Students’ Speak: How to obtain high percentile in GATE in one month?

By: Srinivas Goud

Qualifying GATE isn't only about mugging up and remembering the concepts to answer a selected set of questions. Here, the main target is to understand the essential concepts of engineering and apply it in several scenarios by analysing the questions.

It is definitely possible that you can crack the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) in one month but it depends on many factors. You must know what it means to crack GATE. If your aim is to qualify in GATE by scoring the minimum qualifying marks, then yes, there's a better possibility of achieving this goal. And if you wish to secure a high score, it means you have got to organise in a smarter way and make the most effective use of the remaining time. First of all, you would like to be clear about why you are appearing for GATE 2020. Is it just to qualify within the exam or to use GATE for employment or for higher studies, research, etc.?

If you would like to crack GATE with a high score and obtain admission in Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), National Institutes of Technology (NITs), etc., or get into public sector undertakings (PSUs) and other high-end jobs, then the reality is that it can be difficult with the time in hand.

You will have to be serious and methodical to realise it and have a strategy to utilise the remaining time. However, before building a technique, you want to clearly know the character of the exam.

GATE is an exam that is conducted to check the conceptual knowledge of scholars within the engineering and science subjects. It focuses on in-depth knowledge and fundamentals of science and engineering.

Qualifying GATE isn't only about mugging up and remembering the concepts to answer a selected set of questions as you are doing within the semester exams. Here, the main target is to understand the essential concepts of engineering and applying it in several scenarios by analysing the questions. The solutions need not be lengthy but involve in-depth conceptual knowledge.

GATE Syllabus is vast and you would like to possess a transparent knowledge of the topics which are included within the syllabus. The GATE paper has two major parts. One is General Aptitude and therefore, the other part consists of Engineering Mathematics and the core subjects associated with the GATE paper. The exam pattern consists of two types of questions – Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) and Numerical Answer Type (NAT) questions. MCQs have negative marking scheme for each wrong answer while NATs are exempted from negative marking.

Here’s what you need to keep in mind to completely understand the GATE exam:

• The best strategy, for now, is to be skilled in General Aptitude and Engineering Mathematics. General Aptitude carries 15 marks and nearly an equivalent marks is additionally carried by Engineering Mathematics. You need to prepare for these two sections with 100 per cent accuracy. Browsing the essential problems on Aptitude will assist you and for Mathematics, you would like to find out all the concepts in Engineering Mathematics.
• Apart from that, you ought to work on the themes that you are comfortable with. Work on previous years’ GATE question papers and cover topics based on their weightage and importance. Finish the topics supported their relevance to the exam.
• Take mock tests and also analyse your performance within the test. Note your mistakes and rectify them.
• Try to make your own short notes and jot the important formulae, concepts, definitions, key points, etc.
• Take daily tests and revise the concepts studied. Within the last week focus majorly on revision. Rigorous practice is the key. Practice the questions and revise the concepts regularly increase speed and accuracy.
• Choose your GATE books wisely and prepare daily on designated time.

About the Author:

Srinivas Goud is a student at CMR Technical Campus pursuing BTech in Electronics and Communication Engineering.