Time Management Tips for Online Classes

With the online classes gaining a lot of traction among the students, students can now learn and study in their own time, when they are most productive. While online classes include many advantages such as experiencing home comfort, and flexibility of time, this can sometimes hamper the preparation of students. With the availability of extensive flexibility, some online students prepare a strict plan to study for competitive exams. However, certain students procrastinate their studies, which leads to a lack of time management in the expected way.

Today, we shall discuss some time management tips which the students preparing for ESE 2026 and GATE 2026 can follow to ensure that they prepare well for their competitive exams. These time management tips will ensure that you do not procrastinate your studies and instead utilize the enrolled online classes in the best possible manner.

How to manage time?

If you are starting your ESE and GATE online preparation, then the most important skill you need to master is time management tips like a pro. A good time management skill will help you to achieve your goals. Every individual has the same 24 hours in a day, but the difference is how you utilize those 24 hours to your advantage.

Time management tips for students opting for online classes:

1. Use the syllabus as a guide

Before you start your GATE 2027 or ESE 2026 online course, you must download the latest official syllabus. MADE EASY designs its online classes by giving core importance to the exam syllabus. 

The syllabus helps you: 

• Give priority to the subjects that carry high weightage. 
• Understand the scope of your online course. 
• Identify technical and non-technical subjects. 
• Avoid wasting time on topics that has low weightage 

You must treat the syllabus as a roadmap for your exam preparation. It will tell you where you are and where you need to be.

2. Make a Plan and Schedule:

Time management starts with planning. A well planned schedule acts as a roadmap towards cracking GATE 2027 or ESE 2026.  A schedule provides you with a road map that you can follow to achieve your Make a list of all topics in the respective subject that you need to cover before commencing with the ESE 2026 and GATE 2027 online preparation. The list will include:

• Topics related to each subject based on priority.
• Practice tests
• Previous years’ papers
• Newspaper reading
• Revision
• Other important resources are required for the exam preparation (only if necessary).

Apply SMART goals. The full form of SMART is Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timely. Once you are well aware of the syllabus, then make a plan of how you will approach each topic of individual subjects. 

Pro tip: Fix the timing for each day when you will be studying and the slots during which you will take a rest. This will train your mind to be more efficient during the studying time as per the set study schedule.

3. Create a Study Space

Where do you normally study?  If your answer is “lying in bed with my laptop propped on my knees while eating snacks,” then it is time that you might want to consider changing your study space to avoid any chance to procrastinate. Studies have shown that the place—or “context’—in which you study affects how you will remember that information. In addition, it also impacts the level of SMART goals achievement.

You need to find a study space for yourself that is quiet, and not very cozy. You must ensure that the place is comfortable and comprises proper lighting with minimum distractions. Find a suitable study spot for yourself to take these online classes, so that you can concentrate properly on the classes. If possible, try to create a study space that evokes the same atmosphere as that of the actual GATE and ESE exam.

A dedicated space for your study is important to stay focused and efficient. If you keep changing your workplace every day then your mind will take time to adjust to the new place and thus will not be able to concentrate properly.

4. Resist getting distracted

Social media apps are designed to steal your attention. During GATE 2027 and ESE 2026 preparation, distractions must be avoided.

The Pomodoro Technique helps to stay focused:

• Set an alarm clock for 25 minutes and work continuously for the decided duration.
• Take a five-minute break to get an espresso, browse messages, or accomplish something different.
• When you have finished 3-4 study sessions you must treat yourself to a more extended break, e.g., 15 minutes.

This method prevents mental fatigue. It helps you cover more content in less time. There are several apps available on Android and iOS that have the Pomodoro method. You can use such apps to stay focused.

5. Deal with procrastination positively

For students opting for online classes, procrastination is like a virus, which negatively influences your brain. Procrastination is the biggest threat to students preparing online for competitive exams. Here, no one watches whether you attended the lectures or completed your assignments.   

Here’s how you can overcome it: 

• Watch recorded lectures on the same day as per your schedule. 
• Break big tasks into smaller tasks. For example, instead of studying Control Systems, watch two MADE EASY lectures on Bode Plot. 
• Start with the hardest subjects when your energy is the highest. 

The logical part of your brain knows you need to study. However, the emotional part does not care. It is looking for fun and procrastination instead of hours of hard work. Therefore, you must ensure that you do not get into the natural trap of choosing fun over work.

6. Study with serious aspirants

In most cases, online classes experience is a tedious task. Therefore, in order to stay focused and make the most of it, study with serious aspirants and friends. Create a plan and convince your friends who are also preparing for the ESE 2026 and GATE 2026, to take the same online classes. Once you have purchased it, make a fixed time when you take the online class simultaneously as it will help you manage your time well to complete the course.

You must understand that studying with friends will motivate you to study. Along with this, you can discuss with your friends later and clear any doubts that you may have at that point in time.

7. Make a to-do list

Towards the start of each course week, make a plan for the day that traces all coursework you have to finish. Separate the coursework for the GATE and ESE exams into individual assignments for the respective subject. Estimate the time it will take you to finish each undertaking and fit them into your routine calendar. Efficiency is commonly most elevated in short overflows with insignificant interruptions and successive breaks. Wherever possible, study in 20-minute blasts, and permit yourself an opportunity to rest before getting started with the next part of the enrolled course. If possible, choose an alarm clock to stick to the set schedule and avoid using your smartphone for this activity.

8. Set goals and rewards

With a to do list, you will always know exactly what to do next. You can plan all courseworks to complete. Breaking down tasks also helps manage time. 

Study in 20-minute blocks before taking a short break. Get some rest before starting with the next course. If possible, choose an alarm clock to stick to the set schedule and avoid using your smartphone for this activity.

9. Create a balance

While rewarding yourself is important, creating a perfect balance between GATE and ESE exams studies and other work is also important. To ensure a perfect balance and avoid unnecessary exhaustion, prioritize your time in a way that will help you focus on online classes studies, rest, and any other work present in your routine. 

If you are a working professional or a final year student, balance becomes important. So, you must build a schedule that covers study, sleep and other activities. It will assist you to work with your existing lifestyle in the best possible manner.

10. Participate in the doubt-clearing sessions

You can follow online classes with doubt-clearing sessions. Make sure that you participate in those sessions, even if you do not feel like attending the same in the specified duration. The MADE EASY GATE and ESE online courses include live and scheduled doubt-clearing sessions. So, one must use them fully. Therefore, prepare a list of the doubts in advance. You can also rewatch recorded doubt sessions for missed classes. These sessions will improve your clarity of topics.  

In the year 2020, the pandemic witnessed and caused a sudden change in the exam preparation mode among exam aspirants, especially for the ones preparing for the GATE and ESE exams. There is a large set of students still getting used to online classes. Some students may find it difficult to learn digitally and execute the answers well in the actual exams. Online classes however are very beneficial if they are used in the best possible way. One needs to stay focused, avoid distractions, and one needs to learn the management of time and resources when attending online classes.

Tips to follow for GATE 2027 and ESE 2026 

Let us see some quick tips to help manage your time. See the checklist below: 

You must remember that ordinary people think of spending time, and great people think of using it in the best possible manner. By learning the art of Time Management, you learn how to utilize time to your advantage during your preparation phase and lifetime. With the right skill of Time Management, you will learn how to use time in the best possible manner.

Let us see the frequently asked questions related to GATE and ESE exams time management.

FAQs:

1.  Is time management important for GATE 2027 preparation?

Ans. Yes, time management is a crucial part of any competitive exam. The GATE 2027 covers a vast syllabus across multiple subjects. Without a proper time table, most aspirants tend to rush at the end. So, with a proper routine it is easy to cover the syllabus and revise.

2. Can I prepare for GATE 2027 while managing a job or college?

Ans. Yes, thousands of working professionals and final-year students crack GATE every year. The key is to dedicate 4-6 focused hours daily and stick to a strict schedule. The MADE EASY online classes are perfect for this. You can access lectures at your own convenience.

3. How do I understand if I have chosen the right path to crack competitive exams such as ESE and GATE exams?

Ans. Use MADE EASY mock tests and subject-wise tests to analyse yourself. If you regularly assess yourself, you will get to know where you need to improve. A good thumb rule is to complete the full syllabus at least 3 months before the exam. This leaves you enough time to revise and test practice.

4. Can I attend both online and offline classes?

Ans. Yes. You can attend both online and offline classes, depending on the time available apart from your self-study routine. This will help you balance your coaching classes with your study routine and work/college studies. However, you can choose the best resources and guidance linked with online and offline classes to reach your SMART goals successfully.

5. How many hours should I study daily for GATE 2027?

Ans. If you are preparing for GATE 2027 full time, 8-10 hours of daily study is important. For working professionals, 4-6 hours is enough. However, the quality of study matters more than the total hours. 

Thus, if you are an ESE and GATE exam aspirant, you must look into your current schedule and find the best fit to manage your time. Stay stress-free and learn the art of time management for a successful engineering career ahead.

All the best for ESE and GATE exams attempt!