Jahangir's World Times First Comprehensive Magazine for students/teachers of competitive exams and general readers as well.
For all your queries about CSS, PMS, PCS and other Competitive Exams, please write to us or email at the following address: CSS GURU Jahangir’s World Times 121-D, Gulberg II, Lahore. email: cssguru@jworldtimes.com
A Word from CSS Guru
In November 2013 issue of JWT, Mr Mohsin Ali Mahesar suggested that CSS Guru should also mention common mistakes that are to be avoided in exam. CSS Guru has penned a comprehensive book entitled CSS Beginners’ Guide covering all the aspects that any candidate of CSS would need to know. With Tips & Tricks for CSS, essentials of success, paper attempting skills, subject analyses for all compulsory as well as optional subjects, confusions in minds of aspirants and common mistakes committed by failed candidates during preparation as well as examination, etc. CSS Beginners’ Guide is a comprehensive coaching manual indispensable for every CSS aspirant.
Assalam-o-Alaikum sir!
I am currently a student of intermediate. In future, I have a clear aim to go for CSS. Please tell me that after intermediate, which course of study I should follow to have a strong background for appearing in CSS. I want to go for Chartered Accountancy, but only if it will help me in CSS.
I need your invaluable guidance in this regard.
G. M. Raja
Dear Raja,
Your enthusiasm and clarity of vision for CSS is commendable. CSS demands a sound grip on English language as well as a broad general knowledge base. People generally think that candidates having professional degrees mostly make it to the final list of allocations but that is not true. Nearly three-fourth of the finally qualified candidates have Master’s or Bachelor’s degrees in various fields. Usually, students with a background of history, public administration, literature, political science, international relations and geographical sciences are the ones found in final list of allocations. You may opt for any of these fields according to your aptitude.
Assalam-o-Alaikum Sir
I am a student of MPhil in International Relations and I will appear in next CSS exam. In March 2014, I will be aged 28 years. Presently, I am serving in PAF.
Please tell me if I am eligible to go for CSS exam. Please also guide me that how much marks are for optional papers and which subjects will suit me as a student of IR.
Please tell if there is any academy of JWT in or near Sargodha.
Thanks
Asad Ali
Dear Asad,
Please go through the Rules and Guidelines for CSS-2014. You are eligible for the upcoming attempt i.e. CSS-2014 if you have applied for it. If you have a minimum of two years’ service in PAF on the cut-off date for CSS-2015 or 2016, you may be entitled to a general two-years relaxation in the upper age limit for these two exams.
You are required to choose optional subjects of 600 marks in accordance with the CSS-Rules. You may opt for subjects like International Relations, Political Science, British history, Constitutional Law, etc. JWT Academy has only one branch at 121-D, Gulberg II, Lahore.
Dear Guru
I want to opt botany in CSS but I think no one or very less candidates go for it. I have also heard that it is not a good-scoring subject. My other problem is that botany is my subject in SPSC upcoming exam and I am now perplexed. Please guide me what should I do?
Regards
Agha Shahida
Dear Shahida,
The number of candidates opting for Botany in CSS is around 100 each year. It is one of the less commonly opted for subjects in CSS. As far as scores are concerned, around 25 per cent candidates obtain scores in excess of 120 which is fairly high for any subject. Therefore, if you have an aptitude for botany or have studied it during graduation, then you should go for it.
Assalam-o-Alaikum Dear GURU
I direly need guidance on CSS books on Journalism, Public Administration and International Law. As you know, I have limited time left for preparation. So, kindly suggest specific book(s) on these subjects so that I may cover these subjects in a proper way and that too in a limited time.
Regards
H. Mubashar (MA)
Dear Mubashar,
Please refer to following books for a speedy yet comprehensive preparation:
Journalism for All by Dr Mehdi Hassan & Dr Abdus Salam Khurshid
Journalism for CSS/PMS by Quratulain & Haseeb Gohar
International Law by Tandon
International Law by Agarwal
Public Administration Vol. I & II By Dr Sultan
Assalam-o-Alaikum Sir,
I need some writing tips like: what colour of pen is suitable out of black and blue because there is only one pen allowed for answering the questions, how to highlight the headings and mentioning the question number. Please let me know all these basic things.
Regards
Muhammad Faheem Channa
New Saeedabad
Dear Faheem,
Any pen, black or blue, would be fine. Black looks better if you don’t write in a large font size. Paper should be attempted with a pen appropriate for that kind of paper. It must not leave ink blots on paper as it would create a bad impression and spoil your efforts. Proper use of markers makes your paper appear beautiful and organized. Use blue and black markers for different headings. Always divide your answers in headings and sub-headings wherever required. Use different coloured markers as well as spacing for sub-headings.
