How to Prepare for GATE Exam?

Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) jointly conduct the‘Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering’ (GATE) for the candidates who want to pursue Masters programme in engineering. Those, who have completed the ‘Bachelor of Technology’ (B. Tech.), Bachelor of Engineering(B. E.), Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.), Bachelor of Architecture(B.Arch.), can apply for GATE to take admission in different campuses of the prestigious IITs.

Many candidates aspire to get admission in the IITs through GATE but they wonder how to prepare for the exam so that they can get qualify the tests and get the admission in the IITs. This post gives some essential advice and tips for the GATE aspirants so that they could crack the GATE and get admission in the IITs.

Best time to start the GATE preparation 

There is no specific time to start the GATE preparation but before starting the preparation for the examination, make sure that you are eligible to appear in the examination. The GATE is usually conducted in the month of February every year and the GATE notification/GATE application forms are published in the month of September in the previous year.

As the GATE 2019 will be conducted in the month of February 2018, therefore it would be good for the candidates who wish to apply for GATE to start the preparation at least a year ago. There are almost 20 streams like Aerospace Engineering(AE), Agricultural Engineering(AG), Architecture and Planning (AR), Biotechnology (BT), Civil Engineering (CE) and much more which candidates can apply for through GATE .

Here are some points which candidates need to keep in their mind while preparing for GATE:

• Understand the structure of the GATE and know which subjects are included in the syllabus of the exam.
• The 70% of the questions in the exam will be from the General Aptitude, therefore, candidates need to have very strong analytical ability to crunch the questions this section.
• Another section in GATE will be of Engineering Mathematics which demands exceptionally mathematical and quantitative skill to solve the questions of this section.
• The mathematical section will comprise 15% questions of the total question paper.
• The third section will be of the stream/subject which candidates have chosen and this section will obviously be easy to solve as it is the subject of candidate’s interest.
• Don’t’ tend to be a book collector, give your practice an edge with the help of authentic and selected books.
• Don’t force yourself to study or to work hard, however, bring zeal in your heart about the career goal which you have set to crack GATE.
• Candidates can also get placed in the PSUs after attaining a decent rank in the GATE.
• Always stay calm and positive during the preparation time. Never be hopeless and always believe that you can make it.

Moreover, GATE aspirants must be aware of the one of the most influential thinkers Henry Petroski, ‘Science is about knowing and engineering is about doing’. Make your honest efforts, success will be beneath your feet.