­­­In Conversation with Aleem Malik (PAS) 4th in Pakistan; CSS 2024-25

Jahangir's World Times (JWT): First of all, please tell us about your educational background.

Aleem Malik (AM): I graduated from Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) with a degree in Economics and Mathematics. Prior to that, I completed my O & A-Levels from Aitchison College, Lahore.

JWT: What feature of the Pakistan Administrative Service attracted you most?

AM: Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS) appealed to me because of its policymaking role, administrative exposure and direct impact on public service delivery, which aligns with my aspiration to contribute meaningfully to Pakistan's governance and development.

JWT: How was your experience at the World Times Institute?

AM: My experience at the World Times Institute (WTI) was structured and purposeful; it provided direction at the start, quality mock exams later, and, finally, focused interview preparation.

JWT: What was the significance of newspaper reading in your preparation? How did staying updated with current affairs shape your success?

AM: Newspaper reading was central to my preparation. It helped me develop analytical depth, context and opinion-based arguments, which proved crucial in Current Affairs, Essay, Pakistan Affairs and other subjects as well.

JWT: What was your overall strategy for cracking the CSS exam?

AM: My strategy revolved around conceptual clarity, selective study, written practice and regular revision, rather than rote learning or excessive material collection.

JWT: What, in your opinion, is the key to making a difference in the written part of the CSS exam?

AM: The key is original analysis, clarity of thought and effective presentation, rather than merely reproducing memorized content.

JWT: Generally, compulsory subjects are considered low-scoring; what was your strategy to get through these very papers?

AM: I concede that it is relatively more difficult to score well in the compulsory subjects, but we have seen, time and again, aspirants having aced multiple compulsories in a single attempt. So, it depends on one's preparation and overall strengths. I didn't have a set strategy, but while preparing I did have the thought in my mind that English Précis & Composition, General Science & Ability, Current Affairs and Pakistan Affairs can be good scoring opportunities, so I tried to focus more on these.

JWT: What was your approach to time management throughout the preparation process? How did you balance multiple subjects and cover the vast syllabus?

AM: I didn't have a timetable as such. There were days when I used to study for 8-10 hours on average. Then, there were some when I studied even more than that, and on some days, I didn't study at all, giving myself a break and improving my mental health by spending time with friends and family.

JWT: What was the importance of revision in your preparation strategy? How did you manage to revise effectively while covering such a vast syllabus?

AM: Revision was crucial. I used short notes, weekly reviews and multiple revisions of the subjects, which strengthened retention and confidence. Lastly, I made use of my newly acquired knowledge in debates and discussions with my friends and family, which I believe proved very beneficial.

JWT: How did you structure your Essay, and what was your strategy for Précis and Composition paper?

AM: For Essay, I focused on outline clarity, logical flow, balanced arguments and coherence.

For Précis & Composition, practice, vocabulary building and grammatical precision were the key elements.:

JWT: How should new aspirants start their preparation for the CSS exam?

AM: By understanding the syllabus, exam demands and selecting subjects wisely, followed by gradual but consistent preparation.

JWT: What should be an ideal timetable for a new aspirant to make sound preparation for the CSS exam?

AM: This varies from person to person. I didn't have a set timetable. I tried to make the most of my time when I studied. However, there were days when I didn't feel like studying, and on those days, I spent time with friends and family.

JWT: What areas should the new aspirants focus on while preparing for the CSS exam?

AM: They should focus on broadening and deepening their knowledge base such that there is conceptual clarity, current affairs (as this helps with almost all other papers) and answer writing skills from the very beginning.

JWT: How should one write answers to get maximum marks?

AM: Answers should be structured, relevant and analytical, supported by examples, data, diagrams or references, while directly addressing the question.

JWT: Should there be some word limit kept in mind while writing answers?

AM: I never focused on this (except in the case of English Précis & Composition). I always tried to give the best possible answer - detailed and relevant.