Time to handle the constraints 💫

Chapter for when 

the clock is ticking in head...

Hiya GrATE Aspirants!

Sorry for being so quiet on the blog front previously. This post was supposed to have been up already before most of you got worried during the revisions but other priorities overtook the list. Today though, let's go to the elephant in the room and talk about strategies to face problems during revisions.

A preparation without revision is no real preparation, just as a home without love is no real home.

The biggest difficulty you face during this phase is- 'How to remember the subjects you've already completed while covering the new subjects? ' At this point, I at times used to feel really demotivated but the best thing was more the number of times you'll face this situation believe that the nearer you're to your goal.

But to deal with it here's the solution you need to know- 'Test Series.'

My Scenario- I had continued with my preparation+revision from December after a 7 weeks break due to college exams. So I only had two months for the revision. It was then I felt difficult to remember subjects i had assumed then that i had already finished but when i started with new subjects i couldn't recall various topics from previous subjects. So, I started with online tests series. 

Initially i gave tests of subjects which i had completed previously and continued with preparation of new subjects. Here, most important thing I did was to give time to the reviewing of test and then revising the subtopics that I forgot, vaguely or wrongly remembered while taking test. After covering considerable number of subjects i started taking full length tests (one in each day). Again, most important thing here I did was to take test in a similar kind of environment (complete silence, no disturbance, study material far from reach, restricted number of pages for rough work) AND took these tests at the same time as my final exam was scheduled for. This helped me set my body clock to work according to that time, and it was the best thing since i used to be a night person and my exam was in morning so this made my brain work faster during that time. Also, the full length exams help you work on your time management. 

Another thing to follow, i tried two three timing strategies initially on full length test series and then restricted ONLY to one i choose from those. Like, I attempted aptitude first as mind is fresh in the starting then i used to jump on 2 marks technical questions and lastly 1 mark technical questions. Also, test used to take 3 hours and then a rigorous review of the test took around 2-3 hours along with turning pages of notes to refresh the topics.

The solution was, therefore, revising subtopics by turning pages of notes after taking a test. This strategy helped me revise multiple subjects simultaneously instead of revising complete subjects again and again and also to keep up with the new subjects.

PS. You can take help from my strategy but try to follow what suits you best. 
However, this was just the first step in the staircase. Step further and switch to the next post here. Keep reading 😊

To face the problems in last phase... ✌

So, here we are. Ready to climb the stairs... 💪

From now on, count down has begun. Four months to go and a festive season too (but you have to take only good vibes from the festivals and not spend days enjoying). 
I hope the previous post was helpful to everyone. But apart from the former problem, here are some golden rules that might help you deal with the other problems too. Firstly, DO NOT worry about completing everything. Again, here I would mention the same thing- 

'Preparation is always to increase your probability of winning so the goal is not to do each and everything available but to increase the probability as much you can.'

This thought always helped me to do more than what i have done already instead of worrying about what is left more to do (preparation will never reach 100%, But this doesn't mean i mentioned about leaving any subject. 

SO the second rule is-DO touch all the subjects, don't think of leaving even a single subject. Some subjects which i found difficult for my self like Computer Networks, Engineering Maths, I still covered their notes or a few topics as far i could and then 'skipped to' previous years. I might have not covered complete notes but doing the previous years helped me learn and adapt to the question solving techniques and also gain understanding of my weaker subjects 'to some extent at least' instead taking them at 0 level to the examination hall. 

Thirdly, DO NOT fret when you're forgetting things. Let me remind you, that's the case with all your competitors so all you have to do is keep on reading, revising, re-revising and re-re-revising until the exam day. That's all the difference you or anyone else can make, in fact will make. 

Fourthly, DO NOT be frustrated if not able to answer questions in tests. So while you're giving tests and are unable to score well or answer any question, be happy because otherwise what is the use of giving tests if you'll get all the questions you already know. Tests ARE for improving your concepts or learning new one which you might have missed upon, remember this and then you'll make sure that in exam same scenario doesn't happens. 

Lastly, try to attempt full length tests from two different sources and some times previous year full length too (you'll find them on gateoverflow) so that you're not habitual to just one type of test. I took made easy and ace test series.

I hope these posts on problems faced during revision time have been helpful and informative. Feel free to comment below about any further queries you have and a new post with all the answers will be on air soon. Now i'll take a leave and as i always say,

'NEVER SETTLE FOR ANYTHING LESS THAN THAT YOU KNOW YOU DESERVE.'

Do everything that will HOLD YOU on!

Motivation is the first thing that you need,
                  Even before the study material.

Too much of a philosophical statement, is it?
But you must answer this to yourself once the post ends. Anyways.

Hello, fighting souls! Remember the bittersweet truth is fight always goes on and every person alive in this world keeps something with himself that motivates him/her.

I used to read motivating blogs, guiding posts, read quotes and watch inspirational videos to help myself to hold on to what i had chose and recommend you to do whatever motivates you whenever you find yourself stuck, instead of taking these things to be a waste of time. In the long run, you will recall that these were the things that actually made you win the race.

Remember one thing, the scariest question you find during this race is-

'How to complete everything in less time...' 

That is the time when you need to tell yourself dealing with the mind is the real challenge, not the syllabus. 

Everyone with whom you will be competing are on the same page on which you are. All that makes a difference is who writes the book till the end. Preparation every next moment will be just increasing the probability for you TO CRACK GATE GrATEly, so the goal has never been to do each and everything available but to increase your probability as much you can.

Do the things that keep you motivated, even the pettiest ones. Here, the italic expression will have a different story for every single person reading these words. For me, as i mentioned every single person, one exists too. Counting my petty things... I had made self notes of points why i wanted a good rank and had pen down reasons (better if mentioned as dreams) attached with it, also A picture that reminded me of my goal was always as a screen cover on my phone be it self written statements,quotes or dream college's picture or gate syllabus or some screenshots. 

Besides these, A mini calendar near my desk to strike off each date to realize importance of every passing day and Motivational quotes written on random paper pasted around. Well forgot to mention motivational songs for a good sleep before day ended and.. and.. yes running like an idiot from metro station on my way to the institute in morning for the class just to remind i was in race with self ( though, i like running and thus not really an idiotic act according to me :p ) and then another petty thing was.. waass.. oops list ended i guess, may be i should have added more and may be why i did not end up getting below 100.

Do not think you are ordinary and aren't capable to achieve that GrATE, you have already lost the battle then. Do not have any kind of regret, if you are reappearing the regret of wasting a year or if left a job or taking leaves or if in final year and have had any backup. All you got to remember is TO CRACK THE GATE GrATELY AND 

DO make your own story of petty things.

NOTE- Let your questions not trouble your mind and preparation rather let it bother the comment box below.

STUFF you had been searching for...

Hola homo-sapiens! Hope you're doing GrATE today :D
So, most of you, am sure if you have managed to open and read this post, must have been searching for the questions that follow up:

Where to study from?

This question is too important to be answered, and even i could not find the BEST answer even till 2nd February'18 (My exam was on 3rd Feb'18). So, here what i want to say is, whatever material you have finish it and then move on to searching for more else you would be wasting your time in finding more questions and books and other stuff to study from while you haven't actually done with what you already had.

I am sure, the next question that must be popping up in your mind would be, what all i referred?
I had joined Made Easy classroom course (for me those 8-9 hours, apart from travelling time, were more of a reminder to the battle i had stepped into) and I followed the material in order as first register notes second workbook simultaneously (as soon as a topic finished, this reminds me of days when i had to solve workbooks while travelling in metro) then previous years and at last test series (Made Easy and ACE)
ALERT- Follow your own strategy, don't search for someone else's plan!!! But, YES the stuff i mentioned was more than enough to crack even under 100 rank. (So, if you have similar stuff covering similar questions and topics, it is enough.)

Standard Books to be followed?

This is another thing that had been bothering me since months. I used to ask my seniors again and again- "I am from three tier college and did not study from standard books in my initial years so doubt on my basic concepts built so far, Is it still possible to crack GATE with decent rank?" and even though they answered what actually happened, i always thought- "They were saying just for the sake of my confidence." I will not deny the fact that i had read some standard books for the subjects, that were included in my semester curriculum, just after i had made up my mind for GATE. 

But then, What i had read from those books hardly made a difference and books i read were- Ullman (Compiler Design), Cormen (Algorithms), Kenneth Rossen (Discrette Maths) and Galvin (Operating Systems, only book that i actually read well and complete).

If someone is dedicated enough to read these knowledgeable books, I would not at all want to discourage you from doing so, then here are some-
Database- Navathe

Engineering Maths- BS Grewal

Data Structure- Tanenbaum

Networking- Forouzan (Highly Recommended, if you want to study Comp N/w well)

Digital Logic & Comp Architecture- Morris Mano
Theory Of Computation- Peter Linz

Ps. It would be great to hear from readers, for the questions they have unanswered. Drop your views be it appreciation or criticism in the comments. Heartiest thank you to all the readers for your valuable time :)

CHAPTER To Be DONE before you step in the battle

"Never settle for anything less than that you know you deserve"

You know each one of us possesses a great store of creativity and potential to do miracles. The only problem to solve is to resolve the mystery of how to discover this hidden energy.

So, Here the first question that comes is what you think of your own potential and if you have realized the reasons for the path you have chosen. Decide why you want to crack it, only for the job point of view or for the Masters. Check out the cut offs for the goals you have set be it the IOCL, ONGC, BARC, IITB/D/K/M/Khg, IISc, NITs, IIITs, etc

I aimed for GATE 2018 Unit digit rank or at least under 100 rank and landed up achieving AIR ! % & ('coz this is not that important, and not that tough to decode either), which (according to people) is a great achievement. Again, achievement differs from person to person. Well, for me this was not that big of a success but the respect i was offered whenever people congratulated was more of what i desired for.

Coming back... Aim for the highest, because you're on a highly parabolic curve and landing on the highest peak you see has a less probability but not the least of course. Once you have decided where to focus everything else will not be really an issue. With this i meant, if you have left your job or taken leaves (then the worries related to no source of income, bad performance, etc.) , if you're in final year then on campus placements, projects and exams. People are so worried for these secondary things that they forgot they had aimed for something too above all this.

For fourth year students, preparing along with their studies, must go through this one-

You need to decide in the very starting, if you get an on-campus job will you really go for it or are you really keen for after GATE opportunities waiting. " If you have already have had a backup plan, you have then given up half way your parabolic journey." Once you step in the battle, Either don't plan to settle the greed for GrATE after getting placed on campus or be too focused for GATE that you hardly see any placement/exams/internship worries. Project work or research paper is that you must work upon as you will be interviewed for top colleges later if planning for masters.

Disclaimer: I know this chapter might not answer what you really wanted but believe me it is more important than the answers you are really searching for. 

PS: I did not really feel like achieving something to be able to guide about BUT recently i have been contacted by many students asking for preparation guidelines and even after wishing to tell all of them every bit of they want to know it becomes impractical to write and send same messages again and again. 

PPS: I will keep posting with time about things that are necessary to know. PLEASE comment below your questions so that it becomes easy for me to cover the queries in upcoming posts.