Advanced Guidelines for Preparing for GATE and CAT

Advanced Guidelines for Preparing for GATE and CAT

Dr. Amartya Kumar Bhattacharya

BCE (Hons.) ( Jadavpur ), MTech ( Civil ) ( IIT Kharagpur ), PhD ( Civil ) ( IIT Kharagpur ), Cert.MTERM ( AIT Bangkok ), CEng(I), FIE, FACCE(I), FISH, FIWRS, FIPHE, FIAH, FAE, MIGS, MIGS – Kolkata Chapter, MIGS – Chennai Chapter, MISTE, MAHI, MISCA, MIAHS, MISTAM, MNSFMFP, MIIBE, MICI, MIEES, MCITP, MISRS, MISRMTT, MAGGS, MCSI, MMBSI

Chairman and Managing Director,

MultiSpectra Consultants,

23, Biplabi Ambika Chakraborty Sarani,

Kolkata – 700029, West Bengal, INDIA.

E-mail: dramartyakumar@gmail.com

GATE
The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) is a requirement for admission to post-graduate courses in engineering and technology in India. It is thus imperative that one scores well in this examination to get in the institution and course of his choice.

Candidates will find the following points helpful:

1. Prepare yourself thoroughly. There should be no gaps in your knowledge base.
2. Practice working out previous years question papers in the stipulated time so that you do not suffer from time overrun on the examination day.
3. Start preparing for GATE at least a year in advance of the test date. Monitor your progress carefully to ensure that you are advancing towards writing a good test.
4. Keep fit. This is necessary in the run-up to the test as well on the test day. A fever on the test day can ruin your chances.
5. Take enough time to relax in the preparation period so that you do not suffer from a burnout. Meditate if you can.
6. Synchronise your GATE preparation with your college studies in a judicious manner.
7. Develop a positive attitude. Approach the test confidently. This should happen automatically if your domain knowledge is good.
8. Remember that much of your future career depends on how you perform in this test. This should spur you on to making your best effort.
9. Keep in mind that there are no shortcuts to getting a good score.

CAT
The Common Admission Test (CAT) is a requirement for admission to post-graduate programmes in management in the Indian Institutes of Management.
Candidates will find the following points helpful:

1. CAT is basically an aptitude test. Domain knowledge in a specific field is not required. English and rudimentary quantitative aptitude are the primary features of your personality profile tested.
   
2. Prepare yourself thoroughly. There should be no gaps in your required knowledge base.
   
3. Practice working out previous years question papers within the stipulated time so that you do not suffer from time overrun on the examination day.
   
4. Remove tension from your mind and be relaxed. Remember that your competitors are facing the same advantages and disadvantages as you are.
   
5. The earlier you start the test preparation the better it is. Start preparing for CAT at least a year in advance of the test date. Monitor your progress carefully to ensure that you are advancing towards writing a good test.
   
6. Keep fit. This is necessary in the run-up to the test as well on the test day. A fever on the test day can ruin your chances.
   
7. Take enough time to relax in the preparation period so that you do not suffer from a burnout. Meditate if you can.
   
8. If you happen to be a student, synchronise your CAT preparation with your normal studies in a judicious manner.
   
9. Develop a positive attitude towards life in general and the test in particular. Normally, this should happen automatically but if you so feel, you can seek expert advice.
   
10. Remember that much of your future career depends on how you perform in this test. This should spur you on to making your best effort.
    
11. Keep in mind that there are no shortcuts to getting a good score.
    

A primer to quantitative aptitude tests is given below. You can get further counselling from me by writing to me at dramartyakumar@gmail.com or by phoning me at 89024 94161.