Preparation tips for Engineering Services Exam (ESE/IES) - 2010

How to prepare for Engg Services Examination – 2010

All over preparation for IES is easy we can say even compared with GATE. Let us start with the difference in preparation for GATE and IES. For GATE, around 5 technical important subjects with Maths and Quantitative Aptitude may be sufficient to crack 95 to 98 percentile. We may have to even work out Exercise problems also for those subjects and may have to study multiple books for the same topic. But for Engg Service Exam (ESE), we may need not practice Exercise problems or may need not study multiple books for the same topic. Instead we may have to study multiple books for the same subject but for not same topic.

We need only 50% of marks from the written test. All over to write 20 to 25% questions, we need not prepare anything. Those will be that much easy. Around 40 to 50% of questions will be average standard which need preparation. Remaining questions may be difficult, for that above average to extreme preparation may be needed. Again, for ES exam, 30 to 35% questions (At least models) will be repetitive from Old question papers. So, we need to analyze old question papers starting from General Studies to Descriptive papers from 2004. Now, is it difficult to get 50% of marks IF WE PLAN PROPERLY?

PRACTICE! PRACTICE!! PRACTICE!!! Mantra. All you have to do is practice that’s all for IES. You have to do same example problems thrice. You have to read same topic in the SAME book thrice. You are done. You can expect IES. Frankly IES don’t need any talent, but perseverance and consistency in preparation.

About Objective paper: For objective papers we recommend preparing all subjects. For Electricals communications may be difficult or for Telecommunications Material science/Power Electronics may be difficult. But prepare those subjects also at least to Basic level. If you are unable to understand B.Tech books, go for Diploma books. You will be able to follow those and then try for graduation standard books. But don’t leave any subject. Old question papers from 2004, you have to prepare, least mug up those in few areas. Also prepare old civil services preliminary exam questions for objective.

About Descriptive papers: For descriptive we need to practice a lot. See 3 to 4 subjects which are important/which is carrying more weightage. Prepare all example problems; solve all old question papers for these subjects. For other subject prepare at basic level.

Objective is more important than Descriptive papers (THERE ARE NO MERCY MARKS WITH UPSC): We may get 70% of allotted marks, if we get correct solution with procedure for Descriptive papers. As calculators are allowed, we can expect problems which need to be solved properly with calculator. But for Objective, we will get 100% of marks, that to as they don’t allow calculator, we can expect simple problems, which need not be too much cautious.

General Studies & General English: General studies preparation is not much difficult task to do. We need to prepare last 10 years question papers for conventional side (Polity, Geography, History etc.,). Get an idea. Take year book and prepare least those mentioned topics from that. For current affairs, take Civil Services Chronicle from January to April. Prepare NCERT 9^th standard and 10 standard Geography books. For polity you can opt for Laksmi kanth. As more questions come from Modern History (Preparation of Ancient and Medieval is difficult also J) you can prepare only Modern History. For this Spectrum Series book is more than sufficient. For General English, last 10 years old question papers are more than enough.

All over we can expect 120 to 140 marks in each objective papers, 90 to 110 marks in each descriptive and in General English/General Studies objective paper even if we get around 60 marks it is enough.

All about Engineering Services Examination (ESE)

All about Engineering Services Exam (ESE):

Prepared by Rao, Director IES,Bangalore. For further clarifications you can contact him @ 9900 399 699

1. Structure of exam: It contains 5 papers (3 objective papers of 2 hours duration each + 2 descriptive papers of 3 hours duration each), out of which one objective paper with General Studies, 2more objective papers with Engineering and 2 descriptive papers with Engineering.

a. First day: General Studies + General English complete objective paper, for 200 marks

b. Second day: Paper I for 200 marks and Paper II for 200 marks of Objective type technical.

c. Third day: Paper I for 200 marks and Paper II for 200 marks of Descriptive type.

d. Personal Interview round contains another 200 marks.

e. So, total will be for 1000 marks for written and 200 marks for Personal Interview.

2. Frequently Asked Questions:

a. Is there any constraint on No. of attempts?: There is no constraint on Number of attempts. You can write any number of times if you are in the age limit specified by UPSC. Right now it’s: 30 years for General Merit candidates, 33 years for OBC, and 35 years for SC/ST and other relaxations are also there. Visit www.upsc.gov.in for complete details.

b. Is preparation for GATE is enough?: In one way YES. Around 60% of IES syllabus will be GATE syllabus. So, we need to prepare extra subjects. Difference between GATE and IES is, in GATE we need to have in-depth analysis at least for important subjects. If you prepare only those subjects you may get 95 to 98 percentile. But here in IES preparation, we need to prepare all the subjects at least for Objective papers. We may not have to go that much in-depth.

i. Few subjects may be there in IES syllabus only. Those subjects need to be studied.

ii. We need to prepare for descriptive also as this part is not there in GATE.

c. When will we get results?:

i. Notification around January of every year

ii. Written exam will be in the month of June every year

iii. Written results will be in the month of January

iv. Interview conduction at UPSC will be in the month of March

v. Final selection of candidates will be in the month of May/June

vi. Medical fitness test will be in the month of September

vii. Training will start from November/December. Of course this depends on Department of allocation.

d. How many hours of preparation is needed daily?: Frankly this depend on individual. If you are strong in basics, it may not take much time to recap all the subjects. Daily 2 hours 6months before the exam, 5 hours before 3 months and 8 to 9 hours before one month is hopefully sufficient.

e. How many marks should we score to get selected?:

i. Around 50% of marks are more than enough independent of department. For written if you can score 450 to 500 marks you can expect interview call, of course selection also. If you can score more than 500, you will have a better edge.

ii. Here one important thing is, you have to score maximum marks in Objective only. If you can score 120 to 140 marks in objective papers, stress will be less on Descriptive papers.

iii. If you get correct answer that to with proper explanation, you can expect 70% of allotted marks for that question.

f. To work for Indian Railways, how much rank I should get?: Upto 20^th rank for General Merit candidates can expect from Indian Railways. This is true for TCE and EEE officers only. For Civil this limit will be high.

g. Do they have separate cutoff for separate papers?: Many say cutoff is there only for General Studies paper not to others. This depend on selection team of UPSC. When I wrote the exam, there should not have any cutoff even for General Studies, as I did not write well.

h. Am presently studying B.Tech/B.E., in which way should I prepare for ES?: If you are in final year/pre final year now, you can start preparing for ES exam. Otherwise, my opinion is you better concentrate on building of basics. Normally 2^nd year and 3^rd syllabus of your university will be UPSC syllabus. So, concentrate well on those subjects. That’s enough.

i. Can I work in my home state if I get selection?: Officially NO. If you take Railways, it have its departments spread all over India. They can place you anywhere in India. If you take Water Commission, you may have to work from Delhi only. But chances are there if you opt for Railways.

j. Will they give salary immediately after joining or after completion?: YES. They start pay you even in the training period also.

k. Is it facilities like car, bunglow will be given as soon as one completes the training and join the service?: It depends on the service. Quarters ll be provided in any service, and remaining like Car and all will be provided if work necessitates. Railways and CPWD is known for good fecilities.

l. Do we have group discussions in Personal Interview?: NO

m. Can I write IES in computer science?: NO. You have select one group from Telecommunications/Electrical/Mechanical/Civil.

n. How many number of seats for each branch?: It varies time to time. This year they notified 434 posts for all branches. Out of which around 60 can be expected for each branch for TCE/EEE. For Mechanical and Civil engineering Streams posts will be more.

o. What is the order of precedence for the posts applicants prefer?: First Railways. After that, CPWD,MES,NHAI,CWC,BRO etc., Facilities are better in Railways and MES. But work wise hectic and more responsible jobs. Its a 24 hrs job in Railways. Even taking of leave in some places also would be difficult. In the sense, more responsible and powerful post.

p. What are the physical standards we need to meet?: Eye power should be within + or -4, and there should not be color blindness for Railways. Color blinded people may be allotted for Stores.

3. What are the departments, we can work as IES officers: You can visit UPSC website for details.

4. Scope of IES for Girls?: Scope for girls is fine. All services may not fit for girls. Good services for girls, CWC, P&T(Telecom)etc.,

5. About Interview:

1. The interview panel generally keeps you comfortable and more liberal. They expect you to be strong in your present area. You be strong in basic concepts, Current affairs like Terrorism, Recession/what is HOT at present, About railways.

2. First they start with few HR questions like tell me about yourself/current hot topics and after that, they start technical part (Mostly of Basics).

3. Interview panel contains 5 members (4+1) 4 tech persons and 1 Panel Head. Continue your explanation till you ask you to stop. Answer Boldly. Maintain good Communication. They may give some white sheets and may ask you to write/draw/explain something.

4. All over Interview will be around 85% technical and 15% non technical.

6. For presently working PSU guys who are targeting IES?: NOC is required if you are working in a Public Sector companies. I don’t think NOC is required for guys working with Pvt., sector. Bond transfer is not possible with UPSC. You have to clear NOC from your present working company and then join afresh in IES.

7. Pay of IES officer?: 15600 (Basic)+5400(Grade)+DA+HRA+others… Gross would be around 36,000Rs per month.

8. About Designation and Growth?: First designation would be Assistant Director/AEE or equivalent. Foremost promotion will be based on rank you get in IE exam. After that promotions will depend on Seniority and other factors like confidential reports. Growth will be faster in some departments like Railways and slower in others like CWC.

9. Already I am working in PSUs/Govt sector. Is it a good idea of writing ES exam?: IES is more of Management of technical matters. If you like only technical you can stay with present job only. If you wanna enjoy some Power/Management etc., you can try for IES.

10. About Physical Tests?: Very normal tests they conduct. Its like Eye/Blood/Urine/Inhale, Exhale. For Railways Eye power should be with in +/- 4.

11. I got GATE rank. Should I pursue M.Tech or should I continue my preparation for IES?: Pursue your M.Tech/M.E., then try for IES. You will have much time, good books, lecturers to prepare. It will be useful for Interview also.

12. I got less percentage in B.Tech. Can I try for IES?: YES. All exam need is sincere efforts. We got one guy(B.Lakshmi Narayana Rank: 9) got selection with just around 55%. If you are determined, you can get it.

13. If I donot get selection, will all of my efforts go in vain?: NO. All most 90% of Public Sector Units are following ES exam pattern to recruit their engineers. If you prepare for IES, you can crack most of the PSUs/Govt., sector jobs. Most of PSUs give questions from old question papers of ES exam.

14. What is the duration of Training period after selection?:This depends on allocated Department.

Some preparation tips:

1. Old Question Papers: Very good source to know about the exam. Normally there will not be any considerable twists/difficulty compared to old question papers. 30 to 35% of the questions will be repetitive(At least same models) even. You will get an idea about important subjects/topics. For objective papers try to study everything in the syllabus and for descriptive see old question papers and decide important subjects/topics. Ultimately we require around 500 marks not 1000 out of 1000. So, be practical and decide. Especially for General Studies and General English paper, old question papers are must. See question papers from 2002 onwards. For General Studies part, see conventional part (Geography,History,Polity) only from old question papers.

2. About postal course: We strongly donot recommend postal course for Engg Services Exam. Class room training is a good idea to crack IES. Even without coaching also one can get. Basics are very important for this exam, and I donot think any postal course fit completely for this. Rather than going for Postal course, it would be better if one can analyze old question papers and study from standard books.

3. About Class room course: Right now you need not join for class room training, if you are targeting in 2010. They may not be able to complete syllabus in time, and for your preparation also time will be less. YES, if you are targeting for IES 2011, you can join in one of the good coaching centers. Then will complete the syllabus. Time will be there for you to practice. Many tests you can write. You can compare with others. You can get good funda. Ultimately, when you write the Engg Services exam, you should feel as if its a practice paper. You should do regular practice like that.

***For any guidance from Telecommunications/Electrical Engineering Departments technically, I can help. Call me for any doubts/guidance.@ 9900 399699.***