BCS written exam subjects and marks, explained

General cadre candidates in the BCS written examination sit descriptive papers worth 900 marks across Bangla, English, Bangladesh affairs, international affairs, mathematical reasoning and mental ability, and general science and technology. Technical and professional cadre candidates sit an additional subject-specific paper, which raises their total to 1,100 marks. Unlike the preliminary MCQ stage, the written stage is evaluated on structure, argument and language quality, not just factual recall, which is why answer-writing practice matters more here than memorisation alone.

Which subjects are on the BCS written paper for general cadre?

The BCS written paper for general cadre candidates covers Bangla, English, Bangladesh affairs, international affairs, mathematical reasoning and mental ability, and general science and technology, together totalling 900 marks. Bangla carries 200 marks on its own for general cadre candidates, and English also carries 200 marks, together making up nearly half the total. Bangladesh affairs carries 200 marks as well, with international affairs at 100 marks and the remaining two papers splitting the rest. This weighting mirrors the preliminary stage’s emphasis on language and national affairs, but at far greater depth and length.

How is the written paper different for technical and professional cadres?

Technical and professional cadre candidates sit everything general cadre candidates sit, plus one additional paper specific to their subject, which brings their written total to 1,100 marks instead of 900. An engineering cadre applicant, for example, writes a paper testing engineering knowledge in addition to the general papers; a health cadre applicant writes a medical subject paper. This additional paper is where technical cadre preparation diverges most sharply from general cadre preparation, since it requires depth in a specific discipline rather than the broad general knowledge the shared papers test.

How is a written answer actually evaluated, compared to a preliminary MCQ?

A written answer is evaluated on structure, argument, relevance and language quality, in addition to factual accuracy, whereas a preliminary MCQ is scored purely on whether the selected option is correct. This is the single biggest adjustment candidates need to make moving from preliminary to written preparation: an examiner reading a Bangla or English essay is assessing whether the answer is organised, whether it actually addresses the question asked, and whether the language itself is of a standard expected of a civil service officer, not just whether the candidate knows the underlying facts. Two candidates with equally strong factual knowledge can score very differently based on how well they structure and express that knowledge under time pressure.

What preparation actually improves written scores?

Timed answer-writing practice, reviewed and corrected, improves written scores more reliably than reading alone, because writing under exam conditions surfaces problems, poor time allocation across parts of an answer, unclear structure, weak handwriting speed, that reading does not reveal. Candidates who read extensively but rarely write full-length answers against a clock often discover during the actual exam that they know the material but cannot organise a complete, well-structured answer within the time given. Practising with past written papers, and getting feedback on structure rather than only on factual correctness, is the more direct route to improvement.

How should I split preparation time between the shared papers and my technical paper?

If you are a technical or professional cadre candidate, split preparation time deliberately between the shared general papers and your subject-specific paper rather than assuming the subject paper, being closer to your degree, needs less dedicated time. A candidate’s academic background can create a false sense of readiness for the technical paper while the shared papers, particularly Bangla and English essay writing, are neglected because they feel less urgent. Since the shared papers carry more combined marks even for technical candidates, under-preparing them to over-prepare the technical paper is usually a net loss.

How does the written stage connect to the rest of the BCS process?

The written stage sits between preliminary and viva, and clearing it is what determines your merit rank going into cadre selection, so its marks matter more to your eventual outcome than either of the other two stages individually. For the stage before this one, see the BCS preliminary syllabus guide; for what comes after, the BCS viva voce preparation guide covers the final stage, and the BCS cadre choice list guide explains how your final rank is used once all three stages are done.

Frequently asked questions

How many marks does the BCS written exam carry for general cadre? General cadre candidates sit 900 marks of descriptive papers across Bangla, English, Bangladesh affairs, international affairs, mathematical reasoning and mental ability, and general science and technology.

How many marks does a technical cadre candidate sit for? Technical and professional cadre candidates sit 1,100 marks total, the same shared papers as general cadre plus one additional subject-specific paper.

Is the written exam scored the same way as the preliminary MCQ? No, written answers are evaluated on structure, argument and language quality in addition to factual accuracy, while the preliminary MCQ is scored purely on correct or incorrect selections.

Which subject carries the most marks in the general cadre written exam? Bangla and English each carry 200 marks, and Bangladesh affairs also carries 200 marks, making these three the heaviest papers in the general cadre written total.

What is the most effective way to prepare for written papers? Timed, full-length answer-writing practice reviewed for structure, not just factual accuracy, tends to improve scores more than reading alone, since the exam tests organisation and expression as much as knowledge.