General recruitment: FPSC abolishes written tests

The Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) has abolished written tests for general recruitment, announcing that from now on, only Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs)-based examinations will be conducted.

According to a public notice, the new system will come into effect from September 21, 2025. The change will, however, not apply to the Central Superior Services (CSS) competitive examinations. Under the revised system, general recruitment for posts from BPS-16 to BPS-21 will be held under new rules.

For BPS-16 and BPS-17 positions, candidates will face a single MCQ paper of 100 marks, while for BPS-18 and above, there will be two MCQ papers. To qualify, candidates must secure a minimum of 40–50 percent marks, and 0.25 marks will be deducted for each incorrect answer.

The CSS exams are held to recruit officers (BPS-17) for Pakistan's bureaucracy—the Pakistan Administrative Services (PAS), police, foreign service, customs, etc.

The purpose of general recruitments is to fill individual posts advertised by the FPSC in various ministries and departments. The posts thus advertised range from BPS-7 to BPS-19, not just BPS-17 like the CSS. The BPS stands for Basic Pay Scale.