IES (EE) Preparation Strategy

About me : Pawan Kamboj, AIR 22, EE, ESE 2014

I completed Dual Degree (B.Tech. + MTech.) from IIT Delhi in mid 2013. Then joined Times Internet as Manager Technology. Later in early 2014 I decided to appear for ESE. I believe there can by two approaches for ESE depending on the time duration available with you. Based on my preparation and Teaching experience ( in 5-6 coachings ) I have finalized two approaches (discussed later).
Approach 1 is good if you are planning to appear in next ESE and you have time in months. It is less reliable. It worked in my case because I had relatively better theoretical background. So I directly attacked questions. DON'T rely on it if you dont have decent background in theory.
Approach 2 in more comprehensive and reliable. It is suggested to be followed because UPSC is making more dynamic and difficult papers and cut offs are increasing exponentially.

Approach 1 (6 month, 10 hours daily)

• Section 1: Electrical Engineering
• Network theory :- Made Easy Printed notes (must be latest copy) 
• Control System:- Made Easy Printed notes (must be latest copy) 
• Electrical Material:- Made Easy Printed notes (must be latest copy)
• Electrical and Electronics measurement:- Made Easy Printed notes (must be latest copy)
• EMT:- Made Easy Printed notes (must be latest copy)
• Power system:- Engineers Zone Printed notes (must be latest copy)
• Electrical Machine:- Engineers Zone Printed notes (must be latest copy)
• Power Electronics:- Engineers Zone Printed notes (must be latest copy)
• Digital Electronics:- Made Easy Printed notes (must be latest copy)
• Analog Electronics:- Made Easy Printed notes (must be latest copy)
• Communication system:- Made Easy Printed notes (must be latest copy)
• Microprocessor:- Ace Academy Printed notes (must be latest copy)
• Applicable for All Subjects
• All Objective Questions from ESE 1995 to 2014 
• Dont try to memorize the answers blindly
• pick up the books of only made easy or ace academy
• do questions after each topic you cover in theory
• do in limited time i.e. 60 min 60 questions 
• Do analysis after Each Session. you must be confident about Back Ground theory.
• All Subjective Questions from ESE 2001 to 2014
• Solve All subjective questions
• pick up the books of only made easy or ace academy
• must be comfortable with background theory of each questions
• dont mess up with the questions which are asked very rarely
• ultimately you should be able to handle 90 % of the questions. Even in exam you will not be able cover for 200 marks until you are SAHIL GARG :)
• Section 2 : General Studies and English
• English: General English by Made easy publication
• General Study : complete printed notes by any reliable coaching e.g. Made Easy or Ace Academy.
• Current Affair: Made Easy booklet which is published about 1 month before the ESE.
• News Paper: Dont spend time on any news paper, primary focus should be on Electrical Engineering. 

Approach 2 (18 month, 7-8 hours daily)

• Section 1: Electrical Engineerin
• Network theory :- FF Kuo, Network Analysis and Synthesis
• Control System:- Katsohiko Ogata
• Electrical Material:- Made Easy Printed notes (must be latest copy)
• Electrical and Electronics measurement:- 1) AK Sahney 2) Made Easy Printed notes (must be latest copy) 
• EMT:- Sadiku
• Power system:- Nagrath and Kothari
• Electrical Machine:- Nagrath and Kothari
• Power Electronics:- PS Bhimbra 
• Digital Electronics:- Morison Mano
• Analog Electronics:- Made Easy Printed notes (must be latest copy)
• Communication system:- Made Easy Printed notes (must be latest copy)
• Microprocessor:- B. Ram 
• Applicable for All Subjects
• All Objective Questions from ESE 1995 to 2014
• dont try to memorize the answers blindly
• pick up the books of only made easy or ace academy
• do questions after each topic you cover in theory
• do in limited time i.e. 60 min 60 questions 
• Do analysis after Each Session > you must be confident about Back Ground theory.
• All Subjective Questions from ESE 2001 to 2014
• Solve All subjective questions
• pick up the books of only made easy or ace academy
• must be comfortable with background theory of each questions
• dont mess up with the questions which are asked very rarely ; ultimately you should be able to handle 90 % of the questions. Even in exam you will not be able cover for 200 marks until you are SAHIL GARG :)
• Section 2 : General Studies and English 
• English: 
• Theory of Grammer: General English by Made easy publication.
• Vocabulary: Regularly Read news paper ; note down the new words in dedicated notebook with meanings from reliable dictionary. regularly revision Vocabulary notes. dont try to mug up words list provided by coachings.
• Practice: solve at least 5 Papers of Career Launcher's IAS prelim test series (would be available in photo copy shops in delhi). It will give you confidence in comprehension Section.
• General Studies: (sufficient for IES and about 70 % of IAS prelim ) 
• Polity : M Lakshmikant 
• History: Modern India Spectrum 
• Biology: 9th and 10th class NCERT, Printed notes of a reliable Coaching (Made Easy, Ace Academy, IES Master)
• Geography: (1) 11th and 12 th NCERT (all four books). (2) Maps; Atlas, look at the locations which remain in news.e.g.  UPSC is asking question about locations in news on map e.g. ESE 2014 question about the Ukraine peninsula.
• Current Affairs: (1) The Hindu, dont give more than 1 hour daily. dont waste time on useless news like Politics and Sports. (2) made easy magazine which is published once in 3 months.
• Environment: NCERT book (I think of class 11th )

For any further clarification you can contact me.



Pawan Kamboj