BCS Preliminary Test study guide
BCS Preliminary Test · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The BCS Preliminary Test is the first screening stage of Bangladesh's Civil Service examination, conducted by the Bangladesh Public Service Commission (BPSC). It is a single multiple-choice paper that filters a very large applicant pool down to those who proceed to the written and viva stages. The BCS Preliminary Test study guide has 9 sections and about 2,692 words.
01Bangla Language and Literature
A candidate must master ব্যাকরণ (grammar): সন্ধি (sandhi), সমাস (compound), কারক ও বিভক্তি, বচন, লিঙ্গ, and ক্রিয়ার কাল. Literature needs a working map of periods - প্রাচীন (চর্যাপদ), মধ্যযুগ (শ্রীকৃষ্ণকীর্তন, মঙ্গলকাব্য, বৈষ্ণব পদাবলি), and আধুনিক (মধুসূদন, রবীন্দ্রনাথ, নজরুল, জীবনানন্দ).
297 words, about 1 min02English Language and Literature
Grammar coverage: subject–verb agreement, tense sequence, conditionals, articles, prepositions, and transformation (voice, narration, degree). Vocabulary: synonyms, antonyms, idioms, and one-word substitutions.
280 words, about 1 min03General Mathematics and Mental Ability
Arithmetic: percentage, profit–loss, ratio, average, simple and compound interest, partnership. Algebra: linear equations, quadratic factorization, exponents.
273 words, about 1 min04General Knowledge: Bangladesh Affairs
Constitutional and political history: Language Movement (1952), Liberation War (1971), the Constitution of 1972, and subsequent amendments. Administrative geography: 8 divisions, 64 districts, upazilas and unions.
279 words, about 1 min05General Knowledge: International Affairs
International organizations (UN, its principal organs, IMF, World Bank, WTO, WHO), major treaties and agreements, blocs (SAARC, ASEAN, EU, BRICS, OIC), and contemporary geopolitics. Also know capital cities, currencies, and heads of major institutions, plus landmark events such as the founding of the UN (1945) and adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948).
260 words, about 1 min06General Science and Technology
Physics: units, motion, force, energy, electricity basics. Chemistry: atomic structure, periodic table, acids–bases, and common reactions.
263 words, about 1 min07Computer and Information Technology
Hardware and software fundamentals, number systems (binary, decimal, octal, hexadecimal), computer generations, networking (LAN, WAN, IP addressing), internet services, and cybersecurity basics. Also know common file extensions, input/output devices, and basic database concepts.
262 words, about 1 min08Ethics, Values and Good Governance
Ethics concerns right conduct and moral reasoning; values are guiding principles such as honesty, integrity, and accountability. Good governance rests on eight pillars: accountability, transparency, responsiveness, rule of law, effectiveness and efficiency, participation, equity and inclusiveness, and consensus orientation.
274 words, about 1 min09Geography
Physical geography (landforms, rivers, climate, erosion), Bangladesh geography (rivers, deltas, districts, Sundarbans), and world geography (continents, oceans, major mountain ranges, straits, and climate zones). Know map basics: latitude, longitude, GMT offsets, and the Tropic of Cancer's path through Bangladesh.
504 words, about 3 min