Strategy for Conventional + Objective in Paper 2 of ESE( Only for ECE candidates)

Today I am going to tell you what to study and what not to study for Objective + Conventional part of Paper 2 of ESE. The books which I have mentioned are the best sources tested by me as per the requirement of UPSC. Don’t waste your time in any other book.

Note: You need ESE 10 years solved conventional papers and objective papers 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

For Objective portion of paper 2, follow the same strategy as in paper 1. Solve objective questions regularly everyday from SOP as per your suitability. Atleast 2 hours everyday you should devote to objective question solving practice from SOP. Always sit with a watch, take 45 mins to solve 60 objective questions. Follow this pattern throughout next three months. In the last days you will be able to solve atleast 50 questions in 45 mins. But in exam, you will do even better because here you practice questions of the same type in 45 mins while in exam questions will be mixed from many subjects so it will be less boring in exam. I tell you to take 45 mins during practice because you need time to darken holes in objectives exam.

Detailed strategy for conventional preparation which also covers objective portion is given below.

PAPER 2 deals with following 6 subjects-

1. Analog Electronic Circuits –

a.       Start MEPN. Read it once, it will not take much time.

b.  For those chapters which are not given properly in MEPN ( like small signal analysis, power amplifiers, Oscillators ) read  MECN, it is a very thick notes. Don’t worry, read only few topics as per your need but whatever you read from this MECN, give it full focus and read atleast one solved example under each topic.

c.       Read 555 IC from J B Gupta

d.      Start SCP thoroughly. There will many questions of the same type. Finish it as soon as possible.

e.      If you have any doubt anywhere. You can refer J B Gupta.

2. Digital Electronic Circuits-

a.       Only read MECN. It is sufficient for ESE.

b.      Those topics which are still not understood, you can read from MEPN.

c.       Start SCP. This subject needs to done very properly because it is a scoring subject. You should solve SCP as if the exam is next week and you are seeing the solutions for the last time.

3. Control Systems-

a.       Take MEPN. Read it thoroughly.

b.      Read State Space Analysis from MECN. Must see solved examples.

c.   Read Mathematical modelling of physical systems from the book by Anand Kumar. Read 3-4 examples from it.

d.      Any other topic which is not clear can be referred from Anand Kumar ( If you don’t have it, buy this. I myself bought this book in February ).

e.      Start SCP. This is also a scoring subject. Do it properly.

4. Communication Systems

a.       For this subject read full MECN ( Communications + Optical Fibre and Radar ) properly with solved examples. But during final revision, skip the examples to revise fast.

b.      Read MEPN for only those topics which are not given in MECN.

c.    Start SCP. Focus only on questions which are frequently repeated as there will be lot of new questions. Don’t try to learn the solutions of those difficult questions.

5. Microwave Engineering-

a.       Read Sadiku chapter 12 and 13 with few solved examples ( which you already did in Paper 1 )

b.      Use Liao for Klystrons , Reflex klystrons, TWTs and Magnetron. Read one example under each.

c.       For the rest syllabus read MECN.

d.      Solve SCP.

6. Computer Engineering-

a.       Refer MECN. Don’t read all the solved examples.

b.      Read Memory organization from MEPN.

c.       For other doubts refer Ramesh Gaonkar.

d.      Do SCP properly but don’t focus much on programming if you are not comfortable with it. It is better to depend on other subjects for conventional papers than this subject.

When you study anything from now on, just pre-assume that you are seeing the notes for the last time. This will force you psychologically to give full attention to whatever you are reading. Everyday take a sound sleep and proper food ( because these two things are much more important than studying . I will tell the reason some other day ).

Do everyday activity like bathing and exercise etc. with full relaxed mind , never be in a hurry. This exam is about patience and bearing the pain of sitting and studying. You have to do this anyhow so why not take it as a challenge. Just think about our Army officers who are sacrificing their lives in cold weather conditions at the borders. Compared to their pain… studying is fun. Isn’t it so ? They are struggling to survive and you have only one work that is to study.

My dear friends, if you think that you have less time left for ESE preparation then you are sailing in wrong waters. Those who study all throughout the year but not in last three months will definitely fail in any exam. But if you study atleast the last three months before exam, you can do wonders.

It is not the most intelligent who gets selected in ESE but it is the most confident who knows his weakness and strengths and studies accordingly with a belief that he can crack the exam.

Destiny is not in your hands but what to do in the next three months are definitely in your hands. If you study hard from now on….no one can deny you the fruits of your labour…not even destiny. 

-Ankit Shukla ( ESE-2015 AIR 38 )