Dear Usen Jaya Ram,

In order to prepare for GATE make sure you know complete syllabus, paper pattern and important topics.

Complete your syllabus first, focus on important topics. You can refer previous year papers to understand the exam pattern and level of questions. You can solve as many as MCQs for your practice. You can also solve mock test series to analyze your preparation level and to know your strength and weakness.

All the Best!!

Hello usen,

Following are the key point for preparation of GATE Exam-

What to remember while formulating your GATE Preparation plan?

• Check the past year papers and exam analysis.

• Divide the Topics broadly into Strong, Weak and to be read properly.

• Keep daily, weekly and monthly targets. Try to adhere to them as far as possible.

• Next schedule your preparation such that you revise the easy ones along with the tough ones and the “never read before” ones. This will ensure you have a clear view of what is to be studied and how you are going to do it.

• While many advise to check the weightage and study accordingly, it is really not the correct way to go. Check the weightage by all means and understand the important topics but don’t neglect to study the not so important topics

• Make Short Notes while you study as this is will be helpful during revision.

• Write down Formulae that you find difficult to remember so that they are handy for revision.

• Don’t wait for completing a portion of the syllabus. Start practising with test papers as soon as you done with a section or topic. Little steps of water make the mighty ocean.

• Keep the solved problems separately indexed so that you can refresh and revise later when required.

• Another tip for final year students is that you can match the topics that you will be studying in your graduation and club the studying part so you cover these to get a better hold on them

• It is not just the previous year papers or online test series. Answer the questions at the back of your text book, check the nptel lectures to get a good grasp.

What to avoid during GATE Preparation?

• In your zest for preparing well, don’t overdo things.

• When you start by solving previous year questions papers, you may get very low marks. Don’t get demotivated. It is just an indication of the level you are at. Analyse and strengthen the areas where you haven’t scored well. You do have a long way to go before you can relax.

• Don't do one subject or some specific topics and then forget about them. That way, you will really forget what your learnt. Instead revise them every 15 days. It won’t take much but will keep you prepared and steady.

• Don’t blindly go on answering the question papers from previous years. Try to check your problem solving ability instead. You never know how the questions will turn out. So it is important you understand how to solve them rather than just the solution.

• Don’t ask everyone on how to prepare for GATE. Formulate your own plan as you know best what works for you. Also don’t compare your progress with the others.