Fiza Bibi Ameen is a gold medal qualifier in BS Physics from Riphah International University, Islamabad. She also contributed a prize-winning submission to the HEC inter-university essay writing competition held in 2022. She enjoys researching and writing about science, technology, and informative topics in various niches. She is a freelance writer and may be contacted at [email protected].
The Passionate Road to CSS
The young adults aspiring to land in the civil service follow the old-adage advice of choosing their passion. However, when little is certain about the journey, the passion dwindles. A study, Implicit Theories of Interest: Finding Your Passion or Developing It?, debunks the popular advice of following one’s passion, as many lose interest, get bored, and are now unable to explore other fields as they have forsaken their passion long ago; it goes on to explain the interests that can vary afterward.
This research is no less relevant to CSS aspirants who hail from a diverse academic background and might have to prepare for the subjects they have long lost interest in. For example, it is widely believed that students with an extensive background in mathematics have long forgotten to love the rules of literature. There are exceptions nonetheless. Similarly, a person who has long lost the habit of reading the newspaper daily might find it tough to turn it back on again.
CSS Statistics & Why Such a Patterned Way
The Establishment Division’s three-year statistics from 2019–2021 reveal brutally honest figures and provide a glimpse into where the pass percentage lies subject-wise. For these years, the failure rate for Urdu was 30%, 59%, and 73%, respectively. When the passing percentages for essay exams were totaled, they were 6%, 4%, and 13%, respectively, from 2019 to 2021. For the three years, the failed percentage on the comprehensive English exam was 73%, 39%, and 92%. The failure rates for Pakistan affairs exams were 37%, 71%, and 46%, and for the Islamiyat paper, it was 18%, 51%, and 81%.
CSS is, quite reasonably, a test of nerves and critical thinking. Why does a graduate with a degree, not to mention the explorations that had to be done for it, fail at this exam? This question has been answered in varied approaches and dimensions, with institutions, aspirants, and exam setting and checking systems bearing some of the blame in their respective baskets.
Addressing the issue, Professor Dr. Abdul Hai Madani, associate professor in the Humanities Department of NED University, stated that one of the most significant reasons for aspirants failing to stand out from the crowd is a lack of knowledge of relevant syllabi. He made it clear that the majority of candidates believe in competing well only because they either have recently completed their academic degrees or are enrolled in programs.
While noting the flaw in this approach, he goes on to say that aspirants consider studying what they have already studied rather than taking care to understand the syllabus, which is more specific to CSS exams than academia. He, like other subject-matter experts, emphasized the importance of preparing for the CSS exams per the relevant syllabus. What actually goes wrong while preparing for the CSS exam and attempting it, though, lacks a surefire answer.
How Can the Pareto Principle Help a CSS Aspirant?
The connectivity because of social media is not all hopeful. It turns out, through the lens of social media, that only exceptional talent, exceptional attention, and hard work stand out from the crowd in CSS exams. Thus, at times, attention and focus wane amidst the engulfing uncertainty etched in the civil service exam’s fabric ever since Pakistan’s independence. Research also shows that about 10% of every individual’s daily thoughts involve some form of comparison. Thus, a CSS aspirant might compare himself with his past, more productive days and also with other students who have a stronger background in CSS compulsory subjects, such as those with a degree in international relations, literature, political science, etc.
Looking at the statistics for 2023, one sees that, apart from the less optimistic figures of passed candidates, the appearing candidates are fewer in number compared to the ones who applied. This speaks volumes about the pressure the CSS applicant feels over himself, disrupting his self-confidence to take the exam. Moreover, as the final preparation month approached, the pressure on CSS candidates also increased multifold.
Vilfredo Pareto’s Pareto principle, also called the 80/20 rule, highlights the relationship between directed efforts and the outcome, which is unequal in essence. According to this principle, only 20% of the input produces 80% of the results. Thus, only 20% of work makes a real difference. Curiosity via the Pareto principle implies the identification of 20%, which would direct the focus and the output well.
Following is how curiosity, via the Pareto principle, can help the CSS aspirants with their final month preparation.
1. Keeping Distractions at Bay
Piers Steel, the author of The Procrastination Equation, claims that up to 95% of people admit they procrastinate. However, contrary to popular belief, psychologists confirm that procrastination is not a time management issue, but rather a result of how an individual handles his emotions. When one fails to give full attention to the scheduled practice, for example, one tends to the familiarity and ease offered by the internet to overcome emotional unpleasantness at the time.
Uncertainty, pressure, and self-doubt all prevail during CSS exam preparation. Rescheduling the preparation plan does not help because, once again, the issue is not one of time management but one of emotional imbalance. However, when studying for CSS exams, the Pareto principle of curiosity for any topic, section, or subject would facilitate the aspirant’s focus by encouraging the candidates to determine the most relevant and important 20%.
Focusing the mind on the larger picture of the plan through self-paced, focused individual tasks encourages smart work and also lessens the attraction of distractions. So, during the last few weeks of preparation, a candidate would benefit from nourishing their curiosity and positive emotions through the Pareto principle.
2. Encouraging the Use of More Interesting Study Materials
Researchers exploring the dimensions of nostalgia have discovered that bringing up deeply ingrained feelings and memories is easier than creating them from scratch. Thus, the researchers advocate for revisiting old and well-used study materials to facilitate learning. Boredom can claw its way out, however, after many revisions from the same notes, books, and other relevant materials. Curiosity, through the Pareto principle, will assist the aspirant in finding material that piques their interest and helps them engage meaningfully.
The researchers also encourage the learners to study from varied sources, from conventional printed books to electronic books to handwritten notes to summary flashcards and presentations. This will not only help with focus but will also boost confidence because a variety of explorations on the topic will yield the same outcome via the Pareto principle.
Thus, a CSS aspirant, through the Pareto principle, can maximize time, confidence, and retention after identifying the various information sources covering the focused 20% of smart work, truly making a difference by increasing relevancy in exam preparation and exam performance.
3. Less Concern about the Outcome and More about Learning
A CSS aspirant may be more concerned with the outcome than with the process at times. As previously stated, there are a variety of perspectives on who can and cannot compete well in these exams. The reasons for stress among aspirants can vary. It can include personal reasons such as study and work-life balance, health issues, financial issues, and self-discipline. The stress may also be due to other reasons, for example, other-oriented perfectionism and a lack of social life amid the tough schedules.
Whatever the reasons behind the stress are, by and large, it reflects a non-linear journey to CSS exam preparation, which furthers the distance from the self-confidence needed to appear in the exams. However, if one takes a step-by-step approach, as graduate and postgraduate students do, it is easier to focus on learning in the right direction rather than looking ahead to the seemingly hazy future. Thus, when a candidate covers a topic and a subject using the Pareto principle, he is confident, satisfied, and, more importantly, actively engaged in learning. Thus, worries reduce and focus improves.
4. Increased Concentration Span
According to studies, our attention span has decreased from 12 seconds to 8.25 seconds since the year 2000. This decreases even further, as the research evidences, when using mobile devices, which are almost always used by learners in their study time and beyond. Multitasking, which is also common during exam preparation, has also been shown to reduce attention span by up to 40%.
Thus, no matter what techniques a candidate employs, the risk of losing interest in the preparation remains. Using the Pareto principle, a learner’s curiosity, on the other hand, keeps him interested at all times. Since the candidate is constantly trying to figure out what the 20% important part of a topic, say from a Pakistan affairs course, is. The seemingly new yet easy-to-understand challenge stirs up interest and helps beat the limitations of one’s short attention span.
5. Relevance during the Exam Attempt
The journey does not end with smart preparation; smart techniques are required while in the examination hall. Whether the blame is placed on CSS checking or an aspirant’s learning, the truth is that an exam attempt revolves around the relevance for which the paper was set and graded. CSS exams’ past percentage, according to experts, is influenced more by an attempt at a paper than the subject choice or even the chosen question in the exam. An example of this is the subjects that bring the best marks for some easily and transition at the opposite end of the spectrum for others.
When the paper presents candidates with the age-old problem of organizing the information they have gleaned on a topic and presenting it in the most sequential way possible while keeping in mind the standard as specified by the question, a curious approach via the Pareto principle can turn this problem from an insurmountable challenge into a focused strategy. The more stressed one is, the less active the mind is and the less decisive the attempt. Thus, this approach is useful not only when a CSS aspirant feels cold during preparation despite being in the warmth of home but also in the examination hall, where the questions might challenge the nerves in less expected ways.
Conclusion
The decision to take CSS exams by a graduate, with a variety of career options to consider, is a brave one, not only because of the small number of people who pass or appear in exams but also because it means changing one’s career path. Various reasons have been presented regarding CSS checking standards as well as educational roots that do not facilitate an aspirant’s journey to a top position in CSS exams. It remains to be seen, however, why a particular approach by the candidate fails or succeeds.
As long as the aspirant chooses this field, there is an inherent requirement to be confident in their decision and use smart practice to cover a broad range of syllabi with direction. The curious approach via the Pareto principle can assist the candidate in keeping himself from being distracted, as well as pique interest in learning by identifying the 20% part, which is the essence of the topic or course in question, by exploring multiple sources.
Easing the pressure about whether or not the aspirant will find ground as a CSP (Civil Services of Pakistan) officer, this technique potentially facilitates the focus on preparation here and now. It not only improves the concentration span while preparing, but it also allows the candidate to focus on relevancy while attempting the exam and explore only the most relevant dimensions in an organized manner. Thus, in addition to many other techniques to assist aspirants in finalizing their preparation, the Pareto principle can also help maximize time, potential, and focus.
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The views and opinions expressed in this article/paper are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of Paradigm Shift.
