Why CSS exams are hard?

In Pakistan, CSS exams have become a dream to be chased. A career in a nation’s civil services has been a dream for people no matter what era of life and what nationality.

The earliest known CSS exams date back to the times of Imperial China. They were the emperor’s way of selecting the worthiest of the people for the state’s bureaucracy.

This trend of exalting the Civil Service Exams has translated to other Asian civilizations, especially Pakistan.

In the last couple of decades, this has become the aspiration and dream of many young men and women alike. Last year more than 32,000 candidates appeared in the competitive examination. Passing the CSS exams is a requirement to join the central superior services.

The harsh odds

The attempting ratio was 20000, and out of this many people, only 237 were selected. This brings the pass percentage to about 0.01% making it one of the hardest examinations in the country. This process is repeated every year. Every year about 99% of the candidates face failure.

Popularity of the exam

The reason why the Civil Superior Service is an aspiration for many is the power and prestige associated with the bureaucracy.

A government job offers security and wealth to the people. Its popularity rises from the fact that there is no unemployment after clearing this exam.

According to a paper published in Columbia University’s Journal of International Affairs, people have also termed the ‘high rates of corruption’ as a motivating factor.

The exam

The exam is a compilation of 12 papers. Each paper is totaled at 100 marks. It is the most important part of the competitive examination. Failing even one subject means that you’re out of the race. The hardest subject, which is also compulsory, is the English essay.

This subject has a total 97% rate of failure.

In Pakistan, the roots of the Civil services have become rusty. They need a thorough modification to be accessible to the future generations.

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