How a Poor Interview Performance Can Still Result in Selection for IES Aspirants

In the realm of competitive exams, the final selection process often hinges on more than just the written test. For IES (Indian Engineering Services) aspirants, the interview is a crucial but often overlooked part of the journey. It carries a significant weight that can drastically affect your final ranking. But what happens if you clear the cutoff in the written test but then perform poorly in the interview?

Understanding the Cutoff and Weightage

Firstly, it's important to recognize that the cutoff can vary each year depending on the difficulty level and the competition. The total marks for the combined written and interview process are 1300. The interview stage carries 200 marks out of those 1300, making it a significant but smaller factor in the overall score. Despite the low importance, poor performance can still affect your final ranking.

For instance, an aspirant with a score of 90 in the interview, which is considered very bad, can still secure a rank of 18. This is because the interview marks are a part of the total 1300 out of which one needs at least 769 to qualify for the final selection. The recent case of the years' topper is a prime example of this:

Case Study: The Year's Topper

The topper had the following scores in the written test and interview:

Written Total - 778 out of 1100 Interview Marks - 138 out of 200

Thus, his final score was 778138 916 out of 1300. Despite scoring less than the final cutoff of 769, he still managed to secure a place in the final list. His rank might not have been the top, but he still managed to achieve one of the best ranks, considering the low interview score.

UPSC's Flexibility: Skipping the Interview

Here's where the situation gets interesting. Under certain circumstances, UPSC offers candidates considerable flexibility. If you are confident of your selection and are called for the interview, you can choose to skip it. However, this is subject to a few conditions:

Document Verification: Even if you skip the interview, you still need to attend the document verification process. This is a check to ensure that you meet the basic eligibility criteria for the job. Deadline: The verification process must be completed within 3 days of your scheduled interview date. Missing this deadline could result in disqualification.

This flexibility is a significant boon for aspirants who might feel confident in their written performance but are wary of their interview. It allows them to focus on other aspects of their career or plan accordingly.

Conclusion

For IES aspirants, it's clear that while the interview is crucial, it is not a one-way street. A poor performance in the interview can still lead to a successful selection if the written score is strong enough. The conditions set by UPSC offer a level of comfort and flexibility. Therefore, while preparing for the interview, it's also essential to have a plan B in case of unexpected performance or challenges.

Remember, the key to success in competitive exams is thorough preparation and strategic planning. While the interview can be a critical part of the process, it's important to approach each stage with confidence and a clear understanding of the requirements.