China signed an air transport agreement with Pakistan? (CSS 2020 Pakistan Affairs Paper)
- 1950
- 1953
- 1960
- 1963
Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- Arafat gathering is held on? (CSS 2009 Islamic Studies Paper)
- 8 Zil hajj
- 9 Zil hajj
- 10 Zil hajj
- None of these
Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- Which of the following gas is essential for humans? (CSS 2012 General Science & Ability Paper)
- Oxygen
- Nitrogen
- Carbon dioxide
- None of these options
Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- The British fought Plassey war against? (CSS 2013 Pakistan Affairs Paper)
- Haider Ali
- Tipu Sultan
- Sirajuddaula
- None of these
Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is an organization of South Asiannations. Which of the following countries is not a member of SAARC? (CSS 2013 Current Affairs Paper)
- Maldives
- Myanmar
- Bhutan
- None of these
Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- Ya sabaaha means ? (CSS 2014 Islamic Studies Paper)
- The danger of attack
- Good morning
- Oh morning danger
- None of these
Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- Nematoda is--------- a of animals? (CSS 2023 General Science & Ability Paper)
- Cell
- Animal
- Phylum
- None of these
Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- Kalabagh Dam is not yet constructed due to? (CSS 2016 Current Affairs Paper)
- Politically Damaging
- Damage Coastal Ecology
- Shortage of Cultivable Land
- All of the above
Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- The share of a widow in the legacy of her husband, if he died issueless, is? (CSS 2023 Islamic Studies Paper)
- 1/4th
- 1/5th
- 1/6th
- 1/8th
Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- The SYNONYM of the word \"DELUGE\" is? (CSS 2013 English Precis & Composition Paper)
- Drown
- Rescue
- Immerse
- Overflow
Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- Dr. Abdus Salam of Pakistan was one of the contributors to the unification of? (CSS 2009 General Science & Ability Paper)
- Gravitational force and weak nuclear force
- Weak nuclear force and strong nuclear force
- Electromagnetic force and weak nuclear force
- Electromagnetic force and gravitational force
Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- The earth’s ________ is divided into 15 major plates of various sizes. (CSS 2013 General Science & Ability Paper)
- Mesosphere
- Stratosphere
- Lithosphere
- None of these
Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- Qadirabad Barrage is located on which river? (CSS 2019 Pakistan Affairs Paper)
- Ravi
- Sindh
- Chenab
- None of these
Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- who led simla deputation in 1906? (CSS 2010 Pakistan Affairs Paper)
- sir agha khan
- sir syed ahmed khan
- Nawab Mohsin ul Mulk
- none of these
Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- The SYNONYM of the word \"OBSESSION\" is? (CSS 2009 English Precis & Composition Paper)
- Delusion
- Fixed idea
- Insouciance
- Nonchalance
Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- Secondary Source of Islamic law is? (CSS 2016 Islamic Studies Paper)
- The Quran
- The Sunnah
- jma and Qiyas
- None of these
Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team