Economics
Economics drew 341 candidates in CSS 2025 and allocated 4 of them, an overall conversion of just over 1%. The paper sits a little below the field average at 34.5%, though still above the passing line, so the scarcity of allocations reflects a thin written pass and a demanding merit cut. Only nine candidates cleared the written stage from the full field.
Gender Distribution
Of the four allocated candidates, one was a woman and three were men, a 25% female share in a sample too small to read as a trend. The figure simply records the outcome for four individuals.
Subject vs CSS Average
Economics' mean of 34.5% trails the CSS optional-subject average of 43.5% by 9 points, placing it among the harder-scoring papers in the examination. Candidates with quantitative backgrounds sometimes expect it to play to their strengths, but the low mean suggests the paper is more demanding than that assumption allows. Because it sits below the field average, clearing 33% already lifts a candidate above most of the pack, yet with only 4 seats a bare pass is far from secure. The sensible target is to score clearly above the narrow margin the mean sits at.
Candidate Pipeline
Of the 341 who appeared, 9 passed the written stage and 4 of those were allocated. Because the mean of 34.5% sits just above the 33% threshold, the paper is marginally clear of being the principal barrier, but the low written pass count shows how few candidates reached a confident passing standard. The further drop to 4 allocations completed the filtering at the merit stage.
Score Distribution
At 34.5% of the 200 available marks the mean clears the passing line only narrowly, and the median, close behind at 36% of max, sits near it, suggesting a balanced distribution sitting low. A standard deviation of 28 marks, around 14 percentage points, is wide, placing a candidate one deviation below the mean at 20.5%, well short of passing. This is a moderate-risk paper where the average candidate just clears the line but the broad spread drops a large share below it. Because the mean sits so close to the threshold, modest improvements in preparation translate directly into the difference between passing and failing.
Provincial Breakdown
Punjab took 2 of the 4 seats, with Balochistan and Sindh Rural taking one each. With only four allocations the distribution carries little weight beyond recording where the small number of successful candidates came from.
Economics rewards candidates with a genuine command of both theory and its analytical application, and the 2025 figures show how few reached that standard. Four allocations from 341 applicants is a thin record, and the mean barely clears the passing line. This is a subject to attempt from real strength in the discipline rather than on the assumption that numeracy alone will carry it.
341 candidates sat Economics — a turnout close to fellow Group-1 subjects Accountancy & Auditing (262) and Computer Science (177).
Want to see how Economics stacks up against the rest? Browse every CSS 2025 subject result →
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the pass rate for Economics in CSS 2025?+
In CSS 2025, 341 candidates appeared for Economics and 9 cleared the written exam — a written pass rate of 2.64%. Of those who passed, 4 went on to be allocated a group, an overall selection rate of 1.17% of everyone who appeared.
How well do candidates typically score in Economics for CSS?+
Economics candidates scored a median of 36.0% of the paper's marks in CSS 2025 (median 72 out of 200; mean 34.5%), rating it "Low Scoring". Marking was also highly variable in 2025, so individual outcomes are less predictable.
How competitive is Economics for CSS allocation?+
9 candidates cleared the written stage for Economics in 2025, and 44% of them were allocated a group — a "Low Competition" level for the available seats. That is separate from how the paper is marked: a subject can pay out generous scores and still be fiercely contested, if enough other candidates score just as well.
How many marks are CSS optional subjects worth, and how are they chosen?+
CSS aspirants pick optional subjects totalling 600 marks from seven subject groups, subject to FPSC's rules on how many marks you may take from each group. Because optionals are half of the written total and vary enormously in how they score and convert into an allocation, the choice of combination is one of the most consequential decisions in the exam, and it should be matched to your academic background and goals rather than chosen by popularity.
Where should I start my CSS preparation?+
Start with CSSNorthStar. Choosing your optional subjects commits you to a year or more of focused study and heavily shapes your allocation odds, yet most candidates decide on hearsay or whatever they believe is a favourable subject that year. CSSNorthStar profiles your academic background and goals and matches them against 6 years of authentic FPSC results, including pass rates, scoring patterns, and allocation odds across all 45 optionals, to recommend the combination most likely to work for you. Settle your subjects first, then prepare with conviction. Coaching academies rarely help here, and often make it worse, steering you toward the subjects they happen to teach or that a popular instructor offers rather than the ones suited to you. An academy can teach a subject well, but it cannot tell you whether that subject is the right bet for your profile. Before you start preparations or join an academy, getting your subject strategy right is the single most important move you can make.
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Sheharyar Ahmad
Founder, CSSNorthstar
Sheharyar Ahmad graduated from LUMS with BSc. (Hons.) in 2010 and topped the CSS Exam 2012 on his first attempt. He is an officer of the Pakistan Administrative Service, having served in Gilgit-Baltistan, Punjab, and Federal governments. He was awarded the Fulbright Scholarship to pursue a Master in Public Policy and Data Analytics from USA in 2022.