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.
IES Tips
- Try answering questions to depth, marks will not be allotted for mere superficial knowledge so don’t waste time in questions which you don’t know properly.
- Try to be legible; Deduction up to 5 per cent of the maximum marks for the written papers will be made for illegible handwriting.
- Credit will be given for orderly, effective and exact expression combined with due economy of words in the conventional papers of the examination.
- Candidates should use only International form of Indian numerals (e.g. 1,2,3,4,5,6 etc.) while answering question papers.
- Conventional papers must be answered in English. Question papers will be set in English only.
- In the Personality Test special attention will be paid to assessing the candidate’s capacity for leadership, initiative and intellectual curiosity, tact and other social qualities, mental and physical energy, powers of practical application and integrity of character.
- In objective don’t mark answers if not sure as there is negative marking of 33%
Paper 1
Materials and Components
Structure and properties of Electrical Engineering materials; Conductors, Semiconductors and Insulators, magnetic, Ferroelectric, Piezoelectric, Ceramic, Optical and Super-conducting materials. Passive components and characteristics Resistors, Capacitors and Inductors; Ferrites, Quartz crystal Ceramic resonators, Electromagnetic and Electromechanical components.
Physical Electronics, Electron Devices and ICs
Electrons and holes in semiconductors, Carrier Statistics, Mechanism of current flow in a semiconductor, Hall effect; Junction theory; Different types of diodes and their characteristics; Bipolar Junction transistor; Field effect transistors; Power switching devices like SCRs, GTOs, power MOSFETS; Basics of ICs - bipolar, MOS and CMOS types; basic of Opto Electronics.
Signals and Systems
Classification of signals and systems: System modelling in terms of differential and difference equations; State variable representation; Fourier series; Fourier transforms and their application to system analysis; Laplace transforms and their application to system analysis; Convolution and superposition integrals and their applications; Z-transforms and their applications to the analysis and characterisation of discrete time systems; Random signals and probability, Correlation functions; Spectral density; Response of linear system to random inputs.
Network theory
Network analysis techniques; Network theorems, transient response, steady state sinusoidal response; Network graphs and their applications in network analysis; Tellegen’s theorem. Two port networks; Z, Y, h and transmission parameters. Combination of two ports, analysis of common two ports. Network functions : parts of network functions, obtaining a network function from a given part. Transmission criteria : delay and rise time, Elmore’s and other definitions effect of cascading. Elements of network synthesis.
Electromagnetic Theory
Analysis of electrostatic and magnetostatic fields; Laplace’s and Poisson’s equations; Boundary value problems and their solutions; Maxwell’s equations; application to wave propagation in bounded and unbounded media; Transmission lines : basic theory, standing waves, matching applications, microstrip lines; Basics of wave guides and resonators; Elements of antenna theory.
Electronic Measurements and instrumentation
Basic concepts, standards and error analysis; Measurements of basic electrical quantities and parameters; Electronic measuring instruments and their principles of working : analog and digital, comparison, characteristics, application. Transducers; Electronic measurements of non electrical quantities like temperature, pressure, humidity etc; basics of telemetry for industrial use.
Paper 2
Analog Electronic CircuitsTransistor biasing and stabilization. Small signal analysis. Power amplifiers. Frequency response. Wide banding techniques. Feedback amplifiers. Tuned amplifiers. Oscillators. Rectifiers and power supplies. Op Amp, PLL, other linear integrated circuits and applications. Pulse shaping circuits and waveform generators.
Digital Electronic Circuits
Transistor as a switching element; Boolean algebra, simplification of Boolean functions, Karnaguh map and applications; IC Logic gates and their characteristics; IC logic families : DTL, TTL, ECL, NMOS, PMOS and CMOS gates and their comparison; Combinational logic Circuits; Half adder, Full adder; Digital comparator; Multiplexer Demulti-plexer; ROM an their applications. Flip flops. R-S, J-K, D and T flip-flops; Different types of counters and registers Waveform generators. A/D and D/A converters. Semiconductor memories.
Control Systems
Transient and steady state response of control systems; Effect of feedback on stability and sensitivity; Root locus techniques; Frequency response analysis. Concepts of gain and phase margins: Constant-M and Constant-N Nichol’s Chart; Approximation of transient response from Constant-N Nichol’s Chart; Approximation of transient response from closed loop frequency response; Design of Control Systems, Compensators; Industrial controllers.
Communication Systems
Basic information theory; Modulation and detection in analogue and digital systems; Sampling and data reconstructions; Quantization & coding; Time division and frequency division multiplexing; Equalization; Optical Communication : in free space & fiber optic; Propagation of signals at HF, VHF, UHF and microwave frequency; Satellite Communication.
Microwave Engineering
Microwave Tubes and solid state devices, Microwave generation and amplifiers, Waveguides and other Microwave Components and Circuits, Microstrip circuits, Microwave Antennas, Microwave Measurements, Masers, lasers; Microwave propagation.
Microwave Communication Systems terrestrial and Satellite based.
Computer Engineering
Number Systems. Data representation; Programming; Elements of a high level programming language PASCAL/C; Use of basic data structures; Fundamentals of computer architecture; Processor design; Control unit design; Memory organisation, I/o System Organisation. Microprocessors : Architecture and instruction set of Microprocessors 8085 and 8086, Assembly language Programming. Microprocessor Based system design : typical examples. Personal computers and their typical uses.
