#CareerBytes: Common myths about GATE that need to be busted
What's the story
The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) is one of the most competitive exams for engineering graduates. It is conducted for admission to postgraduate courses, including at premier institutes like IITs and NITs. GATE scores are also used for PSU job recruitments. There are a lot of myths and misconceptions around GATE which many aspirants believe. Here are some commonly-believed myths around GATE.
Myth #1
GATE is a national-level exam, cracking it is very tough
One of the most commonly-believed myths about GATE is that as it is an all-India level exam, cracking GATE is very tough and it is not everyone's cup of tea. However, the truth is that while GATE is tough, one can clear it with proper preparation and regular practice. GATE is a concept-focused exam; anyone who is thorough with concepts can score high.
Myth #2
Coaching classes are more important than attending college
Many GATE aspirants think that joining coaching institutes is a must for cracking the exam. However, coaching classes aren't mandatory for clearing the GATE. Also, some candidates who have joined coaching institutes feel they need not attend college as coaching classes are enough for GATE preparation. However, it is essential to manage college and coaching simultaneously as college curriculum is important for cracking GATE.
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Myth #3: Study all day, give up hobbies while preparing
Another common myth is that GATE aspirants must study all day and give up their hobbies and other distractions to be able to clear it. However, the truth is, one should give more preference to the quality of study rather than the number of hours.
Myth #4
Refer to as many books as possible to gain knowledge
Some GATE aspirants feel that in order to prepare for the exam thoroughly, they need to gain more knowledge from as many sources as possible and refer to many books. However, this is a myth as one needs to focus more on understanding concepts rather than studying same concepts from different books. They should collect and stick to 1-2 good books to avoid confusion.
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Myth #5: Attempt maximum questions in exam to score high
Many students also think that in order to score high, they should answer as many questions as possible in GATE. However, this is wrong; they should only answer questions they are confident about. They should be careful as GATE has negative marking for wrong answers.