When preparing for the GATE exam, a question that commonly crosses the minds of many students is whether one has to study the GATE previous papers to succeed in this exam. To some extent, solving previous papers is inevitable; however, just relying on them may not be very productive in every case. In this blog, we will discuss the significance of previous papers and why other resources are important as well.
Importance of Solving GATE Previous Papers
Solving GATE Previous Papers is a great advantage since it helps you know the type of examination and questions to expect. Here’s how solving them can help:
- Familiarity With the Exam Pattern
Earlier papers help you know the framework of the questions, division of marks, and frequently asked questions. This aids in minimizing the shock on the real exam day.
- Time Management
Sitting for the tests under a specified time makes you understand how to distribute your time when you are taking the tests.
- Identifying Strengths and Weaknesses
By solving previous papers you can know your strong and weak areas. So, you can easily understand the areas where you need to focus more.
However, if you rely only on the previous papers, you may miss out on some areas or some questions since GATE questions may change and might even introduce new topics that have not appeared in GATE papers in the past.
Read More: How to choose GATE subjects?
Why You Need GATE Books
However, the previous papers of GATE may lack some topics of the syllabus and also lack an explanation of the theory behind some solutions. In this case, GATE Books come in handy. These books are designed to:
- Provide Comprehensive Coverage
They conceptually discuss all the topics that are covered in syllabi, including those that have not been presented in class or past tests.
- Strengthen Conceptual Clarity
These books help you learn all the concepts in simple terms, which are essential to solving new and complicated questions.
- Offer Detailed Problem-solving Techniques
These books consist of exercises, tips, and solutions that are not included in previous papers.
So, if you rely wholly on previous papers, you may miss some vital aspects of preparation.
The Role of an Aptitude Book for GATE
GATE also has a part known as General Aptitude, which contributes to 15% of the total marks. Carrying an Aptitude Book for GATE is useful to enhance your reasoning ability, problem-solving ability, and verbal ability. This book will provide:
- Aptitude books contain different problem-solving sample questions for practice.
- They enhance the time and efficiency with which you respond to the questions concerning aptitude.
Aptitude books are indeed valuable here because they address the part of the exam that is available in technical GATE books or previous papers.
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Conclusion
All in all, the GATE previous papers are very useful, but you must not rely only on those papers. The books for GATE and an Aptitude book prepare a student the best for the test. The integration of these tools will improve your comprehension and self-confidence to enable you to improve your GATE results.
