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During GATE, Ekta said she prioritised one-liners, simple numericals, and questions similar to previous years, which helped her secure a solid base score early on.
A native of Odisha, Ekta Priyadarshinee secured rank 1 in GATE chemical engineering exam.
Meet Ekta Priyadarshinee, who secured the top rank GATE Chemical Engineering result, says “it felt unreal”. A native of Odisha, the 23-year-old couldn’t believe she topped the exam. “I had worked very hard, but securing Rank 1 was something I had only imagined in my dreams. For a few seconds, I just stared at the screen, trying to confirm if it was actually true. It was a powerful mix of happiness, disbelief, and deep gratitude,” she said.
“I chose Chemical Engineering because I was fascinated by how the core principles of chemistry, physics, and mathematics blend together to solve real-world industrial problems. The wide scope of the field—from energy to pharmaceuticals—made it even more appealing to me,” she told News18.
She started preparing for GATE during her semesters, with serious, focused preparation beginning from from her third year only. Initially, her motivation came from understanding the importance of GATE for higher studies and PSU opportunities. Over time, it became more about pushing her own limits and seeing how far she could go. She also took coaching from PW’s Gate Wallah.
Preparation Strategy
Her preparation was built on consistency rather than extremely long study hours. On a typical day, she revised concepts, solved numericals, and analysed previous year questions. She concentrated on making her fundamentals as strong as possible. Her overall strategy was straightforward: first gain clear concept understanding, then practise extensively, analyse mistakes and performance, and finally revise regularly.
“There were phases of self-doubt and mental fatigue, be it on an academic level or on a personal level. I reminded myself of my long-term goal and focused on small improvements rather than perfection. To manage distractions, I limited interactions during some months and stayed focused on my own progress,” she added.
Exam Process
During the actual GATE exam, Ekta’s approach was to attempt only those questions that were direct and conceptually clear. She prioritised one-liners, simple numericals, and questions that resembled previous year patterns which helped her secure a solid base score early on and boosted my confidence, she said.
“I attempted only direct and conceptually clear questions—mainly one-liners, straightforward numericals, and familiar PYQ-based patterns. This helped me secure a strong base score quickly and build confidence. I used elimination techniques, approximation, or dimensional analysis, wherever applicable. I also ensured that I kept the last 15 to 20minutes exclusively for rechecking, especially NAT questions,” she stated.
Looking Ahead
Her academic journey began at DAV Public School, Chandrasekharpur, where she completed her 10th, followed by ODM Public School, Bhubaneswar for her 12th. She is currently pursuing B.Tech at VSSUT, Burla. Now, she plans to build a career in the core engineering sector, ideally through a PSU. She wants to apply her knowledge in real industrial environments and contribute in a meaningful way to the nation’s development.
To future aspirants, she asks them to stay consistent and trust the process. “Focus on understanding concepts rather than just memorising formulas. Practice regularly, analyse your mistakes, and don’t let temporary setbacks define your journey. Most importantly, believe in yourself, if you stay disciplined and determined, achieving your goals is absolutely possible,” she said.
April 01, 2026, 11:21 IST
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