Interview - Ankur Agrawal GATE 19 - AIR 65 Mechanical

All the Hard work done by Ankur Agrawal has finally paid off as he bags a gate score of 902 with AIR-65 in GATE 2019 .
Sharing here a short excerpt of my interaction with him , let's get more into his success story of how he managed to achieve this feat.

1. What is your GATE Rank and GATE Score?

I am Ankur Agrawal. GATE Mechanical 19 AIR- 65, GATE  Score-902

2. How many times have you taken GATE?

I have appeared in GATE 2 times. First in my final year (2018) and Second this year (2019)

3. When did you start your preparation?

In College during 6^th semester

Second time around June 2018

4. Did you join any coaching Institute?

Yes, Engineers Circle

5. How you prepared for it? How did you utilize your time properly?

I started with basic activities like regularly attending classes, making proper notes, solving all questions (Previous Year and Workbook) on the same day when it is taught.

After starting preparation I used all my leisure time for study only. Didn’t squander my time going movies, party, TV Shows.

Coaching doesn’t give you 100 percent content so you have to resort to other sources like other coaching notes, standard books, previous year test series, some community related to GATE ( Gradeup, FB groups etc.)

6. How you managed to prepare along Job?

It’s all about will power. How much you want that particular thing. So Daily I got like 4-5 hours and I used them to solve questions and learning new things.

On weekends everyone was partying ( I was in Bangalore) and I was there in a room savoring mechanical concepts. But I didn’t feel bad that time also because I knew after 30 years I will live a peaceful life and all other people partying will be busy completing deadlines :)

 I had all the study content (short notes, test series questions etc.) in my phone so during lunch time in office, during commuting I read those.

When I started taking full length tests, I analyzed my tests in Bus and office. That saved a lot of time at home.

7. Which books/Material You followed?
1) Basic Thermodynamics – Coaching Notes, P.K Nag (solved and unsolved questions chapter 1 to 9 and 11) twice, GATE and ESE-pre previous year questions, ESE-mains questions (except derivation).
2) Heat Transfer - Coaching Notes, Heat transfer by PK NAG (solved problems of 6 chapters which are in syllabus), GATE and ESE-pre previous year questions, ESE-mains questions (keeping in mind the level asked in GATE, specially solve convection problems).
3) Fluid Mechanics – Coaching Notes, Fluid Mechanics by K. SUBRAMANYA (solved examples are enough and it contains serious conceptual problems you will love it), SK SOM (solved examples, GATE generally every year gives 1-2 question similar from this book), MADE EASY CIVIL ENGG. FLUID MECHANICS (I will upload), MODI & SETH (if time permits), GATE and ESE-pre previous year questions of Mechanical and CIVIL.
4) Strength of Materials – Coaching Notes, GATE and ESE-pre previous year questions of Mechanical and CIVIL, ESE mains conventional (if you feel concept is still weak).
5) Theory of Machines – Coaching Notes, SS RATAN (relevant solved examples only), more
time to VIBRATIONS, GATE and ESE-pre previous year questions.
6) Production – Coaching Notes, SK MONDAL Notes, GATE, ESE-pre and ESE-mains (especially
Metal cutting, Casting, Welding).
7) Machine Design – Coaching Notes, VB BHANDARI (no special need but if you have time then
can go through once), Formulas are very important here, GATE and ESE-pre previous year
questions.
8) Industrial Engineering – Coaching Notes, GATE and ESE-pre previous year questions.
9) Engineering Mechanics – Coaching notes, Engg. Mechanics by DR UC JINDAL, GATE previous
year questions.
10) IC Engine and RAC – Coaching Notes, GATE and ESE-pre previous year questions are enough.
11) Power Plant – Coaching Notes, GATE and ESE-mains previous year questions.
12) Material Science – Coaching Notes, GATE and ESE-pre previous year questions.
13) Mathematics – Coaching Notes, Made easy/Ace Academy Maths book, GATE previous year
questions of all branches from past 20 years.
14) General Aptitude – GATE previous questions of all branches, Join Grade up platform for

regular aptitude/reasoning questions which will not let your mind rust.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1SjJctbEXdMwVcKba0rB3m-TIHT7lMrYV (link for my GATE strategy)

8. How many test series have you joined and which is best?

Your course (all the above stated content) must be finished by max October (mid-end). I have taken approximately 240 subject wise tests and 70 full length tests in the past two years combined.

Take at least two test series, my suggestion would be ACE ACADEMY and EXERGIC.  Made Easy test series have been highly unpredictable in the past years. Wait sometime before deciding. Anyway, you may choose any two between three and third one you can share with someone so that at least you will know all the important problems.

9. Does CBT and Pre-GATE really helps?

I attended all three CBT (computer-based test) one from ACE and two from MADE EASY. This will make one familiar with real GATE environment and nervousness (which is major problem for a lot of students) can be dealt with this way. Its really important.

10. Your further plans?

I want to enter in a Maharatna PSU and then aim for civil Services

How one should attempt GATE Paper?

The strategy I found most useful and successful for me is
First 10-15 minutes for aptitude
Next 40 minutes for 25 one mark questions
Next 2 hours for 30 2 mark questions
Then in the remaining time visit first “Mark for Review” questions and then Unattempted questions

Never spend more than 4 minutes on a question and never think for more than 2 minutes for a question in first go.

11. According to you what is tough Section in GATE Paper?

This is different for different people. According to me aptitude and English is generally easy so solve at first, it will give you confidence.

5-6 questions will be there which you will not find yourself comfortable with. Don’t waste time here and solve these only If you are confident.

12. What are your leisure activities?

I am a big cricket aficionado. I play and watch cricket quite often.

I like to watch TV series and movies  a lot. Till date I have watched 45+ English TV shows and 1000+ Hollywood movies ( I hate Bollywood lol with some exceptions)

I like to read news and current affairs.

I like to read and write on Quora  (https://www.quora.com/profile/Ankur-Agrawal-96) You can follow me if you want some GATE related help.

13. How you kept yourself focused during those 3 brutal hours?

This is the most frequent question I am being asked and frankly I was asking this questions from past two years to people. I have a focus problem. My mind deviates a lot.

During GATE exam, I was very calm. I told myself that I have toiled very hard. I have dedicated more than 200% to this cause and If I don’t succeed today its okay. I tried my best.

This way I was not in a pressure of performing. I took one question at a time and if I was not able to solve some questions I didn’t become nervous and remained calm.

Honestly it never worked for me before in test series. I tried the same thing many times but it was a miracle that it worked on the D-Day.

14. Any advice for future aspirants?

GATE is a wild horse and to tame it you shall have sheer determination and will. An unwavering commitment like you has shown never before. You must promise to yourself,  Come what may but you will not be afraid and demotivated.

Thank you Ankur Agrawal for your quality time. I wish you all the very best for your future !!