Do this or Don't Prepare (10 musts for competitive exams)

Summary

This video offers essential tips for those preparing for competitive exams like GATE and Engineering Services. The speaker emphasizes the importance of completing 100% of the syllabus, solving previous years' questions, making and revising class and micro notes, and following a structured revision cycle. Effective time management through daily, weekly, and long-term planning is key to success. The video highlights the necessity of a focused strategy, urging viewers to treat the advice as a prescription and not merely a suggestion, ensuring maximum efficiency in their exam preparation.

Takeaways

• 📝 Complete the entire syllabus: It's crucial to finish 100% of the syllabus for competitive exams like GATE or Engineering Services to have a strong chance of success.
• 📚 Solve previous years' questions: Working through past papers, especially for GATE and Engineering Services, is vital to understanding the type of questions and increasing your chances of success.
• 🖊️ Review class notes thoroughly: After each class, go over your notes, underline key points, and solve related previous year questions before moving on to the next topic.
• 📏 Create and memorize micro notes: Develop condensed notes with key formulas and important information to help with quick revision and memorization, crucial for solving numerical problems.
• 🔄 Follow a revision cycle: Incorporate a structured revision plan, starting with class notes and following a one-day, one-week, and one-month cycle to ensure consistent recall.
• 📊 Use test series for cyclic revision: After covering subjects, begin giving subject-wise tests, then use the feedback to revise and strengthen weak areas before moving on to full-length tests.
• 🗓️ Plan daily tasks: Make a to-do list with daily goals, ensuring you complete your set targets to avoid procrastination and manage your study schedule effectively.
• 📅 Create a weekly routine: Organize a broader plan for the week, ensuring each day's tasks align with overall progress toward syllabus completion and revision.
• 📆 Long-term planning: Plan your entire preparation period (6-10 months), including syllabus completion, revision, and test series, to stay on track and maximize your study efforts.
• 🏅 Stay disciplined like an athlete: Treat exam preparation like training for a competition, with proper routines, strategy, and learning from those who've succeeded in similar paths.

Q & A

What is the primary focus of the video?

The video focuses on ten essential things that students must do while preparing for competitive exams like GATE and Engineering Services. The speaker emphasizes that these steps are crucial to achieving success and must be followed strictly.

Why does the speaker stress completing 100% of the syllabus?

The speaker believes that completing 100% of the syllabus is critical for competitive exams due to the vast amount of content and the high level of competition. Without a complete understanding, students have a lower chance of success.

How important are previous year's questions in exam preparation?

Previous year's questions are deemed highly important by the speaker, as they often contain patterns and recurring topics. Solving these questions can provide insight into the types of questions that appear on exams like GATE and Engineering Services.

What is the role of class notes in exam preparation?

Class notes play a crucial role in helping students understand and retain information. The speaker advises reviewing and underlining key points from class notes and supplementing them with previous year's questions and micro notes for efficient revision.

What are micro notes and why are they important?

Micro notes are concise summaries of key formulas and important concepts extracted from class notes. They are essential for quick revision and help in memorizing critical information needed for solving numerical problems in competitive exams.

What does the speaker recommend regarding revision cycles?

The speaker suggests following a structured revision cycle, with the first two revisions focusing on class notes and subsequent revisions based on test series. The first revision should be done after one week, and the second after one month, to reinforce memory.

How should students use test series in their preparation?

Students should take subject-wise test series during their preparation. After taking the tests, they must analyze their mistakes, work on weak areas, and retake tests to track improvement. The speaker advises starting full-length test series early, around September.

What kind of daily and weekly planning does the speaker recommend?

The speaker recommends using a daily to-do list to stay on track with preparation and a weekly plan to guide daily tasks. Long-term planning, which spans several months, is also advised to ensure syllabus completion, revision, and test practice are done on time.

Why does the speaker emphasize long-term planning?

Long-term planning helps students structure their preparation over several months, ensuring they can complete the syllabus, revise previous topics, and prepare for test series without feeling rushed or overwhelmed.

What is the speaker's view on time management and procrastination?

The speaker believes that procrastination occurs when students do not have a clear plan or guidance. By setting daily and weekly goals, students can overcome procrastination and make consistent progress toward exam success.