Here is a list of steps of topper's strategy which will help for your GATE preparation:

Step 1: Know about the GATE Examination

• The GATE Exam is a single paper online examination of three hours, with 65 questions carrying a total of 100 marks.
• The question paper will consist of both multiple choice questions and numerical answer type questions.

Step 2: Know the Syllabus & Weightage of  each subject

• Since there are many subjects included in the syllabus, it is important that you should observe complete syllabus.
• Match your knowledge with the GATE syllabus and plan your preparation with known subjects.
• Know Weightage for each subject based on previous year papers and target your preparation to carry more marks in GATE exam.

Step 3 : Select Good Books & Materials for GATE preparation

• Selections of good study materials and books are very important at initial stages of GATE Preparations.
• Reading one or two books are sufficient for each subject. Always give first priority for reading from book rather than other resources.
• You may prepare with online video lecture, course material, coaching notes, etc.
• You can also prepare the books that you have followed during undergraduate course.

Step 4 : Tips to remember and follow during preparation

• Understand the previous year questions pattern
• Practice previous year questions during preparation
• Try to understand the concepts, practice tests and revise regularly.
• Most of the questions in GATE are conceptual & numerical, so you must try to improve your solving ability & time management to score a good rank.

Step 4 : Plan your GATE preparation

• 4 to 8 months preparation plan will be a good idea to crack the GATE exam.
• Create the preparation plan daily wise or weekly wise by giving enough time for each subject.
• Your plan should include syllabus completion, revision, and practice tests.
• It is a good idea to make a time table and formulate your daily tasks. Once you have set daily, weekly and monthly targets, you will see better results for the same amount of effort.

Step 5 : Follow the plan to complete the syllabus

• First step in the preparation is to start with an easy subject and important one. Toppers suggestion is to begin with mathematics and one basic technical subejct.
• Read topic by topic to complete entire subject.
• Make a revision note for each topic that should cover all important definition, formulas, differences, etc.
• Practice topic wise previous GATE questions after understanding the each topic.
• Attempt the quizzes/tests for each topic and subject to know your performance.
• Clear all your doubts during your preparation.
• Discuss your doubts on "Gradeup" and Practice quizzes/tests to compare the performance with others.
• Identify the weakness areas while practicing quizzes/tests and try to revise and practice those topics.

Step 6 : Revise the GATE preparation

• It is not just sufficient enough to prepare revision notes, but also to revise them regularly.
• Read the revision notes on a weekly basis to recall the concepts of prepared subjects.
• Each time you revise the same topic/subject, your revision time will reduce to recall the concepts.

Step 7 : Practice the Mock Tests

• You can practice the mock tests in two ways. One is self practice on daily basis, and other is attempting online mock tests.
• Practice the mock tests to improve the performance. Performance depends on how much time devoted to answer each question and how many questions are answered correctly.

Step 8 : Revise and Practice in the last stage

• Finally, you should give time for both revisions and practice.
• Practice more tests, identify the weaker topics in each test and revise them.
• You can practice 2 to 5 tests on every day and recall all concepts during your practice.
• Your confidence will be increased day by day of this stage.

Step 9 : Last minute strategy for GATE Exam

• During last two days you are no need to study any new topics.
• During these two days, focus on revising the concepts.
• Be ready with your examination admit card and know your centre before the exam day.

Tips for GATE aspirants

1. Set your goals – Different goals have different strategies and hence it is important to define your goals in terms of the rank you want to achieve. If you are aspiring for the top IITs or PSUs, you will need a rank of less than 1000 and hence you will have to prepare thoroughly on all topics. On the other hand, if your goal is to just qualify, then you can afford to leave out 2-3 topics from your preparation.
2. Take a diagnostic test – Before starting your preparation it is important to know your initial level of competence.  An analysis of your performance in this test will tell you your strengths and areas where improvement is required. Based on this, you can device your preparation strategy.
3. Build your concepts – GATE is an exam which tests concepts as well as their application thoroughly. Join a good classroom program or a online tutoring program which will help strengthen your concepts.
4. Practice makes man perfect – As the old adage goes, there is nothing better than extensive practice. Solve all types of questions you come across in various books and be prepared on all question patterns
5. Familiarize with formulae – Engineering subjects have a lot of formulae, which more often than not have to be memorized. Noting down all formulae as and when you finish each topic or referring to a collection of formulae will help you get familiar.
6. Focus on high-return topics – Engineering Mathematics and General Ability constitute 30% of the total marks and are relatively easier to score in. You could look at some online lectures to prepare in these topics.
7. Appear in a Mock Test Series-– Take up a mock test series as it will help you adapt to the online pattern. It will also help you assess your preparation and based on the test analyze you can focus on areas that you are weak in and can prepare those areas. It will also give you exhaustive practice on different types of questions
8. Make your own exam strategy –Based on your experiments in the mock test series, you can fine tune your own exam strategy. Some people like to start solving a paper from the first question, while some people like to glance through the entire paper and start answering questions from their areas of strength.
9. Relax before the exam – One day before GATE, stop thinking about it. Watch a movie or anything that relaxes you. Appear for the exam with a fresh mind.
10. Remember that GATE is not the end of the world – Put your best foot forward and do not worry excessively about the results.