A Winning Strategy for GATE CSE: A Personal 3-Hour Guide

Thanks for asking. I want to share the 3-hour exam strategy that I followed in the GATE CSE 2020 exam and in the test series. GATE CSE is a challenging exam, but with the right approach, you can navigate through it successfully. Let's delve into the details of the strategy.

Understanding the Exam Structure

Before diving into the strategy, it's crucial to understand the exam structure. The GATE CSE exam has 65 questions in total. Among these, 10 questions are from aptitude and English, and the rest are from technical subjects. Before tackling technical questions, focus on the 10 aptitude and English questions first.

An Efficient Exam Approach

My strategy involved a systematic and mindful approach to manage time effectively. Here's a breakdown of the steps I followed:

A. Starting with Aptitude and English

I began by answering the aptitude and English questions mostly because they are generally easy and quick to solve. Here's how I approached them:

Start with the 1-mark questions. These are usually straightforward and easy to score. Move on to the 2-mark questions, again making sure to be accurate.

B. Strategies for Technical Questions

For the technical part, I utilized various time-saving methods to ensure I allocated time effectively:

Use the ‘Save and Next’ feature to save questions if you are confident about them. This allows you to move to the next question without losing your progress. Marks the calculation-intensive questions as ‘Mark for Review’ if they look complex. Review them later when you have some extra time. For questions that might take more than 2 minutes, mark them as ‘Not Answered’ and move on. This helps you avoid getting stuck on tough questions. Ignore questions that seem irrelevant or too difficult initially. Mark them to review later if needed.

My suggestion is to save time early and efficiently. Don’t waste too much time on any single question, even if you think you can solve it. The exam also tests your patience. If a question is tricky, skip it with confidence and move on to the next.

Reviewing Your Answers Wisely

After completing the exam paper within 2 hr 25 minutes, I used the remaining time to review my answers. Here’s how I did it:

Re-check the answers that were marked for review first. Next, revisit the questions that I skipped without marking them.

Additional Tips

To ensure a high score, here are some crucial tips:

Avoid silly mistakes in the 1-mark questions. They can cost you a lot of points. Be careful with 2-mark questions; they often trap students with potential mistakes. Never make a random guess if you’re not confident. Always double-check your answers. Finish the exam before 2 hr 30 minutes to review at least once. Try to use the calculator only when absolutely necessary. Basic calculations can be done mentally to avoid errors.

As I analyzed previous years’ trends, I noticed that the GATE CSE papers are often easy yet tricky. The exam forces you to make mistakes, but it's essential to stay careful and attentive. Remember, 72 marks can significantly impact your score, and careless errors can severely affect it. So, be patient and never rush through questions.

Motivational Lines

Finally, here are some motivational lines that kept me going during the exam and now inspire you too:

IF YOU THINK
If you think you are beaten, you are.
If you think you dare not, you don’t!
If you like to win but think you can’t
It’s almost a cinch you won’t.
You think you’ll lose you’re lost,
For out in the world we find
Success begins with a fellow’s will
It's all in the state of mind.
If you think you are outclassed, you are,
You've got to think high to rise.
You've got to be sure of yourself before
You can ever win a prize.
Life's battles don’t always go
To the stronger and faster man,
But sooner or later the man who wins
Is the man who thinks he can.

Be patient and motivated. Remember, you can do it. All the best!