How to use the ESE (IES) Study Planner
- 1. Pick your disciplineCivil, Mechanical, Electrical or Electronics & Telecommunication.
- 2. Enter dates and hoursAdd your start date, the prelims date and hours per day.
- 3. Get your planSee each week's Paper I and Paper II topics. Copy or download it.
The ESE scheme and how the plan uses it
UPSC's Engineering Services Examination has three stages. Stage I (Prelims) has two objective papers: Paper I, General Studies and Engineering Aptitude (200 marks), and Paper II, your engineering discipline (300 marks). Stage II (Mains) has two conventional papers in your discipline, and Stage III is a personality test.
The planner splits time between Paper I and Paper II in a 2 : 3 ratio, like their marks. Technical subjects alternate with Paper I topics such as engineering mathematics, project management and ethics, while current issues get a little time every week. Learning takes about 60% of the weeks, revision 25%, and mocks the rest. Check the scheme, syllabus and dates in the current notice on upsc.gov.in.
Worked example
A mechanical engineer has 200 days (28 weeks) to prelims and studies 4 hours on weekdays and 7 on weekends: 34 hours a week, about 950 hours in all.
The plan gives 17 weeks to learning, 7 to revision and 4 to mocks. Each of the 12 mechanical subjects, from Fluid Mechanics to Mechatronics and Robotics, gets about 41 hours, and each Paper I topic about 32 hours. In the mock weeks: two timed tests a week for each paper, with a review of every negative mark and one conventional answer-writing session for Mains.
Making it work
Technical subjects count in both Prelims Paper II and Mains, so finish them thoroughly in the first phase. Keep short notes of formulas for the revision weeks. Prelims has negative marking for wrong answers, so practise deciding when to skip. If you are also taking GATE, plan both with the GATE study planner, and track PSU openings with the GATE PSU checklist.
Frequently asked questions
Is ESE the same as IES?
Yes. The Engineering Services Examination (ESE) is the exam that was earlier called IES.
Why does Paper II get more time?
Paper II carries 300 marks against 200 for Paper I, and the same subjects come back in Mains.
Can I use my own subject list?
Yes. Type your subjects one per line, with an optional weight like ', 2' for the harder ones.
Is this planner free?
Yes. You enter your name and WhatsApp number once when you see your plan, and other Uncodemy tools then open without the form.