GATE 2021: Check preparation tips by previous year toppers

NEW DELHI: Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Bombay will be conducting the GATE 2021 exam on February 6, 7, 13 and 14. GATE hall ticket 2021 has been released and is available for download on the official website - gate.iitb.ac.in. IIT Bombay also released the exam pattern and syllabus of GATE 2021 on the website to help students know the paper and prepare for it effectively.

GATE is conducted online as the computer-based test (CBT). The official mock tests for all the 27 subjects of GATE 2021 is available online to make students familiar with the test pattern. Students must take online mock tests so that they do not face any difficulty during the exam.

GATE 2021 preparation tips by toppers

Preparation for the exam like GATE requires time and planning along with dedication and determination. GATE exam for M.Tech opens several opportunities for the candidates some of which are recruitment by PSU through GATE 2021 and financial assistance for higher education by the Government of India.

According to Abhas Rai, GATE 2020 Electrical Engineering topper (AIR-1), “I started preparing for the exam from my B.Tech fourth semester. The syllabus is vast and questions which are asked in exams happen to be conceptual and analytical. So, a deep understanding of topics is very important.”

Mock tests and sample papers are significant in any exam, including GATE. “I gave mock tests and sample papers before the exam and also throughout the preparation. It helps in evaluating the preparation level, mistakes we make and time we take for solving the questions,” Rai added.

Ajay Singhal, GATE 2020 Civil Engineering topper (AIR-1) says, “Clear understanding of the topics and exam pattern is of utmost importance to crack GATE. To get good marks, one should first cover the complete syllabus and that too with a conceptual understanding of every topic.”

Singhal says every student should follow their own preparation strategy which suits them best. “One should start preparing for the exam early, say in their graduation so as to complete the whole syllabus and not to get over-hooked before the exam. Make a preparation time-table as per the availability of time out of college. Study regularly and revise what you study to keep everything in mind,” adds Singhal.

Gaurav Kumar, GATE 2020 Petroleum Engineering topper (AIR-1) says “I gave around 5-6 hours daily initially which I increased to 8-9 hours per day in the last two months. I usually gave one week of time to each subject but for subjects like a reservoir in which I had to read more than 2 books, I gave two weeks. This way I completed my GATE 2020 syllabus by mid of October. After that, I started revision taking one by one and giving test series of those subjects.”

Other important tips for GATE 2021
All GATE toppers, as well as teachers, advise students to take a few days and decide how you will proceed for the preparation. Strategy varies from person to person. It is advised that aspirants should not give too much time to one subject and not to leave any topic unprepared but stick only to the portion that’s given in the syllabus.

Take help from teachers to know the best books for every subject covered in the syllabus. Refer to previous year papers to understand the difficulty level of the exam and go for the preparation accordingly. Take mock tests regularly.