Thread on how to start studying for CSS (initial preparation).
For subject selection, kindly see this thread:
For subject selection, kindly see this thread:
1. Go through the subject groups, and narrow them according to whatever factors (as mentioned in the subject selection thread) suit you the best.
2. Past Papers: Skim through 10 years of past papers and roughly group the questions according to their topics.
The topic of each question can be easily found in its keywords.
Example
Q: Why is Pakistan facing a water crisis?
Topics: Water Crisis, Natural Resources
The topic of each question can be easily found in its keywords.
Example
Q: Why is Pakistan facing a water crisis?
Topics: Water Crisis, Natural Resources
This step is IMPORTANT! It'll help you especially during the revision period. It'll also help narrow down your topics so that all the material and information you gather isn't scattered. Another reason this step is crucial is RELATIVITY, which I'll explain in the next tweet.
RELATIVITY: by this I mean how best to answer similar questions through the lens of that particular subject. The Water Crisis answer for Current Affairs paper will be quite different from an answer in, say, International Relations paper.
This is key to unlocking good scores!
This is key to unlocking good scores!
3. Study Resources: Don't just rely on local publications readily available in the market. Go for everything! International & local newspapers, online resources such as research papers, official websites of state institutions, the UN, books by foreign and local authors.
4. Tackling Topics: ALWAYS make HEADINGS in your personal notes whenever you're studying a topic. Eg, topic is CPEC. Potential headings can be Projects, Progress, Implications for Pak, for China, Views of India, Afghanistan, USA. Advantages, Issues, Resolution to Problems.
You'll find keywords in past paper questions that can potentially serve as headings and subheadings to the topic when you're studying for it.
This helps with finding relevant information and assists you in structuring your research for a meaningful purpose.
This helps with finding relevant information and assists you in structuring your research for a meaningful purpose.
5. Newspaper: The habit of reading newspaper daily is obligatory on all CSS aspirants. Start with skimming through the front page and just going through two editorials. By the end of the year, you'll be able to read the whole paper within half an hour.
Newspaper reading really helps you with Essay, Precis, CA, PA and most of the optional subjects. But for those who have a weak grasp of English, this one habit alone can help you ace the Essay & Precis subject (considered the two most difficult subjects to pass).
Will continue rest of the the thread tomorrow InshAllah. Meanwhile if you guys have any queries, please feel free to ask.
6. Penmanship: Practice legible handwriting to make your answers presentable. Headings, sub-headings, information & data should stand out in your answer. Presentation matters as much as the content. Don't make it difficult for the examiner to read your paper.
7. Time Constraints: Written examination is mostly a game of steady nerves and resilience. For subjective paper, you've barely 35 mins to answer a 20 mark question. Practice answering within the time slot. Penmanship + time management comes with PRACTICE, and practice alone.
I keep stressing on written preparation from the get-go. Most candidates fizzle out by the end of compulsory subject exams. But then comes the harder part. Two exams each day, without any break, no sleep, aching hands. I even suffered from eyesight issues in the last two days.
