UPSC IES Exam Pattern 2027: Stages, Papers, Marks and Time

The UPSC IES exam pattern, set out in the Engineering Services Examination (ESE) 2027 notification, has three stages: a preliminary exam with two objective papers, a main exam with two conventional papers, and a personality test. Unlike many recruitment exams, marks from all three stages are added to make the final merit list out of 1,300.

The scheme for ESE 2027 is the same as in the 2026 notice. This page explains each stage, the marking scheme and negative marking, how the final merit is calculated, and what the pattern means for how you split your time. The ESE 2027 preliminary exam is on 31 January 2027 and the main exam on 18 June 2027.

Table of Contents

• UPSC IES exam pattern at a glance

• Stage I: Preliminary exam pattern

• Stage II: Main exam pattern

• Marking scheme and negative marking

• What the pattern means for you

• Stage III: Personality test

• Final merit calculation

• Time management and exam-day strategy

UPSC IES exam pattern at a glance

Stage I: UPSC IES preliminary exam pattern

The notification fixes the marks and time for each paper but not the number of questions. The question counts above come from recent UPSC question papers, which give 2 marks per question, and UPSC can change them.

• Qualifying rule: UPSC sets minimum qualifying marks in both Paper I and Paper II. In ESE 2025, the official cut-off notice applied a minimum of 15 percent in each paper for non-PwBD candidates and 10 percent for PwBD candidates.

• Shortlisting: About six to seven times the number of vacancies are admitted to the main exam.

• No calculators: Calculators are not allowed in objective papers.

Stage II: UPSC IES main exam pattern

• Language: Question papers are set in English, and conventional papers must be answered in English.

• Calculators: Battery-operated pocket calculators are allowed in conventional papers. They cannot be shared in the hall.

• Presentation counts: Up to 5 percent of the maximum marks can be deducted for illegible handwriting, and credit is given for orderly, exact expression.

• Tables supplied: Standard tables and charts in SI units are provided where needed.

In ESE 2025, the official notice applied a minimum of 20 percent in each written paper for non-PwBD candidates (10 percent for PwBD candidates) before the written cut-off. About twice the number of vacancies are called for the personality test.

Marking scheme and negative marking

• Penalty for a wrong answer: One-third of the marks assigned to that question is deducted.

• More than one answer: Marking two or more options counts as a wrong answer, even if one of them is correct.

• Blank answers: No penalty for a question left unanswered.

• Conventional papers: No negative marking, but marks are not given for superficial knowledge.

• Rounding: Marks are rounded to two decimal places at every stage.

What the pattern means for you

• Marks per minute: With 2 marks a question, Paper I gives you about 72 seconds per question, and Paper II gives you about the same.

• Cost of a wrong guess: A wrong answer costs about 0.67 marks against a gain of 2 for a correct one. Guess only when you can eliminate at least one or two options.

• Where the marks are: 900 of 1,300 marks come from your discipline (Paper II of prelims plus both mains papers), so your engineering subjects decide your rank.

• Do not ignore Paper I: It carries 200 marks in the final merit and has its own qualifying mark, so a weak Paper I can end your attempt at prelims.

Example: in Paper II you attempt 120 of 150 questions, with 96 correct and 24 wrong. You score 192 for correct answers and lose 16 for wrong ones, a net of 176 out of 300. Had you skipped 12 of those wrong guesses, you would have scored 184.

Stage III: Personality test

The interview carries 200 marks and has no minimum qualifying marks. The board assesses leadership, initiative, intellectual curiosity, tact and other social qualities, mental and physical energy, practical application and integrity of character. Original documents are checked at this stage, and candidates who were final-year students must have uploaded proof of passing their degree in the window given after the main result.

Final merit calculation

Your final score is prelims marks out of 500, plus mains marks out of 600, plus interview marks out of 200. Services are then allotted by rank, preferences, vacancies and medical fitness.

These are illustrative numbers, not a target. If two candidates tie, UPSC ranks higher the one with more marks in the three discipline papers plus the interview, then the one with more marks in the three discipline papers, then the older candidate.

Time management and exam-day strategy

1. First pass: Answer every question you are sure of, quickly. Mark the doubtful ones.

2. Second pass: Return to marked questions where you can eliminate options. Leave the rest blank.

3. OMR care: Use a black ball pen only and check your roll number and test booklet series, because errors can make the answer sheet invalid.

4. Reporting: Entry closes 30 minutes before each session, and face authentication is done at the venue, so arrive early.

5. Mains papers: Plan time per question before you start, and leave a few minutes to check units and final answers.

Older pages may still show outdated paper names, marks or durations, so follow the official ESE 2027 notification.