CSS English Précis and Composition Syllabus — PDF Download

The CSS English Précis and Composition syllabus covers four tested skills in one 100-mark compulsory paper. FPSC sets the paper with fixed sections: précis writing, reading comprehension, correction of sentences, and translation from Urdu to English. The English Précis and Composition CSS syllabus is one of the most structurally predictable papers in the entire examination. Each section has a fixed marks allocation. The précis task has a specific required word count. Candidates who practice on past précis passages improve their scores reliably. English Précis and Composition is part of the CSS compulsory subjects syllabus that every candidate sits regardless of their optional subject choices.

Candidates preparing for this paper should build their study plan alongside the CSS English Essay syllabus — both papers test language command and are marked in the same examination sitting.

CSS English (Precis & Composition) Syllabus

ENGLISH (PRECIS & COMPOSITION) (100 MARKS)

The examination in this subject will be based upon a paper carrying 100 marks to Test the candidate’s abilities to handle Precis Writing, Reading Comprehension, Sentence Structuring, Translation, Grammar and Vocabulary, etc.

I. Precis Writing (20 marks) 

A careful selected passage with an orientation of generic understanding and enough flexibility for compression shall be given for précising and suggesting an appropriate title. Out of the total 20 marks allocated to this question, 15 shall go to précising the text and 5 to suggesting the title.

II. Reading Comprehension (20 marks) 

A carefully selected passage that is rich in substance but not very technical or discipline-specific shall be given, followed by five questions, each carrying 4 marks.

III. Grammar and Vocabulary (20 marks) 

Correct usage of Tense, Articles, Prepositions, Conjunctions, Punctuation, Phrasal Verbs, Synonyms and Antonyms etc.

IV. Sentence Correction (10 marks) 

The sentences shall be given each having a clear structural flaw in terms of grammar or punctuation. The candidates shall be asked to rewrite them with really needed correction only, without making unnecessary alterations. No two or more sentences should have exactly the same problem, and 2-3 sentences shall be based on correction of punctuation marks.

V. Grouping of Words (10 marks) 

A random list of twenty words of moderate standard (neither very easy nor utterly unfamiliar) shall be given, to be grouped by the candidates in pairs of those having similar or opposite meaning, as may be clearly directed in the question.

VI. Pairs of Words (10 marks) 

Ten pairs shall be given of seemingly similar words with different meanings, generally confused in communication, for bringing out the difference in meaning of any five of them by first explaining them in parenthesis and then using them in sentences.

VII. Translation (10 marks) 

Ten short Urdu sentences involving structural composition, significant terms and figurative/idiomatic expressions shall be given, to be accurately translated into English.

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CSS English Precis & Composition Frequency Analysis (2000–2025)