CSS 2019 – Sociology: Examiner’s Feedback and Student Guide
Introduction
Sociology is one of the most frequently chosen CSS optionals because of its short syllabus, overlap with Current Affairs, and relevance to Pakistan’s social issues. It is often seen as a “safe scoring subject.” However, the examiner’s report for CE-2019 revealed that most candidates performed poorly. The key reason: many confused sociology with general knowledge, relied on rote material, and ignored sociological theories and perspectives.
Examiner Feedback (2019)
The examiner noted:
- Overall performance was disappointing.
- Candidates treated the subject like an essay on social problems, ignoring sociological frameworks.
- Very few referenced sociologists or theories (Durkheim, Weber, Marx).
- Many wrote generic content on poverty, crime, or inequality without analysis.
- Application to Pakistan’s context was weak — candidates did not link theories to local issues.
- A handful of well-prepared candidates who wrote with theoretical grounding + Pakistani examples stood out and scored well【Examiner-Reports-CE-2019.pdf†L230-L238】.
Common Mistakes by Candidates
- Treating sociology as general studies
- Writing about social problems without sociological perspectives.
- No use of theories
- Failing to reference thinkers like Durkheim (social solidarity), Weber (bureaucracy), or Marx (class conflict).
- Weak application to Pakistan
- Ignoring social realities like feudalism, extremism, rural-urban divide, and gender inequality.
- Over-reliance on notes
- Copying academy notes word-for-word, making answers repetitive.
- Unstructured answers
- Poor outlines, lack of headings, and examiner-unfriendly writing.
Practical Preparation Strategies
- Learn sociological theories
- Functionalism, Conflict Theory, Symbolic Interactionism, Feminist perspectives.
- Apply theories to Pakistan
- Poverty → Marxist class conflict
- Extremism → Durkheim’s anomie
- Bureaucracy → Weber’s model vs Pakistan’s administrative reality
- Use sociologists and quotations
- Referencing Durkheim, Weber, and Marx makes answers academically strong.
- Incorporate Pakistani case studies
- Rural-urban migration, education inequality, gender discrimination, and extremism.
- Use data and reports
- UNDP Human Development Reports, Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, and World Bank social indicators.
- Organize answers analytically
- Intro → theory → analysis → Pakistan’s context → conclusion.
- Read authentic sources
- Anthony Giddens – Sociology
- Horton & Hunt – Sociology
- Pakistani sociological research for local examples.
Encouraging Closing Note
The CSS 2019 examiner’s report proves that Sociology is not just a common-sense subject. It requires theories, concepts, and analytical application. Candidates who ignored the academic framework failed, while those who combined theory with Pakistan-specific examples scored well.
Remember: Sociology is about explaining society, not just describing it. If you use theories, apply them critically, and connect with Pakistan’s context, this subject can become one of your most scoring optionals.
Stay motivated: every theory you master, every statistic you use, every issue you connect to sociology strengthens your preparation. With the right approach, Sociology can easily boost your CSS score.