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.'