CSS English (Precis and Composition) past papers cover more ground than any other compulsory subject, testing précis writing, comprehension, grammar, idioms, and translation all in one paper. This page collects every Precis and Composition paper FPSC has set from 2016 through 2026, so you can see exactly which skills get tested each year and where your own writing needs the most work.
Download the complete archive
Want everything in one place? The button below opens a single PDF with all eleven years combined, so you can save one file and work through the full set offline.
Prefer to work through one year at a time, or just need to check how a particular year's paper was framed? Use the individual downloads below.
Precis and Composition past papers by year
Each card links straight to that year's original question paper as set by FPSC. Reviewing several years together shows you how consistent the underlying structure stays, even as the specific passages, idioms, and translation text change every attempt.
What the paper actually tests
This is the most skill-dense compulsory paper in the CSS exam. Every part is compulsory, there's no choosing questions to skip, and it splits into two parts that reward very different kinds of preparation.
Based on the actual 2019 paper, here's what each task in Part-II looks like:
This six-part structure has stayed consistent across recent years, which is exactly why practising past papers matters here: once you know the shape of the paper, your prep can focus on strengthening each individual skill rather than guessing what format to expect on exam day.
How to use these papers effectively
Because this paper tests six distinct skills, treat it as six separate practice areas rather than one subject. Time yourself on precis writing alone, then separately on comprehension, then on the grammar and idiom sections, since each rewards a different pace and mindset.
Work through a few years' worth of precis passages and comprehension texts first, since these carry the most marks and improve slowly with practice. Grammar, punctuation, idioms, and translation respond faster to focused drilling, so they're worth tackling closer to your exam date once your writing skills are already solid.
Related resources on CSS Bureau
This paper pairs naturally with a few other pages on the site:
Frequently asked questions
Where can I get authentic CSS Precis and Composition past papers?
The papers on this page are sourced from FPSC's published question papers and cross-checked for accuracy. You can also confirm recent years yourself on the official FPSC CSS section, though FPSC generally keeps only the last few years live on its own site.
Is Precis and Composition different from the Essay paper?
Yes, they're two separate compulsory papers. Essay asks candidates to write one long, structured essay from a choice of topics. Precis and Composition instead tests six shorter, compulsory skills: precis writing, comprehension, sentence correction, punctuation, idioms, and translation.
Can I choose which questions to attempt in Part-II?
No. Unlike subjects such as Pakistan Affairs or Current Affairs, where candidates pick four questions from a longer list, every task in Part-II of this paper is compulsory and must be attempted.
Are these papers solved or unsolved?
These are original, unsolved question papers exactly as set by FPSC. A separate page with model answers for precis, comprehension, and translation is being prepared and will be linked from this page once published.
How many past papers should I practise for this subject?
Work through at least five to six recent years for timed precis and comprehension practice, then use the remaining years mainly for grammar, idiom, and translation drills, since those sections respond well to shorter, repeated practice sessions.
Source and verification
Papers on this page are compiled from FPSC's official published question papers. Where a specific year was no longer available on FPSC's own site, it was cross-checked against independent archives before being added here, so you can rely on these as accurate representations of the original exam.