CSS Tips & Tricks Important Topics for CSS

Interview
For a good interview prep a you should have a comprehensive and up-to-date knowledge of current
affairs for this purpose, make a habit of reading at least two well reputed national English Newspapers
daily. Pay special attention to their editorials. I would also adv you to consult international magazines
like Newsweek and Economist.

For your convenience, I have made a list of important topics for interview. I hope itll help you a lot in
your preparation. May Allah grant you with a success?

Topics of Regional Importance
1. NRO
2. National Finance Commission (NFC).
3. Provincial Autonomy.
4. Kerry Lugar Bill and its Implications.
5. Causes of Extremism in Pakistan.
6. Local Government System, its pros and cons, should it be replaced with magistracy system?
7. Police Ordinance 2002.
New Police Ordinance 2010.
8. Pemra Ordinance 2009.
9. 17th Amendment, 58(2)B.
10. NAB
11. Water Crisis and its Solutions.
12. Energy Crisis and its solutions.
13. Agricultural Problems of Pakistan and their solutions.
14. Social Problems of Pakistan.
15. Dams and specially prepare Kalabagh and Diamer Bhash Dam.
16. Food Crisis / Sugar Crisis / Wheat (Flour) Crisis.
17. Role of Women in Pakistan Society and problems faced by them.
18. Economic Difficulties of Pakistan.
19. Balochistan Crisis.
20. Future of Democracy in Pakistan.
Difficulties of Democracy in Pakistan.
21. Judicial Activism.
22. Relations of Pakistan with other countries:
a) India (with special reference to Sir Creek, Siachen, Kashmir)
b) Iran
c) USA
d) Saudi Arabia
e) Turkey
f) China
23. Gawadar port.

Topics of International Importance

1. International Disputes.
a. Palestine
b. Kashmir
c. Tamil Tigers for Tamil State in Sri Lanka (LTTE)
d. Basque movement in Spain.
e. Moros in Philippines.
f. Naxalites and Maoists in India.
g. Sikhs in Eastern Punjab.
h. Uighurs in China.
i. Tibet Independence.
j. Ireland Dispute.
(How it was solved by Belfast Agreements).
k. Darfur and Congo Crisis.
l. Kuril Islamic Problem.
2. Nuclear Proliferation, CTBT, NPT and Irans Nuclear PRogramme.
3. Climate change, Global warming and Kyoto Protocol.
4. Missile Shield Programme of USA and Expansion of NATO.
5. Chinas progress China 2020 vision.
6. Economic recession (Global economic recession with special reference to subprime mortgage crisis
of USA).
7. Foreign Policy of President Obama and its comparison with Bushs Foreign Policy.
8. Piracy in Indian Ocean.
9. Regional Organization and International Organizations
a. ASEAN
b. SCO
c. UN (Why UN has become a toothless tiger?)
d. NATO
e. EU
f. G8
g. D8
h. O/C
i. OPEC
j. World Economic Forum
k. Paris Club
l. SAARC
m. Islamic Banking
n. Important waterways of world (like Strait of Gibraltar).

Topics of General Interest
1. Nobel Prize _________ of this year.
2. Swine Flu.
3. Jaswants Singles Book on partition of Subcontinent.

I would also recommend going through your Islamic and Pakistan Studies books as questions are
asked on these subjects.

Psychological Test For CSS Candidates
You have passed written exam, next step is Psychological Test. Dont underestimate it. The
findings of psychologists will determine the line of action of the interview panel and your
group allocation.

Day-1
Students are given a performa containing information of his/her academic background ranging from
matric to masters levels and the work experience, if any. Secondly, detail of family members should be
on finger tips as their qualification, age, experience etc. The students are advised to take with them the
written record of their degrees and experience certificates.

The next question is about the most important decision in your life. The aim of this question is to check
the decision power of the candidate. So the candidates are advised to show decision power, while
mentioning their decisions as the right answer will lay the foundation for the next questions and so very
vital. The impact of the decision should be very positive.

The next question is about the unforgettable incident in your life. The answer should not be based on a
pessimistic note, fear, injury, incident or something like this. It should be a fair and positive tale of your
life.

When answering Personality Test questions, bear the following in mind:
There are no right or wrong answers;
Do not spend more than a few seconds thinking about the answer to any one question;
Try and answer all questions with confidence;
Be honest and give answers that you feel describe you best;
If you are stuck on a question, then mark the answer that would best describe how you would behave
in general.

Then different tests, like Intelligence Test, Mathematics Series, Diagrams etc are given in order to
evaluate the students level and judgment in the shape of different multiple question-answer series.
Following are some examples:

(1) How many times can you subtract 1 from 100?
(2) A boy went into a shop and spent one quarter of the money he had with him. He then spent a
further 25 paisas leaving himself with two rupees. How much did he start out with?
(3) If at noon, a clock is two minutes slow and gains a minute and a half every hour, when will it show
the correct time?
(4) Multiply together a half and a third of Ramzan's age and the product will be 54. How old is
Ramzan?
(5) What is next in this series?
A, Z, C, X, E ---
(6) What two letters are missing?
R, F, T, O, N,
(7) In a 10 storey block of flats, which floor is above the floor, below the floor, below the floor above
the floor, below the floor above the 5th?
(8) If 129 players enter a knockout tennis tournament how many matches must be played?
(9) What is next in this series?
2, 3, 6, 18, 108,
(10) If ShCEMd means riddle, what does DZogFq mean?
(11) Rabia is sister of Jamil's granddaughter who, in turn, is Fahim's brother's mother. What relation is
Fahim to Jamil?
(12) What is missing from this sequence? 5201 413.
(13) If you are out in the rain for five minutes, will you get wetter walking or running?
(14) What number is missing here?
1 2 4 16 32 64
(15) Write down five odd numbers so that, when you add them up they total 14.
(16) Find a number whose double exceeds its half by 99.
(17) What is the next number in this series? 31 28 31 30

Answers
(1) Just once. (2) Rupees three. (3) 1.20 p.m. (4) 18 years. (5) V. (6) KRYPTON. (7) The sixth floor. (8) 129.
(9) 1944. (10) cypher. (11) Fahim is Jamil's great grandson. (12) 18 (clockwise round dartboard). (13) If
you are out in the rain for any given length of time you will get less wet walking and least wet standing
still. (14) 8. (15) 1, 1, 1, 11. (16) 66. (17) 31 (they are the number of days in the months, starting with
January).

Questions:
(1) Are these circles equal? If not, which is larger? A or B

(2) What is the comparative length of segments A & B?

(3) Is the central figure larger in A or in B?

(4) Which is larger square, A or B?

(5) What do you see? Now look again.

(6) Which of these two sets of lines is larger? Set A or B

(7) Which of the two figures is larger?

(8) Are the central circles are of the same or different sizes?

(9) Are the following vertical lines parallel?

(10) Are the following two lines part of the same slanting line?

Answers

(1) Equal. (2) Same. (3) Both are equal. (4) Equal. (5) We see faces in the drawing. (6) Both sets are
equal. (7) The two figures shown in question are actually of the same size, although they appear to be
markedly different. (8) The two central circles shown in figures are actually of the same size even if they
look different. (9) The straight vertical lines appear to be bent outward, to bulge away from each other.
(10) The slanting line shown in the illustration is part of the same straight line.

The next thing the students have to write their merits and demerits. In the merits, the students must
write those general abilities which the psychologists are trying to ascertain by checking the multiple
questions, in a group discussion and command and these things must be proved accordingly. Usually,
the students prefer to write Loyal, Honest, Devoted, Punctual, Disciplined etc. But one thing must be
taken in mind that these merits must be proved when the psychologists put different questions or give
something written to verify these merits.

Actually what happens the student writes that he is punctual but on the other side, in his demerits, he
writes he awakes late. Such comments leave a bad impression on psychologists and they are irritated
and one must have knowledge that the final interview is conducted on the report of the Psychologist.

The next thing, the students are supposed to write the merits and demerits of their parents. In this
context, it is advised that positive things must be written like Tolerance, Honest, Patriotic, and avoid
writing the negative points of your parents if there are any.

Then the students are asked to write the three favourite books. In this context, the students must
choose the books which are not controversial. The students must prepare a summary of the whole book
in few words and give his opinion why he chose the book. For example if a student opts for Jaswants
book he must give its summary and reason why he has chosen this book. Following is the summary of
Jaswants book:

Jaswant Singh's Book speaks aloud and somewhat truly about the Indian mindset in defining moments
of the mid-20th century. Without mincing his words, Jaswant Singh has squarely put the blame for
partition of India in 1947 on Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and the Congress rather than
Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. In his book, he evokes momentous episodes that set in motion the
movement for partition of India besides the Epic journey of Jinnah from being the ambassador of
Hindu-Muslim unity, the liberal constitutionalist and Indian nationalist to the Quaid-e-Azam of Pakistan.
The thesis followed by him, indeed, proves Jinnah not only the Quaid-i-Azam of Pakistan but also of the
entire Subcontinent.

On a question to whether Jinnah was a great man, he said, Oh yes, self-made man who resolutely
worked towards achieving what he had set for himself. While referring to the plight of the Indian
Muslims today, he said, Look into the eyes of the Muslims that live in India and if you truly see through
the pain in which they live in to *the+ land which they belong; we treat them as aliens.

Jaswant Singh maintains, He (Jinnah) created something out of nothing and single-handedly stood
against the might of the Congress and the British who didn't really like him...Gandhi himself called
Jinnah a great Indian. Mahatma Gandhi was the son of a Diwan. All these (people) Nehru and others
were born to wealth and position. Jinnah created for himself a position. He carved in Bombay a position
for himself. He was so poor that he had to walk to work. Singh also said that the view held by many in
India that Jinnah hated Hindus was a mistake.

Comparing the leadership of Gandhi and Jinnah, the book says, *Gandhi's+ had almost an entirely
religious provincial flavour while [Jinnah's] was doubtless imbued by a non-sectarian nationalistic zeal.

Similarly two favourite personalities are mentioned. It is up to a person what he chooses. But generally,
the personality may be a famous one and the students should have on his finger tips the achievements
and contributed aspects of the personality.

Day-2

Group Discussion:
Six to eight students sit in such a pattern that they face each other. A topic in English then in Urdu is
given for discussion. The students are supposed to express their views logically and give some
references if possible. During the discussion, some students try to dominate themselves by ignoring
other follows and they do not give others a chance to speak. Such things are believed to be
overconfident and have negative impact on students assessment. The students strategy should be to
accommodate one and another and give a chance all to complete the discussion. The candidates should
speak precise, to the point and complete his arguments within one or two minutes. Encourage the use
of I such as I think, I feel, I believe etc. during discussion, try to hold his gaze fixed in specific
directions for five or six seconds at a time.

Shortly, after each change in position, a slight smile will convince each person in that direction that you
have seen and acknowledged them. Speak pleasantly and politely to the group. Respect the
contributions of all speakers. Learn to disagree politely. Try to stick to the discussion. Dont shout or lose
your temper. Then if time is available, the students can speak second time. Before discussion, an
understanding must be developed among fellows as it helps in the discussion. Same is the strategy for
Urdu discussion.


Command Task:
The purpose of this task is to evaluate the skill, strategy and confidence of a student how he deals in a
particular situation. This task is also vital for allocating a department. So the students must study their
file and problem thoroughly and sort out it solution within the given time. The points made by the
students should be clear and no ambiguity should be left in understanding these points. Once the
student is called to perform his/her command task, he/she should stand and walk till the chair
confidently. During the elaboration of the Command Task, the student must clear his problem by
revising it twice or thrice in different words so that all the fellows may be able to grasp the problem and
suggest a valuable solution. The students voice should be clear and eye-contact must be established
among all the fellows.

Interview:
The psychologists take a brief interview to verify their judgment about the students. Students are asked
the same questions that have been asked during written portion but in different way. So the students
must be active and answer same as he has done in the written portion. One should perform and talk as
in his/her natural style. Any thing like artificiality or posing a different style to conceive the psychologists
results in the negative point for the candidates assessment. So answer all the questions in the same
medium of instruction as asked by psychologists. No efficiency should be shown. Speak the truth and
remain on your point of view as you mentioned in the written portion.

Important Tips
Try to behave throughout psychological test as a group leader.
Do not be over-confident and aggressive.
Show your natural style.
Answer all the psychological interview questions in the medium of instruction as asked by the
psychologists.
Do not contradict with your verdict.
Wear preferably coat-pant. For female, wear light color dresses, with light make-up.

Note

In our next issue, (January 2010), we will publish a grand mock interview for the guidance of CSS
students. It will include exclusive interviews, views and reviews of CSS top position holders in detail.

ASP Mufakhar Adeel 2nd Position , CSS-2006
Email: mufakhar_adeel@yahoo.com