How to study for GPAT!

Hey guys

This is my first post here and I wanted it to be regarding my field.

If you have seen my introduction section, you will realise that I am in my final year of bachelors in pharmacy.  

I recently gave a competitive exam named GPAT.

'The Graduate Pharmacy Aptitude Test is an annual all‑India examination conducted by All India Council for Technical Education, New Delhi, to evaluate candidates for admission of Pharmacy graduates into the Masters (M. Pharm) programmes.'

This is basic idea that Wikipedia gives about the exam but from this year on, the governing body has been changed. It is now managed by NTA (National Testing agency) which also governs popular exams like JEE etc.

If you are an Indian student, specially from a background of Science or even commerce, you would be very familiar with the idea of coaching for these exams.

Be it AIPMT, CMAT, CAT, JEE... name anything and there are at least 10 centres teaching it or shoving it down the throat of kids.

Not to mention there are highly reputed coaching centres providing advertisement upto insane mark.

To begin with, I did take normal tuition for PCB in my 10-12th.

But I was naive back then i guess because when I look back now, I didn't need one for biology. 

Times have changed. We have technology at our door step and we have grown to realise that self study is the master because as much as someone spoon feeds you, you can't succeed without your own learning.

Though I do recognise that guidance is very important.

So, here are major 'what I did' and 'what I wish I did' for qualifying GPAT 2019 with 205/500 and rank:175

~~What i did~~

1. Common misconception: Guides like Pearson and Inamdar are very common to guide.

This is very common for people to think that 'Ye toh sab padhte hai' meaning everyone reads these books.

This is true but these have very basic concepts and are good for quick revision and highlighting key points that you might skip in the last moment.

What could be improved: " The answers and the questions at the end of each sessions."

The answers can be quite misguiding and some of the questions are placed in wrong section.

2. Mistake: Skipping KDT (K D Tripathi)

This book is like Veda for us. You can not skip it and hope for the best to happen.

I didn't read all of it but I didn't skip it either.

Like this year most people would have skipped the digestive system and its drugs in Pharmacology but there was more than one question from it. And believe me, even easy question can be confusing in that moment. 

Also, coaching weigh more on children to read only important topics like Anti-cancer agents alone from it and rest from their notes.

So, don't do that.

Everything you feel inside is important, is probably important. 

3. Ignoring the depth of small subjects:

Our syllabus for GPAT is of almost 19 pages and its obvious for any kid to skip the small subjects and topics like sterilisation from hcp/microbiology or inner parts of jurisprudence.

But had I not read them, i would have lost a few marks

Suggestion: Revise things. This would have prevented my silly mistakes and my score would have been around 220. (Specially, once having learning values and numbers.)

Schedules trick can be obtained online and there is absolute no need to worry. The ability to remember comes with revision.

4. Seeing what others are doing:

Okay. Here we go. This is the first and foremost requirement.

I was listening to a motivational speech by a famous public speaker Sandeep and the following words struck me.

'Learn from everyone and follow no one'

So yes I did take a few bit of help here and there.

I have done my set of group studies but these were also causes of my anxiety and deviation.

Tip: Teach someone. Teaching someone is better than group study. That way the number of people decrease and so does the anxiety of performing for or because of them.

Record yourself. Listen to the recording. I have done this for chemistry as well as physical pharmacy.

5. Go at your own pace:

I started this journey in June 2018 after my final exams of third year. 

I was very slow. And I'm a slow learner since I want to learn as much and deeply as possible.

So,without guidance and my own slow self I was naturally crawling. But I kept moving forward.

I did give mock tests (didn't like the site/platform/coaching) but my speed improved only after my personal sessional exams in college which was in November.

This was perhaps due to my ability to distinguish between cramming for normal exam vs GPAT.

~You have to understand and other common myths~

Myth: Its about understanding

Truth: Understanding is important if the paper comes off as something like that but, cramming is a necessity. You CAN NOT understand a value or the name of the drug.

Myth: Mnemonics don't help

Truth: They do. Only if you revise them again and again and make it as casual as possible.

Myth: This shows who truly studies

Truth: Perhaps to an extend yes but this is more about how much you revised, were focused and revised each part again and again.

It does determine your future to an extend but this isn't the end and you are not dumb if you don't qualify.

Myth: If I view or score well in all mock test, I will be able to do it all

Truth: Questions aren't repeated and since this time governing body changed there were like only 2-3 questions from analysis though a lot of scope for better questions was there.

MOCK TESTS are more about time management and watching out for silly mistakes like not reading a 'not' etc.

Myth: Its tough to score above 200+

Truth: Its not. I would have scored more if i wasn't so distracted. And if you study smartly it isn't.

~~Things I wish I knew~~

1. Focus on the goal even when you are average, you can do it.

2. Lots of online materials are available to study. You just have to do research and find proper place to obtain it.

3.Coaching kids are NOT better than you. They are in same phase as you and few extra notes won't make a difference unless they are working hard.

4. Sometimes luck is important. Other times revision helps. I did revise a few topics in last days but I could have done better.

5. Don't learn new topics in the end but look for small important parts you skipped and have the urge to do. As in, if you don't and spot a question there is going to be a lot of regret.

6. Find peace with your progress.

7. Mock tests are scary and specially if you are doing it from coaching sites (LOL. I could have mentioned the name since this is completely my place to write but I won't) because they add questions from their notes or their point of view. This doesn't make what you learnt less important. And to be very honest, nothing learnt by you can be a waste.

8. Do not get involved in unnecessary pressures. And do not obliviate your health or peace for the exam. 

9. Work harder? No. Work smarter. 

10. Keep yourself healthy and functioning. I have seen people have a break down right after the exam and even during it. Do not do that to yourself.

11. To an extend, yes it does determine your future. But, getting into top university doesn't ensure life long happiness or a good career. Be yourself and do work hard and smart. Good luck.

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