Toppers Corner - SAURABH KUMAR (IES)
Your Name – SAURABH KUMAR
Your ESE Rank (with Year) – 95, ESE-2018
Your GATE Rank (with Year) – 224, GATE-2018 , PSU - HPCL
Your Branch – CIVIL ENGINEERING
Name of College – JADAVPUR UNIVERSITY
Hometown – PATNA
Q.) What things motivated you to prepare for ESE and GATE?
I come from a very average background family in financial terms. So my main objective was very clear from the beginning and it was to get a decent paying job. Now in the field of Civil Engineering, Initially when you are inexperienced, you won’t get the lavish pay of private sector as they do in IT fields. So i was essentially left with two options PSUS via GATE or GROUP-A service via UPSC-ENGINEERING SERVICES. Later on aspects like long term stability, work-life balance and the fact that in these services, I would be part of a fraternity that serves as the Technical arm of our country is itself a matter of huge pride. So all these factors combined, made me to choose the path of ESE and GATE.
Q.) How did you start your preparation? Give a brief idea about it.
During my GATE preparation in final year, I realized that I am able to understand the study material of civil engineering preparation. So I decided to not join any Offline coaching for my preparation . Instead I got Xerox notes from friends, Previous year question banks and joined test series for practice. I started studying the xerox notes, made my own short notes, and practiced a lot .
Q.) What were the major challenges or hurdles in your preparation and how did you overtook these challenges?
For me the major challenge was syllabus, especially when I had to understand and retain on my own . Sometimes one subject would take weeks to complete and then I would forget many things once I start a new subject.
So I identified this issue, and I divided the subjects into phases, phase-1 would be easy to medium topics that I could never forget. Phase -2 would be topics that I find difficult. I converted all phase -1 into simple short notes so that I don’t have to go through them all the time and I could just revise my short notes, this made the syllabus look quite controllable . So whenever I revised from Xerox notes I would only go through phase-2 topics. Also I did the same in previous years and tests, out of say 100 questions I had marked 10-15 template questions for fast revision of entire topic. With time and tests my short notes improved and so did my retaining ability of the topics. I had made a separate short notes for formulas, chapter-wise for fast revision just before exams.
Q.) There are two main exam as we all know, GATE & ESE. All the students are confused whether to target GATE or ESE alone or both simultaneously. So what will be your advice to a student regarding this?
Both GATE and ESE virtually becomes a necessity since the level of competition can never be trusted and very easily one entire year may get repeated. This is valid only for students who have dropped and are not doing any job because you can’t bank entirely on ESE and some B-Plan must be there.
I would advise students to solve easy questions (Not very difficult ones) of ESE mains previous year in/before September and prepare a parallel short notes/ Experience copy (Whatever you learned & Your mistakes). After September focus only on ESE prelims till Jan. Once prelims is over open your ESE Mains Previous year and revise it and go through your short notes which you prepared then. Then start attempting GATE test series and evolve from each test by minimizing your mistakes. Since many questions in Gate are miniature versions of ESE-mains especially easy problems. After GATE, Again aspirants should start focusing on ESE-Mains. Such integrated approach will not leave you confused.
Q.) What was your daily schedule during preparation?
During Prelims – Target was to Study 2 subjects (Theory) and 1 Subject (revision) per week
Along with around 100 question practice per day.
GATE- One full test or equivalent per day + Analysis
Mains – One Paper (480 Marks or equivalent) per day. Previous year questions on Alternate days, Simultaneous Theory revision of Running Subjects if required.
Last month of Mains- 1 previous year exam practice per day of last 15 years.
Study Hours/Routine/Targets would vary from person to person
Q.) How important is the revision in preparation and how did you plan it?
Revision is Everything. I realized that anything which I study and could not retain till exams is both a waste of time and morale. So I made short notes of theory , formulas and even numericals . I used to revise them every once in a while. With time my short notes improved with experience in tests and previous year problems .
Q.) Test series is also a important part of preparation. When did you start attempting test series for ESE prelims, GATE and ESE Mains?
I learned a lot from my mistakes in tests only. I started writing tests from September month till December for prelims every Sunday. After prelims I wrote Gate tests after that for a month. From march onward I started tests for mains paper till the very end on every weekend without fail.
Q.) What are some of the common mistakes every students make during preparation and how should one tackle these mistakes?
Since these examinations take time, patience, persistence and long term sincerity is important which I find missing in many students. Motivation for a week is not enough, Continuous motivation is the key.
Analysis of tests is as important as any part of preparation which many students skip.
Q.) What was your plan for ESE General studies?
GS Paper is still an unpredictable zone, Only Controllable part in that paper is Mathematics and Aptitude. I improved my Maths and aptitude because they were sure-shot marks. Apart from that I went through random notes which I could find among friends for subjects like Environmental studies, Project Management, Engineering Drawing, standard quality etc. Though these notes or any material was not 100% adequate but studying them nevertheless gives a confidence that you have studied something and your competition has also done the same. What I felt is that in GS Paper it depends more on your open mindedness during the exam
- Maths and Apti and many simple questions is scoring so no mistakes allowed in those questions
- Option elimination works for many questions
- Keep “Logical” attempts on higher side. i.e. if you are sure by 50% or more then do attempt that question.
- If in Doubt stay out.
Q.) What is the difference in PSU or ESE interview? What things should one keep in mind during interview as we become little nervous during interview?
Many PSU interviews have a GATE score weightage. Also PSUs in general check your interactive and Communication skills rather than technical knowledge (with few exceptions of course). They conduct GD Rounds, Then personal interview rounds. In general I didn’t find PSU (I cleared HPCL Interviews) interviews that stressful compared to UPSC interview. They want candidates who will stay for long time and judge on that basis too.
In UPSC Bhawan the Entire stress level increases. A general HYPE is created before that right from mains results. Also you feel like you are in last round and if you fail now you go back to prelims again. But Interviews are conducted in very cool manner. And as soon as you enter the interview room, within 1 minute you will feel relaxed because of the politeness and welcoming behavior of UPSC Member during the interview. Most of the interview of ESE remains technical/Mtech related/Job related. Their aim is to check your suitability for leadership. The more chill you are the more are your chances of good marks. But its easier said than done on interview day.
Q.) Any other advice to future candidates?
Keep motivation alive till the end and “there is no shortcut to hard work” is the most apt dialogue in this entire setup of GATE & ESE.
Also every student is different, I might be good in structures and you may be good in steel. So don’t blindly follow someone just because he cleared it. Go by your strengths. Have a self-realization and improve your qualities, accept your mistakes and work on them, Make Plans, Make alternate plans. Keep a cool head on the day of the exam because additional stress will anyway fail you. Nothing beats the satisfaction of success earned from hard work.
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