From 38 Marks to AIR 38: Shreyas Devesh’s GATE 2026 Breakthrough with PW

Most GATE aspirants begin their preparation with a lot of effort but very little clarity. They keep changing resources, feel unsure about the right strategy, and often struggle to understand what actually leads to improvement in the exam. In many cases, the problem is not a lack of hard work but the absence of proper direction and consistency.

For Shreyas Devesh, Physics Wallah became the turning point in his GATE preparation journey. After scoring around 38 marks in an earlier attempt, he rebuilt his approach through PW’s lectures, disciplined study routine, and focused revision strategy. With consistent guidance, timely completion of the syllabus, and dedicated test analysis in the final phase, he secured AIR 38 in GATE 2026. His journey highlights how the right mentorship and a clear preparation path can completely transform results.

The Early GATE Attempt That Exposed the Gap

Like many aspirants, Shreyas did not grow up with a clear goal of cracking GATE. His awareness came gradually, shaped by his surroundings and what he observed in college.

It was not a planned decision, but a moment of curiosity that introduced him to the exam.

"Maine apne ek senior ko dekha tha preparation karte hue, tab mujhe samajh aaya ki GATE bhi hota hai."

That curiosity led him to attempt the exam in his third year. But the result revealed a gap between effort and outcome.

"Third year mein maine GATE diya tha… tab mera score lagbhag 38-39 tha."

This score wasn’t a failure, but it wasn’t enough to reach his goals. It became a turning point, pushing him to move beyond casual preparation and take a more serious approach.

From Distractions and Scattered Effort to Clear Focus

At this stage, the biggest challenge was not a lack of resources but a lack of focus. Like most students, he had multiple responsibilities competing for his attention.

He realised that unless he simplified his priorities, his preparation would remain inconsistent.

"Mujhe click hua ki sab kuch nahi ho sakta… kuch cheezon ko sacrifice karna padega tabhi kuch achieve hoga."

This realisation led to a clear and practical decision. Instead of trying to manage everything together, he restructured his final year around GATE preparation.

"Final year mein maine decide kiya ki bas project aur GATE pe hi focus karunga."

By doing this, he removed unnecessary distractions and created a stable routine. This clarity allowed him to stay consistent—something that often becomes the biggest differentiator in long-term preparation.

How Did PW Lectures Shape Shreyas’s Preparation Strategy?

Once his priorities were clear, the next challenge was execution. Like many GATE aspirants, he realised that what was being taught in college was not fully aligned with GATE requirements, especially when it came to building strong fundamentals.

"Jo bhi college mein sikhaya hai wo guaranteed GATE mein nahi aane wala… basics pe itna concentrate nahi karte."

This is where the actual learning started, making a real difference. Instead of relying on scattered sources, he chose to follow a single, consistent path through PW’s Gate Wallah lectures.

He began from the basics and gradually built his understanding subject by subject.

"Maine start kiya basic thermodynamics se Shivam sir ke lectures se."

To ensure steady progress, he followed a disciplined daily routine rather than depending on motivation.

"Main try karta tha ki roz at least 6 lectures karu… aur maths bhi daily karta tha."

This consistency allowed him to complete most of his core syllabus by November, something many aspirants struggle to achieve.

"November tak main subjects ho gaye the."

But the real advantage of PW’s ecosystem became visible in the later stages. It wasn’t just about completing lectures—it was about preparing for revision and testing with the same structure.

"PW ke test series wo bahut achha hai kyunki subject wise aur topic wise they tell ki kahaan marks lose kiya aapne."

With clear insights into his weak areas, he could focus his efforts more effectively instead of studying everything randomly again.

This combination of concept clarity, lectures, and detailed test analysis transformed his preparation from scattered effort into a focused, trackable system. 

The Last Three Months That Changed Everything 

In the final months before GATE, preparation often becomes stressful and difficult to manage properly. But for Shreyas, this phase was carefully planned.

Instead of continuing with new learning, he shifted his entire focus toward revision and testing.

"Last ke teen mahine maine pura focus test series aur revision pe kiya."

He also made his revision more efficient by compressing information into short notes.

"Har subject ke 4-5 pages ke short notes bana liye the."

However, the biggest difference came from how he treated test series—not as a score-checking tool, but as a learning mechanism.

"Test series wala phase hi main phase hota hai… wahi actual learning hoti hai."

Even when scores dropped, he didn’t ignore them. He used them to identify weak areas and improve.

"Kabhi 15 mein 8 marks aaye… kabhi 5 bhi aaye… tab samajh aaya ki yahan marks lose nahi karne hain."

He also used technology smartly to enhance his analysis.

"Main apni score sheet ChatGPT mein daalta tha… wahan se samajh aata tha ki kahan improve karna hai."

This phase transformed his preparation from passive study into active performance improvement.

The Thinking Shift That Turned Effort into AIR 38

By this stage, his preparation had evolved—but the final push came from a change in mindset.

He realised that simply completing lectures and notes was not enough. What mattered was performance in exam-like conditions.

"Hum jitna bhi padh lein, agar test mein apply nahi kar pa rahe to uska fayda nahi hai."

This understanding shifted his focus toward accuracy, analysis, and continuous improvement.

"Jo mistakes test mein ho rahi hain, unko analyse karna bahut zaroori hai."

Instead of chasing more content, he worked on refining what he already knew. This optimisation mindset is what ultimately converted his preparation into a top rank.

And when the result came, it reflected the entire journey.

"Main ro raha tha… mummy papa ko bataya to woh bhi emotional ho gaye."

Shreyas Devesh’s journey proves that success in GATE is not about doing everything; it is about doing the right things at the right time.With Physics Wallah’s comprehensive lectures, focused preparation, and a strong emphasis on test analysis, he transformed a 38 score into AIR 38. The takeaway is simple: build clarity early, complete the syllabus on time, and use the final months to improve accuracy and performance, as this phase often plays a decisive role in determining ranks.