GATE Preparation Strategy | Mistakes to Avoid | Time Management and More Tips | Anjali AIR 13

Summary

This video provides a simple, effective study plan for GATE preparation, emphasizing consistency over complex strategies. The speaker suggests completing the syllabus, solving previous years' questions, revising regularly, and analyzing mistakes from practice tests. They advocate for focused study sessions of 25-30 minutes, using the 'Focus to Do' app to track progress and stay motivated. The speaker also shares personal motivations drawn from everyday experiences and highlights the importance of finding your own reasons to stay driven. Overall, the video promotes disciplined preparation and offers practical advice for staying focused and improving test performance.

Takeaways

• 😀 There is no magic strategy for cracking exams like GATE, it's all about following a simple plan: complete the syllabus, practice PYQs, revise, take tests, and analyze mistakes to improve.
• 😀 Studying in short bursts (e.g., 25-30 minutes) with regular breaks can help maintain focus and productivity, especially for those who struggle with long study sessions.
• 😀 Use productivity apps, like Focus To Do, to time your study sessions, track your progress, and stay motivated by seeing the total hours spent studying each day.
• 😀 Motivation can be found in small, everyday observations—whether it's seeing hard-working people around you or reflecting on your own goals and achievements.
• 😀 When feeling demotivated, find personal reasons that drive you, such as looking at the struggles of others or thinking about your future successes.
• 😀 Regularly practice PYQs (Previous Year Questions) topic-wise after studying each topic. This helps in reinforcing concepts and preparing better for exams.
• 😀 The Gate Overflow PYQ PDF is a valuable resource for organizing PYQs by topic, making it easier to find relevant questions after each lecture or topic study.
• 😀 Tracking progress over time, such as trying to beat the previous day’s study hours, can provide motivation and a sense of achievement.
• 😀 It's important to reflect on your personal progress and achievements, like receiving praise for your rank from family members, as a source of motivation.
• 😀 Be aware of the struggles around you and use that awareness to fuel your own drive to succeed—sometimes external circumstances can provide the best reminders of why you're working hard.

Q & A

What is the key strategy for GATE preparation mentioned in the video?

The key strategy for GATE preparation is to complete the syllabus, work through previous years' questions (PYQs), revise topics after a few days, take practice tests, analyze mistakes, and improve consistently.

How should you handle motivation when feeling unmotivated during exam preparation?

When feeling unmotivated, the speaker suggests finding personal motivators. For example, observing workers or the crowd around you can be a reminder of the effort required. Additionally, personal motivations, like the pride of family members, can help maintain focus.

How can you effectively manage study time if you're unable to study for long hours?

The speaker recommends using the Pomodoro technique by studying for 25 minutes or 30 minutes, followed by a break. This method helps in improving focus and prevents burnout.

What is the 'Focus To-Do' app, and how can it help in exam preparation?

The 'Focus To-Do' app is a productivity tool that tracks study time using a timer. It helps the user stay motivated by providing data on how much time they have studied each day, encouraging improvement by aiming to study for longer periods.

What should be the approach to solving PYQs during exam preparation?

The speaker suggests solving PYQs topic-wise as you study a subject. This approach ensures focused practice and helps reinforce the understanding of each topic.

How can you find topic-wise PYQs for GATE preparation?

The speaker recommends using the 'GATE Overflow PYQ PDF,' which categorizes previous years' questions by topic. This allows for targeted practice on specific areas.

What is the importance of revising topics after some days?

Revising topics after a few days ensures that the information is retained in long-term memory and strengthens understanding, helping to retain the material for the GATE exam.

Why is analyzing mistakes from practice tests important in exam preparation?

Analyzing mistakes from practice tests helps identify weak areas, allowing the candidate to focus on improving those areas and avoid repeating the same errors in future tests.

How does the speaker stay motivated during the GATE preparation process?

The speaker stays motivated by observing the effort of others (e.g., workers around them), using personal milestones (like family pride), and setting small goals (e.g., studying for longer hours each day).

What should be the mindset for GATE preparation, according to the speaker?

The speaker emphasizes that there is no magic strategy for cracking the GATE exam. The key is to stay consistent, complete the syllabus, revise regularly, and learn from mistakes to improve performance.