Understanding the Brain of an ESE Topper: Master the Game

Engineering Services Examination, commonly known as ESE, remains the most sought-after career choice for various engineering graduates in India. Conducted annually by UPSC to recruit engineers of four domains, i.e., Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, and Electronics & Telecommunications, for the Techno-Managerial posts. In this blog, we will explore the mind-set of an ESE topper, offering valuable insights for our readers.

The examination consists of a two-stage written exam (Prelims & Main) and an interview. ESE is considered one of the most difficult exams in India due to fewer posts and high competition. Owing to the highly competitive selection procedure, candidates qualifying the exam with a good rank get selected in their preferred departments with high respect and status. They are mandated to manage and execute activities in diverse technical and managerial fields.

These candidates, after the final selection, are posted in various Ministries and Departments of GOI, such as Railways, Telecom, Border Roads, CPWD, CWC, CPES, NHAI, Naval Armaments, IDSE, MES, Ordnance Factories, etc.; however, they can move to any cadre, organization, agency, department, ministry, or PSU of the Government of India. All these final selected candidates are designated as class-1 officers.

Before we further move to understand the brain of an ESE topper, let’s have a quick recap about the exam.

ESE Pattern:

As highlighted, ESE is conducted every year in three stages. Every stage has its individual cut-off, and candidates qualifying for each stage finally clear the ESE. Every year, a number of vacancies are released for the various government posts for engineers, and depending on that, the cut-off is determined. The ESE 2025 online application has started, and this year is the golden opportunity for aspirants who are passionate about serving the Indian railways. The UPSC ESE 2025 notification has been released, and approximately 232 vacancies are to be filled through the UPSC ESE 2025. In addition, there are approximately 225 vacancies that will be filled in the Indian Railways Management Services (IRMS) through ESE 2025. Therefore, a total of 457 vacancies are to be filled through the ESE 2025. Let’s take a look at the exam pattern:

Stage-I: Preliminary Examination (Objective Papers)

STAGE-I	PAPER TYPE	DURATION	MARKS
Paper-I	General Studies And Engineering Aptitude	02 HOURS	200
Paper-II	Engineering Discipline (Ce/ Me/ Ee/ E&T)	03 HOURS	300
Total Marks	500

 

• Minimum Qualifying Marks for each Paper will be at the discretion of the commission.
• Only those candidates qualifying at this Stage are permitted to appear for Stage – II examination.

 

Stage-II: Main Examination (Conventional Papers)

STAGE-II	PAPER TYPE	DURATION	MARKS
Paper-I	Engineering Discipline (Ce/ Me/ Ee/ E&T)	03 Hours	300
Paper-II	Engineering Discipline (Ce/ Me/ Ee/ E&T)	03 Hours	300
Total Marks (Main)	600
Total Marks (Main + Prelim)	1100

 

• Only those candidates qualifying at this stage (i.e. Stage – I + Stage – II) are selected for Stage – III which is the Personality Test (Interview).

 Stage-III: Personality Test

STAGE-III	MARKS
Personality Test	200
STAGE-I+ STAGE-II+STAGE III	1300

 

• The Candidates who have qualified all stages (Stage I + Stage II + Stage III), will be included in the final list of ESE(Engineering Services Exam).

Understanding The Toppers:

Before the candidates start their ESE Preparation, one thing all of them do is listen to success stories of previous year toppers. These success stories not only help in inspiring us but also provide the much-needed boost for our preparation.

The majority of engineering graduates sit for the ESE every year, and fewer of them clear the exam with good ranks. While some call it destiny, mostly it is the hard work and sincerity with which the ESE toppers prepare for the exam that determines their success.

1. Strategy: 

All the ESE toppers, whether for ESE or GATE, have a strategy in place. This strategy is what keeps them going for a long period. The ESE preparation is almost a year-long affair, from the release of the online application, followed by a preliminary examination, main examination, and then interview. Thus, one requires a good strategy in place to stay focused and dedicated in this entire duration.

While most of the candidates have a strategy in place, what an ESE topper does differently is the way they adapt to form a strategy.

Go through the syllabus:

They have a good look at the syllabus of the ESE before making any strategy. This gives them a good idea about the topics that need to be covered in each subject.

Divide the syllabus:

Once they know the syllabus, it is divided into smaller parts so that it is easier to study and make a good strategy for the preparation.

Decide Books:

Now that the toppers are aware of the syllabus and pattern, their next step is to make sure they know the books to refer to. Each subject should have specific reference books. Referring to too many books for a single subject can lead to confusion and prevent them from thoroughly completing any topic. To avoid the hustle of choosing one book from the many available online, they opt for reliable and trusted sources recommended by experts or previous toppers.

Make a plan:

Once the syllabus is done and books are sorted, they sort a plan to pull all these into the right order and place. They make use of time management and schedule the day. Disciplining themselves to follow the plan in order to finally be ready for the main examination and give the best shot in.

2. ESE Toppers Stay Confident

Whenever you listen to toppers talk, you mostly hear an ESE topper saying they were confident about their selection. So you too must try to instill the same confidence within yourself. This confidence comes from various factors, like:

Being sure of your goals:

An ESE topper seems always confident and very clear about their goals. They know why they want to give the exam and which department they want to go to. This clarity of thought and vision for their future helps them stay confident about their selection. Unlike many other students who start preparing for the exam because their friends are, toppers prepare for the exam because they want to clear it.

Sincerity and consistency:

An ESE topper is very sincere towards his or her exam, which is why they do everything necessary to qualify the exam. They maintain their consistency in the preparation and often join an ideal coaching institute for the right guidance and direction for their preparation. They are dedicated to their studies and will never be seen loitering around aimlessly.

Read it all:

Unlike many others, the confidence in the toppers comes from the fact that they do not believe in leaving anything that is mentioned in the syllabus of the examination. They read everything and make sure to make proper notes for each topic.

No mugging:

You will never find toppers mugging up stuff. They always understand the nitty-gritty of each topic and then proceed with it instead of just blindly learning everything. If they are unable to understand from one book, they will take the help of other books or the internet to understand the concept and then move forward.

3. ESE Toppers Know What’s Best: 

Before entering the examination hall, they have researched the exam so well that they know what is best for them and the examination.

Books:

They know which books to refer to for which subject or topic. Which topics can be done from the study material and which topics require deeper understanding. With the help of these books, they keep their concepts clear and the subject at the tip of their fingertips.

Coaching:

There are various coaching institutes in the market, but toppers make sure to choose the one that brings out the best in the students. The coaching, which has the reowned faculty, reliable and latest study material, and structured test series, is among the ideal choices that the students opt for support and guidance in their exam preparation.

Test series:

Toppers mindset is to focus on the improvement of performance rather than getting discouraged. An ESE topper understands the importance of competition and thus tests series. They take the test series as a learning experience to get to know more about any subject that they might have left earlier. They do not get disheartened by the test series; instead, they take the test series as a dummy exam that prepares them for the final Engineering Service Examination.

Revision:

Success does not come from what you do occasionally, but from what you do consistently. Thus, it is extremely important to consistently revise what you have read so that it is permanent in your brain. This understanding is something the ESE toppers grasp very well, which is why they make sure to have a revision slot in their plan to revise what they read every now and then through notes, test series, and many more.

4. Toppers Use the Technology to Their Benefit:

Unlike many other students who think that technology and smartphones are a distraction during preparation, you must understand the brain of toppers. Every new technology has its pros and cons, so instead of counting the problems from each, one must see the silver lining in each.

Social Media:

Instead of utilizing social media for chatting with friends or commenting on people’s photos and status, they can be better utilized to join ESE groups where people discuss their problems about the exam, preparation, etc. Through this, they find likewise people, and it is easier to prepare, especially if one is preparing alone from home.

Online Videos:

While there are various platforms that provide you with videos to distract you from your preparation, platforms like NPTEL help in clearing the concepts and helping in preparation. A project of MHRD initiated by seven Indian Institutes of Technology (Bombay, Delhi, Kanpur, Kharagpur, Madras, Guwahati, and Roorkee) along with the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, in 2003, NPTEL helps the students in providing quality education to anyone interested in learning from the IITs. The main goal was to create web and video courses in all major branches of engineering and physical sciences at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels and management courses at the postgraduate level.

WhatsApp/Telegram:

These are platforms that have various groups that are dedicated to ESE preparation. Students share various notes, books, test series, and everything on these platforms, which can be of great help to the students who are preparing for the examination. These are some platforms that really helped the toppers be where they are today.

5. Staying Healthy:

Apart from all the above things, one important aspect of a topper’s brain is staying healthy. A healthy body breeds a healthy mind, so staying healthy is as important as being consistent during your preparation. Staying healthy is not only the topper requirement but for every aspirant. For staying healthy, all you require is:

• Eat Healthy: Healthy foods like vegetables, fruits, and juices (fresh) provide you with the much-needed minerals and vitamins that are required for your brain to run at its maximum efficiency. So make sure during your preparation you are having enough fruits and vegetables to suffice all the hard work you are putting in during your study hours. Apart from this, you must also try to avoid junk because, other than fat, it provides you with nothing substantial.
• Drink Fluids: Keeping your body hydrated is extremely important to keep going during your preparation. Whenever you are studying, make sure you always have a bottle of water beside you. You can also set an alarm for drinking water regularly. Our brain too requires water to keep itself going, and not providing it enough lubrication will result in it not being able to give expected results.
  So in order to achieve good rank and work in the same fashion, try to keep yourself hydrated through water, juice, etc., and before you know it, your brain will start working at a pace higher than you expect it to.
• Exercise: Exercise not only changes your body, but it also changes your mind, your attitude, and your mood. By exercising, we don’t mean going to the gym and doing the heavy lifting; exercise means just substantial body movement, which can include a stroll in the park, a run, yoga, stretching, and many more. Doing these exercises will not only help your body stay active after the long sitting study hours but also refresh your mind to study with greater efficiency.

Conclusion

In order to master any game, it is necessary to understand the rules of the game, and who better than an ESE topper to help you understand the rules of playing the game of ESE.  While the above pointers are extremely important, now let’s skim through some small rules we often forget while preparing for the exam:

1. The examination tests your conceptual clarity of the subject, so make sure to be perfect in that.
2. Do not leave the general studies part, as it will help you gain the extra edge in the examination.
3. Do not follow anybody; just stay real and make a strategy that suits you.
4. You may feel demotivated sometimes, but that is not a reason to lose hope. Remember why you started, and keep going.
5. Staying consistent is important, but taking regular breaks is important too.
6. Keep yourself motivated with good books, videos, and education.
7. Do not stress yourself because of the exam.
8. Stay happy and cheerful.
9. Avoid any distractions.
10. Believe in yourself.

ESE is a tough examination but not an impossible one. Following the above points will really help you in clearing the exam and living your dreams. However, no matter what the result, you must never lose confidence in yourself and keep moving, as that is what life is all about. You have to master the game by learning from the best and then adding your special effort, and that is what will give you the utmost happiness.

Toppers’ Talk ESE 2023

Every topper has his or her own story to tell—the ups and downs that they went through and what exactly was that driving force that pushed them to success. At MADE EASY, we understand that the strategies shared by the toppers can certainly be beneficial for the other aspirants.

So, do watch this series of toppers talk on MADE EASY Youtube to learn about the topper’s secret to success.

Toppers’ Talk ESE 2023 Playlist

Best Preparations Books for ESE Prelims 2025

ESE toppers opt for reliable and latest study material for their preparation. The MADE EASY Publication team comprises highly renowned and experienced authors, Civil and Engineering Services-qualified rankers, and professors from top institutions who are well known all over India for their contributions in books and international journals. They are supported by a large team of technical experts, content developers, and researchers.

Visit the link to get your hands on reliable and updated study material for ESE 2025:

MADE EASY Publications ESE 2025

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q.1. What habits set an ESE topper apart from other candidates?

Ans: ESE toppers follow disciplined routines, maintain consistency in their studies, practice time management, prioritize revision, and focus on test series along with performance improvement. They also have a growth mindset, using failures as learning opportunities.

Q.2. How do ESE toppers approach test series and mock exams?

Ans: Toppers view test series as a tool for self-assessment. They use it to identify weaknesses, improve their problem-solving speed, and get used to the exam format without getting discouraged by their scores or rankings.

Q.3. What is the role of coaching institutes in an ESE topper’s success?

Ans: While coaching institutes provide guidance, structure, and resources like test series and study material, toppers select institutes that align with their study strategies.

Q.4. How do toppers maintain consistency during long-term preparation?

Ans. ESE toppers create a realistic study plan with regular revision slots. They take breaks when needed, keep themselves motivated with clear goals, and track their progress regularly.

Q.5. Do ESE toppers follow a specific strategy for revision?

Ans: Yes, toppers understand that consistent revision is key. They revise through a combination of notes, test series, and self-assessments. They focus on difficult topics frequently to ensure long-term retention.

 

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