Students’ Speak: How to balance between your job and GATE 2020 preparation

By: Soumyadip Roychowdhury

Dedication does not come in one day, it comes from day-to-day practice and we all know, practice makes a man perfect. So don’t wait for tomorrow to come and start work preparing today itself.

Many aspirants, who appear for Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE), are working professionals who have taken up jobs soon after graduation. For them, appearing for this competitive exam can be a big challenge. Here’s how they can fight this challenge and secure a good score.

Time Management

Time management is an important factor for GATE preparation. So, if you are working and preparing for GATE together, you need to focus on time management. You should plan from the first day properly and utilise your time. Dedication does not come in one day, it comes from day-to-day practice and we all know, practice makes a man perfect. So don’t wait for tomorrow to come and start work preparing today itself.

After coming home from the office you should set a target that you need to study upto three hours in order to maintain that deadline, no matter what any external circumstances come. You have to be fully dedicated and passionate about your study. Then only you can crack GATE. You can utilize your time efficiently such as building concepts for a few hours, solving questions for the remaining time. You should maintain these two parameters simultaneously. Begin by building the concept and then practice on that concept and see if there is a gap in terms of understanding. Then try to reduce that gap and practice a lot. This will reduce the possible gaps and help to build confidence.

The Balancing Act

You may get stressed during working hours in the office but keep that aside when preparing for GATE. But at the same time, you should do your work properly as you must be ethical about your work also. So, I do not suggest to study in the office because it may harm in several ways. The main motto is to study and dedicate your spare time towards GATE.

You should plan for your whole weekend. You have two full days during the weekend and you should utilise them properly. Try to study at least 18 hours during the weekend. This will be an advantage for you than other working professionals.

While travelling to the office you may watch some videos which will be helpful for you. I would suggest watching videos only because you need not think very widely while watching videos. This is a good way who is really passionate about Gate.

There are a lot of examples who cracked Gate while working. So don’t lose hope, study hard and achieve your goal.

About the Author:

Soumyadip Roychowdhury is a student at Symbiosis Institute of International Business (SIIB) studying Master in Business Administration with a specialisation in International Business (MBA-IB). He is a second-year student and has interned with brands such as Adani Wilmar and HealthScion. He is also a committee member of the Entrepreneurship Cell at SIIB.