CSS 2019 – Political Science: Examiner’s Feedback and Student Guide

Introduction

Political Science is one of the oldest and most popular CSS optionals because of its overlap with Current Affairs, Pakistan Affairs, International Relations, and Essay. It provides a strong framework to understand governance, constitutions, and political ideologies. However, the examiner’s report for CE-2019 revealed that most candidates failed to utilize its scoring potential. Weak understanding of theories, rote-based answers, and poor application to Pakistan’s politics led to disappointing performance.

Examiner Feedback (2019)

The examiner observed:

• Overall performance was below average.
• Many candidates gave superficial, descriptive answers without conceptual depth.
• Candidates confused classical and modern political theories, misrepresenting thinkers like Plato, Aristotle, Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau.
• Answers lacked application to Pakistan’s political system, especially in areas like federalism, democracy, and constitutional crises.
• Many candidates reproduced academy notes with repetitive content.
• A few well-prepared aspirants who used thinkers, theories, and Pakistani case studies performed far better【Examiner-Reports-CE-2019.pdf†L221-L229】.

Common Mistakes by Candidates

1. Weak grasp of political theory
   • Candidates confused social contract theories, ignored modern political science debates, and mixed up ideologies.
2. Narration instead of analysis
   • Long descriptive answers without critical evaluation or arguments.
3. Ignoring Pakistan’s context
   • Few connected political theory to Pakistan’s democracy, constitutional development, or civil-military imbalance.
4. Over-reliance on rote notes
   • Repetition of memorized material from academies.
5. Poor organization
   • Weak outlines, lack of headings, and poor grammar diluted answers.

Practical Preparation Strategies

1. Master political theory
   • Classical: Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau.
   • Modern: Marx, Lenin, Fukuyama, Huntington.
   • Political ideologies: Liberalism, Socialism, Fascism, Feminism.
2. Apply to Pakistan
   • Connect theory to issues like democracy, federalism, constitutional crises, governance, and civil-military relations.
3. Use thinkers and quotations
   • Cite philosophers and political scientists to strengthen arguments.
4. Cover comparative politics
   • Study constitutions of UK, USA, and Pakistan. Analyze separation of powers, rule of law, and judicial review.
5. Structure answers analytically
   • Intro → theory/thinker → application → Pakistan’s context → conclusion.
6. Practice past papers
   • Attempt answers under timed conditions to develop analytical clarity.
7. Read standard references
   • Andrew Heywood – Political Theory
   • Dr. Roskin – Political Science: An Introduction
   • Mazhar-ul-Haq – Political Science.

Encouraging Closing Note

The CSS 2019 examiner’s report shows that Political Science punishes rote learning but rewards critical thinkers. Those who wrote general essays failed, while those who linked theories with Pakistan’s realities excelled.

Remember: Political Science is about ideas, systems, and governance. If you can analyze critically, connect theory to Pakistan, and write in a structured way, this subject can become one of your strongest scoring assets.

Stay motivated: every thinker you study, every constitution you analyze, every lesson you connect with Pakistan brings you closer to success. With the right approach, Political Science can boost both your optional and compulsory performance.