Himanshu Tyagi, an IFS officer and an institute medallist from IIT Roorkee, has appeared for various competitive exams, including GATE. He shares valuable insights on making the most of books and study materials during exam preparation.

Akhand Swaroop Pandit, a former IES officer, has cleared several prestigious exams like UPSC, GATE, and NET. Now running his own academy, he mentors aspirants, sharing strategies that helped him excel in competitive exams.

We sat down with both experts to curate a list of eight game-changing tips to ace GATE 2025.

1. Read the index Himanshu advises, “Before starting, understand what the book is about. Understand the design of the book.” Going through the index first helps you get a clear idea of what the book covers, making it easier to navigate and plan your study approach effectively.

2. Read the interesting chapters first Himanshu recommends starting with chapters that genuinely interest you the most. He calls this technique “superficial reading”, where you skim through engaging sections first to build a basic understanding. This method makes it easier to grasp complex topics later.

3. Focus on the syllabus Swaroop emphasises the importance of thoroughly understanding the syllabus. “For the GATE examination, no questions are asked outside the syllabus. So, candidates must go through the syllabus with a fine tooth comb,” he explains.

4. Review the last 10 years’ papers He advises aspirants to go through at least the last 10 years of GATE question papers. By doing so, you get a clear picture of the recurring themes and important topics, allowing you to focus on areas that have a higher probability of appearing in the exam.

5. Practice makes perfect According to Swaroop, consistent practice is key to success. “It is important that you attempt the mock papers in the same manner as you would the actual examination. This will not only help strengthen your understanding but also tackle the paper better,” he says.

6. Ensure concepts are clear Swaroop also stresses the importance of having a solid grasp of concepts. With exams like GATE, where all questions are concept-based, it's essential to understand the principles behind the problems, not just memorise formulas.

7. Be mindful when attempting the paper Swaroop highlights, “In the numerical data type questions the candidates are required to enter the answer which has been calculated. For example, if the answer is 36.273 the same must be entered without taking away any decimal point. One should be precise while answering.”

8. Five hours of dedicated study Swaroop recommends studying for at least five hours daily with focused attention. Even with a busy schedule, dividing study time between morning and evening ensures steady progress and effective revision.