CSS ENGLISH (PRECIS & ‎COMPOSITION) SYLLABUS- Complete Outline

The CSS English (Precis & Composition) paper carries 100 marks. It is a compulsory paper for all candidates. The paper tests English language skills, including precis writing, comprehension, translation, grammar, and sentence correction.

To pass, candidates must score at least 40% marks. The exam evaluates clarity, coherence, and accuracy in English. Strong writing and analytical skills are essential for success.

Precis writing requires summarizing a passage. Comprehension tests the reading and understanding of a given text. Translation checks the ability to translate between Urdu and English. Grammar and sentence correction assess language proficiency.

CSS SYLLABUS OF ENGLISH (PRECIS & ‎COMPOSITION)

The examination in this subject will be based on a paper carrying 100 marks to test the candidate’s ability to solve

• Precis
• Writing
• Reading Comprehension
•  Sentence Structuring
•  Translation
• Grammar
•  Pair of words
•  Vocabulary 

I. Precis Writing (20 marks)	A carefully 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, 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 corrections only, without making unnecessary alterations. No two or more sentences should have 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 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 the 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, be accurately translated into English.

 Recommended Books for CSS English Paper

Here are the recommended books for CSS English Paper 2025:

Title of book	Author Name
English Grammar in Use	Raymond Murphy (Cambridge University Press).
Practical English Usage	M.Swan (Oxford University Press).
The Little, Brown Handbook	H. Ramsey Flower & Jane Aaron (The Little, Brown & Co; Harper Collins.)
A University English Grammar	R. Quirk & S. Greenbaum (ELBS; Longmans)
Write Better, Speak Better	Readers Digest Association.
Modern English in Action	Henry Christ (D.C. Heath & Co.)