AJKPSC Test Essay Syllabus

What is the difference between coherence and cohesion?

Coherence is the logical connectedness of ideas (meaning level); cohesion is the grammatical and lexical linking of words and sentences (surface/text level).

Give five common transition words/phrases and their function.

'However' (contrast), 'Therefore' (consequence), 'Moreover' (addition), 'For instance' (example), 'In conclusion' (summary).

What is diction in writing?

The writer's choice of words and vocabulary, including their level of formality, precision, and appropriateness to the audience and purpose.

What is tone in an essay?

The writer's attitude toward the subject and audience, conveyed through word choice and style (e.g., formal, objective, persuasive, critical).

What tone is generally appropriate for a Civil Services exam essay?

A formal, objective, analytical, and measured tone, avoiding slang, emotional outbursts, and overly casual language.

What is verbosity (wordiness) in writing?

Using more words than necessary to express an idea, which weakens clarity and impact; e.g., 'due to the fact that' instead of 'because'.

How can a writer avoid repetition in an essay?

Use synonyms, pronouns, and varied sentence structures, combine related ideas, and cut redundant phrases that restate the same point.

Rewrite concisely: 'In the modern world of today, there are many problems that are problematic.'

'Today's world faces many problems.' — removing redundancy ('modern world of today', 'problems that are problematic').

What is the capital of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK)?

Muzaffarabad.

Under which UN resolution was a plebiscite for Kashmir promised, and in what year?

The UN Security Council Resolution of 1948 (and reaffirmed in the 1949 UNCIP resolutions) called for a free and impartial plebiscite to let Kashmiris decide their future.

What is the principle of 'self-determination' as applied to Kashmir?

The right of the people of Jammu and Kashmir to freely decide their own political status (accession to India, Pakistan, or independence), as envisioned in UN resolutions.

On what date is Kashmir Solidarity Day observed in Pakistan?

5th February each year.

What was the Simla Agreement of 1972 regarding Kashmir?

A bilateral pact between India and Pakistan after the 1971 war, agreeing to resolve the Kashmir issue peacefully through bilateral negotiations and establishing the Line of Control (LoC).

What is the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir?

The military control line dividing Indian-administered and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, formalized by the 1972 Simla Agreement (formerly the 1949 ceasefire line).

What did India's revocation of Article 370 in August 2019 do?

It stripped the special autonomous status of Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir, splitting it into two union territories and triggering international condemnation from Pakistan.

Name three major socio-economic challenges facing Pakistan.

Poverty and unemployment, rapid population growth, low literacy/education levels, energy shortages, and inflation (any three).

What is the approximate population of Pakistan (2023 census)?

About 241 million people, making it the world's fifth most populous country.

What are two key socio-economic features of the AJK economy?

Heavy reliance on agriculture and remittances, and significant hydropower potential (e.g., Mangla Dam) alongside limited industrialization and tourism dependence.

What is the literacy rate challenge in Pakistan?

Pakistan has a relatively low literacy rate (around 60%), with marked gender and rural-urban disparities, hindering socio-economic development.

In what year did Pakistan's current Constitution come into effect?

1973 (the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, adopted under Z. A. Bhutto).

What form of government does the 1973 Constitution of Pakistan establish?

A federal parliamentary democratic republic with Islam as the state religion and a bicameral legislature (National Assembly and Senate).

What did the 18th Amendment (2010) to Pakistan's Constitution achieve?

It devolved significant powers from the federal government to the provinces, abolished the concurrent legislative list, and strengthened provincial autonomy and parliamentary democracy.

What are the two houses of Pakistan's Parliament (Majlis-e-Shura)?

The National Assembly (lower house, directly elected) and the Senate (upper house, representing the provinces).

What law governs the constitutional setup of Azad Jammu and Kashmir?

The AJK Interim Constitution Act of 1974, which establishes AJK's President, Prime Minister, Legislative Assembly, and government structure.

What is climate change's main threat to Pakistan?

Pakistan is highly vulnerable to climate change through glacial melt, floods (e.g., 2022 floods), droughts, and water scarcity, despite contributing minimally to global emissions.

Name two major environmental problems facing Pakistan.

Air pollution/smog (especially in Lahore), water scarcity and contamination, deforestation, and improper waste management (any two).

What is the 'digital divide' in the context of technology in Pakistan?

The gap between those with access to digital technology and the internet and those without, often along urban-rural and income lines, limiting equal opportunity.

How can science and technology drive Pakistan's development?

Through IT and freelancing exports, agricultural modernization, renewable energy, digital governance, and improved education and healthcare via innovation.

What is the 'order of importance' method of arranging arguments?

Arranging points by their persuasive weight, typically building up to the strongest argument last (climactic order) or leading with it first (anticlimactic).

Why should new evidence or arguments not be introduced in the conclusion?

Because the conclusion is for synthesis and closure; new material left unsupported confuses the reader and weakens the essay's unity and sense of completion.