Syllabus: Learn the syllabus. but How? Download the latest syllabus. Read thoroughly. Try to have a picture about every topic and subtopic you are reading. If possible (recommended) write the syllabus down in a diary/notebook or MS EXCEL(wont take much of your time, just give it try, don't think too much). You can revise your progress and schedule you preparation in a very meaningful way. By next year you will have a content laid in your mind and you can focus on more area where you think practice is needed more. TASK ORIENTED: Become task oriented. don't think in hours like "i have studied for 4-5 hours today" no, don't do that. Instead Schedule your topics. select work for everyday routine a night before. That is why it is asked by you to write down the syllabus first. Once the schedule is made by selecting the topics or subtopics and related question you will be covering, (lets say 'the day's schedule is 3 subtopics of chapter 1 and 10 question related to it(if there are any).' until you complete your task don't call it a day. It doesn't matter that you have completed that task in 10 mins or in 10 hrs. Study in short time burst or in one go. it doesn't matter the way you study. At the end of the day, make a schedule and try work upon same. NOTES: As you are focusing GATE 2018 , it better to make notes attentively and start segregating them as per your syllabus. Attend classroom or ONLINE lecture if you think you won't be able to devote that much physical time to conventional classrooms as you are in college or some profession. Start working on your notes. In GATE coaching all the necessary topics knowledge which is need to crack GATE is provided, so no need to deep dive into the books until you preparing for UPSC or doing PhD. Just remember the key concepts and the formula. Its a an APTITUDE exam. Previous Year Question: Focus more on solving previous year questions (GATE + IES (objective)). It is the only section where difference will be created in rankings. SO, Practice the previous year questions by writing (not orally) again and again. If you are unable to solve the question or didn't understood. Just cram it. Its the only solution and with a continuous practice of few time of cramming eventually you will start understanding the core concept behind it. So understanding and cramming , these two tools will be used. Understood the question its good, otherwise cram solution. In net don't leave any question behind. TEST: You can buy the test series online there are many platforms. Take as many tests as possible. keep taking tests. This test giving is important because it provides a brief idea about the different topics and how much is asked from them. By giving test you can modify your way of preparation and give priority to high marking topics. By giving more test you can become a expert of your own.