30/10/2014
Among all the career options available for engineers across domains, i.e. in private, public and government sectors still the best, prestigious and coveted career remains that of esteemed Indian Engineering Services(IES).
-Through Indian Engineering Services (IES) a candidate gets a career in most reputed government departments like Indian Railways, Military Engineering Services, C entral Engineering Services,Telecommunication Department, Central Water Services and other esteemed departments.
-In Indian Engineering Services (IES), an Engineer gets an opportunity to handle technically challenging roles and tasks technically, which have a direct bearing on the building up of infrastructure and services of our nation.
-Strategy for the Engineering Services Examination, The foundation of success can be laid on the resolute efforts but a sound strategy accompanied by never say die spirit makes the recipe of success.
-Success can’t be achieved overnight hence a prudent strategy matters a lot.
-For success in Engineering Services Exam, a candidate is required to have excellent fundamentals in the core subjects, along with thorough update on general awareness, current affairs and no less, all the traits of matured personality.
-Following subsequent points will be worth mentioning and aspirants should necessarily keep a note of the same viz:
-Get acquainted with the latest examination pattern and syllabus of the exam. Go through the previous year's question papers. Compare them and see what types of questions are repeated every year.
-It is advisable not to go refer several books for same topic, instead it is better to refer one good book for each topic, which clarifies basic concepts. Selective books are advisable for selected topics.
-For every candidate time management is very essential along with the setting of target. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe is apt in his words “One always has time enough, if one will apply it well.” The first step which every candidate should follow is to make a time table. Take one subject from each section of your technical syllabus and devote at least 3 hours daily to it. Try to devote 1 hour each to English and General Studies so that you can take an edge as it is key differentiator for being in top rankers.
-Manage your time table such that it has good distribution of study hours for General Ability Section and technical papers, as it makes studies enjoyable and it becomes easy to sustain the momentum for longer hours, without boredom setting in and without losing interest and enthusiasm.
-It is always better to prepare short term plan of study, which should be framed in mind and executed.
-While studying the technical subjects don’t forget to make short notes of important topics. Make a separate list of formulae for each subject and revise the short notes and formulae list daily.
-After completion of the topic solve all previous year questions and practice other questions which are available in good books. This will help you to assess yourself for level of understanding of the subject.
-When you are solving the question set the time limit and after the completion of it check whether you have completed the task within stipulated time or not.
-It is better to practice questions on OMR sheets for marking the answers, which will help to practice the marking of correct answers on OMR sheets quickly in the examinations.
-After completion of it take another subject and follow the same guidelines and don’t forget to revise the important portion and your short notes of the subject which you have prepared earlier.
-While preparing the English, segregate the vocabulary from previous 10 years paper of Engineering Services Examination and Combined Defense Services Examination. Try to memorize at least 20 words daily and don’t miss to revise those words.
-The next step to prepare the portion of English is solve daily 10 to 15 questions based on finding errors and rearrangement of sentences.
-From the topics of general studies first of all find out the area of your interest and study it in the form of story or try to correlate the things. It will develop interest and make the things comfortable.
-Read Newspaper and articles, watch morning bulletin, surf websites in order to prepare for General Ability section. The current affairs coverage is required till 45 days before the date of examination.
-Solve all the previous papers of General studies so that you can come to know the main areas of GS.
-For making your conventional portion strong and for securing good marks in it, try to solve at least 5 questions daily from the previous 10 years paper and solve expected conventional questions from the topic you are studying same day. It will improve your presentation and enhance the writing skills along with the rectification of the silly mistakes made by the candidates during the examination.
-Always remember “Practice Makes a Man Perfect”. Reserve last 15 days, for quick practice and revision.
Solve as many papers you can. The more you will solve the question more marks you will gain. Practice full length
mock test, comprising of all the sections, within the fixed time period.
Tips and tricks for solving the papers
-The first motto while solving the question papers is to utilize your time optimally.
-The Objective Paper-I consists of 120 questions which are evenly based on English and General Studies. The questions on the topics of rearrangement of sentences and Comprehension are tedious and time consuming so it is suggested to solve those questions after completion of rest of the paper.
-While solving the comprehension part first read the passage then read the questions asked and then mark the lines which are related to the questions.
-If you are not able to solve a particular question then don’t waste your time on it and don’t get disheartened. Move to other questions and solve tough question at the end.
-While solving technical objective papers, try to solve the questions on theory first and then work on numerical questions as there is Negative Marking for each wrong answer and cut off is to be cleared in these papers hence never try to mark those answers on which you are not confident.
-On third day of examination there are two conventional papers. Before solving the paper, first of all read the question paper thoroughly and mark those questions in which you can perform your best.
-Write the answers, step by step in tidy manner to give an impressive presentation and by doing this the candidate will not miss the essential points and formulae. If some diagram is required try to make well labeled and neat diagram with freehand sketch. You will get the credit for orderly, effective, and exact expression combined with due economy of words in the conventional papers of the examination.
-Write formulae in the numerical, S.I units of concerned quantities and answers as well. Steps to enhance your performance:-
1. The examination requires consistency, never say die spirit and most important is self motivation. Healthy ideas grow in healthy mind so along with studies do devote some time for recreation this will make enhance the memorizing power and efficiency.
2. Keep safely documents related to examination such as acknowledgment of application, hall ticket, application number and other details. This is to avoid last minute tension for obvious things.
3. One day before the examination don’t study much, just revise the important notes which you have made.
Relax and sleep for at least 6 hours so that you write exam with fresh mind.
4. Keep at least 2 sharpened pencils, eraser, sharpener, 2 pens, calculator, hall ticket, etc. in your examination
kit. Leave for your exam timely and don’t study much on the same day during travelling.
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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 9thstandard 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.
ROLE OF PRACTICE TEST IN PREPARATION
First prerequisite is, we should have a copy of syllabus of that particular exam. Those topics included in syllabus should be covered from standard books. Formulae sheets should be developed. Important points should be noted down. In your first read, every point may seem to be important for you. So, don’t note down points in the first reading of any book. You can take in second (if you are confident enough) or third reading. Means you have to read each book minimum two times. Now we can move on to second and important stage of preparation ie., Practice and Taking Tests.
Aspirant’s Rank/Percentile will depend on this stage only. Up to this level everybody is one and the same. No serious aspirant goes to exam without prior stage. But because of lack of guidance/awareness, many serious guys also attend exam without this stage. One who prepares properly for this, they only will become toppers. One has to practice/analyze old question papers, example/exercise problems from some good books, solve from problems oriented books, and attend tests. Proper orientation towards the exam will come from this stage only.
One has to analyze old question papers first. Once if aspirant complete one topic/subject in his first stage, he should take all questions from old question papers from that topic/subject. Then his confidence will improve in that area and he will come to know where to concentrate more in that topic/subject. Accordingly he can prepare again topics which are left unknowingly. But typical aspirant keep it to last in his preparation. Difficulty here can be understood. In market old GATE/IES question papers will be available in year wise that to with many mistakes. In the starting days of preparation, one cannot/ don’t want to segregate each paper to topic level/subject level. Typical aspirant want to first complete the syllabus and then want to see old question papers as MOCK exams. If you ask any topper of any competitive engineering examination, he will definitely say about topics left by him. So, orientation is needed at early stage of preparation.
Now you should compare yourself with toppers for the tests prepared by Experts/toppers from previous batches. Here one should know the difference between MOCK/Practice exams and original exam he is going to appear. Now a day’s many websites/coaching institutes came up to do BUSINESS in this area. They are giving Rank/percentile blah blah…like original exam one is planning to appear. But at this stage you don’t want rank/percentile etc., (of course we also give this in our web platform) but
1. Your weak areas/strong areas compared to the topper of that particular exam. For example, if one take Subject level test, one should get the topic level analysis dynamically. So that one will come to know his weak areas in topic level compared to topper of that particular exam. If you take Branch level exam, like MOCK GATE etc., one should come to know his weak areas/strong areas at least at subject level compared to the topper of that exam. Then you will come to know where to concentrate more.
2. As they are charging for taking online tests, nobody get confidence about their percentile or rank. If its free, then most of the aspirants attempt the tests and topper comparison/rank/percentile will be appropriate. But these guys don’t want to give appropriate analysis, as they want to gain something from online tests.
As our online tests is both dynamic and FREE, user gain advantage. Here we are giving these tests free, because we are dedicated to give correct analysis to our aspirants who trusted us in giving GATE/IES/PSUs coaching.
Now comes to the final stage of preparation. Weak areas explored by prior stage should be strengthened here. One has to take some more tests in these topics/subjects just to brush up. Here comes our Random Generated Tests. These will generate tests according to user wish. They can generate tests of their choice with proper selection for topic/subject/branch with level like Basic/Medium/Advanced.
Apart from these, we kept Challengers zone, dedicated to maintain tempo among toppers from each branch. If one becomes a topper in one paper, he is entitled to enter into challenger’s zone. He can challenge his test to his co-aspirants. If his mark was crossed by somebody else, he will get a mail saying that somebody topped in your test. In each case topper’s get a mail about topper’s marks/analysis. You will be intimated through Newsletter about PSU notifications/FREE downloads/Formulae sheets downloads/updates etc.,
Though some/more of the applications are not working, we make sure that everything will be ready by June 15th 2010.
***They alone live who live for others.-Swami Vivekananda. Let us live together....***
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