GATE Bible: 6 Steps to Clear GATE EE (Electrical Engineering) - Electrical Engineering (EE) PDF Download

How was this guide made?

• This guide has been made by EduRev experts by referring to the strategies & interviews of the toppers including Gaurav Kumar (GATE EE 2022, AIR 1), Nishita Purohit (GATE 2021, AIR 19), Piyush Pandey (GATE 2022, AIR 29).
• Study pattern, schedule and strategy of the toppers have been studied deeply while making this document so that students get the right way towards the preparation.

Why did EduRev make this guide?

• We wanted to answer the question "How to Prepare for GATE EE" once and for all in the best / perfect way possible.
• Since students waste a large amount of time, effort, and money while preparing for GATE just because of a lack of the right direction. We believe it will be very very valuable for every aspirant.
• This guide was made to teach in a guided way so that you can clear your GATE EE Exam with the least amount of time, effort, and money spent, by just making sure you Study What Actually Matters for the preparation for the exam.

This section aims at helping you devise a well-planned preparation strategy for the upcoming GATE EE exam. Let’s have a look at the fool-proof STEP by STEP preparation strategy for preparing GATE exam.

Step 0: What to do Before you begin your GATE EE preparation?

The best thing you can do for yourself for your GATE EE preparation is to give time to read this guide and then check at different steps to see if you are in the right direction in achieving your dream to enter in a good IIT, NIT or PSUs.

• Set goals and devote time effectively: Before starting your preparation for GATE EE, it is important to prepare yourself mentally and physically for the examination. Set goals and devote time effectively. 

• Focus on Micro Planning: Planning is equally important as studying. Plan how to study. Focus on micro-planning i.e., make daily plans, set weekly targets, and make a broad vision for your entire month. This planning of months will shape your future as a GATE EE Aspirant.

• Stay Motivated: Lastly, ask yourself why you want to be in a IIT, NIT or PSU because this will become the most important step by the time you reach last step.

• Know the GATE EE syllabus: Knowing the Syllabus and pattern of GATE examination is important for every aspirant before starting the preparation, click here for the syllabus and pattern of GATE EE.

Step 1: Start your Preparation by Learning Basic Subjects First

• Jumping into core subjects without clearing basics is the mistake most GATE aspirants do.
• There are 3 starting points in GATE EE:
  (i) Network theory
  (ii) Signals and Systems
  (iii) Control Systems
• Engineering mathematics is a prerequisite, but you can keep doing it along with the other courses.

Step 2: Make Your Own Notes while Studying

Here are some steps to make your notes effectively:

1. No Notes on First Reading: When you are reading any book for the first time sit only with a pencil and go through the book. Read it like you are reading a novel by understanding and underlining all the important concepts and formulae you find. Do not write short notes for GATE in the first reading. Familiarize yourself with the book during the initial days to understand what is important and what is not.
2. No Copying: During your GATE preparation, do not copy the notes directly from the book. This is because it loses the essence and you may end up just making a photocopy of the book you were reading. It is necessary for the students of Best BTech Colleges to understand the concept first and then try writing it in on your own words in fewer words used in the books. This will provide good and comprehensive short notes for GATE.
3. Colorful Pens: There is no compulsion of using different types of pens at a time, but it would help you later in revising the topics. The brain is pictured in a way that it remembers better if things are segregated using some colors or special characteristics.
4. Diagrams: Writing is the key to make short notes for GATE. Therefore, making trees, cyclic, arrow, hierarchy diagrams, or mind maps always act as a bonus for the students. These diagrams will help them understand the topics well and easier to remember during the exam. With the practice of making diagrams in notes, an individual can also incorporate them during the main examination and get the answers easily and in less time. 
5. Digital Notes: Nowadays, apps like Evernote, google notes have made it even easier to make notes. Aspirants of GATE can prepare notes on these easily accessible and handy platforms. They can revise their notes whenever and wherever they want. Whenever they feel like revising their notes, there is everything on their phone. Digital notes are always good for GATE preparation as the exam is conducted online.
6. Choose what suits you best: Every topper or aspirant you meet may have their unique note-making style. Therefore, they must understand what suits them best, as, in the end; their notes are going to be a tool to succeed in the GATE examination.
7. Read and Reread: Just note-making does not end the task for you, it is extremely necessary that you read and reread your notes to know that you understand them. It also helps you to remember the facts and score.
8. Conclusion: Before beginning your GATE preparation, you must ensure knowing the importance of study tips and incorporate them into your daily routine of GATE exam preparation. Usually, candidates feel that note making is a tedious job and think that they can do without it. But in the long run, it will be easier to revise 5 pages of your notes than revising a book of 500 pages.

Step 3: Study Plan: Keep daily and weekly targets to complete the syllabus on time

• After going through the GATE syllabus, making a proper study plan is a good idea to begin your GATE preparation. 
• Formulating a study plan in accordance with the GATE EE syllabus will be very helpful for the candidates. 
• The GATE EE Study plan should focus on all the aspects like covering the syllabus on time, having enough time for revision, regular recapitulation of topics, etc. Candidates need to follow the GATE EE Study plan sincerely in order to keep the preparation up to the mark all the time. 
• Making Study plan enables you to keep a consistent track of daily, weekly and monthly activities and helps you monitor your progress. It also Keeps you focused and well organized. It also gives you a sense of direction to achieve your set goals and targets.

EduRev also provide you with a study plan of every subject of GATE EE, to make your own study plan, click here to learn if you are on right direction.

Step 4: Practice Engineering Maths & General Aptitude Regularly

These two subjects require your efforts in a continuous manner while you are preparing for other core subjects, you have to give some extra time to these subjects on daily basis or in alternate manner, but you have to make your practice continuous the whole time you are preparing for GATE.

(i) Engineering Mathematics

• Irrespective of the stream the candidate has in his/ her graduation, Engineering Mathematics will be there in all of them. It will account for the same percentage of marks in every stream. 
• Thus, ignoring Engineering Mathematics for GATE will be a big mistake. Ignoring this subject will cost you valuable GATE Marks.
• You have to practice questions on daily basis so that you remember the concepts and it will help you to solve questions in other core subjects as well as the concepts of mathematics are universal.

(ii) General Aptitude

• Aptitude cannot be learnt in a matter of days or a month so it must be made a daily habit.
• Devote an hour each day to practice aptitude. Even if you do 10 questions daily it would be enough. Solve aptitude questions while taking a break from technical subjects so that your mind gets refreshed.

Step 5: Keep revising the subjects already covered by you to keep concepts fresh

• Our objective to retain the information for as long as possible, at least till the exam date. Even though you studied the whole chapter, it is difficult for you to recollect some lengthy formulas.
• Once you move on to the next subject, try to recollect the important points and formulas from the previous subject every morning or weekly once whichever works for you.
• Similarly, when you are moving forward with the different subjects don't forget to look back for the subjects or topics you have done already.
• Make your schedule such that, which we have already discussed above, which allow you to revise the concepts and practice problems for the topics or subjects you have already covered.

Step 6: Practice Previous Years Question Papers

• It is observed that the concepts are usually repeated in GATE. So, solving past year question papers will give you a fair advantage when it comes to the actual GATE.
• It will also give you a clear picture of what type of questions were previously asked and can be repeated.
• What could be the weightage of every topic? And how much marks do each topic or concept carry? Therefore, you can determine how much time you want to spend on revising every topic accordingly.