How to crack GATE Exam

GATE, itself means opening lucrative opportunities in several public sector enterprises and research organizations. However, based on the score achieved in GATE, admissions are being offered in IITs, IISc, and NITs, and abundant opportunities for campus placements with highest salary packages. 

The eligibility to appear for GATE exam - :

• Bachelor's degree holder candidates in Engineering/ Technology/ Architecture (4 years after 10+2) and also those who are pursuing the final year of such program.

• Bachelor's degree holders in Engineering/ Technology/ Architecture (Post-B.Sc./Post-Diploma) and those who are in the final year of such programs.

• Also master's degree holders in any branch such as Science/ Mathematics/ Statistics/ Computer Applications or equivalent and those who are in the final year of such programs.

• Candidates in the second or higher year of the Four-year Integrated Master's degree Programme (Post-B.Sc.) in Engineering/Technology.

• Candidates in the fourth or higher year of Five-year Integrated Master's degree Programme or Dual Degree Programme in Engineering/Technology.

• Those candidates with qualifications obtained through examinations conducted by professional societies recognized by UPSC/AICTE (e.g. AMIE by Institute of Engineers (India); AMICE by Institute of Civil Engineers (India)) as equivalent to B.E. /B. Tech. Those who have completed section A or equivalent of such professional courses are also eligible.

Have a look on exam pattern of GATE:-

GATE Exam Pattern

Section Question

No. No. of

Questions Marks Per

Question Total

Marks

General Aptitude 1 to 5 5 1 5

Technical

+

Engineering

Mathematics 1 to 25 25 1 25

26 to 55 30 2 60

Total Questions : 65 Total Marks : 100 Total Duration : 3 hours

Technical Section :

 70 marks General Aptitude: 15 marks Engineering Mathematics :

15 marks

25 marks to 40 marks will allotted to Numeric Answer Type Questions

There will be a negative marking also – Have a look:-

Negative Marking

Questions Type Marks Negative Marking

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) 1 mark 0.33

2 marks 0.66

Numerical Answer Questions 1 mark Nil

2 marks Nil

Now, see the exam schedule of GATE below - 

GATE Exam Schedule

Date & Day               Session No.         Time                     Test Paper Code             

4th February

(Saturday) 1 09:00 – 12.00 Hrs.

(Forenoon) ME

2 2:00 – 5:00 Hrs.

(Afternoon) ME

5th February

(Sunday) 3 09:00 – 12.00 Hrs.

(Forenoon)           EC, PI 

4 2:00 – 5:00 Hrs.

(Afternoon) EC

11th February

(Saturday) 5 09:00 – 12.00 Hrs.

(Forenoon) CS, EE 

6 2:00 – 5:00 Hrs.

(Afternoon) CS, EE 

12th February

(Sunday) 7 09:00 – 12.00 Hrs.

(Forenoon) CE

8 2:00 – 5:00 Hrs. 

(Afternoon) CE, IN

Last Date for Request for Change in the

Choice of Examination City via GOAPS login November mid (Wednesday)

Availability of Admit Card on the Online

Application Interface for printing January  beginning (Thursday)

Announcement of Results on the Online Application Website March end (Monday)

Have a brief details on ‘Subject Specialization Priority’ -  

1. Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering

• VLSI Design Tool Technology

• Integrated Electronics & Circuits

• Micro Electronics

• Microwave Engineering

• Communication Engg.

• Telecommunication Technology & Management

• Optoelectronics & Optical Communication

• Nanotechnology

• Digital Signal Processing

• Control & Automation

2. Electrical Engineering

• Power Electronics

• Machines & Drives

• Power Systems

• Control & Automation

• Digital Signal Processing

• Instrumentation Technology

3. Mechanical Engineering

• Design of Mechanical Equipment or Machine Design

• Thermal Engineering

• Manufacturing Science & Engineering

• Production Engineering

• Industrial Engineering

• Material Science & management

4. Civil Engineering

• Structural Engineering

• Geotechnical Engineering

• Construction Engineering &Management

• Transportation Engineering

• Environmental Engineering

• Earthquake Engineering

• Water Resources Engineering

• Rock Engineering & Underground Structure

5. Computer Science and Engineering & Information Technology

• Computer Science

• Information Technology

• Information Security

• Software Engineering

• Distributed Computing

• Image Processing

• Computer Systems and Hardware

• Database and Information Systems

• Programming languages

• Computer Networks and Distributed Systems

• Artificial Intelligence

• Advanced Computing

Tips to prepare for GATE - 

• One of the most popular GATE examination consists only of multiple and numerical answer type questions, hence only correct answer fetches marks.

• Try to practice previous year question papers and also analyze the weak topics and concentrate more on those topics. Candidates should try their best to solve the papers in a given time limit to obtain an idea as to how many questions are solved within the allotted time.

• Don’t forget to impart equal emphasis on both theory and numerical problems. 

• One should always browse through the GATE syllabus for topics allotted more weightage and prepare them.

• Do you know, group Study is an effective way to brush up knowledge about technical topics with fellow partners and also helps to explore new techniques and methods to better understand the topics? So try to study in a group. 

• Don’t be overconfident, as there is negative marking associated with the questions. 

• Firstly, prepare the list of important definitions, equations, derivations, theorems, laws in every subject.

• Last but not the least pay more attention while attempting linked and common data questions.