Precis carries 20 out of 100 marks in the CSS English (Precis and Composition) paper. Of these 20 marks, 15 go to the precis body, and 5 go to the title. This breakdown is fixed in the official FPSC syllabus and has remained consistent across all CSS examinations.
The CSS English paper is a compulsory 100-mark paper that every CSS aspirant must attempt, regardless of their optional subjects. Precis is the very first descriptive question on the paper (Question 2), and it is the section that leaves the most lasting impression on the examiner. Understanding exactly how these 20 marks are divided is the first step towards earning them.
The full marks breakdown of the CSS English paper
According to the official FPSC syllabus, the paper carries 100 marks distributed across the following sections.
- MCQs Vocabulary (Synonyms and Antonyms): 20 marks
- Precis Writing (body + title): 20 marks
- Reading Comprehension (5 questions × 4 marks): 20 marks
- Sentence Correction: 10 marks
- Punctuation and Preposition: 10 marks
- Pairs of Words: 10 marks
- Translation (Urdu to English): 10 marks
- Total: 100 marks
Precis, at 20 marks, shares equal weight with the MCQ section, comprehension, and grammar. However, it tests a candidate's ability to write analytically and independently, which is why precis is the most important question in the CSS English paper in terms of examiner attention.
How the 20 precis marks are divided
The 20 marks are not given as a single score. FPSC examiners mark a precis in two distinct components.
- 15 marks for the precis body. These marks are awarded for how accurately and concisely you have captured the main idea of the passage, how logically your sentences flow, and how faithfully you have represented the author's meaning in your own words. Examiners assess fidelity to the original passage, originality of expression, coherence, and conciseness.
- 5 marks for the title. A separate score is given for the title you suggest for the precis. The title must reflect the central theme of the passage, not a supporting detail. It is typically a noun phrase of three to seven words. Many aspirants treat the title as an afterthought and lose all five marks unnecessarily.
What examiners look for in the 15-mark precis body
Sir Syed Kazim Ali, whose methodology underpins all solved precis on PrecisWritingLet, identifies six principles that FPSC examiners use when awarding marks for the precis body.
- Fidelity: the precis must reflect the original passage's meaning accurately.
- Conciseness: the precis must be approximately one-third of the original passage's word count.
- Originality: you must write in your own words, as lifting sentences verbatim from the passage is treated as a failure.
- Coherence: ideas must flow logically from one sentence to the next, using transition words.
- Completeness: all main supporting ideas, not just the central theme, must be present.
- Objectivity: your own opinion must never appear.
What examiners look for in the 5-mark title
The title is marked separately and carries its own distinct criteria. A title that earns full marks must
- Capture the central theme of the entire passage, not a single paragraph
- Be a noun phrase, not a sentence or a question
- Be between three and seven words in length
- Be specific enough to distinguish this passage from any other
Passing marks and what the 20 marks mean for your overall result
FPSC requires a minimum of 40% in each compulsory paper to qualify. That means you need at least 40 marks out of 100 in the English paper to avoid disqualification, regardless of your scores in optional subjects.
The precis section alone contributes 20% of your total paper score. A candidate who consistently earns 12-15 out of 20 marks in precis has a strong foundation to clear the 40-mark minimum, even if other sections are weaker. Conversely, a candidate who earns only 5-8 marks in precis faces significant pressure on every other section to compensate. It is only possible through consistent practise with real exam passages, so check the CSS Solved Precis category to start.