FPSC CSS Screening Test (MPT) General Abilities Syllabus

General Abilities syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for General Abilities in FPSC CSS Screening Test (MPT), not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Basic Arithmetic

   6 topics

   • Number Systems and HCF/LCM
   • Fractions, Decimals and Percentages
   • Ratio and Proportion
   • Profit, Loss and Discount
   • Average, Time and Work
   • Speed, Distance and Time
2. 2

   Algebra

   4 topics

   • Linear and Quadratic Equations
   • Algebraic Expressions and Factorization
   • Exponents and Indices
   • Sequences and Series
3. 3

   Geometry

   4 topics

   • Lines and Angles
   • Triangles and Polygons
   • Circles
   • Area, Perimeter and Volume
4. 4

   Logical Reasoning

   5 topics

   • Syllogisms
   • Statements and Assumptions
   • Coding and Decoding
   • Blood Relations
   • Direction Sense
5. 5

   Analytical Reasoning

   4 topics

   • Seating Arrangements
   • Ordering and Ranking
   • Grouping and Selection
   • Data Sufficiency
6. 6

   Mental Abilities (IQ)

   4 topics

   • Number and Letter Series
   • Analogies and Classification
   • Pattern and Figure Series
   • Data Interpretation

General Abilities flashcards for FPSC CSS Screening Test (MPT)

22 of 50 cards from the General Abilities deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. What is the difference between a prime number and a composite number?

   A prime number has exactly two distinct factors: 1 and itself (e.g., 2, 3, 5, 7). A composite number has more than two factors (e.g., 4, 6, 9). Note: 1 is neither prime nor composite.

2. What is the only even prime number?

   2 is the only even prime number; all other even numbers are divisible by 2 and therefore composite.

3. Define HCF (Highest Common Factor) and LCM (Lowest Common Multiple).

   HCF is the largest number that divides two or more numbers exactly. LCM is the smallest number that is a common multiple of two or more numbers.

4. For any two numbers, what is the relationship between their HCF, LCM, and product?

   Product of the two numbers = HCF x LCM. So LCM = (a x b) / HCF.

5. How do you find the HCF and LCM of two numbers using prime factorization?

   HCF = product of common prime factors raised to their lowest powers. LCM = product of all prime factors raised to their highest powers.

6. State the divisibility rule for 3 and for 9.

   A number is divisible by 3 if the sum of its digits is divisible by 3. It is divisible by 9 if the sum of its digits is divisible by 9.

7. State the divisibility rules for 4 and 8.

   A number is divisible by 4 if its last two digits form a number divisible by 4. It is divisible by 8 if its last three digits form a number divisible by 8.

8. How do you convert a fraction to a percentage and a percentage to a fraction?

   Fraction to percentage: multiply the fraction by 100 (e.g., 1/4 x 100 = 25%). Percentage to fraction: divide by 100 and simplify (e.g., 25% = 25/100 = 1/4).

9. How do you convert a decimal to a percentage, and a percentage to a decimal?

   Decimal to percentage: multiply by 100 (0.35 = 35%). Percentage to decimal: divide by 100 (35% = 0.35).

10. What is the formula for percentage increase and percentage decrease?

    Percentage change = (New value - Old value) / Old value x 100. A positive result is an increase; a negative result is a decrease.

11. If a value increases by x% and then decreases by x%, what is the net percentage change?

    There is a net decrease of (x^2)/100 percent. For example, +10% then -10% gives a 1% net decrease, not 0%.

12. Define ratio and proportion.

    A ratio compares two quantities of the same kind by division (a:b = a/b). A proportion is a statement that two ratios are equal (a:b = c:d).

13. In a proportion a:b = c:d, what is the cross-multiplication property?

    If a:b = c:d, then a x d = b x c (product of extremes equals product of means).

14. How do you divide a quantity in the ratio a:b:c?

    Total parts = a + b + c. Each share = (its ratio term / total parts) x total quantity. E.g., divide 600 in 1:2:3 gives 100, 200, 300.

15. What is the difference between direct and inverse proportion?

    In direct proportion, as one quantity increases the other increases (x/y = constant). In inverse proportion, as one increases the other decreases (x*y = constant).

16. State the formulas for Profit, Loss, Profit percent, and Loss percent.

    Profit = SP - CP; Loss = CP - SP. Profit% = (Profit/CP) x 100; Loss% = (Loss/CP) x 100. All percentages are calculated on Cost Price.

17. How do you find Selling Price given Cost Price and profit percent?

    SP = CP x (100 + Profit%) / 100. For a loss: SP = CP x (100 - Loss%) / 100.

18. What is discount, and on what value is it calculated?

    Discount is a reduction from the Marked Price (list price). Discount = Marked Price - Selling Price, and Discount% is calculated on the Marked Price: Discount% = (Discount/MP) x 100.

19. What is the relationship between Marked Price, Discount, and Selling Price?

    SP = MP x (100 - Discount%) / 100. The Marked Price is the price before discount; the Selling Price is what the customer actually pays.

20. What is the formula for the average (arithmetic mean) of a set of numbers?

    Average = (Sum of all observations) / (Number of observations). Conversely, Sum = Average x Number of observations.

21. How does the average change if every number in a set is increased by the same amount k?

    The average also increases by k. Adding (or subtracting) a constant to every value shifts the mean by that same constant.

22. State the fundamental Time and Work formula relating work, rate, and time.

    Work = Rate x Time. If a person completes a job in n days, their rate (work per day) is 1/n.

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