While preparing for GATE, there are many questions which might arise during the preparation process. Inorder to make it easier for you, we have compiled the following set of frequently asked questions for your quick reference:
GATE - Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering is an All-India Examination conducted jointly by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore and the seven Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). Every year one IIT or IISc is selected as the Organizing Institute. GATE is a passport for admission into M.E. / M.Tech. and M.Sc. Engg. courses in almost all the colleges / institutes / universities of the country. M.E. / M. Tech. is a four semester program and admission to these programs largely depends upon GATE percentile score.
GATE identifies meritorious and motivated candidates for admission to Postgraduate Programs in Engineering, Technology, Architecture, Science and Pharmacy at National level. The examination is a compulsory requirement for the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) scholarship / assistantship for M.E. and M. Tech. programs.
Financial Independence:-
- The starting salary for an M.E/M.Tech could range from 7.2 lacs to 15 lacs per annum. Moreover, the M.Tech stipend of ` 1.02 lacs per annum more than covers the course fee of 28000/- helping you earn while you learn. Hence, the levels of financial independence and job security associated withan M.E/M.Tech are very high.
Admission to the top colleges and universities:- - The GATE is mandatory for admission to postgraduate programs in top engineering colleges like the IISc, IITs and NITs.
- A good GATE score may a lead to scholarships in the various government engineering colleges in India.
- The Indian Institute of Managements (IIMs) consider the GATE score for admissions to their prestigious fellowship program(Ph.D in management).
- Some of the top 100 universities abroad, consider the GATE score for admissions to their M.S programs.
- The GATE score is required for admissions to the highly acclaimed Post Graduate Diploma in Industrial Engineering (PGDIE) offered by the National Institute of Industrial Engineering (NITIE).
Excellent Placements:
- Jobs in PSUs and faculty positions in the various engineering colleges in the country require a good GATE score. These blue chip PSUs include the Indian Oil Corporation , BSNL, BARC, CSIR and DRDO
- Placements at R&D divisions of MNC firms such as Microsoft, Sun Microsystems, Syntel , Google and Yahoo are also fairly common
- Junior Research Fellowship in CSIR Laboratories and CSIR sponsored projects require a GATE score
- Some government organizations/PSUs (like BARC, IOCL etc.) prescribe a GATE qualification as a requirement for applying to the post of a Scientist / Engineer.
Activities |
Timelines |
Starting date for online application submission |
September 1, 2016 (Thursday) |
Closing date for online application submission |
October 4, 2016 (Tuesday) |
Closing date for request for change of city |
November 16, 2016 (Wednesday) |
Admit Card availability |
January 5, 2017 (Thursday) |
GATE 2017 On-line Examination |
March 27, 2017 (Monday) |
Now, the test is objective type with a total of 65 questions. Out of this, 55 Questions are technical (25 questions of one mark + 30 question of 2 mark each) and 10 Questions are technical (5 questions of one mark + 5 question of 2 mark each). The Questions to be answered in total time of 3 hours.
The following categories of candidates are eligible to appear in:-
- Bachelors degree holders in Engineering/Technology/Architecture/Pharmacy and those who are in the final or pre-final year of such programs.
- Masters degree holders in any branch of Science/ Mathematics/ Statistics/ Computer Applications or equivalent and those who are in the final or penultimate year of such programs.
- Candidates in the second or higher year of the Four-year Integrated Master"s degree program (Post-B.Sc.) in Engineering/Technology or in the third or higher year of Five-year Integrated Master"s degree program and Dual Degree program in Engineering/ Technology.
- Candidates with qualifications obtained through examination conducted by professional societies recognized by UPSC/AICTE as equivalent to B.E./B.Tech. Those who have completed Section A or equivalent of such professional courses are also eligible.
Preparation time for GATE is subjective and depends on many factors such as the individual's aptitude, fundamentals, attitude, concentration level etc., Typically, a rigorous preparation of 4-6 months is considered good enough for getting into IISc or IITs.
There are many IISc alumni in India & Abroad (including M.Tech, PhDs & Post doctorate from MIT, USA) who provide the inspiration for the establishment of The GATE Academy, for such a noble cause. A brief profile of the some of the core team members is given below.
GATE exam has always been looked as a bench mark in terms of the quality of the question paper, concept and execution and served as a motivator for the higher education in the country. It won’t be unfair to say GATE exam is quite a unique exam in the country, in terms of content, quality and application. The GATE pattern has undergone significant changes over the last few years and the GATE’12 is not an exception. Instead of the usual 60 questions totaling 100 marks in year 2009 (i.e. GATE’09), GATE’10 & GATE’11 had a total of 65 questions totaling 100 marks. Out of these:
Last ten question (Q.56 to 65), comprising of 15 marks were from General Aptitude (verbal + Numerical ability)
Negative marking pattern is modified (as given in table below).
Also, the validity of the GATE score has been reinstated to be two years (in year GATE 2009, Score card it was valid for only one year)
We strongly believe that the GATE paper are designed so as so clearly segregate the good students from the others. Over the years our experience is that the students having good fundamental concepts and have developed a flare for solving the numerical & application oriented problems rather than doing just theoretical question, have done well in GATE.
Question 1 through 25 are one mark technical questions
Question 25 through 55 are two mark technical questions
Question 56 through 60 are one mark General aptitude questions
Question 61 through 65 are two mark General aptitude questions
Note:In GATE 2012, Validity of GATE Score was for a period of TWO YEARS ONLY from the date of announcement of results. Look for the announcement in IISc/IIT website and The GATE Aspire’s website (www.careerlauncher.com/gateaspire) for updates in GATE 2012.
Patterns of Question papers | Negative Marks for wrong Answer |
---|---|
Q.1 to Q.25: Will carry one mark each (sub-total: 25 marks). | 1/3 mark will be deducted for each wrong answer. |
Q.26 to Q.55 : Will carry two marks each (sub-total: 60 marks) | 2/3 mark will be deducted for each wrong answer. |
Q.48 through Q.51 (2 pairs) will be common data questions. Each question will carry two marks. | 2/3 mark will be deducted for each wrong answer. |
Question pairs (Q.52, Q.53) and (Q.54, Q.55) will be linked answer questions. - The answer to the second question of the last two pairs will depend on the answer to the first question of the pair. - If the first question in the linked pair is wrongly answered or is un-attempted, then the answer to the second question in the pair will not be evaluated. Each question will carry two marks. | There will be negative marks only for wrong answer to the first question of the linked answer question pair i.e. for Q.52 and Q.54, 2/3 mark will be deducted for each wrong answer. There is no negative marking for Q.53 and Q.55. |
Q.56 to Q.60: Will carry one mark each (sub-total: 5 marks).These question will be from the General Aptitude (Numerical ability + Verbal Ability) | 1/3 mark will be deducted for each wrong answer. |
Q.61 to Q.65: Will carry two marks each (sub-total: 10 marks). These question will be from the General Aptitude (Numerical ability + Verbal Ability) | 2/3 mark will be deducted for each wrong answer. |
CS REFERENCE SHEET | |
---|---|
Complete Reference Guide | GATE Guide Computer Science & Information Technology 2017, GK Publications |
SUBJECT | REFERENCE BOOK |
MATHEMATICS |
- Higher Engineering Mathematics - Dr. BS Grewal Advance.
- Engineering Mathematics - Erwin Kreyszig. - Advance Engineering Mathematics - Dr. HK Dass |
PROGRAMMING AND ALGORITHMS |
- Data Structure & Algorithm in C - Mark Allen Weiss.
- Programming Languages - Ravi Sethi. - Introduction to Algorithms - Corman, Rivest. - Fundamentals of computer Algorithms - Horowitz. -C programming - Kernighan and Ritchie |
OPERATING SYSTEMS |
- Operating Systems - Galvin.
- Operating Systems - Stallings |
DISCRETE MATH AND GRAPH THEORY |
- Discrete Mathematical Structures with applications to Computer Science - Tremblay and Manohar.
- Discrete Mathematics - Rosen. - Discrete Mathematics for Computer Scientists - Mott |
COMPUTER ORGANIZATION |
- Digital Electronics - Morris Mano.
- Digital circuits - Taub & Schilling. - Microprocessor - Ramesh Gaonker. - Computer Organisation - Hamacher |
DATABASE |
- Database Systems - Korth
- DBMS - Ramakrishnan and Gerke |
COMPUTER NETWORKS | - Computer Networks - Tanenbaum |
EC Reference Sheet | |
---|---|
Complete Reference Guide | GATE Guide Electronics and Communication Engineering 2017, GK Publications |
SUBJECT | REFERENCE BOOK |
MATHEMATICS |
- Higher Engineering Mathematics - Dr. BS Grewal.
- Advance Engineering Mathematics - Erwin Kreyszig. - Advance Engineering Mathematics - Dr. HK Dass |
SIGNAL AND SYSTEM |
- Signal & System - Simon Hykin & Barry Van Veen.
- Signals & System Oppenheim & Schafer. - Discrete Time Signal Processing - Oppenheim & Schafer. - Digital Signal Processing Proakis |
CONTROL SYSTEMS |
- Control System Engg. - Nagrath & Gopal.
- Automatic Control Systems - Benjamin C Kuo. - Modern Control System - Katsuhiko Ogata. - Design of feedback control system - Hostetter, Savant & Stefani |
ELECTRIC CIRCUITS AND FIELDS |
- Network Analysis - Van Valkenburg.
- Network & System - D Roy & Choudhary. - Engineering Circuit Analysis - Hayt & Kammerly. - Electromagnetic Waves and Radiating Systems by E.C. Jordan and K.G. Balsain. - Engg Electromagnetics - William Hayt Schaum series for problems |
ELECTRONIC DEVICE + ANALOG CIRCUIT |
- Electronic devices and circuit Millman & Halkias.
- Electronic devices and circuit - Boylestead. - Integrated Electronics: Analog & Digital Circuit and System - Millman & Halkias. - Micro Electronics Circuit - Sedra & Smith. - Linear ICs Gaekwad |
ANALOG CIRCUITS |
- Electronics devices and circuits - Millman & Halkias.
- Electronics devices and circuits - Boylestead. - Integrated Electronics: Analog & Digital circuits and system - Millman & Halkias |
DIGITAL CIRCUITS |
- Micro Electronics circuit - Sedra & Smith.
- Digital Electronics - Morris Mano. - Digital circuits - Taub & Schilling. - Microprocessor - Ramesh Gaonker. - Linear ICs - Gaekwad |
ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC MEASUREMENTS | - Electronic Measurements & Instrumentation - A.K.Sawhney |
ELECTRICAL MACHINES | - P.S Bimbra Electrical Machines Electrical Machines by Nagrath and Kothari |
POWER ELECTRONICS AND DRIVES |
- Power System Analysis BY JOHN GRAINGER &WILLIAM STEVENSON.
- Electric Energy Systems ; Olle Elegard. - C L Wadhwa Electrical Power Systems |
IN Reference Sheet | |
---|---|
Complete Reference Guide | GATE Guide Instrumentation Engineering 2017, GK Publications |
SUBJECT | REFERENCE BOOK |
MATHEMATICS |
- Higher Engineering Mathematics - Dr. BS Grewal.
- Advance Engineering Mathematics - Erwin Kreyszig. - Advance Engineering Mathematics - Dr. HK Dass |
SIGNALS, SYSTEMS AND COMMUNICATIONS |
- Signal & System - Simon Hykin & Barry Van Veen.
- Signals & System Oppenheim & Schafer. - Discrete Time Signal Processing - Oppenheim & Schafer. - Digital Signal Processing Proakis. - Electronic communication system - Kennedy. - Communication systems - Simon Hykin. - Principals of communication systems - Taub & Schilling |
CONTROL SYSTEMS AND PROCESS CONTROL |
- Control System Engg. - Nagrath & Gopal.
- Automatic Control Systems - Benjamin C Kuo. - Modern Control System - Katsuhiko Ogata. - Design of feedback control system - Hostetter, Savant & Stefani. - Process Control Instrumentation Technology- Curtis D. Johnson |
BASICS OF CIRCUITS AND MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS |
- Network Analysis - Van Valkenburg.
- Network & System - D Roy & Choudhary. - Engineering Circuit Analysis - Hayt & Kammerly |
ANALOG CIRCUITS |
- Electronics devices and circuits - Millman & Halkias.
- Electronics devices and circuits - Boylestead. - Integrated Electronics: Analog & Digital circuits and system - Millman & Halkias. - Micro Electronics circuit - Sedra & Smith. - Linear ICs - Gaekwad |
DIGITAL CIRCUITS |
- Digital Electronics - Morris Mano.
- Digital circuits - Taub & Schilling. - Microprocessor - Ramesh Gaonker |
TRANSDUCERS, MECHANICAL MEASUREMENT
AND INDUSTRIAL INSTRUMENTATION |
- Electronic Measurements & Instrumentation - A.K.Sawhney.
- Measurement Systems - Application and Design, Fourth edition- Doebelin E.O |
ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC MEASUREMENTS | - Electronic Measurements & Instrumentation - A.K.Sawhney |
ANALYTICAL, OPTICAL AND
BIOMEDICAL INSTRUMENTATION |
- Electronic Measurements & Instrumentation - A.K.Sawhney.
- Analytical Instrumentation- Bela G. Liptak. - Introduction to Fiber Optics- Ghatak, A, Thyagarajan, K |
ME Reference Sheet | |
---|---|
Complete Reference Guide | GATE Guide Mechanical Engineering 2017, GK Publications |
SUBJECT | REFERENCE BOOK |
MATHEMATICS |
- Higher Engineering Mathematics - Dr. BS Grewal.
- Advance Engineering Mathematics - Erwin Kreyszig. - Advance Engineering Mathematics - Dr. HK Dass |
ENGINEERING MECHANICS |
- Engineering Mechanics Vol. I & Vol. II - Meriam & Kraige.
- Engineering Mechanics - I. H. Shames. - Engineering Mechanics - Beer & Johnson. - Engineering Mechanics - CBS Publishers |
STRENGTH OF MATERIAL |
- An Introduction to the Mechanics of Solids - Stephen H Crandall.
- Strength of Materials - Pytel & Singer. - Strength of Materials - Timoshenko and Young |
THEORY OF MACHINE |
- Theory of Machine - Nagrath & Gopal.
- Theory of Machine - S. S. Rattan. - Theory of machine - R. S. Khurmi |
MACHINE DESIGN |
- Mechanical Design - Shigley.
- Machine Design - Sharma & Agarwal |
THERMODYNAMICS & ITS APPLICATIONS |
- Engineering Thermodynamics - P. K. Nag.
- Power Plant Engineering - Arora & Domkundwar. - Referigeration & Airconditioning - Arora & Domkundwar. - I.C. Engines - V. Ganesan |
FLUID MECHANICS & HYDRAULIC MACHINES |
- Fluid Mechanics - K. Z. Schaffer.
- Fluid Mechanics - Schaum's series. - Fluid Mechanics - A. K. Jain |
HEAT TRANSFER |
- Heat Transfer - J. P. Holman.
- Heat transfer - D.S. Kumar. - Heat Transfer - Arora & Domkundwar |
MANUFACTURING ENGINEERING |
- Production Engineering - R. K. Jain.
- Manufacturing Science - A.K. Ghosh |
INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING | - Industrial Engineering - Banga & Sharma |
Scorecard will be sent only to the qualified candidates. No information will be sent to candidates who did not qualify. GATE scorecard is valid for ONE YEAR only. Additional scorecards (up to a maximum of two) will be issued only once on request and on payment of Rs 300 per scorecard. Such requests should reach the Organizing Chairman, GATE before some stipulated date (typically by August 31) together with a bank draft for the amount mentioned as above in favour of Chairman GATE, IIT. These scorecards will be labeled as Additional Scorecard -1 and Additional Scorecard - 2.
The GATE score is calculated as follows:
m = marks obtained by the candidate.
a = average marks of all candidates who appeared in the paper mentioned on this scorecard, in the current year.
s = standard deviation of marks of all candidates who appeared in the paper mentioned on this scorecard, in the current year.
A typical qualitative interpretation of the GATE SCORE, for example, can be as follows:
The percentile score is calculated as follows:
Let N be the total number of candidates appearing in that paper and nc be the number of candidates who have the same all India rank c in the same paper (there can be bunching at a given all India rank). Then all the candidates, whose all India rank is r, will have the same percentile score P, where
P = {(no. of candidates securing marks less than the candidate concerned)/N} x 100
Multiple choice questions in all papers and sections will contain four answers of which only one is correct. The types of questions in a paper may be based on following logic:
Common data questions:
Multiple questions may be linked to a common data problem, passage and the like. Two or three questions can be formed from the given common data problem. Each question is independent and its solution obtainable from the above problem data/passage directly. (Answer of the previous question is not required to solve the next question). Each question in this group carries two marks.
Linked answer questions:
These are problem solving question. A problem statement is followed by two questions based on the problem statement. The two questions are designed in such a way that the solution to the second question depends upon the answer to the first one. In other words, the first answer is an intermediate step in working out the second answer. Each question in such linked answer questions will carry two marks.
The questions based on the above four logics may be a mix of single, stand alone statement / phrase / data type questions, combination of option codes type questions or match items type questions.
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Application Submission Process | Application Submission Process | ||||||||||||||||
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Step 1.
Procurement of Application FormCandidate can obtain a packet containing (i) OFFLINE Application Form (ii) Information Brochure (iii) Acknowledgment Card (iv) Envelope from: 1. Designated Bank Branches corresponding to each zone on cash payment. 2. Zonal GATE Office by sending a request letter and TWO self-addressed slips along with a Demand Draft for appropriate amount. 3. Zonal GATE Office after handing over Demand Draft for appropriate amount |
Step 1.
Obtain a Demand DraftThe candidates must obtain a Demand Draft, drawn on any nationalized bank in favor of Chairman of the corresponding zonal GATE Office, the website of which the candidate wishes to submit online Application. |
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Step 2.
Fill in the Application Form |
Step 2.
Online Application |
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Step 3.
Obtain SC/ST/PD/OBC (non creamy layer) Certificate SC/ST/OBC (non creamy layer) and Disability Certificate should be obtained from appropriate authority, if applicable. Authorities who can issue SC/ST/OBC (non creamy layer) Certificates. |
Step 3.
Take print out of Application Form Save the PDF file, take a printout, Sign at appropriate places and paste photograph. |
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Step 4.
Post/Submission Duly filled-in Application Form with appropriate enclosures must be sent by Registered or Speed post to the Chairman, GATE of the Zone, where the candidate prefers (corresponding to the 1st Choice of Examination City) to appear for the examination. Or It can be handed over personally to respective Zonal GATE Office. |
Step 4.
Obtain SC/ST/PD/OBC (non creamy layer) Certificate SC/ST/OBC (non creamy layer) and Disability Certificate should be obtained from appropriate authority, if applicable. Authorities who can issue SC/ST/OBC (non creamy layer) Certificates. |
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Step 5.
Post/Submission Duly filled-in Application Form with appropriate enclosures must be sent by Registered or Speed post to the Chairman, GATE of the Zone, the website of which has been used for making ONLINE registration.OR It can be handed over personally to respective Zonal GATE Office. |
Till GATE 2015, there were total 22 question papers but from 2016 there is a new addition of another subject -Petroleum Engineering. Hence now there are total 23 question papers.
Before candidates had to bring their own calculators but now there will be an online scientific calculator available for the candidates while giving the examination.
No candidate will be allowed to get their own calculator with themselves in the examination hall. They will have to use online virtual calculator, this will be available on the official website of GATE.
List of PSUs hiring through GATE |
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Sl.No |
Name of Company |
Eligible Branches |
1 |
Airport Authority of India (AAI) |
EC |
2 |
Bhaba Automic Research Center (BARC) |
ME, CH, MT, EE, EC, CS, IN & CE |
3 |
Bharath Broadband Network Ltd (BBNL) |
EC, CS, EE |
4 |
Bharat Electronic Limited (BEL) |
EC, CS, EE, CE, ME |
5 |
Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) |
ME, EE, EC, MT |
6 |
Bank Note Paper Mill Pvt Ltd (BNPM) |
ME, EE, EC, CH |
7 |
Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) |
ME,IN, CH |
8 |
Bihar State Power Holding Company Limited (BSPHCL) |
ME, EE, EC |
9 |
CABINET SECRETARIAT (Govt of India) |
CS, EC, PH, CY |
10 |
Central Electronics Limited (CEL) |
ME, EE, EC, MT |
11 |
Coal India Ltd |
ME, EE, GG, MN |
12 |
Container Corporation of India Ltd (CONCOR) |
ME, EE, EC |
13 |
Delhi Development Authority (DDA) |
CE, EE, ME |
14 |
Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) |
EE, CE, IN |
15 |
GAIL |
CH, ME, EE, IN, CS, EC |
16 |
Gujarat State Electricity Corporation Limited (GSECL) |
MT, IN, EE, ME |
17 |
Hindustan Petroleum Corporate Limited () |
ME, CE, EE, EC, IN, CH |
18 |
Indian Oil Corporate Limited |
CH, CE, CS, EE, EC, IN, MT, ME, PE, XE |
19 |
IRCON International Ltd. |
CE, ME, EE, EC |
20 |
L&T Build India Scholarship |
CE, ME, EE |
21 |
Krishak Bharati Cooperative (KRIBHCO) |
CS, EC, EE, ME, CE, IN |
22 |
Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd. (MDL) |
ME, EE |
23 |
Mineral Exploration Corporation Limited (MECL) |
GG, CS, CY, ME |
24 |
Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation Ltd (MRVC Ltd) |
CE |
25 |
National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO) |
EE, ME, IN, EC, MT, CE, MN, CH, CS |
26 |
National Textile Corporation |
TF |
27 |
NBCC Ltd |
CE |
28 |
NFL |
CH, ME, EE, IN |
29 |
NHAI |
CE |
30 |
NHPC |
EE, CE, ME, GG |
31 |
NLC (Neyveli Lignite Corporation Limited) |
ME, EE, EC, CE, IN, CS, MN |
32 |
NPCCL |
CE |
33 |
NTPC |
EE, EC, ME, IN, CE, CS |
34 |
Oil India |
ME, GG |
35 |
ONGC Ltd |
ME, EE, CE, EC, PH, IN, CH, GG, CY, MA, CS |
36 |
OPGC Ltd |
ME, EE, CE, IN, PI |
37 |
Power Grid |
EE, EC, CE, CS |
38 |
PSPCL |
EE |
39 |
Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd. |
CE, EE, EC |
40 |
RITES |
CE, ME, EE, EC |
41 |
THDC India Ltd. |
ME, EE, CE |
42 |
Vizag Steel |
MT, ME, EE |
43 |
WBSEDCL |
EE,EC |
The registration-cum-application fee for offline applications in 2009 was Rs.1000/- for General & OBC candidates and Rs.500/- for SC/ST/PD candidates (May change in the coming year). The fee for online application was Rs.900/- for General & OBC candidates and Rs. 400/- for SC/ST candidates. The registration fee is not refundable and the application form is not transferable.