Thanks @gokou for mentioning my name first of all for this..:) .I am coming to ur questions one by one..These questions are genuine and needs to be addressed..But I m telling from my perspective..So in some cases opinion may differ.Now answering your questions.
Answer to question no 1 :
See gate aptitude is not that tough like CAT exam .So u should be careful enough to solve the questions of aptitude that u do not commit mistakes here.Also generally there are about 10 questions in this section : 5 1 mark and 5 2 marks questions which also includes english(synonyms , antonyms , sentence correction/completion , drawing inference etc).So English should not take more than 5 minutes in the worst case..Since u know that in these questions either u know the answer or u dont..No solving is involved..:).
In the rest of the 10 marks , the logical reasoning based questions like number series , simple geometry based questions , factorisation , factorial etc should not take much time..The time consuming questions include from the area of quantitative aptitude and data interpretation and data sufficiency.
In data interpretation and data sufficiency based questions , they are easy but a bit time taking .So better to write the relevant points on the paper prior to answering as otherwise there is a chance that u can commit mistake.
Overall , in a nutshell , aptitude should not take u more than 20 - 25 minutes.
Answer to question no 2 :
Well here difference of perception may occur..I follow the normal sequence i.e. aptitude and then technical part.But if u feel that u r strong and confident enough to start with a technical section then aptitude or u r not so good in aptitude then go with technical section first.
Answer to question no 3 and 5 :
i) I am answering these collectively bcoz they are related.It is not like attempt in a sequential manner ; first all one marks question then 2 marks question..They should be done according to the level of ease.However 1 mark questions are generally easier and less conceptual than 2 marks question.So better to start with 1 mark question and 2 marks question..Solve all the question that u feel confident in 1 scan of the paper or which takes less time.By less time I mean those questions that can be solved within 1 minute or roughly 1 minute . This will boost your confidence immensely.
In the second scan come to those questions which are conceptual or time taking and solve those properly.Remember in this exam u should not spend more than 4-5 minutes to a question.Do not feel in love with a question..:)..If u r not able to solve it , then it is better to leave it then and there.Why to sacrifice the time for 1 questions which will cost us other question as well.
Also u r asking how much time should be devoted to a question.See there are 2 types of questions :
a) One theoretical or concept which u know prior to answering question and hence requires no solving..So this can be done in around 1 minute each..But be careful in such questions as some close options may be there.
b) Another is numerical question which generally takes more time .So be patient in such questions , jot down the main data required for the question in the paper so that repetitive switch to screen does not occur.This also kills time and possibility of numerical based questions being incorrect becomes larger.
ii) One more approach of solving questions comes into picture when paper like GATE 2017 - SET 1 comes..In that , there were plenty of 1 - mark questions which were tricky and time consuming as well..In such a scenario , it is possible that one may get a bit worried due to 1 - mark questions and that may affect 2 marks questions..So in this case if at all one sees that 1 mark questions are time taking as well ; then it is better to start with 2 marks questions as that will lead to solving of 2 marks questions properly and within time frame ; thereby increasing one's marks to good extent..
In a nutshell , one should have either strategy (i) or (ii) as a general way of solving paper but at the same time one should be flexible enough to switch from (i) to (ii) if needed..
Answer to question no 4 :
Well this is a relative question actually .Normally this also depends on the level of difficulty of exam.For instance in GATE - 2013 , AIR 1 got 69 marks meaning that the paper was relatively difficult.So attempting near about 50 questions properly will also fetch you very good rank .Whereas the paper is moderate the same 69 marks may result to 100 rank also..
Similar is the case of GATE 2017 also..The one who was in set 1 and got around 70 as actual marks got into top 20 and the one who was in set 2 and got same marks got around 220-230 rank..That was the difference..So one has to be careful and attempt questions based on its merit ; not compulsorily that one has to attempt around 56-57 questions at any cost.Accuracy of attempt is a crucial factor..
So u have to gauge the difficulty of the paper and attempt accordingly.Dont think that it will always be the case that I have to solve 55 questions out of 65 questions.That is a wrong perception..And the ability to judge the difficulty of paper comes from practice only.No alternative for this..:)
I hope this answer will help you and all the other interested GATE aspirants..Best of luck to all for GATE 2018..:)
