ESSENTIAL GUIDE FOR

GATE

PREPARATION

SuperProfs.com

Contents

BENEFITS OF GATE EXAM ............................................................................. 01

ALL ABOUT GATE 2015 .................................................................................. 02
ANALYSIS OF 2014 GATE RESULTS AND MTECH ADMISSIONS ..............03
PREPARATION TIPS FOR GATE ..................................................................... 04
RECOMMENDED STUDY MATERIAL FOR GATE ........................................ 08
INSPIRATIONAL SUCCESS STORIES ........................................................... 10

Introduction

We receive a lot of emails and queries from students all the time asking several questions about the
GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering) exam. What is the eligibility? What are the bene ts of
writing GATE? How to prepare for this exam? So on and so forth.
We decided it is time for us to put together a mini-course (so to say) where we will provide all the
above details and more!
The aim of this course is to provide you a 360 degree view of what the GATE exam is all about and how
to crack it. No - we are not likely to discuss the MOSFET s or Machine Design and other detailed
technical topics. That is not the intent.
Instead, this course will guide you on:
Bene ts of GATE exam
Information about GATE 2015
Analysis of 2014 GATE Results and MTech Admissions
Preparation tips
Recommended Study Material for GATE
Inspiration through success stories!
You can t wait, right? We re excited too! In our rst chapter, we will share details on all the bene ts you
could reap by appearing and excelling in the GATE exam!

The contents of this e-book have been compiled by SuperProfs.com with the assistance of expert GATE
faculty from India's leading coaching institutions and previous year GATE toppers.

Chapter 1

BENEFITS OF GATE EXAM

whole wide world of opportunities await you once you complete your Bachelor s in Engineering.
That being the case, why should you pursue GATE? Lets be honest, it is not for everybody. But if you

are one of those students who enjoys being an engineer and you know that is what you want to be -

GATE is the way ahead for you.

Bene ts of GATE Exam

Post-Graduate in IIT s & NIT s - A student seeking admission in M. Tech/MS in IISc / IITs / NITs and other
universities is advised to give the GATE exam as these institutes demand a good GATE score. What this
means is - by taking GATE and scoring well, students who were unlucky in IIT JEE get one more chance to
study in IISc / IITs and other premier institutions in India!
Post-Graduate abroad - Quite a few foreign universities in Singapore and Germany consider the GATE
score for their entrance process. This could open up international opportunities for you - both
academically as well as professionally.
Job and Career - The GATE exam can boost your career opportunities. You can apply to some of the top
PSUs (Public Sector Undertakings) that offer lucrative jobs based on their GATE scores. Companies such as
BHEL, Indian Oil Corporation, NTPC and Bhabha Atomic Research Centre look into the GATE scores for
selection of candidates into their organizations. More and more MNC s these days are beginning to give
weightage to a candidate with a good GATE score.

Now you know how useful a good GATE score can be for you! We ll now go straight to the next thing you
absolutely need to know - details about the upcoming GATE 2015 exam - in our next chapter.

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Chapter 2

ALL ABOUT GATE 2015

GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering) is the largest PG examination in India. The Indian Institute of
Science and seven Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs at Bombay, Delhi, Guwahati, Kanpur, Kharagpur,
Madras and Roorkee) jointly conduct GATE and this time (2015) the exam will be organized by IIT Kanpur.
The last date for the GATE 2015 online application submission was extended till October 14, 2014 due to the
oods in Jammu and Kashmir. By now, most of you would have already completed the application process
anyway so this should not change anything.
The GATE examination is scheduled to be held on January 31, February 1, February 7, February 8, February
14, 2015. You must keep in mind that admit cards will not be sent via post or mail. You can download the
same from the zonal GATE websites.
Examination for the 22 papers of GATE will be conducted by an online computer test. The GATE 2015
question papers will have two types of questions: multiple choice questions and numerical answer
questions.The announcement of results on online application website is expected on March 12, 2015.
Following the declaration of results, you will be able to download the GATE 2015 Score Card. The GATE 2015
score will be valid for a period of three years from the date of announcement of results.

We ve covered most of the important facts and deadlines you need to know about the upcoming GATE
exam. Next, we ll do a quick analysis of GATE 2014 exam results and how they impacted admissions to
MTech programs. That will help you in de ning your goals and you can plan your studies accordingly.

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Chapter 3

ANALYSIS OF 2014 GATE RESULTS

& MTECH ADMISSIONS

GATE 2014, organized by IIT Kharagpur, was conducted at 660 centers across 26 states in India. About
10,33,625 candidates registered for the exam.
Electronics and Communication Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science and Information
Technology, Electrical Engineering and Civil Engineering had the largest number of candidates appearing
for GATE 2014 in that exact order. The results of GATE 2014 were declared on 27th March 2014. The pass
percentage for this exam stood at just 16.84% i.e.1,49, 694 candidates.
The GATE cut-off scores for 2014 M.tech admission varied from institute to institute. GATE aspirants must
keep in mind that the cut-off scores for similar branches between institutes are not alike. For example the
cut-off score for civil engineering (geotechnical engineering) in NIT Agartala was set at 488, while IIT
Gandhinagar set the cut off at 525. The above mentioned cut-off score pertained to the general category,
while those for OBC, SC and ST were different.
Now why are we bringing you all this information? Because you need to know what your target must be! Do
a quick scan of GATE cut off scores for your branch of engg in the colleges where you d like to see yourself
in a couple of years. That will give you a target GATE score that you need to get this time round. Then you
can plan your studies accordingly and sail through to your MTech dream destination.
A rigorous three to four months preparation before the exam will give you the con dence you require to
write the paper - irrespective of how lofty your target GATE score is. Although the competition may seem
tough, if you prepare a study timetable and follow it wholeheartedly then the exam will be a piece of cake.

What will help further is - following some well known study tips and tricks that has helped previous year
toppers! We at SuperProfs.com, spoke to a few panel experts and previous year toppers and collated all
the tips they had to share.

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Chapter 4

PREPARATION TIPS FOR GATE

Today we get down to business. GATE is thought to be one of the toughest examinations in India where
competition is very high. However, if you adhere to the following tips - it will give you an edge over others!
General TIPS for preparation of the GATE exams
The earlier you begin preparations the better. Having said that a rigorous preparation of 5-6
months is suf cient.
Practice as many problems as you can from different books.
Go through online lecture videos by experienced professionals. This will help you remember the
concepts better.
A good understanding of the basic concepts and their application is a must. Students should not
just mug up the concepts but rather understand its purpose.
Group studies can prove helpful for the preparation of GATE. Group members can be assigned
different topics. Hold a brief session, discuss and exchange the notes prepared.
Prepare personal notes as you go through the various topics. This will make revision very easy.
Revision is one of the most important steps in the preparation process. Conduct self tests based
on different chapters.
Points to keep in mind during exam
Always take time to read through the questions carefully so that you do not miss out on any
point.
When solving a problem that has more than 6 to 7 steps, you must go through the entire
approach at least twice.
It is best to avoid making any guesses in the paper. Try and eliminate the choices by minimum
analysis.
Time management is essence. Students must maintain a balance between speed and accuracy.
A strong understanding of the fundamentals and concepts in addition to accuracy and speed is the key to
your success story in the GATE exam. Do not worry too much about the results, rather focus on putting your
best foot forward.

In our next chapter, we will bring you details about study material that experts have recommended for
GATE preparation.

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Chapter 5

RECOMMENDED STUDY MATERIAL

FOR GATE

The syllabus for the GATE exam is exhaustive! Technically, you could be questioned on any topic that you
learnt during the tenure of your undergrad course. That does sound daunting, doesn t it? But don t worry
for we have spoken to experts and previous year GATE toppers and compiled the recommended set of
study material for students preparing for GATE.
In general, you will need to plan and devote enough time on prescribed text books, mock tests (that are
available online), online lecture videos and other resources.
We have put up the resources separately for each branch of Engineering below
Electronics & Communication Engineering
Control System Engg. Nagrath & Gopal
Electronic Devices & Circuits J.B. Gupta
Modern Digital Electronics RP Jain
Op-Amps and Linear Integrated Circuits 4 Edition Ramakant A. Gayakwad
Antenna and Wave Propagation K D Prasad
Integrated Electronics Analog and Digital Circuits and Systems 2 Edition Jacob Millman,
Christos Halkias, Chetan Parikh
Discrete Time Signal Processing Oppenheim & Schafer
Engineering Circuit Analysis Hayt & Kammerly
Micro Electronics Circuit Sedra & Smith
Semiconductor devices S. M. Sze

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For information on more books visit:

http://www.gatestudy.com/list-of-books-for-gate-ece
http://thegateacademy.com/gate-reference-book/
Online study material:
http://www.respaper.com/gate/722/6807-pdf.html
http://www.jbigdeal.com/free-gate-electronics-and-communication-engineering-ec-mock-test-onlinepage-1
http://gate2015online.in/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/EC-2014-solved.pdf
Mechanical Engineering
Engineering Thermodynamics PK Nag
Industrial Engineering Buffa & Sarin
Power Plant Engineering PK Nag
Theory of Machines Rattan
Mechanics of Solids Stephen H Crandall
Introduction to Mechanics of Solid E. Popov
Elements of Strength of Materials Timishenko
Operations Research Gupta & Hira
Engineering Mechanics Tinua Shenko
Heat and Mass Transfer Arora and Domkundwar
For information on more books visit:
http://thegateacademy.com/gate-reference-book/
http://www.engineerschoice.co.in/gate-reference-books-mechanical-me.html
http://gate2015online.in/gate-2015-books-mechanical-engineering-pdf-free-download-referencebooks/
Online study material:
http://www.jbigdeal.com/free-gate-on-mechanical-engineering-me-2012-13-page-1
http://gate.practice-tests.learnhub.com/tests/gate-mechanical-engineering
Electrical Engineering
Fundamentals Of Electrical And Electronics Engineering Smarajit Ghosh
Control Systems Engineering Nagrath I.j. & Gopal M.
Electrical Power Systems: Theory And Practice M. N. Bandyopadhyay
Power System Engineering D Kothari, I Nagrath
Basic Electrical And Electronics Engineering Arvind Mittle

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For information on more books visit:

http://gate2015online.in/gate-2015-books-eee-pdf-free-download-reference-books/
http://www.engineerschoice.in/gate-reference-books-electrical-eee.html
Online study material:
http://www.respaper.com/gate/645/514-pdf.html
http://www.jbigdeal.com/free-gate-electrical-engineering-ee-mock-test-online-page-1
Computer Science
Computer Networks Tanenbaum,Forouzan.
Graph Theory

Katson publication

Theory of Computation -Hop Craft & Ullman

Algorithm Analysis Cormen
Operating Systems Galvin & Silberchatz
Software Engineering Pressman
Programming Methodologies Pratt
Digital Design Morris Mano
Data Structures Coremen,G.S Balluja
For information on more books visit:
http://www.uptuplus.com/list-of-best-computer-science-books-for-preparation-of-gate/
http://gate2015online.in/gate-2015-books-cse-pdf-free-download-reference-books- ipkart/
Online study material:
http://www.respaper.com/gate/344/7783-pdf.html
http://gate.practice-tests.learnhub.com/tests/gate-question-papers-for-computer-science
Civil Engineering
Strength of Materials /Mechanics of Structure Gare & Timoshenko, E.Popove, L. Singer, B.C.
Punamia
Soil Mechanics & Foundation Engineering Gopal Ranjan & Rao,Venkat Ramaiha, S. K. Garg,
Fluid Mechanics and Fluid Machines Modi & Seth, R. K. Bansal
Building Materials Rangwala, M.L. Gambhir
R.C.C. Design B.C. Punamia, A.K. Jain
Prestressed Concrete -Krishna Raju
Reinforced Concrete Ashok k jain
Railway Engineering Subhash and Satyapal

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For information on more books visit:

http://gate2015online.in/gate-2015-books-civil-engineering-pdf-free-download/
http://www.examrace.com/GATE/GATE-Free-Study-Material/Notes/Civil-Engineering/
Online study material:
http://www.indiabix.com/civil-engineering/gate-exam-questions/
http://www.jbigdeal.com/free-gate-civil-engineering-ce-mock-test-online-page-1
Chemical Engineering
Heat Transfer by Chris Long, Naser Sayma
Chemical Engineering Technology by PK Bose
Fluid Mechanics and Hydraulic Machines by Dr R.K Bansal
Fluid Mechanics by Yunus A Cengel, John M Cimbala
Chemical Thermodynamics by Leo Lue
Control Engineering by Derek Atherton
Process Control Systems And Instrumentation by Bartelt Terry
For information on more books visit:
http://www.engineerschoice.co.in/gate-reference-books-chemical-ch.html
http://www.gateclasses.in/chemical_reference_book.php
Online study material:
http://www.jbigdeal.com/free-practice-test-on-chemical-engineering-ch-online-page-1
http://www.respaper.com/gate/160/2310-pdf.html
http://www.respaper.com/gate/160/9623-pdf.html
Instrumentation
Process/Industrial Instruments and control C.M. Douglas
Measurement Systems: Application and design E.O. Doebin
Microelectronic Circuits Sedra and Smith
Electronic Circuits Nilsson and Riedel
Microwave Engineering Pozar
Design with Operational Ampli ers Franco
For information on more books visit:
http://gate2015online.in/gate-2015-instrumentation-books-reference-pdf-free-download/

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Online study material:

http://www.jbigdeal.com/free-gate-instrumentation-engineering-in-mock-test-online-page-1
There you go - in the last 5 chapters we have packed as much information as we could so that you can now
make an informed decision.

In our next and last chapter of this guide, we will bring you stories of previous GATE toppers. Thats the last
needed bit of inspiration to keep you going!

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Chapter 6

INSPIRATIONAL SUCCESS STORIES

Saurabh Sarda, (AIR 3 Stream CS/IT) 2014

Saurabh Sarda Is an engineering graduate from the Visvesvaraya National
Institute of Technology. He worked as a system software engineer at Nvidia
Graphics, Pune, after completing his graduation in 2012. He quit his job in October
2013 to prepare for GATE. He invested eight to ten hours each day towards GATE
preparation. Saurabh Sarda completed his exam within two hours! He learnt to
manage his time by practicing several mock tests. There are no short cuts to
success, hard work is essence, he says.

Aloke Banerjee, (AIR 19 Stream CE) 2013

Aloke graduated in Civil engineering from the Faculty of Engineering and
Technology, Jadavpur University. He applied for some PSUs after he quali ed for
GATE 2013 and now works at Damodar Valley Corporation. Aloke Banerjee hails
from a modest family and claims that his top-notch performance in GATE is what
enabled him to get into this PSU.

Deepa Rajagopalan, (AIR 1 Stream BT) 2013

Deepa Rajagopalan completed her B.Tech from SASTRA University, Thanjavur.
With a score of 80, Deepa emerged

rst amongst the 16,159 candidates who

appeared for GATE-2013 in the biotechnology stream. She had been preparing for
the GATE exam for three years. However, she says that she put in a lot more effort
from December 2012 onwards. Deepa also believes that her internships gave her a
lot of exposure and abetted her in doing well in the GATE exam.
All these achievers are simple students like you! Yet they managed to cross the big hurdle of GATE exam
and they are all pursuing their dreams now. All we want to say is, if these students can - so can you!
That brings us to an end of this mini-guide. The entire team at SuperProfs.com wants to thank you for your
enthusiasm and active participation. We sincerely hope that the material we ve put together has been
informative. If you found this useful, pass on the word to your friends too!

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