9 Lessons to Learn from CSS Marks Sheets

 

9 Lessons to Learn

Did you notice that Facebook and Twitter are flooded with mark sheets of CSS qualifiers? Yes, you did. Great. Just a minute, you are reading these lines and I am so pretty sure that you are a CSS aspirant. 

Now I ask you one question. What lessons have you learned from these CSS marks sheets? Not sure that you have learned any? 

First of all, you should be very clear why you need to learn something new from the past results of the qualifiers or even non-qualifiers of the CSS Exams. 

You have to appear in CSS in the coming months or say years, learning from past results and other CSS candidates may accelerate your preparation and you can easily overcome the issues coming your way.

Here is why CSS marks sheets are important for CSS preparation.

1. You may have a fair idea of which strategy the qualifiers adopted
2. How many marks you need to get your desired group
3. On average, a good student can score how many marks in Essay
4. Have you opted for the right combination of subjects
5. Average marks in compulsory subjects
6. Average marks in a particular optional subject

All of the aspirants aim at acing CSS, and for this purpose, they try their best to learn everything related to this competitive exam. Most of the aspirants try to cram as much content as they can to beat their potential competitors. But, only a few of them manage to pass and get an allocation. 

The crammers and hardworking aspirants make their CSS journey, unknowingly, a lot more tiresome and worrisome than the ones who plan wisely, act smartly and finally achieve their goal quite easily.

The marks sheets of CSS qualifiers can teach you some of the best lessons that will surely help you in your final success. 

So, without wasting any more time let's unearth, one by one, what is hidden in these detailed marks sheets (DMCs). 

1. Even Toppers Could Fetch 42 Marks on Average in Essay Paper

Essay fetches the lowest marks 

Okay.. but what is the lesson in it? 

Dude, you have been told by almost every other senior aspirant or CSS mentor that the majority fail the essay exam but you never focused on this paper with full potential. See, if you keep ignoring this paper, it will turn out to be a nightmare for you.

Remember, the sooner you correct your course the better. Isn't this startling information enough to hound you that a CSS 2020 written topper who is also a probationer of 48th CTP (Izza Arshad 4th position CSS 2019) could fetch only 42 marks in the essay? forty-two marks mean only two marks above the passing threshold. Dr.Izza Arshad has been a brilliant student throughout her academic years.

She is an alumna of Allama Iqbal Medical College. In an interview with her mentor, Izza revealed that she, after her MBBS degree, practiced essay paper for more than eight months till her CSS 2019 essay exam.

 

2. CSS 2020 Precise Paper Was One of The Easiest Exams

Precise paper was easy this time

Precise and composition paper proves to be a nightmare for the aspirants every year. English paper of the CSS 2021 exams was one of the most difficult papers. All of the questions asked were tricky. The vocabulary part was difficult as most of the words were unfamiliar to the aspirants. 

Contrarily, the CSS 2020 English paper was the easiest paper of all time. Aspirants were able to fetch as high as 89 marks out of 100. It clearly shows that aspirants need to prepare their best whilst they should be ready for the worst. 

The examiner shocks the candidates in one paper or the other, what the candidates are expected to do is they should hold their nerves while attempting a question. You don't always need to cram the vocabulary. 

You can't master English vocabulary so don't spend your time on it. Instead, try learning the art of precis writing and comprehension. 

You can learn correction of errors and translation for scoring good marks in this paper. 

3. Optional Subjects Have a Final Say in Allocation

I have been saying to the aspirants from day one that please choose your subjects wisely. Don't risk your precious attempt by opting for the wrong combination of the subjects. 

If you go through the marks sheets of CSS qualifiers one by one, it will be crystal clear to you that some of the subjects yielded better marks than the rest. 

We have already listed down some of the high-scoring subjects in CSS, check these 08 High Scoring Subjects in CSS Exams. 

Things to Remember Before Choosing Optional Subjects in CSS Exams

• Your academic background 
• Your interest in a subject
• Length of the syllabus
• Availability of books/notes
• Overlapping topics 

A detailed blog post on this topic will be available soon. Keep checking this website for all CSS-related information and updates. 

4. Overconfidence May Ruin Your Entire Journey

Some of the students outperform in their academic years. In their CSS preparation, they opt for those subjects that they have studied before. The problem arises when they don't spare enough time for these subjects. 

The aspirants think that because they have studied these subjects before, they don't need to waste their time on them. But, this strategy doesn't help them. Instead, they end up scoring low in that subject or even failing that very subject. 

5. Political Science is Still a Better Choice

The candidates who had opted for Political Science in CSS exams scored excellent marks in it. Political Science has been a scoring subject from day one. In CSS 2020 also, the candidates were able to fetch as high as 140 marks out of 200. 

Opting for Political Science is recommended

Conversely, International Relations remained a low-scoring subject in CSS 2020 as well. 

Also read: Important Essay Topics for CSS 2025

6. Cramming Does Not Help

Crammers are not welcome in CSS. They spend months, even years cramming different notes, books, facts, and figures but eventually get disappointed when their crammed resources don't help them in the exams.

CSS is not about cramming. It tests your analytical skills. Your argument skills should be up to the mark. You have to prove your point logically to convince the examiner to give you good marks.

But, cramming altogether, can not be sidelined. Historical facts, dates, statistics, and figures can be memorized by way of cramming. 

7. Know Your Sources

Consulting the best resources for CSS preparation is of paramount importance. Ready-made notes and cheap sources do not pay in the long run. It should be kept in mind while preparing for the exams that only books can not provide you enough information about a particular topic. 

There are some other sources like magazines, newspapers, websites, TV and youtube channels, and research papers.  

Quality magazines like Foreign Policy, Foreign Affairs, and Jahangir World Times should be consulted regularly. Similarly, some of the best newspapers like Khaleej Times, Washington Post, The New York Times, The Economist, Dawn, and The News help the aspirants in their preparation.  

8. Listen to the Toppers

This is a very obvious thing that a person who has performed excellently in a particular field can give expert advice. 

It is also true for CSS exams as well. You should pay heed to the advice of the toppers. Luckily, many of the toppers offer their advice and start counseling the junior aspirants without any charges. 

Listen to Awaid Irshad, Topper of CSS 2017 

Every year when the result is declared, toppers of the exams are interviewed by different media channels and senior media persons. They tell their story very proudly and rightly so because ultimately their hard work has brought them to this level. 

The aspirants must not shy away from following the toppers on social media platforms because they teach them the best preparation strategies and tips. They also become the source of motivation as well. 

Shanza Faiq Topped CSS 2018

9. Don't Blindly Trust Academies 

Academies are good in the way that they give the aspirants the direction and guide them as to how they can start their preparation. But, it does not imply that the aspirants should join the academies for guaranteed success. No one can guarantee your success in the exams. 

• Many of the academies are just a source of making money for their owners. They are not sincere to the candidates but their only concern is money. 
• Most of the time when the written or final result is announced, the academies start falsely claiming the toppers and other candidates as their students. 
• When the qualifiers themselves are asked about the academies, they deny it and reveal the truth that they never joined any academy
• We advise the aspirants to prepare for themselves because there are hundreds of free sources available for preparation and guidance. 

READ THIS: CSS Exams Preparation, Self Study or Academy

CSS exams marks sheets are a valuable resource for CSS exam preparation. They provide insights into the exam pattern, difficulty level, and marking scheme. By analyzing past papers, candidates can identify important topics, understand question types, and develop effective answer-writing strategies. Additionally, marks sheets can help in time management and resource allocation during preparation. Ultimately, understanding the nuances of the CSS exam through marks sheets can significantly enhance a candidate's chances of success.