100+ Free BCS Written International Affairs Practice Questions

Pass your BCS Written Compulsory: International Affairs exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.

✓ No registration✓ No credit card✓ No hidden fees✓ Start practicing immediately

~10% to 15% Pass Rate

100+ Questions

100% Free

Loading practice questions...

Same family resources

Explore More Bangladesh Civil Service Preliminary Exam

Continue into nearby exams from the same family. Each card keeps practice questions, study guides, flashcards, videos, and articles in one place.

BCS Written Compulsory: Mathematical Reasoning & Mental Ability (BPSC, Bangladesh)

Practice Questions100 questions

2026 Statistics

Key Facts: BCS Written International Affairs Exam

100

Total Marks

BPSC Syllabus

3 hours

Exam Duration

BPSC Syllabus

Written + Viva

Two-Stage Merit Selection

BPSC Regulations

Merit-ranked

Final Selection Basis

BPSC Regulations

1648

Year of Westphalia Treaty

Historical Records

Constitution Article for Foreign Policy

Constitution of Bangladesh

The BCS Written International Affairs paper is a compulsory 100-mark, 3-hour descriptive exam administered by BPSC. It tests depth in IR theories, international security, global institutions (UN, WTO, IMF), major power relations, and current world affairs. Candidates must meet BPSC's minimum qualifying standards in the written papers and compete on combined written and viva voce merit. This free prep bank provides 100 structured MCQs aligned with these BPSC syllabus topics.

Sample BCS Written International Affairs Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your BCS Written International Affairs exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Which of the following is a core assumption of Realism in International Relations?

A.International organizations can eliminate state conflict

B.The international system is characterized by anarchy, where states are the primary actors

C.State behavior is primarily driven by shared ideas and social norms

D.Economic interdependence guarantees peaceful cooperation

Explanation: Realism's core assumption is that the international system is anarchic (lacking a central governing authority) and that sovereign states are the primary, rational, and self-interested actors seeking security and power.

2What is the primary mechanism of 'Balance of Power' in international relations?

A.Creating a global court to settle disputes legally

B.States forming alliances or increasing their own power to prevent any single state from dominating

C.Banning the use of armed force in all international treaties

D.Integrating regional markets into a single currency system

Explanation: The Balance of Power mechanism suggests that states prevent hegemony and maintain stability by forming alliances (external balancing) or building up their own capabilities (internal balancing) so that no single nation becomes dominant.

3Who popularized the concept of 'Soft Power' in international relations theory?

A.Hans Morgenthau

B.John Mearsheimer

C.Joseph Nye

D.Kenneth Waltz

Explanation: Joseph Nye popularized the concept of 'Soft Power' in the late 1980s, defining it as the ability of a country to persuade and attract others to do what it wants through culture, political values, and foreign policies, rather than coercion (hard power).

4Which philosophical work serves as the foundation for the Democratic Peace Theory?

A.The Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes

B.Perpetual Peace: A Philosophical Sketch by Immanuel Kant

C.The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli

D.Twenty Years' Crisis by E.H. Carr

Explanation: Immanuel Kant's 1795 essay 'Perpetual Peace: A Philosophical Sketch' outlines how constitutional republics (democracies) can establish a zone of peace among themselves, serving as the foundational text for Democratic Peace Theory.

5Which theorist is famously associated with the phrase 'Anarchy is what states make of it'?

A.Robert Keohane

B.Alexander Wendt

C.Robert Cox

D.Stephen Walt

Explanation: Alexander Wendt used the phrase 'Anarchy is what states make of it' in his seminal 1992 article and 1999 book to argue that self-help and power politics do not flow logically from anarchy, but are socially constructed.

6What is the core premise of 'Complex Interdependence' as defined by Robert Keohane and Joseph Nye?

A.Military force is the only effective tool of state policy

B.States are connected through multiple channels, there is no clear hierarchy of issues, and military force is less usable

C.Global actors are entirely independent and rarely interact

D.Subnational actors have no influence on international outcomes

Explanation: Complex Interdependence, introduced by Keohane and Nye in 1977, describes a world where states and societies are connected through multiple informal and formal channels, multiple issues exist without a single hierarchy (e.g., security is not always dominant), and military force is not the primary instrument.

7According to John Mearsheimer's theory of Offensive Realism, what is the ultimate goal of great powers?

A.To achieve global stability and peace

B.To maximize their relative power and achieve regional hegemony

C.To establish a democratic world government

D.To maintain the status quo and avoid changing the balance of power

Explanation: Offensive Realism, pioneered by John Mearsheimer in 'The Tragedy of Great Power Politics', posits that the anarchic structure of the international system encourages states to maximize their relative power, seeking regional hegemony and preventing other powers from dominating their own regions.

8How does Defensive Realism, represented by Kenneth Waltz, differ from Offensive Realism?

A.Defensive Realism argues that states seek to maximize security rather than power, making status quo behavior common

B.Defensive Realism claims that international law is more powerful than military force

C.Defensive Realism advocates for the complete disarmament of all major powers

D.Defensive Realism asserts that states are altruistic and put global interests first

Explanation: Kenneth Waltz's Defensive Realism argues that the international system prompts states to maintain moderate and defensive positions to protect their security. Aggressive expansion is counterproductive because it triggers balancing coalitions.

9In the context of Marxism in International Relations, what is the primary focus of analysis?

A.The balance of military capabilities between superpower alliances

B.The role of international organizations in promoting free speech

C.The global capitalist system, economic exploitation, and class struggle

D.The psychological attributes of individual state leaders

Explanation: Marxist theories of IR (such as Dependency Theory and World Systems Theory) focus on the structure of global capitalism, imperialist exploitation of the Global South (periphery) by the Global North (core), and class struggle as the driving forces of world politics.

10What is the primary contribution of J. Ann Tickner to Feminist International Relations theory?

A.A mathematical model for predicting female political participation

B.A feminist critique of Hans Morgenthau's six principles of political realism

C.The development of a military strategy for female-led combat forces

D.A historical biography of all female heads of state in the 20th century

Explanation: J. Ann Tickner, in her influential 1988 article, reformated Hans Morgenthau's 'Six Principles of Political Realism' from a feminist perspective, arguing that classical realism presents a partial, gender-biased view of international relations focused on domination and conflict.

About the BCS Written International Affairs Exam

The Written Compulsory International Affairs exam is a crucial 100-mark paper in the BCS written stage. It evaluates a candidate's analytical understanding of international relations theories, geopolitics, global governance, and contemporary global conflicts. Excelling in this paper is particularly essential for candidates prioritizing the BCS Foreign Affairs cadre.

Assessment

The Written Compulsory International Affairs exam carries 100 marks with a duration of 3 hours. It is divided into three sections: Section A (Conceptual Issues - 40 marks, containing short conceptual questions), Section B (Empirical Issues - 40 marks, focusing on global actors, treaties, and power dynamics), and Section C (Problem-Solving / Current Issues - 20 marks, featuring a detailed analytical essay on a contemporary crisis).

Time Limit

3 hours

Passing Score

BPSC applies minimum qualifying standards in the written examination; final selection is based on combined written and viva voce merit. Specific per-paper qualifying thresholds are set by BPSC for each cycle.

Exam Fee

Tk 200 for general candidates (Tk 50 for quota candidates) as of the 50th BCS — covers the entire BCS exam cycle (Bangladesh Public Service Commission (BPSC))

BCS Written International Affairs Exam Content Outline

20%

International Relations & Security Theories

Anarchy, power, balance of power, realism, liberalism, constructivism, Marxism, feminism, traditional and human security.

35%

Global Actors, Institutions & Treaties

Structure of the UN, WTO, IMF, World Bank, regional organizations (ASEAN, SAARC, EU, NATO), and key historical treaties (Westphalia, NPT, UNCLOS).

25%

Geopolitics & Foreign Policy

Bangladesh's foreign policy, major power foreign policies (US, China, India, Russia), and critical geopolitical regions (Indo-Pacific, South China Sea).

20%

Current World Affairs & Global Issues

Contemporary issues including climate diplomacy, global trade conflicts, cyberwarfare, and international refugee crises.

How to Pass the BCS Written International Affairs Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: BPSC applies minimum qualifying standards in the written examination; final selection is based on combined written and viva voce merit. Specific per-paper qualifying thresholds are set by BPSC for each cycle.
Assessment: The Written Compulsory International Affairs exam carries 100 marks with a duration of 3 hours. It is divided into three sections: Section A (Conceptual Issues - 40 marks, containing short conceptual questions), Section B (Empirical Issues - 40 marks, focusing on global actors, treaties, and power dynamics), and Section C (Problem-Solving / Current Issues - 20 marks, featuring a detailed analytical essay on a contemporary crisis).
Time limit: 3 hours
Exam fee: Tk 200 for general candidates (Tk 50 for quota candidates) as of the 50th BCS — covers the entire BCS exam cycle

Keys to Passing

Complete 500+ practice questions
Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
Focus on highest-weighted sections
Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

BCS Written International Affairs Study Tips from Top Performers

1Master the core terminology of IR theories (e.g., security dilemma, complex interdependence, relative gains) to write analytical essays.

2Memorize the signing dates, member counts, and exact article numbers of key treaties like UNCLOS III, NPT, and the UN Charter.

3Understand the foreign policy of Bangladesh, specifically Article 25 and its strategic alignment decisions (e.g., Indo-Pacific Strategy vs BRI).

4Stay updated on current affairs, such as recent COP climate agreements, G20 outcomes, and bilateral agreements affecting South Asian geopolitics.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the marks distribution and structure for the BCS Written International Affairs paper?

The paper carries 100 marks and is conducted over a duration of 3 hours. It is divided into: Section A (Conceptual Issues, 40 marks), Section B (Empirical Issues, 40 marks), and Section C (Problem-Solving, 20 marks). The questions are descriptive and analytical.

What is the pass mark for the written exam?

BPSC applies minimum qualifying standards in the written examination, with specific thresholds set by regulation for each cycle. Final selection is based on the combined merit of the written examination and the viva voce. Consult the official BPSC circular for the current cycle's qualifying requirements.

Which topics are most important for the Foreign Affairs cadre aspirants?

Aspirants should focus heavily on Section A (mastering IR theories like Realism and Liberalism to write academically rigorous answers) and Section C (analyzing current geopolitical trends like the US-China rivalry, Indo-Pacific dynamics, and Bangladesh's strategic balancing).

How do these MCQs help me prepare for a descriptive exam?

Descriptive writing requires precise factual backing (treaty names, dates, articles, and definitions). Practicing with these 100 structured MCQs validates your factual accuracy, helping you write authoritative, error-free essays and short answers.