GATE 2026 DA AIR 132 Chandan Singh Chauhan's Success Story with Physics Wallah

Every GATE rank has a story behind it, but Chandan Singh Chauhan's journey stands out because of the remarkable improvement he achieved in just one year. After securing AIR 1200 in his first attempt, he analysed what was missing, prepared with greater focus, and transformed his performance into AIR 132 in GATE 2026 DA.

Rather than preparing for placements, Chandan's goal was to pursue M.Tech and move towards AI research. His experience shows how focused preparation and the right guidance can bring significant improvement, even within a limited timeframe.

Chandan Singh Chauhan Learned from His First GATE Attempt

Chandan's first attempt was not backed by serious preparation. While he had enrolled in a course, his college activities and competitions kept him occupied throughout the year.

"Sir, meri rank 1200 thi... batch liya tha sir, but padha nahi tha."

Looking back, he realised that simply enrolling in a course was not enough. During college, he was actively involved in robotics competitions and other activities, leaving little time for structured GATE preparation. The first attempt became an important learning experience that motivated him to prepare sincerely the following year.

Limited Time Made Chandan Singh Chauhan Focus on Smart Preparation

Chandan began preparing seriously during the final year of his B.Tech when the academic workload became comparatively lighter. Since he started around November, time management became one of his biggest concerns.

"Mujhe lag raha tha ki November se start kiya hai... time kam pad jayega."

Although the preparation window was short, his strong college fundamentals gave him a solid starting point. Instead of worrying about covering everything again, he focused on understanding the GATE pattern and improving his problem-solving speed.

This practical approach helped him stay confident despite beginning his preparation later than many aspirants.

How Physics Wallah Helped Chandan Understand the GATE Pattern

To strengthen his preparation, Chandan joined Physics Wallah's Vijay Rank Improvement Batch. When the host suggested that his strong college foundation had helped build his basics while PW's platform helped him learn the type of questions asked in GATE, Chandan agreed.

"Sahi hai sir. Sahi hai... PW ke platform se hi mujhe pata chala ki kis tarah ke question puche ja sakte hain."

He also watched recorded lectures at higher speed to revise efficiently.

"Main lectures baad mein dekh raha tha... 2x speed pe."

Rather than spending excessive time collecting multiple resources, Chandan focused on learning the exam pattern, practising relevant questions, and making the best use of the available time.

Mock Tests Became Chandan Singh Chauhan's Biggest Strength

Once his concepts were clear, Chandan concentrated on improving his speed through regular mock tests.

"Speed ke liye sir maine bahut mock tests diye... speed improve ho gayi."

His mock test scores remained consistent throughout the preparation, which gave him confidence before the final examination. However, they also helped him identify one important habit that carried over into the actual exam.

"Paper mein maine ek chhoti si mistake ki... starting ke questions easy the, main unhe cross-check karta raha."

Although cross-checking consumed valuable time during the exam, the consistent practice through mock tests enabled him to maintain accuracy and perform well overall.

Chandan Singh Chauhan Prepared for Higher Studies, Not Placements

Unlike many GATE aspirants whose primary objective is PSU recruitment or placements, Chandan had a different goal from the beginning. When asked if his aim was research rather than a job, he confirmed:

"Haan, padhna hi aim tha. Abhi bhi padhna hi hai."

His focus remained on pursuing M.Tech and eventually contributing to AI research. After achieving AIR 132, he started exploring Robotics and Data Science programmes, with IISc Bengaluru's Robotics programme — where the cutoff last year went up to a GATE score of 800 — among a handful of institutes on his radar.

His result brought him one step closer to the academic journey he had envisioned.

Chandan Singh Chauhan's Advice for GATE Aspirants

Reflecting on his preparation, Chandan believes that students should never ignore opportunities to learn, whether in college or through coaching.

"Jahan bhi knowledge mil raha hai, wahan focus kijiye... mere gate mein hi kaam aaya tha, mujhe kya pata tha ki second year mein jo padha rahe hain wo gate mein kaam aayega."

According to him, strong fundamentals build the base for GATE preparation, while mock tests and practice help convert that knowledge into a good rank. His journey from AIR 1200 to AIR 132 shows that steady improvement is possible when students stay focused and make the most of every learning opportunity.

Chandan Singh Chauhan's story proves that success in GATE does not always require years of preparation. Learning from past mistakes, strengthening fundamentals, practising consistently, and understanding the exam pattern can make a significant difference. His journey encourages aspirants to stay consistent, trust the preparation process, and keep improving one step at a time.