CS Professional Exam Pattern 2025 - Mode, Marking Scheme, No of Questions

CS Professional Exam Pattern 2025 - Mode, Marking Scheme, No of Questions

Edited By Mirza Farhan Baig | Updated on Jun 10, 2025 05:39 PM IST | #CS Professional Exam
Upcoming Event
CS Professional Exam  Exam Date : 22 Dec' 2025 - 22 Dec' 2025

CS Professional Exam Pattern 2025 - The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) specifies the exam pattern of the upcoming CS professional December 2025 session on its official website - icsi.edu. The CS Professional exam pattern 2025 informs candidates about the mode and duration of exam, number of modules, type and number of questions included in each paper and the marking scheme. Candidates preparing for the CS Professional exams should go through the exam pattern before making a study plan. The upcoming CS Professional December 2025 exam will be conducted as per the 2022 syllabus.

This Story also Contains
  1. Overview of CS Professional Exam Pattern 2025
  2. CS Professional Passing Criteria 2025
  3. List of CS Professional elective papers
CS Professional Exam Pattern 2025 - Mode, Marking Scheme, No of Questions
CS Professional Exam Pattern 2025 - Mode, Marking Scheme, No of Questions

As per the CS Professional paper pattern, the exam will consist of 9 papers, including one elective paper. As per the CS professional 2025 exam pattern, Multidisciplinary Case Studies and one out of 8 elective papers is an open book exam. Candidates can select the CS professional elective paper according to their choice and preferences. As per the CS Professional exam dates notified by the institute, the CS Professional December 2025 exams will be held from December 22 to December 29, 2025.

Overview of CS Professional Exam Pattern 2025

Particulars2017 Syllabus2022 Syllabus

Mode of CS Executive Exam

Offline i.e. pen paper-based

Offline i.e. pen paper-based


Total Duration

3 hours per paper

3 hours per paper

No. of Modules

Three modules (2017 syllabus)


Total Papers

9 (8 compulsory and 1 elective)

7 (5 compulsory and 2 electives)

Marking Scheme

  • Two marks for each correct answer

  • No negative marking

  • Two marks for each correct answer

  • No negative marking


No. of Questions

50 questions per paper

50 questions per paper

Nature of Questions

Descriptive (Paper 8 and 9 are open-book exams)

Descriptive (Elective paper is open book exam)

Mode and Medium of CS Professional Exam 2025

ICSI will conduct the CS Professional exams in offline mode only at designated test centres across the country. It releases the list of CS Professional exam centres 2025 on its official website. The question paper can be answered by candidates in both English and Hindi language.

CS Professional Marking scheme 2025

As per the official exam pattern, each question carries two marks each and there is no negative marking for wrong answers.

CS Professional Passing Criteria 2025

ICSI has fixed a certain cut-off score for candidates to qualify the CS professional 2025 exams. The sectional cut off and the overall passing criteria are different and candidates are required to secure minimum passing marks.

Passing Criteria

ParticularsCut off percentage

Sectional Cut off/ Paper

40%

Overall CS Professional Cut off

50%

Distribution of marks as per 2017 syllabus

CS Professional New SyllabusMarks Distribution

Governance, Risk Management, Compliance and Ethics

Part I: Governance (50 Marks)

Part II: Risk Management (20 Marks)

Part III: Compliance (20 Marks)

Part IV: Ethics & Sustainability (10 Marks)

Secretarial Audit, Compliance Management and Due Diligence

Part I: Compliance Management (40 Marks)

Part II: Secretarial Audit &Due Diligence (60 Marks)

Corporate Funding and Listings in Stock Exchanges

Part-A: Corporate Funding (60 Marks)

Part B: Listing (40 Marks)

Advanced Tax Laws

Part I: GST and Customs Laws

  • Goods and Service Tax ‘GST’ (60 Marks)

  • Customs Law (10 Marks)

Part II: Direct Tax & International Taxation (30 Marks)

Corporate Restructuring, Insolvency, Liquidation and Winding - up

Part I: Corporate Restructuring (50 Marks)

Part II: Insolvency& Liquidation (50 Marks)


Multidisciplinary Case Studies

Multidisciplinary Case Studies(Max Marks 100)

Drafting, Pleadings and Appearances

Drafting, Pleadings and Appearances(100 Marks)

Resolution of Corporate Disputes, Non-Compliances and Remedies

Resolution of Corporate Disputes, Non-Compliances & Remedies (Max Marks 100)

Elective papers

Banking – Law & Practice(Max Marks 100)

Insurance – Law & Practice (Max Marks 100)

Intellectual Property Rights: Laws and Practices (Max Marks 100)

Labour Laws& Practice(Max Marks 100)

Insolvency – Law and Practice(Max Marks 100)

Distribution as per 2022 Syllabus

Paper No.Group 1MarksPaper No.Group 2
Marks
1Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) – Principles & Practice5Strategic Management & Corporate Finance
Part I – Governance and
Sustainability
(65 Marks)Part I – Strategic Management(40 Marks)
Part II – Risk Management(20 Marks)Part II – Corporate Finance(60 Marks)
Part III- Environment & Sustainability Reporting(15 Marks)
2Drafting, Pleadings and Appearances6

Corporate Restructuring, Valuation and Insolvency


Part I - Drafting and Conveyancing(70 Marks)Part I – Corporate Restructuring(40 Marks)
Part II - Pleadings and
Appearances
(30 Marks)Part II – Valuation(20 Marks)
Part III – Insolvency, Liquidation & Winding-up(40 Marks)
3Compliance Management, Audit & Due Diligence7

Elective 2
(Select one Paper out of 5 Elective Papers)


Part I – Compliance Management(40 Marks)
Part II – Audit & Due Diligence(60 Marks)
4Elective 1
(Select one Paper out of 4 Elective Papers)
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List of CS Professional elective papers

The elective paper in CS Professional is an open-book exam. As per 2017 syllabus, Paper 9 is an elective paper and candidates can select one out of any five elective papers. As per the 2022 syllabus, Paper 4 and Paper 7 are elective papers. Candidates can select one out of four subjects (for paper 4) and one out of five subjects (for Paper 7)

CS Professional Elective Papers

2017 syllabus2022 syllabus
(i) Banking - Law and Practice

(ii) Insurance - Law and Practice

(iii) Intellectual Property Rights – Laws and Practices

(iv) Labour Laws and Practice

(v) Insolvency – Law and Practice


Paper 4.1:

CSR & Social Governance

Part I – Corporate Social Responsibility (50 Marks)

Part II – Social Governance (50 Marks)

Paper 4.2: Internal and Forensic Audit Part I – Internal Audit (60 Marks) Part II – Forensic Audit (40 Marks)

Paper 4.3: Intellectual Property Rights – Law & Practice

(100 Marks)

Paper 4.4: Artificial Intelligence, Data Analytics and Cyber Security – Laws & Practice

(100 Marks)


Paper 7.1 Arbitration, Mediation & Conciliation Part I – Arbitration & Conciliation

(70 Marks)

Part II – Mediation (30 Marks)

Paper 7.2 Goods and Services Tax (GST) & Corporate

Tax Planning

Part I – Goods and Services Tax (GST) (70 Marks)

Part II – Corporate Tax Planning (30 Marks)

Paper 7.3

Labour Laws & Practice (100 Marks)

Paper 7.4

Banking & Insurance – Laws & Practice

Part I – Banking Laws (50 Marks)

Part II – Insurance Laws (50 Marks)

Paper 7.5

Insolvency and Bankruptcy – Law & Practice (100 Marks)

Company Secretary: Career prospects
‘Career prospects in Company Secretary’ E-Book which has been structured by ICSI for the students who can learn about how to become a CS and follow path towards a successful career.
Free Download

Check-in details - CS Professional Syllabus

CS Professional Question Papers 2025

ICSI provides the CS professional question papers after conducting the exams on its official website. Future aspirants preparing for the CS Professional exams are advised to go through the CS professional question papers to have an idea about the type of questions asked and get an overview of the exam pattern. The previous year question papers of CS professional will help candidates understand the important topics and they can plan their strategy accordingly.

Also, check - CS Professional Study Material

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is CS Professional exam MCQ based?

No, it is not MCQ based. Candidates have to answer descriptive questions in CS professional exams.

2. How many papers are there in CS Professional exam?

There are 9 papers in CS professional exam as per 2017 syllabus and 7 papers as per 2022 syllabus.

3. Is CS Professional an open book exam?

Multidisciplinary Case Studies and elective papers are open book exam in CS Professional exams.

4. Is there any age limit to pursue CS professional 2025?

There is no upper age limit to apply for CS professional exams.

5. Is there any negative marking in the CS Professional December 2025 exams?

As per the paper pattern, there is no negative marking in CS professional exams.

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Questions related to CS Professional Exam

Have a question related to CS Professional Exam ?

Hello Alisha!

The CS Exam is conducted by a government-recognized body, the Institute of Company Secretaries of India. However, the relation of the CS Exam with immediate Government jobs is no direct correlation. Instead, it is a professional certification to be a Company Secretary in India for the purpose of practicing corporate governance, compliance, and legal advisory.

Of course, besides a lot of private sector opportunities available and afterwards after passing CS exams, employment opportunities in the public sector are also there, although government jobs for Company Secretaries also exist on the platter, predominantly in Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) or regulatory bodies like SEBI or RBI, it so does not guarantee an immediate job in the government. Instead, the certifications open doors to numerous career paths in corporate and legal fields.


CS Exam Syllabus:

  • Foundation Level

For students who have completed 12th:

  • Business Environment
  • Business Laws
  • Ethics and Entrepreneurship
  • Business Economics
  • Accounting and Auditing

Executive Level (immediately after Foundation or directly after completing the degree programme):

  • Company Law
  • Securities Laws
  • Tax Laws
  • Corporate Management

Professional Level: Advanced topics in governance, finance, and laws.

Passing all three levels will pave the way to become a qualified Company Secretary.

Thankyou!

Hello Saniya,

if you can read the module in one go and can revise the same Atleast 3 to 4times  from august month to December then you should definatelly go for it.

But if you are having a doubt in mind if you cant clear CSEET or Cs group 1 then my advice for you to go for both the modules in June 2023 and clear both module in 1st attempt if possible and try harder to do so.

Start your preperation early for that and appear for both modules in June 2023.


I hope I had help you with this. All the Best.

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