ESE Exam Pattern, Syllabus and Cutoff | ESE Complete Information | BYJU'S GATE

The UPSC has released its examination calendar for 2024, with the Engineering Services Preliminary and Mains exams scheduled for February 18th. Before diving into preparation, it is crucial to understand the exam pattern thoroughly. With over two decades of teaching experience and a history of success in this field, including top ranks in past ESC examinations, Sanjarati emphasizes strategic preparation tailored to these insights.

The Engineering Services examination is divided into three stages: Preliminary, Mains, and Interview. The Preliminary stage consists of two papers—General Studies & Engineering Aptitude (2 hours, 200 marks) and an engineering discipline-specific paper (3 hours, 300 marks), totaling 500 marks. The Mains stage includes two discipline-based papers with a duration of three hours each and worth 300 marks per paper for a total of 600 marks. Finally, the interview carries a weightage of 200 marks; overall scoring sums up to 1100.

The examination mode is currently offline. The Pre-examination consists of two papers: Paper 1 (2 hours) and Paper 2 (3 hours), while the Mains includes two three-hour papers. General Studies, Engineering Aptitude, and specific engineering disciplines are covered in the Pre-exam with objective questions; whereas subjective questions dominate the Mains exam. Pre has a total of 250 marks across its sections—100 questions in paper one worth two marks each—and negative marking applies at one-third per incorrect answer. In contrast, Mains totals up-to-600-mark breakdowns into technical-disciplines solving five-out-of-eight optional problems scored sixty-per solved correctly.

The syllabus for the pre-examination includes several key topics. It covers current national and international issues related to social, economic, and industrial development; engineering aptitude with logical reasoning and analytical ability; engineering mathematics along with numerical analysis. Additionally, it encompasses general principles of design drawing emphasizing safety importance, standards in production/construction/maintenance/services quality practices, energy conservation basics including environmental pollution/degradation/climate change/environmental impact assessment. Further areas include project management fundamentals; material science & engineering essentials; ICT tools applications like networking/e-governance/technology-based education alongside ethics' role within professional settings are also highlighted thoroughly requiring approximately 20–30 hours per topic preparation ensuring command over them effectively.

Comprehensive Breakdown of Technical Syllabus for Engineering Services Examination The technical syllabus is divided into four branches: Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, and Electronics engineering. Each branch has two papers covering various subjects; for instance, civil engineering includes topics like building materials in Paper 1 and hydrology in Paper 2. Similarly detailed are the syllabi for mechanical (e.g., thermodynamics), electrical (e.g., power systems), and electronics (e.g., advanced communication). Candidates must prepare around 11-12 subjects per their specialization to excel.

Cutoff Marks Analysis & Exam Guidelines In the Engineering Services examination of 2021 across all categories—civil to electronics—the cutoff marks varied based on vacancies but required strong performance in both Prelims and Mains out of a total score ranging from pre-defined thresholds up to final selection at 1300 marks. Adherence to exam instructions is critical as penalties apply for wrong or multiple answers with deductions calculated proportionally per question's weightage.

The Engineering Services Preliminary Exam features multiple-choice questions (MCQs) across various formats. These include standard objective questions with one correct answer, numerical-based problems requiring selection from given figures, and statement analysis where candidates identify which statements are accurate or incorrect. Other question types involve matching items between two lists and assertion-reasoning tasks that test logical connections between provided assertions and reasons. Each format demands careful reading to manage time effectively during the exam.

The mains examination consists of eight questions divided into two sections, where candidates must attempt five in total. Questions 1 and 5 are compulsory, while the remaining three can be chosen with at least one from each section. Marks assigned to each question part are indicated, and answers must adhere strictly to provided space without supplementary sheets. Diagrams or figures should be drawn within designated areas; assumptions made during answering need clear indication. Answers written out of sequence will still count unless struck off, blank pages in answer booklets must also be clearly marked as such.