THIS is apropos Aisha Ghumman’s article ‘Revitalising CSS performance’ (Oct 31). The writer has stated a number of reasons for decline in pass percentage of CSS written examinations conducted with revised syllabus.

One of the measures missed by the writer is the introduction of a screening test. The scheme is not a new one. In fact, the FPSC used to conduct a screening test in the past for aspirants prior to written examinations.

The screening test was an efficient filter to check the ability of aspirants viz-a-viz written examinations.

Besides limiting the number of eligible candidates to a few thousand, the screening test also enables aspirants to gauge their preparations for the CSS examinations and decide their course of action.

The practice will also relieve examiners of the additional labour of going through a large number of frivolous papers.

A revival of the screening test is likely to yield positive outcomes in future examinations.

Kamran Ashraf
Islamabad

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2016