KARACHI:
The federal government recently confirmed that a screening test will be added to the CSS examination. This decision was met with mixed reactions because many candidates felt that there will be additional pressure with two different types of tests. I personally think that this is a good decision because it will save the time of both the commission and the candidates. The screening test will take place prior to the written test and only candidates who perform well in the screening test will make it through to the written exam.
Some candidates have welcomed this decision because each year approximately 17,000 to 18,000 candidates appear for examinations without undertaking any minor tests to determine their knowledge and eligibility. They would give twelve exams that examiners would be required to check, which made the entire process tedious for both candidates and the commission. The new process will ensure that only the most eligible and highest motivated candidates undergo the main exam. It has also reduced the length of the recruitment process from 20 to 12 months.
The screening test will test candidates’ knowledge of compulsory subjects such as Islamic studies, Urdu grammar, etc, which will encourage candidates to prepare better as the screening test marks will not be counted towards overall marks for the final merit position. I hope that this new testing method is fruitful because it will mean that only the most motivated and skilled candidates are selected to serve the country in the future.
Siraj Ahmed
Islamabad
Published in The Express Tribune, November 7th, 2021.
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