UPSC ESE 2018: Registration Date, Exam Pattern and Tips

The application form for Engineering Services Examination 2018 will be available online from 27th Sept 2017

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts Engineering Services Examination as a combined competitive examination to hire the best minds for the posts of Electrical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering. The exam is primarily conducted for selecting the engineers who then work with governmental engineering organization such as Indian Railway Service of Engineers (IRSE), Central Engineering Service (CES), Military Engineering Services (MES), and others.

The Application form for Engineering Services Examination (ESE) 2018 will be available online from 27^th September 2017. The last date to submit the forms is 23^rd October 2017. Admit cards will be available for download from 26^th December on the UPSC website. The preliminary exam will be held on 7^th January 2018. The result will be of the preliminary examination will be declared within around 3 months on the UPSC website. Successful candidates in the preliminary exam will then appear for the main examination on 1^st July 2018. 

Important Dates

Online Application Start Date	27th September 2017
Last Date to Submit Applications	23rd October 2017
ESE Preliminary Exam	7th January 2018
ESE Main Exam	1st July 2018
Personality Test/ Interview Date	November/December 2018

 
Each year around 200000+ students attempt UPSC-ESE to fill around 500 vacancies.  Successful candidates are recruited as Assistant Executive Engineers who later with time can reach up to Chairman/Managerial/Director/Secretarial level positions working for the government of India. IES Engineers are posted in varied government undertakings in defence, railways, roads, manufacturing, construction, public works, power, telecommunications and other domains.

Exam Pattern And Tips:

Stage - I (Preliminary)	Objective Papers	Duration	Marks
Paper I (Common to all)	General Studies & Engineering Aptitude	2 Hours	200
Paper II	Engineering Specific	3 Hours	300
Stage I Total			500
Stage II (Mains)	Subjective Papers
Engineering Paper I		3 Hours	300
Engineering Paper II		3 Hours	300
Stage II Total			600
Stage I + II Total			1100
Stage III	Personality Test		200
Grand Total			1300

 

Candidates will first have to appear for an objective type Preliminary Examination which is conducted across 40 centres in different cities of India. As given in the table, the preliminary exam consists of two papers namely General Studies & Engineering Aptitude and Engineering Discipline. Paper I - General Studies & Engineering Aptitude is of 200 marks and the duration for the same is 2 hours. Paper II - Engineering Discipline is of 300 marks and the duration is 3 hours. Candidates successful in the Preliminary Examination further appear for the Main Examination. The main exam also consists of two papers or sections both cover the relevant Engineering Discipline. Both paper I and II are of 300 marks and duration for each is 3 hours.

• Before preparation, candidate should understand the pattern of the exam and revised new syllabus. He or she should prefer the book according to the syllabus. Any objective books for practicing the questions can be bought.

For practicing objective, one can set 1 hr. alarm and attempt 60 questions. After attempting 60 questions, candidate can verify your answer without checking the solution. If some of the answers are wrong, attempt the wrong answers without any time limit or any alarm. Continue doing this way until you get all of them correct.

• It would make sense to plan and study subject wise or topic wise. One should regularly practice or revise difficult concepts. It is best to practice previous year questions to understand the level of questions and know the importance of topics in Exam.
• A candidate must keep taking mock test as it gives the actual feel of the exam.
• Candidates must keep in mind that Objective papers are easier and many questions may be repeated from previous year questions and also from objective books. Prepare each topic according to Objective and Conventional standard, but practice more objective questions. 
• Candidates keep in mind that calculator is not allowed for objective papers (stage 1), but for conventional papers (stage 2).

 

These are the general tips that anyone can follow. You can follow the way you are comfortable. Best of luck!
 
About UPSC:

Established on 1 October 1926 as Public Service Commission, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is India's prestigious central recruiting agency that conducts appointments to and examinations for All India services and group A & group B of Central services. It was known as Federal Public Service Commission by the Government of India Act, 1935 and was then renamed as today's Union Public Service Commission after the independence.