38th BCS Written Syllabus With Marks Distribution
Written Exam Structure for General and Technical Cadres
The 38th BCS written examination followed the BCS Examination Rules 2014. General-cadre and technical/professional-cadre candidates each had a 900-mark written stage, but their subject distribution was not identical. This page gives the marks in searchable text, preserves the original 38th BCS syllabus images and links to the current official BPSC syllabus.
Status: The 38th BCS recruitment cycle has finished. Its written examinations concluded on 13 August 2018, and the written result was published on 1 July 2019. Use this page for the 38th BCS record and syllabus-based preparation; always follow the circular, syllabus and instructions issued for the BCS examination you are currently taking.
BCS examination stages
The Bangladesh Public Service Commission describes BCS recruitment as a three-stage examination. Passing the preliminary test makes a candidate eligible for the written stage; the preliminary score is not added to the written score.
| Stage | Examination | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | MCQ preliminary test | 200 |
| 2 | Written examination | 900 |
| 3 | Viva voce | 200 |
General cadre written marks distribution
A general-cadre candidate answers six compulsory subject groups carrying 900 marks in total. Bangla, English and Bangladesh Affairs together account for 600 marks, so these three areas carry two-thirds of the written total.
| Subject | Marks |
|---|---|
| Bangla | 200 |
| English | 200 |
| Bangladesh Affairs | 200 |
| International Affairs | 100 |
| Mathematical Reasoning and Mental Ability | 100 |
| General Science and Technology | 100 |
| Total | 900 |
Technical or professional cadre written marks distribution
For a technical/professional-cadre candidate, Bangla carries 100 marks and General Science and Technology is replaced by a 200-mark post-related subject. The total remains 900 marks.
| Subject | Marks |
|---|---|
| Bangla | 100 |
| English | 200 |
| Bangladesh Affairs | 200 |
| International Affairs | 100 |
| Mathematical Reasoning and Mental Ability | 100 |
| Post-related subject | 200 |
| Total | 900 |
Candidates choosing both cadre categories
A candidate who gives preference for both general and technical/professional cadre posts has to sit for the 900 marks prescribed for the general cadre plus the relevant 200-mark post-related paper. The written load for that choice is therefore 1,100 marks. This additional paper should not be confused with the 900-mark technical/professional-only distribution.
Original 38th BCS written syllabus images
The images originally published with this post are retained below. Because an image may be difficult to read on a small screen, the core marks distribution has also been provided in the tables above. For complete topic-level details and post-related subject codes, use the official BPSC written syllabus linked under the source section.
How to use the syllabus for preparation
- Identify whether you are applying for general cadre, technical/professional cadre or both categories before building a paper list.
- Open the official detailed syllabus and convert every topic into a revision checklist instead of preparing only from a short marks table.
- Allocate more writing practice to the 200-mark papers while keeping regular practice for mathematical reasoning, mental ability and the 100-mark subjects.
- Use previous questions to understand answer depth and time pressure, but follow the official syllabus and the instructions for your own examination.
- Check BPSC notices for the current exam schedule, seat plan and candidate instructions; an older BCS timeline does not apply to a newer examination.
Official sources
- BPSC BCS examination stages and marks distribution
- Official BPSC detailed written syllabus
- BCS Examination Rules 2014
Information reviewed: 1 September 2026. The marks tables and examination stages were checked against the current BPSC examination page and detailed written syllabus. The 38th BCS completion dates were checked against contemporary reports citing BPSC.
Frequently asked questions
How many marks were in the 38th BCS written examination?
The prescribed written total was 900 marks for a general-cadre candidate and 900 marks for a technical/professional-cadre candidate.
What is the main difference between the two written marks distributions?
General-cadre candidates had 200 marks in Bangla and 100 marks in General Science and Technology. Technical/professional candidates had 100 marks in Bangla and a 200-mark post-related subject.
How many marks apply when a candidate chooses both cadre categories?
The candidate sits for the general-cadre 900 marks plus a relevant 200-mark post-related paper, making 1,100 written marks.
What is the written pass standard?
The BPSC examination page states an average pass mark of 50% for the written stage. Candidates should also follow any paper-level condition stated in the applicable rules or examination instructions.
Where can the complete BCS written syllabus be checked?
Use the official detailed written syllabus linked in the source section. It contains the topic breakdown and post-related subjects that cannot be fully represented in a short marks table.