How to overcome constraints in preparation for ESE/IES & GATE?

Once you start with your ESE examination and GATE exam preparation, you must keep one point in mind – Not to let any constraints stop you from preparing for the ESE/IES or GATE. Right from childhood days, every student all dream of becoming famous and achieving something great in life. When we pass out of college that dream of success, power, and a great lifestyle still inspires us to do something we are good at and realize that particular goal. For engineering graduates, the GATE exam and ESE are one of the best options that they look up to for fulfilling their dreams. While some students buy books, recommended study materials, and start their preparation right away, some students take ample time to analyze their exam preparation strategy. These aspirants do not like to start anything in haste but instead, take time to plan their approach to the particular examination. They plan and form a goal for themselves and many a time are stuck in between due to various constraints they face while preparing for the examination.

When life gives you lemons, make the best possible lemonade. It will not be easy at the start, but once you build this mindset and take action accordingly, you will become a pro in it. Therefore, no matter how difficult a situation is, one can always find a solution. Similarly, students can solve the constraints they face while preparing for the GATE/ESE Examination with some patience and thinking. Today, in this blog, we tried to understand the students’ psyche and tried focusing on the various obstacles that the students feel are stopping them from preparing for the GATE exam or ESE (Engineering Services Examination). The blog post content aims to address these constraints and provides a solution to your problems.

Therefore, let us start with the constraints students face during their ESE/IES and GATE exam preparation.

1. How to start ESE/IES Preparation:

The first and foremost constraint that most of the students face is that they are clueless about where to start. Which subject to pick up, which book to buy and how to go about the preparation? Students, when they start preparing in college, are completely unknown to the examination arena and so they find it hard to decide how to manage both college and studies, how to start preparing and stay focused.

So, for this, the simple solution is to first calm yourself down and go through the GATE exam syllabus or ESE/IES syllabus depending on which examination you want to appear for. The GATE or ESE/IES syllabus will give you an idea of what is required to study and you will get an idea of what all are your strong points and which subjects require deep study. Also, you can inline your semester subjects with the GATE or ESE/IES syllabus and complete them together.

In the next step, you must have a look at the previous year’s papers. You can buy the previous year’s question bank from online or offline stores. This will give you a wholesome view of the examination, the types of questions asked, and the weightage given to each subject depending on which you can choose which subject requires more preparation. Once you are done with the GATE or ESE/IES syllabus and papers, start watching or reading some toppers talk with GATE and/or IES preparation tips for toppers to get an insight into the preparation strategy of the toppers. Their interviews will help you decide on the books, coaching, and test series and will clear most of your doubts.

2. Finding a group to study:

Students currently pursuing their college studies or those preparing at home experience a lack of interaction with their fellow aspirants. They feel left out of the competition that they are going to face in the GATE exam and ESE Examination. They often find it lonely to prepare for these competitive exams alone. Apart from this, they do not have study mates with whom they can discuss and solve possible doubts. A similar aspect happens with the test series where they do not have anyone to discuss and clarify their doubts. They face a similar situation while giving online test series and post-exam completion.

Keeping such common problems of students in mind, MADE EASY has started a Student’s Portal, especially for the aspirants of GATE and ESE/IES preparation. The portal is open to all students regardless of whether you are a student of MADE EASY or not. In this portal, the students can interact with their fellow aspirants, toppers, and even the MADE EASY faculties. If at any time you are stuck with any question and are unable to find the answer in textbooks, you can just log in to the forum and post your questions along with any image you think is necessary.

This portal’s initiative is a great platform for all aspirants to share their studying patterns and interact with other students. Apart from this, the portal is your friend and guide during each preparation phase and even after that. After you have completed the examination, you can find solutions, discuss the question paper and check your estimated rank and marks through the ‘Student Portal’. This portal is a one-stop solution for all students who are preparing for the GATE exam and ESE examination from home and cannot find any study mate throughout the exam preparation phase.

The portal also informs the students regarding the job notifications that the organizations in the government sector. Thus, it becomes a one-stop solution for all aspirants who want to apply for other jobs as well. Each notification provides you with all the necessary details including age requirement, education, and the link to apply via the application form. If you are looking for a one-stop solution, then this portal is the solution to your problems associated with the Engineering Services Examination and GATE exam preparation. One of the key reasons is that it allows you to interact with many people and form your study group for consistent study sessions.

3. Social media and use of phone:

Smartphones are one of the main constraints students face while preparing for the GATE exam and ESE examination. The rapid evolution of technology in recent years has led to a rise in the usage of smartphones. The smartphone has become a distraction for the aspirants preparing for the discussed competitive exams. The aspirants belong to such that they become habituated to checking their social media accounts and posting on these platforms for instant gratification. This often proves to be dangerous for their exam preparation as it often turns into a habit for most of them. Well, although this is an issue, one cannot find a solution externally.

Social media can be either helpful or prove to be a source of routine distraction based on your habits and choices. It completely depends on how you use it and the purpose it serves you. Facebook, YouTube, and WhatsApp can be a friend to you while preparing for the GATE exam or Engineering Services examination. YouTube has various inspiring videos of toppers, entrepreneurs, and TED videos that inspire you to stay on your track and work hard.

Apart from this, WhatsApp and Telegram are great to help in today’s digital age. These platforms have students who too are preparing for the GATE exam or ESE examination. Joining these groups can help you find essential study material including reference books. Apart from this, you can form a study circle with these aspirants. Therefore, no matter how much you curse social media, it can be your friend in times of distress if you use it efficiently at the right time.

4. Keeping patience for a long time:

The competitive exams such as the GATE exam and Engineering Services Examination (ESE) have a vast syllabus and the time between the time you start preparation and the date of the final examination is long. For a long time, students have to study; certain students lose patience and focus on the examination. It is quite common for students to experience difficulties with concentrating during study sessions.

The solution to this problem is to have a plan for the ESE examination and GATE exam preparation. Our brain works according to the plans that we make in our daily routine. Only when it has a plan and a goal does it works with full efficiency. Apart from this, one must be determined to complete the task on time. Therefore, before you start your preparation make sure to prepare a plan and define your goals for the short term and long term keeping the exam dates in mind. Aspirants must ensure that each day of their preparation must be planned well in advance. In addition, when you plan your day and make your timetable, do not miss the required rest time.

Every aspirant must remember that taking a break is of utmost importance during each preparation phase of the IES 2023 and GATE exam preparation. Such breaks prove to be highly beneficial for the aspirants setting themselves up for competitive exams. Along with this, it provides the energy to work with full dedication toward the respective goals. Therefore, plan your study time giving due credit to both preparation and rest.

Another important thing that one needs to keep in mind is to keep yourself physically fit. Eat right, avoid junk food and consume lots of juices, vegetables, and fruits in your diet. Apart from this, regular physical movement is important. It is because a great body makes a great mind, which is required to perform in the best possible manner in the GATE exam and IES 2023 exam. A great body makes a great mind. Therefore, make sure to take out at least 30 minutes from your busy schedule to choose an exercise form. Some major exercises include cardio and weight-training exercises, to name a few.

Go for a walk, run or do yoga at home. In the evening, after you want to take a break from consistent study sessions, you can go for a walk nearby with your friend to relax and regain the required energy for the next study sessions for the ESE examination and GATE exam preparation. It will also refresh your mind and make you physically and mentally fit. Therefore, you need to focus on building a good body, a good diet, and a good plan to help you keep patience and concentrate for long hours.

Some other constraints such as panic attacks, and procrastination are all the results of one of the above reasons. While aiming high and dreaming big for yourself is not a crime, make sure that you are not pressurizing yourself due to the competitive exams.

Now, let us find out the answers to the most frequently asked questions about the GATE exam and ESE examination.

FAQs:

Q.) How can I prepare for GATE and ESE together?

Ans: If you aim to do so, you can surely prepare for the GATE and ESE together. However, you need to understand that the GATE exam and ESE examination comprise certain common and different segments. Here are some preparation tips that you must consider while preparing for the GATE and ESE together:

• Kickstart with early preparation and stay confident. You will not succeed in the long run, if you do not build the self-confidence to achieve the target scores.
• Practice Previous Years’ Questions from trusted sources.
• Choose the books wisely and ensure that you do not overindulge yourself with many books during the preparation.
• Understand the exam pattern with the help of the previous years’ question papers.
• Prepare the notes in such a way that you can revise the concepts and formulas during the preparation and revision phases.

These are the most utilized GATE and IES preparation tips by toppers that you can implement in your study routine to score the best results in the respective competitive exams.

Q.) Is the GATE exam more difficult than ESE?

Ans: The answer to this question comprises different aspects. The ESE exam requires both academic and personality-related skills when compared to the GATE exam. On the other hand, the GATE exam requires the aspirant to answer complex questions in the required manner due to the conceptual nature of the GATE exam. Apart from this, the ESE exam comprises questions that are associated with the formulas. Therefore, if you are preparing for both exams together you must focus on both concepts and formulas. Therefore, your strengths will signify the difficulty level of the competitive exams.

Q.) Which paper is tough in the GATE exam?

Ans: As per the analysis of the GATE exam, the engineering papers with high difficulty levels include Mining Engineering, Electronics and Communication Engineering, Agricultural Engineering, Architecture and Planning, Electrical Engineering, and Aerospace Engineering. On an overall basis, the overall selection percentage is 17.82%.

Tom Kelly has rightly stated that ‘Constraints can spur creativity and incite action, as long as you have the confidence to embrace them’.  So if you have any more constraints or a barrier that is acting as a hindrance in your preparation, make sure to share the same with us and we will try our best to answer all your queries.

Till then, all the very best for your exam and preparation.

Stay focused and dedicated to your goals!

Dear Aspirants,

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