Zoology
Zoology drew 245 candidates in CSS 2025 and allocated a single one of them. The paper sits a little above the passing line at 34%, below the field average, so the lone allocation reflects a thin written pass and a hard merit cut. Only four candidates cleared the written stage from the full field.
Subject vs CSS Average
Zoology's mean of 34% trails the CSS optional-subject average of 43.5% by 9.5 points, placing it among the harder-scoring papers in the examination. Candidates with a biology background sometimes expect it to play to their training, but the low mean and single allocation suggest the paper is more demanding than that. Because it sits below the field average, clearing 33% already lifts a candidate above most of the pack, yet with only one seat the margin is non-existent. The realistic aim is to score well above the narrow margin the mean clears.
Candidate Pipeline
Of the 245 who appeared, 4 passed the written stage and 1 was allocated. With a mean of 34% 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 a single allocation completed the filtering at the merit stage.
Score Distribution
The mean of 34% clears the passing line by only a single point, and with the median close behind at 33% the distribution sits right on the threshold. A standard deviation of 15 points places a candidate one deviation below the mean at 19%, well short of passing, which marks this as a moderate-risk paper sitting close to the line. Because the mean barely clears the threshold, a below-par showing easily drops into failing territory, so preparation that lifts a candidate a few points clear is directly decisive. The paper is passable but unforgiving of a weak effort.
Provincial Breakdown
The lone allocation went to a Punjab candidate, with no other province securing a seat. One allocation offers no distribution to read beyond recording the single successful candidate's province.
Gender Distribution
The one allocated candidate was a woman, making the female share 100% in a sample of a single seat. The figure records the outcome for one individual rather than any gender pattern.
Zoology suits candidates with a strong grounding in the biological sciences who can deliver accurate, complete answers under exam pressure, and even they should note how few succeeded in 2025. One allocation from 245 applicants is a slim record. The paper sits close to the passing line, which makes disciplined preparation that lifts a candidate clearly above it the decisive factor.
Zoology candidates averaged 34.0% of the available marks, in line with fellow Group-5 subjects English Literature (32.0%) and Urdu Literature (32.0%).
Want to see how Zoology stacks up against the rest? Browse every CSS 2025 subject result →
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the pass rate for Zoology in CSS 2025?+
In CSS 2025, 245 candidates appeared for Zoology and 4 cleared the written exam — a written pass rate of 1.63%. Of those who passed, 1 went on to be allocated a group, an overall selection rate of 0.41% of everyone who appeared.
How well do candidates typically score in Zoology for CSS?+
Zoology candidates scored a median of 33.0% of the paper's marks in CSS 2025 (median 33 out of 100; mean 34.0%), rating it "Low Scoring".
How competitive is Zoology for CSS allocation?+
4 candidates cleared the written stage for Zoology in 2025, and 25% of them were allocated a group — a "Moderate 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.