After qualifying the CSS exam in 1988

He has served in different departments of the government sector for more than 22 years. Dr Shahid Wazir Khan Director, CSS programme, KIPS

As far as the success of KIPS is concerned, it is unimaginable. Starting with three students in 2003, 900 students attended KIPS CSS campus in 2009. Besides, KIPS has a network in major cities like Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, etc.

What is the role of an academy for the students appearing in CSS?
The academies have gained tremendous importance in the recent years because they are offering many services under the same roof. As far as KIPS is concerned, we have faculty members, position holders and subject specialists. They help students in preparing for the competitive exams by providing them excellent books, notes as well as a source of motivation. If these students are not guided, it is very difficult for them to get a position in a competitive examination.
It is a fact that CSS demands knowledge but, on the other hand, one must know the technique and strategy how to attempt papers. I would like to share one important thing that we save the precious time of the students in their strict schedule.

What is the method for CSS preparation regarding books, notes etc?
An average student goes for market books and passes the exams. In CSS, one must have extensive knowledge by preparing notes from different sources like books, notes, lectures, internet and recognised magazines.

 Basically, the student should be creative and this ability makes them different from the rest. As far as the quality of notes is concerned, we provide the students updated 20 English essays six weeks before the exams. We update current affair notes annually by incorporating the latest developments. For Islamiat, we have different types of notes: Kips notes, position holders notes etc. It is up to the students what type of notes they opt for. Coming to the optional subjects, we have offered 20 optional subjects to the students. It is easy for the CSS students to choose the best combination.

What is the quality of KIPS notes? 
We don't compromise on the quality of our notes. But one thing should be kept in mind, if you are going for a competitive exam you must bank on extra sources. When KIPS notes are out in the market, they spread like cancer cell and reach almost all over the country. Then these notes are no more important because these notes become an average material.  Hence, notes are just for the satisfaction of the students. In competitive exams, if students rely on same notes, lectures, information which everyone has then they will not excel in this exam.

What makes KIPS different from other academies?
First of all, we are not an academy but an institution — corporate organisation. We are offering services in so many disciplines like Entry Test Consultant, FSC trainer. Owing to our rapid progress, we have been awarded the tender by ministry of science and technology to train and prepare 600 students. We have established 30 branches in Lahore.

Besides, we operate in Gujranwala, Karachi, Islamabad, Faisalabad and this year, we have opened our campus in Multan. If you want comparison then institution must be compared with institution rather than an academy.  Now we have established a network of colleges and coaching centres. The other difference is that we have a four kanal campus with a CSS library.

Which optional subjects do you prepare for CSS students?
Firstly, we annually take the statistic of the results declared by FPSC. Then we analyse which subject is scoring. Secondly, we assess whether the optional subjects will award consistent marks or not. By taking into consideration the analysis of all subjects every year, we finalise the list of optional subjects and offer to the students.
   
For example four years ago, we preferred the combination of mercantile law, Punjabi, forestry, constitutional law. When these subjects became risky, we excluded them from our list. This year, we are offering Indo-Pak history, Islamic history, political science, public administration and journalism. As last year, British history was not scoring, we started discouraging this subject.

Sometimes a subject is very scoring but in the succeeding years, it is seen that this subject is found as less scoring. Comment. 
After about two to four years there is a certain decline of a particular subject. The reason is that most of the students opt for it. In such a situation, quality suffers. Where there are few students opting for an optional subject, it gives you good marks. Remember, CSS is an exam of surprises. Besides, the students must be prepared for some kind of unexpected questions and papers. Every year, there are two subjects which are different from the students' expectations and don't cover even the syllabus.

What should be the strategy for attempting English essay?
There are so many techniques as I have been providing services for a decade. My personal observation which you won't be able to find in the books as well as in teachers.

As far as strategy is concerned, firstly, there is a need to grasp the topic but many students are unable to follow the topic and write irrelevant.
Secondly, students must understand the key words of an essay. For example, if there is an essay about 'Poverty Alleviation' here the topic is not poverty but alleviation. So, students usually beat about the bush on irrelevant key words.

Thirdly, students don't produce linkage in their ideas. Previous paragraph must be linked to the next paragraph.
Fourthly, there must be an impressive opening which makes an impact.
Fifthly, outline should be outstanding covering the whole topic by using appropriate vocabulary.
Sixthly, student ought to describe in the first paragraph — introductory paragraph — what he is going to discuss in the rest of the essay. This is very vital and helps the examiners to understand the essay. A general essay should consist of 2500 words that is standard and up to the mark.

What is a technique for getting higher marks in the interview?
 Pose a difference. Students need to get one extra mark in each question and paper, they will have an edge of 60 marks in 12 subjects. In competitve exams, one must create a difference by absorbing extra knowledge through extra sources like lectures, discussions, internet, notes etc.

What are the problems of students generally?
 In Lahore, there is no problem of guidance. Actually, students are overconfident and take it lightly. That's why in PMS exams, out of 30,000 just 200 students come to our academy and others go for market books. When the result is declared, only 50 students go through it. In other campuses of KIPS across the country, they have serious problems like no guidance, poor knowledge, pathetic background, no quality material and English problem.
As far as personality traits are concerned they are not motivated and there is a dearth of awareness.
    For CSS preparation, time-span should be between 8 to 10 months and first attempt must be taken as the last attempt.

Any message you would like to convey. 
We should come out of the cycle of mediocrity. We are a nation of mediocre. Our behaviour, preparation and hard work are not up to the mark. I wish we would break the cycle of mediocrity. We need to create a difference. Such difference can only be created when we keep out of this cycle and put in extraordinary efforts. So, CSS is the exams of creative students.