Opening a previous-year paper before you have studied anything can make the syllabus feel larger than it is. Instead, use papers at two different points in your preparation: first to see how questions are framed, then later to practise working through a complete paper. That gives you context without asking one paper to do every job.

Start with topic-level practice

Once you have studied a topic, look for related questions in the papers you have available. Attempt them before checking the solutions, and note whether the question tests a fact, a method, or the ability to connect ideas. This makes revision more active than rereading notes alone.

Notice how questions are framed

In Mathematics, pay attention to the steps a problem requires and where an easy-looking calculation can go off track. In the GAT, notice the difference between recalling information and understanding the wording or context of a question. Record recurring weak areas, but do not assume that a topic will appear in exactly the same way again.

Keep a useful paper record

Write the paper or year beside each question you review, along with the topic and any mistake you want to avoid. When you later attempt a full paper, follow the instructions provided with that paper and review it in the same deliberate way as a mock test. Use freely available papers and notes as practice tools, not as predictions of what the next examination will contain.