Preparing For GATE?

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NotesAdda brings such tips from Toppers of GATE 2014, Expert Faculty who have aided the success of many GATE aspirants in the past years for the benefit of the GATE 2015 aspirants.

NotesAdda also wishes all the aspirants successful preparation for GATE 2015.

GATE 2015 Preparation Tips for the Last 15 days should be as follows:

By this time, all the GATE 2015 aspirants must have completed going through their syllabus. Knowing that the GATE 2015 Syllabus is vast and huge, it is highly impossible to cover it during these last few days in order to reap success in the GATE exam.

1. How many hours a day should you practice?

Well there is no fixed rule to this but all the toppers and successful candidates have given more that 8 to 12 hours per day during the last days of GATE preparation. A dedicated and focussed approach is necessary for success in GATE

Abinash Das ranked AIR 3 in EC in GATE 2014 suggests that whatever the time you have allotted for GATE Preparation, ensure that 60% of that time is devoted to solving MCQs and mock tests. Practice will make you better but only if you have studied the subject.

2. How should you spearhead your GATE 2015 Preparation?

You must have completed the GATE syllabus for your respective disciplines by now. It is now time for just revision of the same. Since the GATE syllabus is very vast, it cannot be done at the last minute.

Nitin Rakesh Prasad, Director, THE GATE ACADEMY advises that Revision is the need of the hour. Students should revise the basics once again, read definitions, and go through the formulas. A word of caution here, this is not the time to work on weaker section as you would end up with low self-confidence which at the eleventh hour is not a good news. 

In the month of January, one should appear for more test series and on-line mock tests to judge the preparation levels and work on the weaker technical issues faced.

Jitendra Sinha, Director, GATE Forum states that the last month is all about revision of the topics and practice and more practice. At this stage, refreshing the knowledge till one becomes almost perfect is the goal. Building on the strong points is vital. After months of preparation, the last days need to be used to keep focus on those topics that the students are much clear on.

One important thing we advise students with is not to even look at topics that they don’t know. It makes no sense for anyone to read topics that they have not understood earlier and spoils all the other strengths by bringing in self doubts, low esteem and poor confidence. So students should leave those topics that they are not well versed with or don’t understand. They should concentrate on revising the important topics they are well versed in

Sumeet Kumar Sar who is the Senior Faculty, GATE Forum states that new topics should not be touched. It will create confusion and if the student cannot grasp it, it will de-motivate also. So whatever preparation has to be done for concept strengthening, learning and such, must be done by now.

3. What should you do during these last Days of Preparation for GATE 2015?

Ashish Behera who secured AIR 1 in GATE 2014 in Instrumentation Engineering shares his success mantras –“During preparation don’t saturate your day with just theory as practice is very important to strengthen your concepts as well as your confidence. Give as many tests as you can to help you to prepare a strategy for your final exam”.

Aditya Gusain (AIR 5 in Biotechnology in GATE 2014) suggests –“Just try to practice as many questions as you can.  Do the previous year papers; solve as many mock tests as you can”.

Santhosh Kumar Pabbineedi (AIR 141 in GATE 2014) firmly states that the last 20 days should be used to attempt mock tests. Students must attempt atleast 2 tests similar to the actual GATE exam. This is to enable them to acclimatize to the GATE exam environment. The other days are for practice and more practice. Practice all the problems you can lay your hands on. Revision is the key at this stage.

4. Tips on General Aptitude/ Engineering Mathematics:

Engineering Mathematics is known to be easy and highly scoring. Students are therefore advised to ensure that they score high in this section.

Expert faculty Vishvadeep Gothi from THE GATE ACADEMY says “that as a faculty I would suggest that students study almost all topics from all subjects. However depending on the need of the hour, I would suggest a focus on the following”:

Topics of Engineering Mathematics are different for each stream but in general candidates can focus on Probability, Differential Equation, Calculus and Numerical Methods.

In GATE though, Engineering Mathematics and General Aptitude has more weightage over the respective chosen subjects.

Books for Suggested Reading:

• For General Aptitude: Quantitative Aptitude by R.S Agrawal
• For Engineering Mathematics: Higher Engineering Mathematics by B.S. Grewal

Saurabh Sarda (AIR 3 for GATE 2014 in Computer Science Engineering) says that the “GATE questions for Engineering Mathematics are very easy such that if you have prepared well for JEE, you can do these questions well. I don’t know why but this section is pretty simple”.

For Computer Science Students, Saurabh Sarda also mentions that “Computer Science is all based on Mathematics so if you are strong in Mathematics, you can crack the GATE exam. Camputer Science is all about logic and reasoning which is why a strong mathematical background will ease the path”.

5. Mock Tests/ Online Test Series/ Previous Papers- How often to do these? The last days must be only used for Practice through Mock Tests/ Online Tests and solving previous year papers.  This allows the students to get accustomed to the exam pattern as well as the exam environment.

Ankit Goyal (AIR 1 for EE in GATE 2014) says

In the final month, students should focus on test series and more so on solving full tests as that is the only method where they can revise all the subjects in a matter of few hours.  This will help them gain confidence. Here they should note that an analysis of their performance after each test is absolutely necessary as this helps identify the weak areas to enable improvement in that subject in the next test.

Rahul Shareen (AIR 11 GATE 2014 in EE) shares his Last Days Preparation as follows:

“I sat and practiced a lot of problems. I also prepared small handy notes on all topics all along. I put up a whiteboard in my room and noted down all the formulas. If I got stuck up somewhere, I could look it up and continue till I got better.

I didn’t put up the basic formulas or the worked out ones. I put up the middle ones so that I could go on without hesitation. During the exam, there is no scope for thinking and then working it out. So we must know how to do the calculations”.

6. Other Tips like Time Management, Accuracy:

Santhosh Kumar Pabbineedi ( AIR 141 in GATE 2014 in EE) feels that the last 10 to 12 days should be utilized to improve accuracy and time management. This is pretty important. Practice here is the key. Not everyone goes with the aim to attempt all questions accurately.

7. Keep an Eye on your Health too!

All Work and No Play makes Jack a Dull Boy- now this proverb is apt in stating that only study is not enough. Candidates must keep healthy; get good sleep while preparing for the one of the toughest exams in the country. They must also ensure their mental well being through pursuits like music, walks, some mild sports etc.

Jitendra Sinha, Director, GATE Forum stresses that it is important for candidates to be relaxed during these last days of preparation. They can simply listen to music, go for a walk or do whatever relaxes them so that the pressure doesn’t build. It is only then they can write their GATE papers well.

Nitin Rakesh Prasad, Director, THE GATE ACADEMY sums it in an excellent manner. He says that it is important to keep the physical and mental health at the highest level to achieve success. Hobbies like sports, music, movies, outings etc are good for the mental well being.

Physical activities such as sports, yoga bring mental alertness and relieve mental stress arrived due to dedicated preparation.  Good food and good sleep keeps one in good health, so it is important to pay attention to even such things.