Experts’ Speak: Top tips to become a GATE top scorer

By: Dr Rahul M Das

In GATE, each stream has some common areas and some subject-specific areas where one can fetch higher marks if the preparation is done well. For example, the common area to secure high scores is General Aptitude fetching 10 to 15 marks. Read to find out more such informative tips.

Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) is a national-level competitive examination targeted by most of the undergraduate engineering students to secure an admission in the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and Indian Institutes of Sciences (IISc) for their Masters in Engineering/Technology and Doctorate. For any competitive examination, preparation is the key and early beginners are the one who wins half the battle by planning and initiating the preparations beforehand. An early start assures you of having sufficient time to design and implement a learning plan that will help you cover all the topics and concepts in the syllabus and also provide you time for revision. A learning plan will ensure, you keep a balance between your studies and health through a structured approach – this is how engineers think, in a structured way, isn’t it?

Key GATE Preparation Strategy

• First, check the syllabus that needs to be covered – topics and concepts.
• Once you have ticked off the topics and concepts, look for the most important ones that have higher possibilities of appearing in the question paper.
• After narrowing down the important topics refer the past years’ question papers to have a sense of weightage distribution of each topic in the question paper.
• Next, understand the exam pattern – what are the question types that will be given i.e., multiple-choice questions (MCQs), numerical questions, general aptitude, subject-specific questions.
• Once you are clear on the above three things – important topics & concepts, weightage distribution and exam pattern – you are ready to put down your study plan.
• The study plan should have a monthly, weekly, daily targets with schedule of number of hours dedicated for each section and topics to be covered, ensuring you complete your preparations well before the examinations.
• Ensure you take up the mock tests and solve sample question papers while keeping a check on time for effective time management.

The above approach will give you sufficient time to prepare, revise, rehearse and also have some cushion in case you overshoot your timelines as estimated in the study plan.

Tips to Become GATE Top Scorer

In GATE, each stream has some common areas and some subject-specific areas where one can fetch higher marks if the preparation is done well. For example, the common area to secure high scores is General Aptitude fetching 10 to 15 marks. Likewise, the subject specific areas to secure higher scores let’s say in Civil Engineering are:

• Engineering Mathematics: 12-14 marks
• Geotechnical Engineering: 14-15 marks
• Environmental Engineering: 10-12 marks
• Fluid Mechanics, Transportation Engineering: 8-10 marks
• Irrigation & Hydrology, Steel Structure: 4-5 marks

Similarly, there are other streams such as Mechanical, Electronics, Electrical, Instrumentation, Computer Science, Aerospace, Agricultural, Architect & Planning, Biotechnology, Mining, Petroleum, Textile, Life Science – which have subject-specific areas that can help in securing high scores.

GATE Study Plan

Your study plan is the engineered structure you need to create that will ensure you success. This is your personalised time table that will divide your study sessions according to your preference for the topics in the syllabus. One needs to smartly allocate the time and topics for each day to make sure you have covered the target before it gets monotonous and you start losing your focus as the day progresses. Following are the key points to be remembered while preparing your study plan:

• Divide your syllabus into monthly, weekly and daily targets
• Try to divide the topics into categories, including difficult, moderate and easy
• Keep a blend of each category of topic every day to ensure monotony does not set in
• Emphasize strong preparation of topics that would carry higher weightage and have higher possibility of appearance in exam
• Accommodate time slots for taking mock tests and sample papers – preferably topic wise as you progress with the chapters and finally for the complete subject
• Take sufficient breaks during the day and strategise them in a way that helps you refresh and get back to your schedule. Most often individuals excuse themselves saying I have a lot of time remaining and procrastinate the return to schedule for the day
• You should also be careful about not overloading a day with difficult topics alone – this will drain your energy and enthusiasm
• Keep a slot for quick revision of chapters that are completed
• Do not plan for a group study and fall prey to someone else’s study plan. Always prepare a study plan that suits your physical and mental capability to focus and grasp

GATE Study Material

As the saying goes, “Never put all your eggs in the same basket”, it is always advisable to study the syllabus books, but it is good to add some reference material to your preparation. Learning from experienced people is always an advantage and hence using the reference material mentioned by toppers of GATE for previous years can prove to be helpful. One can also check the interviews of previous GATE toppers to have an understanding of their preparation strategy and the materials they would rely on. There are other open sources available in form of video lectures and tutorials. And if you are active on social media then you can also join social media groups formed specifically for GATE preparations, where all the communication and discussion between fellow candidates revolves around the topics for clearing doubts and motivating each other.

Warning: Ensure you don’t end up wasting time on social media – stick to your need only.

GATE Success Mantra

“Dedication coupled with timely preparation” is the mantra. Wishing ‘Godspeed’ to each one of you for a bright future.

About the Author:

Dr Rahul M Das is a Doctorate in Organizational Behavior from University of Madras with two Master’s degree. He is an academician-turned-consultant-professional with eight years of teaching experience. He has been working for the past two years as a Senior Consultant with Bengaluru-based Abanel Management Consulting Pvt Ltd. Dr Das has expertise in training and development, counselling & mentoring, developing leadership and managerial skills through experiential learning.