From Financial Struggles to AIR 6: How Physics Wallah Helped Kaustav Guha Roy Ace GATE EE
Rhythm Dhiman23 Mar, 2026
Share
Sometimes, the toughest journeys produce the strongest results. For Kaustav Guha Roy, GATE preparation was not just about ambition—it was about responsibility. With financial pressure at home and a demanding final year at Jadavpur University, he had every reason to take the easier route. Instead, he chose discipline, long-term vision, and the challenge of cracking one of India’s toughest exams.
What makes his journey stand out is not just the AIR 6, but how he got there. By smartly using Physics Wallah’s recorded lectures, relying on concise notes, and practising through test series, he built a preparation strategy that fit into his hectic schedule. His story is a reminder that success in competitive exams isn’t about perfect conditions, but about making the most of what you have.
Check: PW GATE 2026 Felicitation - Celebrating Toppers Achievement
How Kaustav Prioritised His Career to Overcome Financial Hardship
For Kaustav, the journey was about long-term stability in the public sector rather than just a quick job after graduation. Balancing his final year with the need to support his family was a major challenge, yet he remained firm on his path.
"Mere papa bhi working nahi hai, retired hai aur mere bhaiya hai, phir bhi mai job ke liye GATE de raha tha."
His father is no longer working, which usually adds pressure to get a job quickly. However, Kaustav stayed focused on his goal of reaching a high-level position through the GATE exam.
"Higher studies ka as such koi zyada plan abhi nahi hai... mainly PSUs ya jo baaki jobs GATE ke through ho sakti hai."
While many use GATE for further education, his immediate priority is financial independence. He summarises his target clearly: he wants to enter the public sector directly to support his household.
"College ke saath thoda plan karna mushkil hota hai kyunki batch ke according plan karna bahut mushkil hota hai agar aap free na ho."
This shows he was willing to invest his final year in rigorous study, recognising that a high GATE score is the most reliable gateway to a prestigious and secure career.
Adapting Preparation to a Packed College Schedule
He followed a systematic approach, adapting the PW curriculum to fit his busy college life. Instead of forcing himself into a live schedule that didn't fit, he mastered the art of learning through recorded content.
"Maine mostly PW ke jo batches ke classes the unke notes follow karta tha... Mai zyada lectures nahi kar paata tha college ki wajah se."
Because of his university timings, attending every live session was impossible, so he pivoted his strategy to ensure his syllabus didn't suffer.
"Is wajah se recording lectures dekhta tha... live stream mein majorly nahi dekhta tha."
Watching recordings allowed him to learn at his own pace during late nights or weekends. By mastering the art of learning through recorded content, he ensured he didn't miss out on quality instruction.
"Topic coverage ke liye main zyada tar handbook aur apne notes ko hi prefer karta tha."
He relied on batch notes and handbooks to keep his preparation organised amidst his heavy college workload at Jadavpur University.
Overcoming Setbacks While Maintaining Consistency
Even highly motivated students face periods of struggle, especially when balancing university exams and the lengthy syllabus of core Electrical Engineering.
"Gate Wallah ka jo power system ka topic coverage hai, main woh saara saare ke saare notes padhe the, toh usse mujhe help aaya tha."
Power Systems is a massive subject, and he ensured he didn't skip a single part of the PW notes for it. This helped him during the exam, even though he faced scheduling issues.
"Main woh tests bahut saare miss kar gaya tha... main do-teen de paaya tha, lekin weekly woh miss kar gaya tha."
The busy final year meant he couldn't always appear for the weekly assessments on time. However, he didn't let the backlog demotivate him and focused on the bigger picture.
"Baad mein jo main test series thi wahi maine diya tha... kyunki college ke saath batch ke according plan karna mushkil hota hai."
Missing milestones didn't stop him; he simply shifted his focus to the main full-length test series and topic-wise mastery to ensure he was ready for the final exam.
How Did Physics Wallah Become the Key to His Consistent Preparation and Success?
Physics Wallah provided the high-quality resources and flexibility Kaustav needed to balance his dual life as a student and a GATE aspirant.
"Practice ke liye toh main toh test series follow karta tha... jo practice mein aapko question diye jaate the classroom ke, jo achhe question hote the."
He found the classroom practice questions to be of high quality, helping him prepare for the actual difficulty level of the GATE paper.
"Practice se jo bhi questions achhe lage, toh unse separate ek notes bana liya tha khud ka bhi."
Whenever he encountered a tricky problem, he documented it immediately. This focused practice ensured that concepts stuck, making his exam preparation more efficient.
"Electrical mein core thoda lengthy aaya tha... usko jisne achhe se target kiya tha woh achha score karega."
Having access to high-quality recorded content and dedicated notes allowed him to navigate a difficult and "lengthy" paper where others might have struggled.
Kaustav’s Exam Day Strategy and Performance Under Pressure
For many students, the challenge is performing under pressure during the actual three-hour exam. Kaustav reflects on his performance and the strategy that led to his success.
"74 ke around aa raha hai... mujhe lag raha hai ki 90 plus jayega is baar topper score."
While he expected a high topper score, he stayed focused on his own accuracy. Maintaining this score on a tough paper is a testament to his grit and discipline.
"Paper was not that easy ki matlab easily ek flow mein aap banate jao aur banta jayega... beech-beech mein kuch lengthy questions the."
The paper was full of challenges, but his disciplined approach allowed him to solve them without losing focus or time.
"Usi ne achha kiya hoga jisne paper ko achhe se plan kiya hoga ki jo koi lengthy cheez hai usko baad mein rakh dete hain."
By managing his time wisely and skipping time-consuming questions initially, he ensured he maximised his marks in the domains he had mastered.
From High Ranks to Real Jobs: The Power of Proper Guidance
With an incredible AIR 6, Kaustav’s focus has now shifted to the final hurdle: the PSU interviews. He is already seeking wisdom from those who have already succeeded.
"Jo already job mein gaye hain unka kya experience raha... woh experience agar pata hai toh aapko taiyaar karna bahut easy ho jata hai."
He recognises that technical knowledge and interview skills are different. Hearing from seniors in PSUs helps take the guesswork out of the preparation.
"Puri community ke liye rahega aisa jo bhi bachha taiyaar kar raha hai... usse cheezein pata rahengi toh preparation easy ho jata hai."
Understanding the interview process helps build the confidence needed to succeed. Kaustav’s journey proves that with the right mentorship and an iron will, no hardship is too great.
"Aap log jo guidance denge usko thoda sa follow up karte rehna... taaki idea rahega ki kis PSU ka kitna cutoff ja raha hai."
Kaustav’s achievement of AIR 6 proves that even with financial pressure and a packed college schedule, a top rank is possible. By utilising Physics Wallah’s flexible resources and staying disciplined, he turned his constraints into a success story. His journey serves as a practical guide for any student looking to balance university life with high-level career goals.
Elevate your GATE readiness with Physics Wallah’s GATE Online Courses. PW GATE Online Coaching offers comprehensive live sessions customised to the syllabus, valuable study materials, practice tests, and much more.