CSS Paper Pattern 2026
Central Superior Services Examination is a paper of 140 MCQs to be attempted in 168 minutes, set by Federal Public Service Commission, with no negative marking. It covers 8 subjects: English, Pakistan Current Affairs, International Current Affairs, Pakistan Studies, Islamic Studies, Everyday Science, General Knowledge and Political Science.
140
MCQs
on the paper
168
Minutes
total time
72
Seconds per MCQ
if paced evenly
No
Negative marking
guessing is free
CSS subject weightage 2026
How many MCQs each subject contributes to the CSS paper. This is the order to revise in. English is worth 30 MCQs against Political Science's 10, so an hour spent fixing a weak chapter in English is worth more marks than the same hour anywhere else on the paper.
- CSS English30 MCQs · 21%
- CSS Pakistan Current Affairs20 MCQs · 14%
- CSS International Current Affairs15 MCQs · 11%
- CSS Pakistan Studies20 MCQs · 14%
- CSS Islamic Studies15 MCQs · 11%
- CSS Everyday Science15 MCQs · 11%
- CSS General Knowledge15 MCQs · 11%
- CSS Political Science10 MCQs · 7%
| Subject | MCQs | Share | Free MCQs here |
|---|---|---|---|
| CSS English MCQs | 30 | 21% | 10,318 |
| CSS Pakistan Current Affairs MCQs | 20 | 14% | 4,116 |
| CSS International Current Affairs MCQs | 15 | 11% | 4,086 |
| CSS Pakistan Studies MCQs | 20 | 14% | 2,759 |
| CSS Islamic Studies MCQs | 15 | 11% | 1,394 |
| CSS Everyday Science MCQs | 15 | 11% | 1,934 |
| CSS General Knowledge MCQs | 15 | 11% | 4,796 |
| CSS Political Science MCQs | 10 | 7% | - |
| Total | 140 | 100% | 29,403 |
CSS marking scheme 2026
Every CSS MCQ carries one mark, for a total of 140 marks, one per question. Nothing is deducted for a wrong answer, so an unanswered question and a wrong answer score exactly the same: zero. That makes leaving anything blank a pure loss. Attempt all 140 MCQs, and in the last few minutes fill in every remaining bubble even if you are guessing outright.
CSS time per subject
168 minutes across 140 MCQs is about 72 seconds a question. Split by weightage, that is the time each subject is worth. Going over on one subject is borrowed from another, not from spare time, because there is none.
| Subject | MCQs | Minutes |
|---|---|---|
| English | 30 | 36 |
| Pakistan Current Affairs | 20 | 24 |
| International Current Affairs | 15 | 18 |
| Pakistan Studies | 20 | 24 |
| Islamic Studies | 15 | 18 |
| Everyday Science | 15 | 18 |
| General Knowledge | 15 | 18 |
| Political Science | 10 | 12 |
How to prepare for the CSS 2026 pattern
The pattern tells you where the marks are, not where you are losing them. Start with English, because it carries 21 percent of the paper and a weak chapter there is the most expensive weak chapter you can have. Inside each subject, work chapter by chapter and stay on a chapter until you are consistently above 80 percent before moving on.
Then practise at the real pace. Untimed revision hides the problem that actually costs marks in the hall, which is spending three minutes on a question worth 72 seconds and running out of paper before you run out of time. Sit full papers under the clock, and mark them honestly.
CSS paper pattern: common questions
What is the CSS paper pattern 2026?
Central Superior Services Examination is a 140 MCQ paper of 168 minutes set by Federal Public Service Commission, with no negative marking. It is split across 8 subjects: English 30, Pakistan Current Affairs 20, International Current Affairs 15, Pakistan Studies 20, Islamic Studies 15, Everyday Science 15, General Knowledge 15, Political Science 10.
How many MCQs are there in CSS?
140 MCQs in total, to be attempted in 168 minutes. The heaviest subject is English at 30 MCQs, which is 21 percent of the paper.
Is there negative marking in CSS?
No. CSS has no negative marking, so a wrong answer costs you nothing more than an unanswered one. Never leave a question blank: attempt every one of the 140 MCQs, even the ones you are guessing on.
How much time do you get per MCQ in CSS?
168 minutes for 140 MCQs works out at about 72 seconds per question. That is the pace to practise at, and it is why timed practice matters more than untimed revision in the last month.
Which subject has the most weightage in CSS?
English, at 30 of the 140 MCQs, which is 21 percent of the paper. A weak topic in the heaviest subject costs you more marks than a weak topic anywhere else, so the weightage order on this page is the order worth revising in.