FPSC & CSS — Solved MCQs, MPT, Syllabus & Preparation

FPSC & CSS — Federal Public Service Commission

The Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) recruits for the federal government — and its biggest examination is the Central Superior Services (CSS) exam, the route into Pakistan's civil service. CSS has three stages: first the MCQ-Based Preliminary Test (MPT), 200 multiple-choice questions with a 33% pass mark; then the written examination, 12 papers worth 1,200 marks — six compulsory subjects and six optional subjects; and finally a psychological assessment and viva voce worth 300 marks. FPSC also runs general recruitment tests for individual posts — lecturers, teachers, specialists — usually a 100-mark MCQ paper whose syllabus is published separately for each post. This page gives you solved MCQs for the General Knowledge, Pakistan Studies, Islamiat, Everyday Science, English and Basic Maths that appear in almost every FPSC paper, plus the CSS MPT pattern and the lecturer/SST test structures, so you can prepare for the post you actually applied for.

1. CSS — Three Stages

Stage	What it is	Marks
1. MPT (screening)	200 MCQs	200 (pass 33%)
2. Written examination	12 papers — 6 compulsory + 6 optional	1,200
3. Psychological + Viva Voce	Assessment and interview	300

Age limit: 30 years. Pattern checked 8 Nov 2026 — confirm on the official FPSC site before applying.

2. MPT Pattern & Syllabus

The MCQ-Based Preliminary Test (MPT) is the screening test for CSS: 200 multiple-choice questions, 200 marks, no negative marking, pass 33%. You must pass the MPT before you can apply for the CSS written examination. The MPT covers English, General Knowledge, Pakistan Studies, Islamiat, Everyday Science, Basic Mathematics and Current Affairs — the same General Ability subjects that appear in almost every FPSC paper.

3. CSS Written — Compulsory Subjects

The written examination has 12 papers of 100 marks each (3 hours per paper): six compulsory subjects worth 600 marks and six optional subjects worth 600 marks. Compulsory subjects: Essay, English (Précis & Composition), General Science & Ability, Current Affairs, Pakistan Affairs and Islamiat. Pass: 40% in compulsory subjects and 33% in optional subjects. Optional subjects are chosen from the groups published in the CSS rules — pick the subjects you studied at Master's level.

4. FPSC General Recruitment — Lecturer / SST Patterns

For individual posts, FPSC publishes a separate syllabus for each advertisement — almost always a 100-mark MCQ paper. The common patterns are:

• Lecturer: 100 marks — English 20, Subject (Master's level) 50, Professional (pedagogy) 30.
• SST (Secondary School Teacher): 100 marks — English 20, Professional 80.
• Other specialist posts: usually 100 marks, with the subject share set by the advertisement.

Negative marking varies by advertisement (commonly 0.25 per wrong answer) — always check the syllabus published for your specific post. Never assume a pattern for a post without reading its own advertisement.

5. Solved MCQs — General Ability

FPSC & CSS Practice Questions — General Ability, Pakistan Studies, Islamiat — 10 solved practice questions with answers and explanations.

Practice MCQs in the style of FPSC papers, from the official syllabus topics — these are practice questions, not real past-paper questions. The General Ability subjects appear in almost every FPSC paper:

• General Knowledge
• Pakistan Studies
• Islamiat
• Everyday Science
• English
• Basic Mathematics
• Current Affairs

6. Solved MCQs — Subject (by Post)

For lecturer and specialist posts, most of the paper is subject questions at Master's level. Prepare from your subject's standard textbooks and the syllabus published for your post — a generic MCQ bank cannot replace subject study.

7. Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the CSS MPT?
A: A 200-MCQ screening test; you must pass it (33%) before you can apply for the CSS written exam.

Q: How many marks is the CSS written exam?
A: 1,200 marks — 12 papers of 100 marks each.

Q: What is the FPSC lecturer test pattern?
A: 100 marks — English 20, Subject 50, Professional (pedagogy) 30.

Q: Is there negative marking in FPSC tests?
A: It varies by advertisement — always check the syllabus published for your specific post on the official FPSC site.

Q: What is the CSS age limit?
A: 30 years (official; the 35-year proposal has not been approved).