How to balance college studies with GATE 2018 Preparation
Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering 2025 ( GATE )
Admit Card - 2 Jan '26
By Ankit Goyal
Since you will appearing for GATE 2018, you must have completed your sixth semester and that means you have almost 8 months to prepare for GATE exam. From the next semester you will have to deal with college assignments, minor and major projects, exams, campus placements and so on which means you have a lot to do in a lot less time.
In order to tackle all these issues you need to have a definite schedule for your preparation. So assuming that we have 11 months, I would recommend the following strategy:
- From June to December cover all the subjects at least once using standard books/ class notes and question banks.
- Once you have completed 6 subjects you have to start revision of earlier subjects simultaneously and for revision you can follow previous year question banks and subject tests in some test series. So, you can start revision from September.
- The month of December should be mostly focused on revision and subject tests along with covering 1-2 less important subjects.
- In the last month i.e. January you can start giving mock tests and simultaneously work on your weaker subjects which you will realize after mock tests. In each mock test, you have to remember to take note where you lost your marks so that you can improve upon that topic gradually.
Now, the question is how to manage time for college studies. Here are some tips:
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- Dedicate one hour each day to prepare for college exams so that you are burdened in the exam month.
- Take small B.Tech project which does not consume majority of your time so choose the guide wisely. The guide should be the professor who will least bother you.
- During exam month as well dedicate 1–2 hours each day for GATE so that you do not lose touch with GATE concepts.
The summer vacations after 6th semester are very crucial as during this time there will be a lot pressure from college end so try and dedicate 8–10 hours each day during vacations towards GATE preparation. Also, prepare Mathematics and Aptitude well as it will help you in college placements as well as GATE. I hope this article guides you in the right direction towards GATE 2018.
About the Author:
Ankit Goyal
Ankit Goyal is co-founder of Kreatryx which is an online and offline exam preparation portal. He completed his B.Tech in Electrical Engineering from IIT Indore in 2013. He is gold medalist of his batch. He cracked GATE with an AIR-8 with final year of college in 2013 but joined Qualcomm. He again cracked GATE in 2014 with an AIR 1.
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 2 weeks ago
The GATE exam is conducted once a year. The entrance test takes place on multiple dates and shifts for 30 test papers. For 2026, IIT Guwahati is conducting the exam on February 7, 8, 14, and 15.
S
Contributor-Level 7
Answered a month ago
Yes, IIT Guwahati has extended the GATE 2026 registration date with late fees. The new GATE 2026 registration date is October 13.
S
Contributor-Level 7
Answered a month ago
If you notice an error or discrepancy after submitting your GATE form, don't panic. Once the application correction window opens, log in via GOAPS using your credentials and make the corrections. Details like category, gender, exam city, paper choice, date of birth, etc., can often be edited — usual
D
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 2 months ago
The GATE cutoff changes every year depending on seat intake, number of applicants appeared in exam, toughness of question paper, and previous cutoff trends. Candidates who meet cutoff score can participate for counselling.
I
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 2 months ago
Based on the previous year's trends, the GATE 2026 expected cutoff for computer Science and engineering can be checked below-
- For General category it might go around 30 to 31.0
However, the GATE cutoff varies every year, depending on the difficulty level, number of applicants appearing for the exam,
U
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 months ago
No, a duplicate GATE 2026 admit card will not be provided at the test center. Candidates must carry their own admit card along with the mentioned documents and items to the GATE exam center. IIT Guwahati will release the GATE admit card on January 2.
P
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 2 months ago
Candidates will get only one scribble pad at a time. They must write their name and registration number before using it. If the rough sheet gets filled, then they can ask for another one scribble pad after returning the previous one to the invigilator. After the exam concludes, candidates must retur
B
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 2 months ago
Yes, candidates will get a scribble pad in the GATE exam 2026 to do the rough work. Candidates have to write their name and registration number on the scribble pad before using it. However, the rough sheet must be returned after the completion of the exam.
S
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 2 months ago
The barcode present in the GATE admit card 2026 carries the candidate's information. It is required for a faster verification process and fraud prevention. So, make sure it does not get tampered. Carry multiple copies in case your GATE 2026 hall ticket is torn or tampered.
T
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 2 months ago
Candidates who are appearing for the GATE exam must carry a valid ID proof along with a passport-size photograph, transperant water bottle, and pen (blue or black) along with GATE 2026 hall ticket. We advise to carry atleast two to three copies of admit card to the centre.
A
Contributor-Level 7