written essay for css

Demystifying the CSS Written Exam: A Step-by-Step Approach

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• CSS written exam: Ultimate Guide 2024

1. CSS written exam: Ultimate Guide 2024

Preparing for the CSS (Central Superior Services) written exam requires a structured and strategic approach. Here are some best practices to help you excel in the CSS written exam:

Understand the Exam Structure:

• Familiarize yourself with the CSS exam structure, including the number of papers, their weightage, and the optional subjects you’ve chosen. Understanding the format and syllabus is crucial.

Create a Study Schedule :

• Develop a detailed study schedule that covers all the subjects and topics you need to prepare for. Allocate time wisely to ensure comprehensive coverage of the syllabus.

Prioritize Compulsory Subjects :

• Focus on compulsory subjects, such as General Knowledge , English (Precis and Composition) , and Pakistan Affairs, as they carry a significant weightage in the overall score.

Select Optional Subjects Carefully:

• Choose optional subjects that align with your interests, strengths, and the availability of study materials. Ensure you have access to up-to-date books and resources for your chosen options.

Gather Study Materials:

• Collect all the necessary study materials, including textbooks, recommended readings , past papers, and online resources. Stay updated with the latest editions and resources available for each subject.

Practice Past Papers:

• Practice solving past CSS exam papers to get a sense of the format, question types, and time constraints. Analyze your performance in practice tests to identify areas for improvement.

Develop Strong Writing Skills:

• Strong writing skills are essential for success in the CSS written exam, as they enable you to convey your knowledge, analysis, and arguments effectively. Here’s why developing these skills is crucial and how to enhance them:

a. Clarity of Expression:

• CSS examiners look for clarity in your writing. Well-structured and concise sentences, free from grammatical errors, make it easier for the examiner to understand your points. Clarity ensures that your answers are easy to follow and comprehend.

b. Effective Communication:

• Writing is a medium of communication. Your ability to express ideas, arguments, and information clearly and persuasively is pivotal in conveying your understanding of the subject matter. Effective communication helps the examiner grasp your perspective.

c. Logical Organization:

• Strong writing skills enable you to organize your thoughts logically. You can present your ideas in a structured manner, with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. This organization enhances the coherence of your responses.

d. Precision in Expression:

• Precise writing ensures that you convey your points without ambiguity or unnecessary elaboration. CSS exam answers often have word limits, so precision helps you make the most of the allotted space.

e. Grammar and Vocabulary:

• A solid grasp of grammar and an extensive vocabulary enhance the quality of your writing. Proper grammar usage and a rich vocabulary allow you to articulate complex ideas more effectively.

f. Critical Analysis:

• Strong writing skills enable you to engage in critical analysis. You can evaluate arguments, synthesize information, and provide well-reasoned explanations in a coherent and convincing manner.

g. Persuasive Writing:

• Persuasion is often required in CSS essays and papers. Developing your writing skills allows you to persuade the reader by presenting compelling arguments and supporting evidence.

h. Time Management:

• Efficient writing skills are crucial for managing time during the exam. Being able to write quickly and coherently ensures that you can complete all required questions within the allotted time frame.

i. Essay and Precis Writing:

• CSS exams include essay and precis writing components. Developing strong writing skills helps you excel in these sections by crafting well-structured essays and concise precis summaries.

j. Answering Subjective Questions:

• For subjective questions, strong writing skills enable you to provide comprehensive and well-organized responses. This is particularly important in subjects like Pakistan Affairs and Current Affairs .

k. Relevance and Conciseness:

• Effective writing ensures that your responses remain relevant to the question and are concise. You convey your points without unnecessary digressions or verbosity.

l. Proofreading and Editing:

• Part of strong writing skills involves the ability to proofread and edit your work. This helps eliminate errors and refine your answers for clarity and coherence.

To develop strong writing skills for the CSS written exam, it’s essential to practice writing regularly. Consider the following strategies:

• Write practice essays and papers on various CSS-related topics.
• Review your writing and seek feedback from mentors or peers.
• Read extensively to expose yourself to diverse writing styles and vocabulary.
• Learn from model answers and successful CSS candidates’ writing.
• Invest time in grammar and language improvement through courses or self-study.

Remember that strong writing skills are an integral part of your CSS exam success. They not only enhance your ability to communicate effectively but also elevate the overall quality of your responses, increasing your chances of securing a high score in the written exam.

8. Take Mock Exams:

• Participate in mock exams that simulate real exam conditions. This helps you manage time effectively and reduces anxiety on the actual exam day.

9.Revise Regularly:

• Implement a revision strategy to reinforce your knowledge. Create concise notes or flashcards to summarize key points and revise frequently to retain information.

10. Stay Updated with Current Affairs:

• Keep up-to-date with current affairs , both national and international. Read newspapers, watch news programs, and follow reliable news websites to stay informed.

11. Join Study Groups:

• Join study groups or online forums where you can discuss topics, share resources, and engage in peer learning. Collaboration with fellow aspirants can be valuable.

12. Time Management Techniques:

• Use time management techniques, such as the Pomodoro method, to maintain focus and productivity during study sessions. Set clear goals for each study session.

13. Seek Guidance:

• Consider enrolling in a CSS coaching program or seek guidance from experienced CSS qualifiers or mentors. They can provide valuable insights and study strategies.

14. Practice Answer Writing:

• Practice writing answers to essay questions, case studies, and subjective questions. Focus on structuring your responses logically and providing relevant examples.

15. Stay Healthy and Manage Stress:

• Maintain good physical and mental health during your preparation. Eat well, exercise regularly, get enough sleep, and incorporate relaxation techniques to manage stress.

16. Continuous Learning and Adaptation:

• Be adaptable and open to learning. Stay current with any changes in the CSS syllabus or exam format, and adjust your study plan accordingly.

17. Stay Positive and Persistent:

• Maintain a positive attitude throughout your preparation, and don’t be discouraged by setbacks. Persistence and a growth mindset are essential for success.

Remember that success in the CSS written exam requires dedication, hard work, and a strategic approach.

By following these best practices and staying committed to your goals, you can increase your chances of achieving a high score in the CSS written exam and progressing in your pursuit of a career in the civil services.

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How to Prepare English Essay for CSS & PMS

How to prepare english essay for css.

Essay Preparation For CSS: Essay writing is one of the essential papers, used to determine a candidate’s total CSS Exam result. However, most candidates score lower on this paper due to a lack of literary and intellectual writing skills. An essay paper contains ten topics from which applicants must select one. In this article, we will discuss essay preparation for CSS, word limit, structure, format & how to make notes for English essays.

Essay Word Limit in CSS

The CSS Essay word limit ranges from 2500 to 3500 words on topic.

The Important Points OF ESSAY Writing

Candidates must ensure the following requirements for producing a high-scoring CSS Essay:

• The essay’s structure.
• Ideas expressed: The fundamentals of a typical essay.
• The framework of an essay.
• Grammar correctness and a broad vocabulary in English are required.

The Format of Essay in CSS

The CSS exam is more than merely scribbling notes and drafting odd ideas. Moreover, A standard essay consists of the following parts:

• Overview and Context: The introduction tells the reader and introduces the topic.
• Body Of the Topic: The candidate should write one paragraph regarding one facet of the issue in the body.
• Summary: The final one or two paragraphs must summarize the entire essay, emphasizing the main points.

How to Make Notes for English Essay for CSS

• Now that we’ve covered the principles and framework for an essay, the issue remains: how do you collect material for a CSS essay? These are some of the resources for the CSS Essay.
• Moreover, essays from professionals were published in renowned periodicals and publications. Thus, Recognize and understand the structure of the “Introduction” and “Conclusion” passages. Make notes for your CSS essay by jotting down the key topics.
• Candidates should review official papers such as the Economic Survey of Pakistan, SBP Quarterly Reports, treaties, and agreements to gather information for their CSS Essay.
• Candidates should take notes from reports submitted by international institutions such as the World Bank, IMF, ADB, UN, and USAID to score well on the CSS Essay.
• Candidates can read and take notes on CSS Essays relating to Islamic topics through  Dawn News.
• The bimonthly print journal Current Affairs covers politics, culture, and the arts. The magazine features intelligent reporting and analysis in every issue.

Want to Buy Top 30 Essay Book? Click here

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• How to Write Effective Essay for CSS Exams

To write an effective Essay for CSS Exams , you should follow these steps:

Choose a topic: Select a subject that you are interested in and have some knowledge about. Make sure that the topic is not too broad or too narrow.

Table of Contents

Conduct research:

Gather information from multiple sources, such as books, articles, and websites. Take notes and record your sources to use later when you are writing your essay.

Create an outline:

Organize your thoughts and ideas into a clear and logical structure. An outline can help you stay focused and ensure that your essay is well-organized and easy to follow.

Write the introduction:

Start your essay with an introduction that captures the reader’s attention and clearly states your thesis statement.

Write the body paragraphs:

Develop your ideas in the body paragraphs, using evidence and examples to support your arguments. Make sure to use transitions between paragraphs to maintain a logical flow.

Read also: How to Write Effective Essay on Economy? 7 Steps

Write the conclusion:

Summarize your main points and restate your thesis in the conclusion. End your essay with a strong closing statement that leaves a lasting impression on the reader.

Edit and proofread:

Before you submit your essay, be sure to carefully review and revise it for grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors. Consider asking a friend or classmate to read over your essay as well.

By following these steps and using clear and concise language, you can write an effective essay that presents your ideas effectively and persuasively.

Importance of Essay for CSS Exams

Essays are an important part of the CSS (Central Superior Services) exams in Pakistan, which are competitive exams for recruitment to various civil service positions in the country. Essays are included in the written portion of the exams, which test the candidates’ writing skills, critical thinking, and analytical abilities.

In the CSS exams, candidates are given a choice of topics for the essay, and they are expected to write a well-organized and well-written essay that presents their ideas in a clear and logical manner. The essay is usually around 1000-1200 words in length and is worth a significant portion of the overall exam score.

The importance of the essay in the CSS exams lies in its ability to assess the candidates’ writing skills, which are essential for a career in the civil service. A well-written essay demonstrates the candidates’ ability to communicate effectively, express their thoughts and ideas clearly, and present their arguments in a persuasive manner. It also shows their ability to research and analyze information, and to organize and structure their ideas in a logical and coherent way.

Overall, the essay is an important tool for evaluating the candidates’ suitability for a career in the civil service and their potential to contribute to the development of the country.

Check also: English Grammar MCQs for CSS/PMS

How to write Essay Outline?

An essay outline is a plan or structure that you can follow when writing an essay. It helps you organize your thoughts and ideas in a logical and coherent manner, making it easier to write and revise your essay.

To create an outline for your essay, follow these steps:

Choose a topic:

Select a subject that you are interested in and have some knowledge about. Make sure that the topic is not too broad or too narrow.

Determine the purpose of your essay:

What do you want to accomplish with your essay? Do you want to inform, persuade, or entertain the reader?

Brainstorm ideas:

Write down all the ideas that come to mind when you think about your topic.

Organize your ideas:

Group similar ideas together and arrange them in a logical order. You can use a traditional outline format, such as Roman numerals, or a more flexible freeform outline.

Write your thesis statement:

This is a one-sentence summary of your main argument or point. It should be specific and clearly state what you will be discussing in your essay.

Develop your outline:

Add details and examples to support each of your main points. Be sure to include transitions between paragraphs to maintain a logical flow.

Review and revise your outline:

Make sure that your outline is clear, concise, and well-organized. Check for any missing or unnecessary information, and make any necessary revisions.

By following these steps and using an outline, you can effectively plan and structure your essay, making it easier to write and revise.

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About the author

Shahzad F. Malik

Shahzad Faisal Malik is the administrator of CSSTimes.pk and is responsible for managing the content, design, and overall direction of the blog. He has a strong background in Competitive Exams and is passionate and sharing information with others. Shahzad Faisal Malik has worked as a Graphic Designer/Content Creator at CSSTimes in the past. In his free time, Shahzad Faisal Malik enjoys watching Cricket, writing blogs for different websites and is always on the lookout for new and interesting content to share with the readers of this website. As the website administrator, Shahzad Faisal Malik is dedicated to providing high-quality content and fostering a welcoming and engaging community for readers. He looks forward to connecting with readers and hearing their thoughts and feedback on the website.

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• Css 2025 Essay Themes To Prepare

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CSS 2025: Essay Themes to Prepare

Written By Hamza Gill       Jun 11, 2024

Preparing for the essay paper in the CSS exam requires a broad understanding of various topics and the ability to articulate your thoughts clearly and coherently. Here is a detailed list of major topics and themes you should focus on for essay preparation:

1. Current Affairs

• Global Politics : Major political events, international relations, global conflicts, and diplomatic strategies.
• Economy : Global economic trends, economic policies, trade wars, financial crises, and economic development.
• Social Issues : Human rights, gender equality, education, health, poverty, and social justice.
• Environmental Issues : Climate change, sustainable development, conservation, and environmental policies.
• Technology and Innovation : Impact of technology, digital transformation, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and the fourth industrial revolution.

2. National Issues

• Governance and Politics : Political systems, democracy, electoral processes, corruption, governance reforms.
• Economy : Economic policies, fiscal management, taxation, poverty alleviation, and development programs.
• Social Issues : Education, healthcare, population growth, social security, and cultural challenges.
• Security : National security, terrorism, extremism, internal security challenges.
• Judiciary and Law : Judicial reforms, legal challenges, law enforcement, human rights.
• Nearpeer's monthly magazine CSS Chronicles has a portion of National Issues which explains monthly national topics by our experienced writers.
• Link: https://nearpeer.org/css/1.-free-courses/css-chronicles

3. Philosophical and Ethical Topics

• Ethics and Morality : Ethical dilemmas, moral philosophy, integrity in public life, ethical leadership.
• Philosophy of Life : Human existence, the meaning of life, happiness, and well-being.
• Social and Cultural Ethics : Cultural diversity, societal norms, ethics in media, ethical governance.

4. Historical and Cultural Topics

• Historical Events : Significant historical events and their impact on the present, lessons from history.
• Cultural Heritage : Preservation of cultural heritage, cultural identity, and multiculturalism.
• Historical Personalities : Contributions of notable historical figures and their influence on society.

5. Scientific and Technological Developments

• Scientific Advancements : Breakthroughs in science and their implications, space exploration, medical advancements.
• Technological Impact : The role of technology in society, ethical implications of technology, future trends.

6. Literary Topics

• Literature : Analysis of literary works, contributions of famous authors, the role of literature in society.
• Art and Culture : The impact of art and culture on society, cultural expressions, and artistic movements.

7. Miscellaneous Topics

• Education : Importance of education, educational reforms, challenges in the education sector.
• Healthcare : Public health issues, healthcare policies, global health challenges.
• Sports and Recreation : The role of sports in society, major sports events, physical and mental well-being.

Sir Abrar and Sir Daud Saleemi has explained almost all of the areas in detail in their Nearpeer CSS Essay Course.

Link:  https://nearpeer.org/css/css-online-preparation/english-essay

Preparation Tips for Essay Writing

1. Reading and Research

• Read widely from various sources, including newspapers, magazines, journals, and books.
• Stay updated with current events and global trends.
• Use credible sources for research and gather diverse perspectives on each topic.

2. Practice Writing

• Practice writing essays regularly on different topics.
• Focus on structuring your essay with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion.
• Develop coherent arguments and support them with evidence and examples.

3. Developing Critical Thinking

• Analyze issues critically and present balanced viewpoints.
• Practice logical reasoning and argumentation.
• Reflect on ethical and philosophical dimensions of issues.

4. Feedback and Improvement

• Get your essays reviewed by mentors or peers for constructive feedback.
• Identify areas for improvement and work on them consistently.
• Enhance your vocabulary and improve grammar and sentence structure.

5. Time Management

• Practice writing essays within a specified time limit to simulate exam conditions.
• Focus on clarity and conciseness to effectively convey your ideas within the word limit.

6. Mock Essays

• Participate in mock essay writing sessions or exams.
• Review model essays and analyze their strengths and weaknesses.
• Sir Abrar has explained many essay topics in his Essay Course at Nearpeer.
• Link: https://nearpeer.org/css/css-online-preparation/english-essay

By preparing these topics thoroughly and practicing consistently, you will be well-equipped to tackle the essay paper in the CSS exam. If you need more detailed resources or specific guidance on any of these topics, feel free to ask!

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CSS Exam Info

CSS WRITTEN EXAM

Total Marks

Passing criteria.

• 40% marks in Compulsory Subjects
• 33% marks in Optional subjects
• 50% aggregate marks
• The three papers of general knowledge (General Science & Ability, Current Affairs and Pakistan) are to be passed collectively by scoring a minimum of 120 marks out of 300.
• The Optional Papers consisting of two papers of 100 marks each are to be passed collectively by scoring a minimum of 66 marks out of 200.

General Instructions

• Only the candidates declared qualified in the written examination and found eligible shall be called for subsequent medical examination, psychological assessment and viva voce.
• The question papers in Urdu or other Pakistani regional languages (Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashto and Balochi), Persian and Arabic should be answered in the respective languages. However, the question relating to translation from the respective language into English or vice versa may be answered as directed in the question paper
• There will be two papers of 100 marks each of the subjects which carry 200 marks. In other subjects of 100 marks, there will be one paper.
• Each paper will be of 3 hours duration (30 mins for MCQs & 150 mins for Subjective Paper)
• Ratio of MCQs in compulsory papers for CE-2016 will be 20 MCQs in each paper except in the paper of Essay.
• Similarly, there will be 20 MCQs from each optional paper except Pure Mathematics and Applied Mathematics.
• The question paper in Islamic Studies OR Comparative Study of Major Religions (For Non-Muslims) is to be answered in English or Urdu only. All other papers must be answered in English unless otherwise directed in the Question Paper.

Compulsory Subjects

CSS Written Exam consists of 12 papers of 100 marks each. There are 6 compulsory subjects consisting of 600 marks. There are 45 Optional Subjects divided into 7 groups. Optional subjects also consist of 600 marks. An aspirant can select subjects of a maximum of 200 marks from Groups 1 & 2 each and can only choose one subject from each of the Groups 3 to 7.  The details of the subjects are given below:

ENGLISH ESSAY

PRECIS & COMPOSITION

General Science & Ability

Current Affairs

Pakistan Affairs

Islamic Studies

Note: Non-Muslim Candidates may opt for Comparative Study of Major Religions instead of Islamic Studies

Optional Subjects

Accountancy & auditing.

Computer Science

Political science

International relations

Applied Mathematics

Pure Mathematics

Business Administration

Public Administration

Governance & Public Policies

Town Planning & Urban Management

History of pakistan & india

Islamic History & Culture

British History

European History

History of USA

Gender Studies

Environmental Sciences

Agriculture & Forestry

ENGLISH Literature

Urdu Literature

Constitutional Law

International Law

Muslim Law & Jurisprudence

Mercantile Law

Criminology

Journalism & Mass Communication​

Anthropology

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Table of Contents

How To Tackle The Weirdest Supplemental Essay Prompts For This Application Cycle

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Writing the college essay

How do you write a letter to a friend that shows you’re a good candidate for the University of Pennsylvania? What reading list will help the Columbia University admissions committee understand your interdisciplinary interests? How can you convey your desire to attend Yale by inventing a course description for a topic you’re interested in studying?

These are the challenges students must overcome when writing their supplemental essays . Supplemental essays are a critical component of college applications—like the personal statement, they provide students with the opportunity to showcase their authentic voice and perspective beyond the quantitative elements of their applications. However, unlike the personal essay, supplemental essays allow colleges to read students’ responses to targeted prompts and evaluate their candidacy for their specific institution. For this reason, supplemental essay prompts are often abstract, requiring students to get creative, read between the lines, and ditch the traditional essay-writing format when crafting their responses.

While many schools simply want to know “why do you want to attend our school?” others break the mold, inviting students to think outside of the box and answer prompts that are original, head-scratching, or downright weird. This year, the following five colleges pushed students to get creative—if you’re struggling to rise to the challenge, here are some tips for tackling their unique prompts:

University of Chicago

Prompt: We’re all familiar with green-eyed envy or feeling blue, but what about being “caught purple-handed”? Or “tickled orange”? Give an old color-infused expression a new hue and tell us what it represents. – Inspired by Ramsey Bottorff, Class of 2026

What Makes it Unique: No discussion of unique supplemental essay prompts would be complete without mentioning the University of Chicago, a school notorious for its puzzling and original prompts (perhaps the most well-known of these has been the recurring prompt “Find x”). This prompt challenges you to invent a new color-based expression, encouraging both linguistic creativity and a deep dive into the emotional or cultural connotations of color. It’s a prompt that allows you to play with language, think abstractly, and show off your ability to forge connections between concepts that aren’t typically linked—all qualities that likewise demonstrate your preparedness for UChicago’s unique academic environment.

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How to Answer it: While it may be easy to get distracted by the open-ended nature of the prompt, remember that both the substance and structure of your response should give some insight into your personality, perspective, and characteristics. With this in mind, begin by considering the emotions, experiences, or ideas that most resonate with you. Then, use your imagination to consider how a specific color could represent that feeling or concept. Remember that the prompt is ultimately an opportunity to showcase your creativity and original way of looking at the world, so your explanation does not need to be unnecessarily deep or complex—if you have a playful personality, convey your playfulness in your response; if you are known for your sarcasm, consider how you can weave in your biting wit; if you are an amateur poet, consider how you might take inspiration from poetry as you write, or offer a response in the form of a poem.

The goal is to take a familiar concept and turn it into something new and meaningful through a creative lens. Use this essay to showcase your ability to think inventively and to draw surprising connections between language and life.

Harvard University

Prompt: Top 3 things your roommates might like to know about you.

What Makes it Unique: This prompt is unique in both form and substance—first, you only have 150 words to write about all 3 things. Consider using a form other than a traditional essay or short answer response, such as a bullet list or short letter. Additionally, note that the things your roommate might like to learn about you do not necessarily overlap with the things you would traditionally share with an admissions committee. The aim of the prompt is to get to know your quirks and foibles—who are you as a person and a friend? What distinguishes you outside of academics and accolades?

How to Answer it: First and foremost, feel free to get creative with your response to this prompt. While you are producing a supplemental essay and thus a professional piece of writing, the prompt invites you to share more personal qualities, and you should aim to demonstrate your unique characteristics in your own voice. Consider things such as: How would your friends describe you? What funny stories do your parents and siblings share that encapsulate your personality? Or, consider what someone might want to know about living with you: do you snore? Do you have a collection of vintage posters? Are you particularly fastidious? While these may seem like trivial things to mention, the true creativity is in how you connect these qualities to deeper truths about yourself—perhaps your sleepwalking is consistent with your reputation for being the first to raise your hand in class or speak up about a cause you’re passionate about. Perhaps your living conditions are a metaphor for how your brain works—though it looks like a mess to everyone else, you have a place for everything and know exactly where to find it. Whatever qualities you choose, embrace the opportunity to think outside of the box and showcase something that admissions officers won’t learn about anywhere else on your application.

University of Pennsylvania

Prompt: Write a short thank-you note to someone you have not yet thanked and would like to acknowledge.

What Makes it Unique: Breaking from the traditional essay format, this supplement invites you to write directly to a third party in the form of a 150-200 word long letter. The challenge in answering this distinct prompt is to remember that your letter should say as much about you, your unique qualities and what you value as it does about the recipient—all while not seeming overly boastful or contrived.

How to Answer it: As you select a recipient, consider the relationships that have been most formative in your high school experience—writing to someone who has played a large part in your story will allow the admissions committee some insight into your development and the meaningful relationships that guided you on your journey. Once you’ve identified the person, craft a thank-you note that is specific and heartfelt—unlike other essays, this prompt invites you to be sentimental and emotional, as long as doing so would authentically convey your feelings of gratitude. Describe the impact they’ve had on you, what you’ve learned from them, and how their influence has shaped your path. For example, if you’re thanking a teacher, don’t just say they helped you become a better student—explain how their encouragement gave you the confidence to pursue your passions. Keep the tone sincere and personal, avoid clichés and focus on the unique role this person has played in your life.

University of Notre Dame

Prompt: What compliment are you most proud of receiving, and why does it mean so much to you?

What Makes it Unique: This prompt is unique in that it invites students to share something about themselves by reflecting on someone else’s words in 50-100 words.

How to Answer it: The key to answering this prompt is to avoid focusing too much on the complement itself and instead focus on your response to receiving it and why it was so important to you. Note that this prompt is not an opportunity to brag about your achievements, but instead to showcase what truly matters to you. Select a compliment that truly speaks to who you are and what you value. It could be related to your character, work ethic, kindness, creativity, or any other quality that you hold in high regard. The compliment doesn’t have to be grand or come from someone with authority—it could be something small but significant that left a lasting impression on you, or it could have particular meaning for you because it came from someone you didn’t expect it to come from. Be brief in setting the stage and explaining the context of the compliment—what is most important is your reflection on its significance and how it shaped your understanding of yourself.

Stanford University

Prompt: List five things that are important to you.

What Makes it Unique: This prompt’s simplicity is what makes it so challenging. Stanford asks for a list, not an essay, which means you have very limited space (50 words) to convey something meaningful about yourself. Additionally, the prompt does not specify what these “things” must be—they could be a physical item, an idea, a concept, or even a pastime. Whatever you choose, these five items should add depth to your identity, values, and priorities.

How to Answer it: Start by brainstorming what matters most to you—these could be values, activities, people, places, or even abstract concepts. The key is to choose items or concepts that, when considered together, provide a comprehensive snapshot of who you are. For example, you might select something tangible and specific such as “an antique telescope gifted by my grandfather” alongside something conceptual such as “the willingness to admit when you’re wrong.” The beauty of this prompt is that it doesn’t require complex sentences or elaborate explanations—just a clear and honest reflection of what you hold dear. Be thoughtful in your selections, and use this prompt to showcase your creativity and core values.

While the supplemental essays should convey something meaningful about you, your values, and your unique qualifications for the university to which you are applying, the best essays are those that are playful, original, and unexpected. By starting early and taking the time to draft and revise their ideas, students can showcase their authentic personalities and distinguish themselves from other applicants through their supplemental essays.

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• Brecht De Ruyte
• Aug 5, 2024

It’s Time To Talk About “CSS5”

• 12 min read
• CSS , Coding , Techniques , Design
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About The Author

Brecht De Ruyte is a self-taught front-end developer located in Belgium with a passion for UX and Design. After more than a decade of working in tech, he … More about Brecht ↬

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We have been talking about CSS3 for a long time. Call me a fossil, but I still remember the new border-radius property feeling like the most incredible CSS3 feature. We have moved on since we got border-radius and a slew of new features dropped in a single CSS3 release back in 2009 .

CSS, too, has moved on as a language, and yet “CSS3” is still in our lexicon as the last “official” semantically-versioned release of the CSS language.

It’s not as though we haven’t gotten any new and exciting CSS features between 2009 and 2024; it’s more that the process of developing, shipping, and implementing new CSS features is a guessing game of sorts. “

We see CSS Working Group (CSSWG) discussions happening in the open. We have the draft specifications and an archive of versions at our disposal. The resources are there! But the develop-ship-implement flow remains elusive and leaves many of us developers wondering: When is the next CSS release, and what’s in it?

This is a challenging balancing act. We have spec authors, code authors, and user agents working both interdependently and independently and the communication gaps are numerous and wide. The result? New features take longer to be implemented, leading to developers taking longer to adopt them. We might even consider CSS3 to be the last great big “marketing” push for CSS as a language.

That’s what the CSS-Next community is grappling with at this very moment. If you haven’t heard of the group, you’re not alone, but either way, it’s high time we shed light on it and the ideas coming from it. As someone participating in the group , I thought I would share the conversations we’re having and how we’re approaching the way CSS releases are communicated.

Meet The CSS-Next Community

Before we formally “meet” the CSS-Next group, it’s worth knowing that it is still officially referred to as the CSS4 Community Group as far as the W3C is concerned.

And that might be the very first thing you ought to know about CSS-Next: it is part of the W3C and consists of CSSWG members, developers, designers, user agents, and, really, anyone passionate about the web and who wants to participate in the discussion. W3C groups like CSS-Next are open to everyone to bring our disparate groups together, opening opportunities to shape tomorrow’s vision of the web.

CSS-Next, in particular, is where people gather to discuss the possibility of raising awareness of CSS evolutions during the last decade. At its core, the group is discussing approaches for bundling CSS features that have shipped since CSS3 was released in 2009 and how to name the bundle (or bundles, perhaps) so we have a way of referring to this particular “era” of CSS and pushing those features forward.

Why We Need A Group Like CSS-Next

Let’s go back a few years. More specifically, let’s return to the year 2020.

It all started when Safari Evangelist Jen Simmons posted an open issue in the CSSWG’s GitHub repo for CSS draft specifications requesting a definition for a “CSS4” release.

This might be one of the biggest responses — if not the biggest response — to a CSSWG issue based solely on emoji reactions.

The idea of defining CSS4 had some back-ups by Chris Coyier, Nicole Sullivan, and PPK. The idea is to push technologies forward and help educators and site owners, even if it’s just for the sake of marketing.

But why is this important? Why should we care about another level or “CSS Saga”? To get to that point, we might need to talk about CSS3 and what exactly it defines.

What Exactly Is “CSS3”?

The CSS3 grouping of features included level-3 specs for features from typography to selectors and backgrounds. From this point on, each CSS spec has been numbered individually.

However, CSS3 is still the most common term developers use to define the capabilities of modern CSS. We see this across the web, from the way educational institutions teach CSS to the job requirements on resumes.

The term CSS3 loses meaning year-over-year. You can see the dilution everywhere. The earliest CSS3 drafts were published in June 1999 — before many of my colleagues were even born — and yet CSS is one of the fastest-growing languages in the current webscape.

What About The CSS3 Logo?

When we look at job postings, we run into vacancies asking for knowledge of CSS3, which is over 10 years old. Without an updated level, we’re just asking if you’ve written CSS since the border-radius property came out. Furthermore, when we want to learn CSS, a CSS3 logo next to educational materials no longer signals current material. It kind of feels like time has stood still.

Here’s an example job posting that illustrates the issue:

But that’s not all. If you do a Google search on “Learn CSS” and check the images, you might be surprised how many CSS3 logos you can spot:

About 50% of the images show the CSS3 badge. To me, this clearly signals:

• People want badges or logos to aid in signaling skills.
• The CSS3 brand has made a large impact on the web ecosystem.
• The CSS3 logo has reached the end of its efficacy.

CSS3 had still has a huge impact on the ecosystem. The same logo is trying to say it teaches Flexbox all the way to color-mix() — a spread of hundreds of CSS features.

What Exactly Does “Modern CSS” Mean?

CSS3 and HTML5 were big improvements to those respective languages — we’ve come a long way since then. We have features that people didn’t even think were possible back in 2012 (when we officially spoke of CSS3 as a level).

For example, there was a time when people thought that containers didn’t know anything and it never be possible to style an element based on the width of its parent. But now, of course, we have CSS Container Queries, and all of this is possible today. The things that are possible with CSS changed over time, as so beautifully told by Miriam Suzanne at CSS Day 2023 .

We do not want to ignore the success of CSS3 and say it is wrong; in fact, we believe it’s time to repeat the tremendous success of CSS3 .

Imagine yourself 10 years from now reading a “modern” CSS feature that was introduced as many as 10 years ago. It wouldn’t add up, right? Modern is not a future-proof name , something that Geoff Graham opined when asking the correct question, “ What exactly is ‘Modern CSS’? ”

“ Naming is always hard , yet it’s just something we have to do in CSS to properly select things. I think it’s time we start naming [CSS releases] like this, too. It’s only a matter of time before “modern” isn’t “modern” anymore.” — Geoff Graham

This is exactly where the CSS-Next community group comes in.

Let’s Talk About “CSS Eras”

The CSS-Next community group aims to align and modernize the general understanding of CSS in the wider developer community by labeling feature sets that have shipped since the initial set of CSS3 features, helping developers upskill their understanding of CSS across the ecosystem.

Why Isn’t This Part Of The Web Platform Baseline?

The definition of what is “current” CSS changes with time. Sometimes, specs are incomplete or haven’t even been drafted. While Baseline looks at the current browser support of a feature in CSS, we want to take a look at the evolution of the language itself. The CSS levels should not care about which browser implemented it first.

It might be more nuanced than this in reality, but that’s pretty much the gist. We also don’t want it to become another “modern CSS” bucket. Indeed, referring to CSS3 as an “era” has helped compartmentalize how we can shift into CSS4, CSS5, and beyond. For example, labeling something as a “CSS4” feature provides a hint as far as when that feature was born. A feature that reaches “baseline” meanwhile merely indicates the status of that feature’s browser implementation, which is a separate concern.

Identifying features by era and implementation status are both indicators and provide meta information about a CSS feature but with different purposes.

Why Not Work With An Annual Snapshot Instead Of A Numbered Era?

It’s fair to wonder if a potential solution is to take a “snapshot” of the CSS feature set each year and use that as a mile marker for CSS feature releases. However, an annual picture of the language is less effective than defining a particular era in which specific features are introduced.

There were a handful of years when CSS was relatively quiet compared to the mad dash of the last few years. Imagine a year in which nothing, or maybe very few, CSS features are shipped, and the snapshot for that year is nearly identical to the previous year’s snapshot. Now imagine CSS explodes the following year with a deluge of new features that result in a massive delta between snapshots. It takes mental agility to compare complete snapshots of the entire language and find what’s new.

Goals And Non-Goals

I think I’ve effectively established that the term “CSS” alone isn’t clear or helpful enough to illustrate the evolution of the CSS, just as calling a certain feature “modern” degrades over time.

Grouping features in levels that represent different eras of releases — even from a marketing standpoint — offers a good deal of meaning and has a track record of success, as we’ve seen with CSS3. “

All of this comes back to a set of goals that the CSS-Next group is rallying around:

• Help developers learn CSS.
• Help educators teach CSS.
• Help employers define modern web skills.
• Help the community understand the progression of CSS capabilities over time.
• Create a shared vernacular for describing how CSS evolves.

What we do not want is to:

• Affect spec definitions . CSS-Next is not a group that would define the working process of or influence working groups such as the CSSWG.
• Create official developer documentation. Making something like a new version of MDN doesn’t get us closer to a better understanding of how the language changes between eras.
• Define browser specification work. This should be conducted in relevant standardization or pre-standardization forums (such as the CSSWG or OpenUI ).
• Educate developers on CSS best practices. That has much more to do with feature implementations than the features themselves.
• Manage browser compatibility data. Baseline is already doing that, and besides, we’ve already established that feature specifications and implementations are separate concerns.

This doesn’t mean that everything in the last list is null and void. We could, for example, have CSS eras that list all the features specced in that period. And inside that list, there could be a baseline reference for the implementations of those features, making it easier to bring forward some ideas for the next Interop , which informs Baseline.

This leaves the CSS-Next group with a super-clear focus to:

• Research the community’s understanding of modern CSS,
• Build a shared understanding of CSS feature evolution since CSS3,
• Grouping those features into easily-digestible levels (i.e., CSS4, CSS5, and so on), and
• Educate the community about modern CSS features.

We’d Likely Start With The “CSS5” Era

A lot of thought and work has gone into the way CSS is described in eras. The initial idea was to pick up where CSS3 left off and jump straight into CSS4. But the number of features released between the two eras would be massive, even if we narrowed it down to just the features released since 2020, never mind 2009.

It makes sense, instead, to split the difference and call CSS4 a done deal as of, say, 2018 and a fundamental part of CSS in its current state as we begin with the next logical period: CSS5.

Here’s how the definitions are currently defined:

CSS3 (~2009-2012): Level 3 CSS specs as defined by the CSSWG. (immutable)

CSS4 (~2013-2018): Essential features that were not part of CSS3 but are already a fundamental part of CSS.

CSS5 (~2019-2024): Newer features whose adoption is steadily growing.

CSS6 (~2025+): Early-stage features that are planned for future CSS.

Uncle Sam CSS Wants You!

We released a request for comments last May for community input from developers like you. We’ve received a few comments that have been taken into account, but we need much more feedback to help inform our approach.

We want a big representative response from the community! But that takes awareness, and we need you to make that happen. Anything you can do to let your teams and colleagues that the CSS-Next group is a thing and that we’re trying to solve the way we talk about CSS features is greatly appreciated. We want to know what you and others think about the things we’re wrestling with, like whether or not the way we’re grouping eras above is a sound approach, where you think those lines should be drawn, and if you agree that we’re aiming for the right goals.

We also want you to participate. Anyone is welcome to join the CSS-Next group and we could certainly use help brainstorming ideas. There’s even an incubation group that conducts a biweekly hour-long session that takes place on Mondays at 8:00 a.m. Pacific Time (2:00 p.m. GMT).

On a completely personal note, I’d like to add that I joined the CSS-Next group purely out of interest but became much more actively involved once the mission became very clear to me. As a developer working in an agency, I see how fast CSS changes and have struggled, like many of you, to keep up.

A seasoned colleague of mine commented the other day that they wouldn’t even know how to approach vanilla CSS on a fresh website project. There is no shame in that! I know many of us feel the same way. So, why not bring it to marketing terms and figure out a better way to frame discussions about CSS features based on eras? You can help get us there!

And if you think I’m blameless when it comes to talking about CSS in generic “modern” terms, all it takes is a quick look at the headline of another Smashing article I authored … this year!

Let’s get going with CSS5 and spread the word! Let me hear your thoughts.

• CSS-Next Group Homepage
• CSSWG Drafts Issue #4770: Let’s Define CSS 4
• CSS-Next Issue #92: Initial CSS Level Categorization

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