Strategy for Conventional + Objective in Paper 1 of ESE( Only for ECE candidates)

This is the most important article I have written till now on ESE preparation because this covers everything objective + conventional portion (800 marks). Objective paper is very easy compared to other engg. Exams like GATE and that’s why the scoring is high. But I have seen my fellow aspirants who scored extremely high in objective papers but could not get a rank in ESE due to their poor performance in conventional papers. This is the only Engineering recruitment exam which gives such a high weightage of 400 marks to subjective papers out of total 1200 marks. Many GATE toppers have failed in this exam because of their poor strategy regarding conventional papers. They take it lightly and repent after they see their subjective marks.

So today I will guide you about what to study and how to study in ECE for scoring maximum marks in ESE (within three months). If you are able to follow this strategy diligently, I am sure you can score 250 marks out of 400 in conventional and as high as 280 out of 400 in objectives. Your approach in conventional should be attempting only what you know. Don’t try to attempt everything. Attempt those questions first which you can solve most comfortably. In objective you should try to score as much as possible, don’t think about marks in objective. You just do one thing, increase your objective solving speed by practicing. If you score high in Objectives the burden on Conventional performance will be less. These marks will help you get a rank under 25 in ESE. So give your utmost attention to my each and every word as this article might prove to be a turning point in your ESE preparation.

Note: You need ESE 10 years solved book ( ECE only ) of conventional papers and objective papers and it will be used for every subject. Other things required are written separately under each subject.

Terminology used-  MadeEasy Class Notes = MECN,  MadeEasy Printed Notes = MEPN ,

                       Solved Conventional Papers = SCP , Solved Objective Papers = SOP

When I mention MECN under any subject heading, it means MECN of that subject. Same with other short forms used.

I will start with PAPER 1.

 The process which is written below covers conventional + objective preparation as well. But I have not mentioned when to solve SOP under each subject separately. Regarding SOP I have written at the end of article. PAPER 1 deals with following 6 subjects.

1) Materials and Components: The easiest of all the subjects. Study this subject first, as you can finish it very quickly. No book is required. You need only MECN and MEPN. The correct way to study is mentioned below-

              a)      Take MECN, study it properly. See MEPN with a cursory look (give focus on only those parts which are not given in MECP ). Finish it off in 3 days.

               b)      On the 4^th day , start SCP. When you read a question don’t just read the solved part immediately. First cover the answer part with some paper. Read and think about the question. Try to figure out from which part of MECN it is asked. An image of the answer will be formed in your mind. This will help you during exam. If are not able to figure out don’t worry, just read the solved answer and go back to that portion in MECN and recognize it for future use. The questions which seem different or new to you, mark it with a star. Only 1 day is required for SCP in this subject.

               c)       Now study other subjects. Come back to this subject after 10-15 days and revise MECN and SCP thoroughly.

             d)      In the last days before the exam, you should be able to revise MECN and SCP in one day. Note that during final revision you just have to read the star marked questions in SCP.

2) Physical Electronics, Electron Devices and ICs :

                    a)      Read MEPN thoroughly. In MECN , read only power electronics part. This will take 2 days.

                    b)      Start SCP. Follow the same procedure as mentioned in above subject. This will take 2 days.

                    c)       If there is any problem with any SCP question. You can read that part in MECN or in any book (either Millman or Boylestad)

3) Signals and Systems:

                      a)      Read MEPN. Take 2 days.

                      b)      Start SCP. Take 2 days.

                  c)     There will be lot of new questions in SCP. If there is any problem, refer the book Oppenheim ( refer solved examples)

4) Network theory:

                   a)      Read MEPN thoroughly. Also see a few solved questions from Chakraborty (best book for networks, I had the small one). For Network graphs and Network synthesis, Chakraborty is a must. Take 2 days.

                    b)      Start SCP. Do it with focus as questions are mostly repeated. Take 2 days.

5) Electromagnetic Theory:

                     a)      Read Sadiku from chapter 9 to 13. See a few solved questions in this book. Take 2 days.

                     b)      Start SCP. Do it with focus as questions are mostly repeated. Take 2 days.

6) Electronic Measurements and instrumentation:

                a)      Read MECN thoroughly.  In case of any doubt refer the book by Sawhney. Don’t see examples in this book. Take 2 days

                b)      Start SCP. Do it with focus as questions are mostly repeated. Take 2 days.

Your average time per subject including revision should be = 10 days ( 4 days study + 3 days revision + 2 days revision + 1 day final revision in the last 10 days ). Don’t be rigid to this time period. Be flexible as per your suitability. Some subjects will take more than 10 days. Others in which you are quite comfortable will take less than 10 days.

Now you may think that this overall process of PAPER 1 will take 60 days but you have roughly 100 days left. So one thing I must tell you… you are not starting ESE preparation from scratch. You must already have read many of the things which I have referred to you. So you can speed up your study process depending upon your past learnings. But revision time should not be compromised. You can’t leave revision as it is very important. Infact without revision all your learning will go in vain. So keep revising regularly (atleast 3 times before exam) as per your suitability.

For objectives preparation, solve problems in SOP regularly everyday starting from today. Practice objective questions from SOP atleast 2 hours per day. Increase you problem solving speed by taking 45 mins to solve 60 objective questions and then see how many are correct. Initially you will not be able to solve 60 questions in 45 mins. But after a few days you will see improvement and this is the only trick.

I know you may not be able to complete some portion but don’t worry I myself hadn’t done signal and systems properly and I left the question in conventional paper as there was other choice available. So you can compromise with SCP of any one subject which you find difficult and lengthy ( though I don’t recommend this but it can be done as per my experience ). But don’t leave anything under SOP as you have to score as much as possible in objectives.

That’s all about today’s article. Next article will be on PAPER 2 strategy.

At last I would say the only mantra for success in ESE is practice, practice and practice. Stay healthy so that you don’t miss a single day of practice. When you will sit and study for long hours, you will definitely get pain, but it will certainly not kill you my friend and this pain will be far less than the pangs of failure in ESE. I have given you all the ingredients for success now it is upto you to take the winning lead in the battlefield. My time ends ….your time starts…. 

         -Ankit Shukla ( ESE-2015 AIR 38 )