UPSC ESE Prelims Exam Analysis 2025, Difficulty Level, Good Attempts

UPSC ESE Prelims Exam Analysis 2025

The UPSC Engineering Services Examination (ESE) Prelims 2025 was conducted on June 8, 2025, across various centers in India. This examination serves as the gateway for engineering graduates aspiring to secure prestigious positions in various government departments. The ESE Prelims comprises two objective-type papers:

• Paper 1: General Studies and Engineering Aptitude (200 marks)

• Paper 2: Engineering Discipline-Specific (300 marks)

UPSC ESE Exam Analysis 2025

The UPSC Engineering Services Examination 2025 prelims exam was conducted on June 4 in two shifts. The key details of the exam is mentioned below:

UPSC ESE 2025 Prelims Exam Analysis

The UPSC ESE Prelims exam consists of Paper 1 and Paper 2. This is the initial stage to shortlist eligible candidates for mains and personality test. The exam format for both papers, as follows:

• Paper 1: General Studies & Engineering Aptitude (200 marks, 2 hours) — Common for all branches

• Paper 2: Engineering Discipline-Specific (300 marks, 3 hours) — Branch-specific (Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics & Telecommunication.

Paper 1: General Studies and Engineering Aptitude

• Difficulty Level: Moderate

• Key Observations:

  • Emphasis on current affairs, environmental issues, and analytical reasoning.

  • Questions required a good understanding of basic engineering concepts and their applications.

• Good Attempts: 60–70 questions with high accuracy.

Paper 2: Engineering Discipline-Specific

• Difficulty Level: Moderate to Difficult

• Key Observations:

  • Questions were conceptual and application-based, testing in-depth knowledge of the respective engineering discipline.

  • Some questions were lengthy and required careful analysis.

• Good Attempts: 55–65 questions with high accuracy

UPSC ESE 2025 Prelims Difficulty Level

The UPSC ESE Prelims 2025, held on 4th June was moderately difficult. The overall difficulty level is as under:

• Paper 1: Moderate
• Paper 2: Moderate to Tough
• Overall: Moderate

UPSC ESE Prelims Exam Analysis 2025

• The exam maintained a balanced distribution of questions across topics, with a noticeable trend toward analytical and application-based questions, especially in Paper 2.

• Candidates reported that the difficulty level was slightly higher than the previous year, particularly in discipline-specific papers.

• The expected cutoff may remain similar to or slightly lower than last year, given the moderate to tough paper and number of vacancies.

• Time management was crucial, especially in Paper 2, which was lengthier and required deeper conceptual understanding.