Important Time Management Tips for GATE Exam Preparation

By Ashish Srivastava

 

There was a time when an Engineering graduate was considered superior to a simple graduate or sometimes even a post graduate, superior in terms of being a specialised professional with job security. Now, with changing times, amplified competition and a decline of job opportunities, a simple engineering graduate is measured at par to a simple graduate or a post graduate from any other stream.

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Nowadays, a majority of engineering graduates go for further studies like MTech, MS or IES etc to compete and face the augmented challenges of the job market.

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There is a misconception among engineering graduates that, passing from IIT helps students to excel in GATE exams as well. On the contrary, according to recent research, only around 10% IIT graduates qualify this career-boosting examination. Rest of them are more or less as good as any other engineering graduate. Remember, qualifying GATE is a psychological game. It is 70% Knowledge and 30% strategy. One of the important tips for those preparing for GATE is that students should know well how to manage time while preparing for the test.

Time Management for GATE

• Divide all the subjects according to time. Ideally, you should start at least six months before.
• Identify and categorize each subject into three parts - Theory, Numerical and third most important- WHAT NOT TO READ. It is very important not to waste time on those topics which are not important. Do not waste time on already ready topics. Start reading new topics.
• Once complete, revise complete subject. While revising, write all the formulas of that subject on a separate sheet.
• Solve previous year’s questions.
• Revise that topic again for which you are unable to solve the question and regularly practice the subject. Regularly practice comprehensive questions for these subjects.
• For refreshing your mind, take a break from the subject a study General Ability and Mathematics.
• Complete all the subjects in five months’ time. In the last month, do two day revision of each subject; focus on subject test, mock test and refer to formula sheet.

 Which subjects to choose for GATE?

Choose the branch in which you have completed your graduation. For example, if you have graduated in Electronics and Communication Engineering, then it would be sensible to choose EC branch for GATE.

Most of the candidates are generally unaware of these tricks and hence fail to qualify for the exam. Some even are not clear on which subjects to choose for GATE. Hence, mentoring is very important and helps to qualify the GATE easily.

GATE 2017 exam is 3 months away. Take a look at the changes introduced in GATE 2017.

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About the Author:

Ashish Srivastava, Founder of Educulture, is a banker turned educationist staying in Noida. He is keen on shaping the careers of many such engineering graduates who lack guidance and believes this act to be a part of the social service. He is on the board of directors and advisor many companies, mainly on Financial Management.  

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