Key points
- The move comes amid a persistently low pass rate in recent years
- Experts warn that while the resolution offers relief, systemic educational reforms are essential to address deeper flaws in exam preparation and candidate performance
ISLAMABAD: In a move hailed as a game-changer for thousands of civil service aspirants, the National Assembly of Pakistan has passed a resolution to increase the age limit for Central Superior Services (CSS) examinations from 30 to 35 years and expand the number of exam attempts from three to five.
The resolution, presented by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) lawmaker Nosheen Iftikhar, was passed with a majority vote and is seen as a much-needed relief for candidates grappling with the rigid constraints of Pakistan’s most competitive exam.
More time, more chances: A lifeline for aspiring civil servants
The resolution aims to democratise the CSS exam process by giving candidates more time and more opportunities to succeed.
According to the proposal, candidates would now have five chances to clear the gruelling CSS exam. Previously, aspirants had only three shots between the ages of 21 and 30.
Tough test, tougher odds: CSS pass rate barely touches 2pc
The decision comes on the heels of the CSS 2024 written exam results, which revealed a daunting reality: only 395 out of 15,602 candidates passed, marking a pass rate of just 2.53 per cent. This follows a troubling pattern over recent years, with pass rates rarely exceeding 2–3 per cent. The CSS, conducted annually by the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC), remains the ultimate gateway to Pakistan’s elite bureaucratic positions, but its razor-thin success rate continues to spark debate.
Experts weigh in: “Raise the age—and reform the system”
Commenting on the resolution, Professor Dr Tahir Jamil of Area Study Centre, Quaid-i-Azam University called the age and attempt increase a “welcome step,” urging even greater flexibility to foster a competitive environment. However, he did not hold back in diagnosing deeper systemic flaws.
Dr Jamil lambasted the reliance on CSS academies, arguing they often do more harm than good. “Every year should bring a new structure, a fresh syllabus, and a focus on specialisation,” he said. He also criticised the rote learning culture and overuse of preparatory guides, which, according to him, stifle originality and effective communication, particularly in English.
Beyond numbers: CSS results reflect an education crisis
Experts like Dr Jamil agree: the consistently low pass rates are not just statistics—they’re symptoms of a broken academic framework. With outdated methods, poor reading habits, and a lack of analytical training, candidates are being set up to fail, despite their ambitions.
Senior educationists argue that without a foundational overhaul of both CSS preparation and Pakistan’s broader education system, minor tweaks in age or attempts won’t yield meaningful change. The CSS exam, while prestigious, is exposing the cracks in how the country prepares its future administrators.
