BCS Written Political Science study guide
BCS Written Political Science · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The BCS Written Examination is the descriptive stage of Bangladesh's Civil Service examination, taken by candidates who have already cleared the preliminary screening and who are competing for cadre posts in the Bangladesh Civil Service. It is an independent study guide, not an official publication, and it is not affiliated with the Bangladesh Public Service Commission (BPSC), which conducts the examination and publishes all current rules, syllabi, marks distributions and schedules on its own website. The BCS Written Political Science study guide has 10 sections and about 2,682 words.
01Bangla Language and Literature: Core Concepts and Question Traps
A BCS candidate must command three layers of Bangla: grammar (ব্যাকরণ) , literary history (সাহিত্যের ইতিহাস) , and textual recall of canonical authors. In grammar, know the classification of words (সাধারণ অর্থে শব্দ), সন্ধি (vowel and consonant sandhi rules), সমাস (dvandva, tatpurusha, karmadharaya, bahuvrihi, dvigu, avyayibhava), কারক ও বিভক্তি, and বাক্য প্রকরণ.
314 words, about 2 min02English Language and Literature: Precision and Period Sense
Two skills are tested: language accuracy and literary knowledge . For language, revise parts of speech, subject–verb agreement, tense and aspect, voice, narration, prepositions and phrasal verbs, idioms, synonyms/antonyms, spelling, and sentence correction.
284 words, about 1 min03Bangladesh Affairs: History, Liberation War, and Heritage
Know the continuum : ancient Bengal (Maurya, Gupta, Pala, Sena), the Sultanate and Mughal periods, the Battle of Plassey (1757), the Permanent Settlement (1793), the 1857 uprising, the creation of the All India Muslim League (1906), the Partition of Bengal (1905) and its annulment (1911), the Lahore Resolution (1940), the 1947 Partition, the Language Movement (1948–1952), the United Front election (1954), the Six-Point Movement (1966), the 1969 Mass Uprising, the 1970 election, and the Liberation War of 1971 . Fix the Mujibnagar Government (17 April 1971) , the Declaration of Independence (26 March 1971) , Victory Day (16 December 1971) , and the Instrument of Surrender .
322 words, about 2 min04International Affairs, Geography, and Environment
This domain blends global institutions , political geography , and environmental science . On institutions, know the UN system (Security Council, General Assembly, ICJ, ICC), the Bretton Woods bodies (IMF, World Bank), the WTO, SAARC, BIMSTEC, ASEAN, the OIC, and the NAM.
278 words, about 1 min05Political Science and Public Administration: Theory and Practice
Political science asks you to move between theory and institutions . Know the classical thinkers - Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Mill, Marx - and their key ideas (social contract, general will, class struggle, liberty).
251 words, about 1 min06Governance, Constitution, and Administrative Law
Know the Constitution of Bangladesh (1972) thoroughly: its four founding principles (nationalism, socialism, democracy, secularism), fundamental rights (Articles 26–47A), the structure of the Supreme Court (Appellate and High Court Divisions), and the amendment process. Understand governance : transparency, accountability, participation, rule of law, and the role of institutions such as the Parliament, the Comptroller and Auditor General, the Election Commission, and the Ombudsman.
272 words, about 1 min07Economics and Development Studies: Concepts and Data Sense
Cover micro and macro fundamentals : demand and supply, elasticity, market structures, GDP and GNP, inflation, unemployment, monetary and fiscal policy, and balance of payments. In development studies, know HDI, Gini coefficient, poverty measures, sustainable development, and the SDGs .
203 words, about 1 min08General Science, Technology, and Mathematics: Reasoning Under Time Pressure
Science items test concepts, not memorised trivia : units and measurement, Newton's laws, work-energy-power, electricity and magnetism, light and sound, the periodic table, acids and bases, cell biology, human organ systems, and basic ecology. Technology items cover computers, the internet, AI, and cybersecurity basics.
248 words, about 1 min09Ethics, Values, and Good Governance: The Moral Reasoning Layer
This domain tests moral reasoning , not slogan recall. Know the major ethical frameworks: utilitarianism (Mill) , deontology (Kant's categorical imperative) , virtue ethics (Aristotle's golden mean) , and social contract theory .
267 words, about 1 min10Essay and Analytical Writing: Structure, Argument, and Evidence
A BCS essay is judged on structure, argument, evidence, and language . A strong essay has an introduction that states a clear thesis, body paragraphs each carrying one idea with evidence, and a conclusion that resolves the thesis.
243 words, about 1 min