Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) is a competitive exam for engineers that demands a sincere effort from students who are aspiring for PSUs recruitment or higher studies from reputed institutes such as IITs or NITs.
To write GATE, some engineering students even go to the extent of dropping a year after completing their B.Tech, while some manage their studies along with their college studies to clear the GATE. As the GATE syllabus is vast, and competition is getting tough every year, only students who have a focussed approach are able to clear the GATE with good GATE score.
There are many issues that a student comes across while preparing for GATE along with college studies. Almost all the students, who have made up their mind to prepare for GATE along with their college studies, are aware of these issues. But the only thing they are unaware of is how to tackle them during their preparation of GATE while still in college. Here in this blog, we will discuss those issues and the ways to tackle them.
Multiple Task Handling
When a student is in college, he has to deal with many things such as classes, workshops, practicals, fests, seminars, etc. All these tasks or events are important from a student perspective as they too contribute to a student’s overall development and growth. In such a scenario, keeping up with the preparation of competitive exam like GATE becomes very difficult. Though the syllabus of GATE is almost similar to that of the college, there are some topics that are a bit different. As a student, one has to identify those topics that are in GATE syllabus, and be attentive in the class with queries and doubts whenever these topics are taught in the college.
GATE preparation books and GATE coaching
Choosing the right GATE preparation books is very important before you start your GATE preparation. Ask your seniors, consult your teachers, listen to what the GATE toppers from past have to say about the best GATE preparation books or how to choose the best GATE preparation books. Besides, expert guidance is also important. This is only possible at a good GATE coaching institute where the required learning atmosphere is created by the best engineers from all over India from various institutes such as IITs, NITs, and other reputed private engineering colleges.
Preparing Notes
Whenever a topic is taught in the class, make your own notes. Always carry the notes with you, and whenever you get time during the recess or off periods, open the notes and revise the key concepts and formula that you have noted down. During your week offs, devote as much time as you can on learning the concepts, and make notes, and practice solving problems based on those concepts. Also, keep aside one hour before sleeping on all days for revision.
Practice Previous Year Papers
Try to solve as much as problems from previous year GATE papers, write GATE mock tests online. This will help you a lot in clearing your doubts as well as completing the GATE syllabus along with your semester exams.
Know about GATE
In the college, your batchmates might be having various exams in their minds. Some might be writing GRE, CAT, GMAT, or any other exam. You will also find some students that must be targeting GATE. Be in touch with them, discuss about the problems with them, know about their study plans and preparation strategy, etc. Watch interview of past GATE toppers to know about the tips and techniques followed by them while preparing for GATE.
Plan a Strategy of your Own
Discuss about your plan with others, seniors, past toppers, professors, and then with their inputs plan your own GATE preparation strategy. The plan should include the GATE syllabus, topics to be covered, time in hand, holidays, practice sessions, etc. With all these things make a time schedule, and then stick to that plan sincerely.
Hope these tips would be quite beneficial for you to go along with your GATE preparation while in college. Best of luck to all GATE aspirants.
