GATE: How To Apply

GATE Online Application Process

Note: This is method for GATE 2008, For 2009 page will be updated as soon as information is updated by GATE organiser committee. Follow following steps for filling online application:

Make payment (Demand Draft only)
In order to fill in the online application, payment of application fee has to made apriori. The payments are made through Demand Draft only.

Application fee: Rs. 900/- for GENERAL category and Rs. 400/- for SC/ST category.

The application fee is not refundable.

Demand drafts (Rs. 900 for GENERAL category and Rs. 400 for SC/ST category) should be made in favour of Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore on any nationalized bank payable at Bangalore.

Fill in the online application form
Register on the IISC registration site(now closed). Email Id will be required for this. Fill in the form online along with Draft details. Submit the form. After submission generate PDF version of the form (PDF generator available through GATE site). Take a print out of the form.

Signature & Photograph
On the PRINTED application form mentioned in step-2, PASTE a recent good quality non-attested photo of yourself in the space provided. Sign in the space provided for specimen signature and the declaration at the bottom of the application form. The signature should be identical in both the places and it should be candidate signature only.

Sign in full using only black ball point pen in the box provided. Since the signature is proof of your identity, it must be genuine and in full; initials are not sufficient. Signature in CAPITAL LETTERS is not permitted. The form must be signed only by you and not by any other person. The signature will be scanned and put on the Admit Card as well as the Scorecard. If the candidate’s signature on the answer script, at the time of the examination, does not match the signature on the Admit Card, the candidate will be disqualified.

Post
Place the Demand Draft, printed online application form and if applicable, the SC/ST and/or Disability certificates in an envelope and send it to THE CHAIRMAN, GATE, INDIAN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE, BANGALORE - 560012 by SPEED/ REGISTERED POST only.

GATE Offline Application Process

Application fee: Rs. 1000/- for GENERAL category and Rs. 500/- for SC/ST category.

The application fee is not refundable.

Information Brochures and Application Forms are obtainable on payment of cash from the designated Bank Branches corresponding to each zone. Candidates can also obtain Information Brochures and Application Forms by Post from/or personally at the GATE offices. For this purpose a Demand Draft is to be sent for the amount as above to the Chairman, GATE of the corresponding zonal GATE office, along with a request letter and two self-addressed slips.

The application packet contains the Information Brochure, Basic Data Sheet (BDS) cum Application form, Acknowledgement Card and the Envelope for enclosing the documents. CHECK that the application number is identical in all the above mentioned documents in the application packet. If there is any discrepancy, report to the Chairman, GATE of the corresponding zonal GATE office.

Fill in the Acknowledgement Card and the Envelope. Place the BDS cum Application Form, bank pay-in-slip/receipt of payment, Acknowledgement card and if applicable, the SC/ST and /or Disability certificates in the provided Envelope and send it to the respective zonal GATE office depending on the first choice of the examination city where the candidate wishes to appear. The envelope with enclosures may be handed over personally to the respective zonal GATE office or be sent by SPEED/ REGISTERED POST only.

Effective Way to Attempt GATE Paper

Objective Solving Tricks

Most of time students complain that they couldn’t complete their objective paper; they were struck in one or another problem and wasted a lot of time. Some says that their guess went wrong and marks were deducted due to negative marking, some could not read paper completely and missed some easy questions etc etc.

I’ll like to stress that objective paper solving is different from subjective paper. You don’t need to study extra for objective questions but practice little bit.

Your guess in solving objective can bring you in difficulty but some intelligent/educated guess can add valuable marks to your score. Most of time objective questions have some hint in the form of multiple choices for the question.

Following can be used as guidelines for solving objective paper:

General Tips

• Keep the structure of GATE in mind(20 Quest 1 Mark each, 55 Quest. 2 Marks each, 10 Linked Questions with 2 mark each).
• Plan your time. Allow more time for high point value questions; reserve time at the end to review your work, and for emergencies. I'll suggest following sequence, but you can keep as per your choice: 2 Marks question, Linked questions and then single mark questions.
• Look the whole test over, skimming the quesitons and developing a general plan for your work. If any immediate thoughts come to you, jot them down in the margin
• Start with the section of the test that will yield the most points, but begin working with the easiest questions to gain time for the more difficult ones and to warm up.
• Work quickly, check your timing regularly, and adjust your speed when necessary.
• Avoid reading into the questions. When you find yourself thinking along the lines of "this is too easy; there must be a trick..." mark the question and move on to another. Interpret questions literally.
• Mark key words in every question. To help find the key words, ask yourself WHAT, WHO, WHERE, WHEN, and HOW?

Multiple Choice Specific Tips

• Remember in GATE each question will have four choices for the answer, only one is correct and wrong answer carry 25% negative marks
• Read the question (without reading choices) very carefully.
• Mark important key words and look for special key words like not, but, except , or, nor, always, never, and only . Mark these key words. E.g.
  Ques The number of leaf nodes in a rooted tree of n(n>0) nodes, with each node having 0 or 3 children is:
  
  Important words to mark in this are, "n>0" and "or"
  The number of leaf nodes in a rooted tree of n(n>0) nodes, with each node having 0 or 3 children is:
  Many times we miss words like "or" and whole question in changed.
• If you can think of answer before reading choices, keep it in mind before reading choices
• Compare with choices and select the best suited answer.
• Most of times choices are made to confuse. If there are two or more options that could be the correct answer, compare them to each other to determine the differences between them.
• If there is an encompassing answer choice, for example "all of the above", and you are unable to determine that there are at least two correct choices, select the encompassing choice.
• Make educated/intelligent guesses - eliminate options any way you can.
• Multiple choices can provide direct short cut to get correct answer, especially in numerical problems. For example in the above question
  Example
  The number of leaf nodes in a rooted tree of n(n>0) nodes, with each node having 0 or 3 children is:
  
  Choices:
  A n/2
  B (n-1)/3
  C (n-1)/2
  D (2n+1)/3
  
  Direct solving the problem can be difficult. Use following short cut.
  Imagine few such trees and try to get answer from choices. Lets start with tree with one node, i.e. n = 1. In this case obviously number of leaves should be one(same as root). Putting n=1 in above options only option "D" gives 1. But assure your self with more tries. Next possible value of n = 4 with number of leaves = 3. Putting this is multiple choices only "D" satisfies confirming our solution.

I’ll try to include more examples to understand different tricks as and when I get time. But you can always reach me at gate.tutor@gmail.com. I’ll try to solve your problems. I’ll also recommend student to send their tricks/suggestions so that they can be included in this page. I’m looking for contributions from you all to make this page useful for all student appearing in GATE.

New Changes in GATE

Paper Inclusions
With effect from GATE 2008, the following two new sections in Engineering Sciences (XE paper) are being introduced:
Section H: Polymer Science and Engineering
Section I : Food Technology


Papers to be merged from GATE 2009 onwards
Separate main paper in Information Technology (IT) will be offered for the last time in GATE 2008. With effect from GATE 2009, IT paper will be merged into Computer Science (CS) paper.


Papers to be discontinued from GATE 2009 onwards
Since three main papers (EC, EE and IN) are available for candidates with background in Electrical Sciences, and a main paper (CS from GATE 2009 onwards) for candidates in Computer Science, it has been decided to discontinue the offering of Computational Science (currently section B) and Electrical Sciences (currently Section C) in the XE paper with effect from GATE 2009. Candidates are being given a final opportunity to opt for these Sections of XE in GATE 2008.

What is GATE?

Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering(GATE)

The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) is an all-India examination administered and conducted in eight zones across the country by the GATE Committee comprising faculty from Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore and seven Indian Institutes of Technology on behalf of the National Coordinating Board - GATE, Department of Education, Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD), Government of India.

The zones and the corresponding administrative institutes are

Zone 1 - Indian Institute of Science Bangalore
Zone 2 - Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
Zone 3 - Indian Institute of Technology Delhi
Zone 4 - Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati
Zone 5 - Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
Zone 6 - Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur
Zone 7 - Indian Institute of Technology Madras
Zone 8 - Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee

The overall coordination and responsibility lies with Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore designated as the Organizing Institute for GATE 2008.

Admission to post graduate programmes with MHRD and some other government scholarship/assistantship at engineering colleges/institutes in the country are open to those who qualify through GATE. GATE qualified candidates with Bachelor degree in Engineering/ Technology/ Architecture/ Pharmacy or Master degree in any branch of Science/Mathematics/Statistics/Computer Applications are eligible for Master/Doctoral programmes in Engineering/ Technology/Architecture/Pharmacy as well as for Doctoral programmes in relevant branches of Science. To avail the scholarship, the candidate must additionally secure admission to such a postgraduate programme, as per the prevailing procedure of the admitting institution. GATE qualification, however, is not required for candidates with Master degree in Engineering/ Technology/ Architecture/ Pharmacy who may be seeking scholarship/assistantship for relevant doctoral programmes.

Some institutions specify GATE as the mandatory qualification even for admission of self-financing students to postgraduate programmes. GATE qualified candidates in Engineering disciplines are also eligible for the award of Junior Research Fellowship in CSIR Laboratories. Some government organizations prescribe GATE qualification as a requirement for applying to the post of a Scientist/Engineer.


GATE Eligibility

The following categories of candidates are eligible to appear in GATE.

• Bachelor degree holders in Engineering/ Technology/ Architecture/Pharmacy (4 years after 10+2) and those who are in the final or pre-final year of such programmes.
• Master degree holders in any branch of Science/ Mathematics/ Statistics/ Computer Applications or equivalent and those who are in the final or pre-final year of such programmes.
• Candidates in the second or higher year of the Four-year Integrated Master degree programme (Post-B.Sc.) in Engineering/Technology or in the third or higher year of Five-year Integrated Master degree programme and Dual Degree programme in Engineering/Technology.
• Candidates with qualifications obtained through examinations conducted by professional societies recognised by UPSC/AICTE (e.g. AMIE) as equivalent to B.E./B.Tech. Those who have completed section A or equivalent of such professional courses are also eligible.

Gate Examination Structure

Gate Paper Duration and Timing.

&nbspDuration

Three Hours

&nbspTiming

0930 hours to 1230 hours

&nbspDate

Sunday, Februry 10, 2008.

Structure of GATE Examination.

The GATE 2008 examination consists of a single paper of 3 hours duration.

• The question paper will consist of only objective type questions. Each question will have four choices for the answer. Only one choice is correct. Wrong answers carry negative marks. The deduction for each wrong answer will be 25% of the allotted marks.
• Each paper is for a maximum of 150 marks.
• Candidates appearing in XE or XL papers are required to answer three sections. One Compulsory two optional,

Gate Paper List and Code.

A candidate will have to choose any one of the papers listed below:

Paper	Code	Paper	Code
Aerospace Engg.	AE	Information Technology	IT
Agricultural Engg.	AG	Mathematics	MA
Architecture and Planning	AR	Mechanical Engg.	ME
Civil Engg.	CE	Mining Engg.	MN
Chemical Engg.	CH	Metallurgical Engg.	MT
Computer Science and Engg.	CS	Physics	PH
Chemistry	CY	Production and Industrial Engg.	PI
Electronics and Communication Engg.	EC	Pharmaceutical Sciences	PY
Electrical Engineering	EE	Textile Engg. and Fibre Science	TF
Geology and Geophysics	GG	Engg. Science	XE*
Instrumentation Engg.	IN	Life Sciences	XL*

Paper XE and XL are of general nature and consist of following.

Engineering Science(XE)		Life Sciences(XL)
Section	Code	Section	Code
Engg. Mathematics(Compulsory)	A	Chemistry (Compulsory)	J
Computational Science	B	Biochemistry	K
Electrical Sciences	C	Biotechnology	L
Fluid Mechanics	D	Botony	M
Materials Science	E	Microbiology	N
Solid Mechanics	F	Zoology	O
Thermodynamics	G
Polymer Science and Engineering	H
Food Technology	I

GATE Main Papers Pattern

The question paper will be for a total of 150 marks divided into three groups:

(i) Group I: Question Numbers 1 to 20 (20 questions) will carry one mark each (sub total 20 marks).

(ii) Group II: Question Numbers 21 to 75 (55 questions) will carry two marks each (sub total 110 marks). Out of these, Q.71 to Q.75 may be common data based questions.

(iii) Group III: Question Numbers 76 to 85 (10 questions) will carry two marks each (sub total 20 marks). These questions are called linked answer questions. These 10 questions comprise five pairs of questions (76 & 77, 78 & 79, etc.). The solution to the second question of each pair (e.g. Q.77) will be linked to the correct answer to the first one (e.g. Q.76) in the pair.

Each question will have four choices for the answer. Only one choice is correct. Wrong answers carry 25% negative marks. In Q.1 to Q.20, 0.25 mark will be deducted for each wrong answer and in Q.21 to Q.76, Q.78, Q.80, Q.82 and Q.84, 0.5 mark will be deducted for each wrong answer. If the first question in the linked pair is wrong, then the second question in the pair will not be evaluated. However, there is no negative marking for the linked answer questions - Q.77, Q.79, Q.81, Q.83 and Q.85. Papers bearing the code AE, AG, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, IN, IT, ME, MN, MT, PI, TF will contain questions on Engineering Mathematics to the extent of 20 to 25 marks. The multiple choice objective test questions can be of the following type: (i) Each choice containing a single stand-alone statement/phrase/data. Example Q. The state of an ideal gas is changed from (T1, P1) to (T2, P2) in a constant volume process. To calculate the change in enthalpy, Dh, ALL of the following properties/variables are required. (A) Cv, P1, P2 (B) Cp, T1, T2 (C) Cp, T1, T2, P1, P2 (D) Cv, P1, P2, T1, T2 (ii) Each choice containing a combination of option codes. The question may be accompanied by four options P, Q, R, S and the choices may be a combination of these options. The candidate has to choose the right combination as the correct answer. Example Q. The following list of options P, Q, R and S are some of the important considerations in the design of a shell and tube heat exchanger. P: square pitch permits the use of more tubes in a given shell diameter Q: the tube side clearance should not be less than one fourth of the tube diameter R: baffle spacing is not greater than the diameter of the shell or less than one fifth of the shell diameter. S: the pressure drop on the tube side is less than 10 psi (A) P, Q and R (B) Q, R and S (C) R, S and P (D) P, Q, R and S (iii) Assertion[a]/Reason[r] type with the choices stating if [a]/[r] are True/False and/or stating if [r] is correct/incorrect reasoning of [a] Example Q. Assertion [a]: Bernoulli's equation can be applied along the central streamline in a steady laminar fully-developed flow through a straight circular pipe. Reason [r]: The shear stress is zero at the centre-line for the above flow. (A) Both [a] and [r] are true and [r] is the correct reason for [a] (B) Both [a] and [r] are true but [r] is not the correct reason for [a] (C) Both [a] and [r] are false (D) [a] is false but [r] is true (iv) Match items: Match all items in Group 1 with correct options from those given in Group 2 and choose the correct set of combinations from the choices E, F, G and H. Example Q. Group 1 contains some CPU scheduling algorithms and Group 2 contains some applications. Match entries in Group 1 to entries in Group 2. Group 1 Group 2 P- Gang Scheduling 1- Guaranteed Scheduling Q- Rate Monotonic Scheduling 2- Real-time Scheduling R- Fair Share Scheduling 3- Thread Scheduling (A) P-3; Q-2; R-1 (B) P-1; Q-2; R-3 (C) P-2; Q-3; R-1 (D) P-1; Q-3; R-2 (v) Common data based questions: Multiple questions may be linked to a common problem data, passage and the like. Two or three questions can be formed from the given common problem data. 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 under this group will carry two marks. Example Common Data for Questions 74 and 75: Let X and Y be jointly distributed random variables such that the conditional distribution of Y, given X=x, is uniform on the interval (x-1,x+1). Suppose E(X)=1 and Var(X)=5/3. First question using common data Q.74 The mean of the random variable Y is (A) 1/2 (B) 1 (C) 3/2 (D) 2 Second question using common data Q.75 The variance of the random variable Y is (A) 1/2 (B) 2/3 (C) 1 (D) 2 (vi) Linked answer questions: These questions are of problem solving type. A problem statement is followed by two questions based on the problem statement. The two questions are designed such 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. Example Statement for Linked Answer Questions 80 and 81: Consider a machine with a byte addressable main memory of 216 bytes. Assume that a direct mapped data cache consisting of 32 lines of 64 bytes each is used in the system. A 50x50 two dimensional array of bytes is stored in the main memory starting from memory location 1100H. Assume that the data cache is initially empty. The complete array is accessed twice. Assume that the contents of the data cache do not change in between the two accesses. First question of the pair Q.80 How many data cache misses will occur in total? (A) 48 (B) 50 (C) 56 (D) 59 Second question of the pair Q.81 Which of the following lines of the data cache will be replaced by new blocks in accessing the array for the second time? (A) line 4 to line 11 (B) line 4 to line 12 (C) line 0 to line 7 (D) line 0 to line 8

GATE XE Section A Paper Pattern

XE section A paper will be for 30 marks. It will consist of fully objective type and the questions are divided into two groups. (i) Group I: Question Numbers 1 to 6 (6 questions) will carry one mark each (subtotal 6 marks). (ii) Group II: Question Numbers 7 to 18 (12 questions) will carry two marks each All questions have four choices with only one being correct. Wrong answers carry 25% negative marks. In Q.1 to Q.6, 0.25 mark will be deducted for each wrong answer and in Q.7 to Q.18, 0.5 mark will be deducted for each wrong answer. The pattern of multiple-choice questions is the same as described for the main papers.

GATE XE Section Paper Except for Section-A

All sections apart from section A are for 60 marks each. Each of the 60 mark section will be fully objective type and the questions are divided into three groups. (i) Group I: Question Numbers 1 to 8 (8 questions) will carry one mark each (subtotal 8 marks). (ii) Group II: Question Numbers 9 to 30 (22 questions) will carry two marks each (subtotal 44 marks). Out of this, Q.29 and Q.30 may be common data based questions. (iii) Group III: Question Numbers 31 to 34 (4 questions) will carry two marks each. These questions are called linked answer questions. These 4 questions comprise two pairs of questions (31, 32 and 33, 34). The solution to the second question of each pair (e.g. Q.34) will be linked to the correct answer to the first one (e.g. Q.33) in the pair (subtotal 8 marks). All questions have four choices with only one being correct. Wrong answers carry 25% negative marks. In Q.1 to Q.8 of each section, 0.25 mark will be deducted for each wrong answer and in Q.9 to Q.31 and Q.33, 0.5 mark will be deducted for each wrong answer. If the first question in the linked pair is wrong, then the second question in the pair will not be evaluated. However, there is no negative marking for linked answer questions Q.32 and Q.34. The pattern of multiple-choice questions is the same as described for the main papers.

XL Section Papers

Each Section is of 50 marks. Each section will be fully objective type and the questions are divided into three groups. (i) Group I: Question Numbers 1 to 6 (6 questions) will carry one mark each (subtotal 6 marks). (ii) Group II: Question Numbers 7 to 24 (18 questions) will carry two marks each (subtotal 36 marks). Out of this, Q.23 and Q.24 may be common data based questions. (iii) Group III: Question Numbers 25 to 28 (4 questions) will carry two marks each. These questions are called linked answer questions. These 4 questions comprise two pairs of questions (25, 26 and 27, 28). The solution to the second question of each pair (e.g. Q.26) will be linked to the correct answer to the first one (e.g. Q.25) in the pair (subtotal 8 marks). All questions have four choices with only one being correct. Wrong answers carry 25% negative marks. In Q.1 to Q.6 of each section, 0.25 mark will be deducted for each wrong answer and in Q.7 to Q.25 and Q.27, 0.5 mark will be deducted for each wrong answer. If the first question in the linked pair is wrong, then the second question in the pair will not be evaluated. However, there is no negative marking for the linked answer questions Q.26 and Q.28. The pattern of multiple-choice questions is the same as described for the main papers.

GATE Result and Score Card

GATE results
GATE 2008 results will be announced on March 15, 2008 at 1000 hours at GATE offices of IISc/IITs. It will also be available on the websites of IISc/IITs. With effect from GATE 2008, the GATE website will provide the GATE scores to both qualified and non-qualified candidates. GATE 2008 score is valid for two years from the date of announcement of the GATE 2008 results.

GATE scorecard
Scorecard will be sent only to the qualified candidates. No information will be sent to candidates who are not qualified. The GATE scorecard is a valuable document. Care should be taken to preserve it. Additional scorecards (upto a maximum of two) will be issued on payment basis only once. The scorecard cannot be treated as a proof of date of birth, category and disability status. The scorecard will indicate GATE score and rank of the qualified candidates.

GATE score
The GATE score of a candidate is in the range 0 to 1000. It reflects the performance of a candidate, irrespective of the GATE paper or year in which he/she has qualified. Candidates with same GATE score from different GATE papers and/or years can be considered to have the same performance level. The marks obtained by the candidate is normalized on the basis of the average and standard deviation of marks of all candidates who appeared in the paper mentioned on the scorecard in GATE 2008. Subsequently, this is scaled with respect to the global average and global standard deviation so as to facilitate performance comparison across GATE papers and over a block of years since GATE 2005.

GATE SCORE = (1000/500)[a1 + s1((m-a)/s)]

Where
m = marks obtained by the candidate.
a = average of marks of all candidates who appeared in the paper mentioned on this scorecard in GATE 2008
s = standard deviation of marks of all candidates who appeared in the paper mentioned on this scorecard in GATE 2008
a1= global average of marks of all candidates who appeared across all papers and years (2005-2008)
s1= global standard deviation of marks of all candidates who appeared across all papers and years (2005-2008)
The maximum score can be 1000.
The evaluation of the ORS is carried out by a computerized process using scanning machines, with utmost care. Requests for revaluation of the answer script and re-totaling of marks will not be entertained.
The GATE results of the qualified candidates will be made available to interested organizations (educational institutions, R & D laboratories, industries, etc.) in India and abroad based on written request by the organization and on payment. Details can be obtained from GATE Chairmen of IITs/IISc.

Preparing for GATE

Preparing for GATE can be as easy as preparing for your college examinations. Just take little cautions while studying any topic and do remember that GATE paper focus on your in depth knowledge of subject, your basics, presence of mind during examination etc.

We’ll recommend following while preparing for your GATE exams people may differ as this is my personnel opinion :

1. Always follow standard books for GATE. Try to cover complete syllabus. If not possible expertise in what ever portion of syllabus you practice.
2. Try preparing notes after reading every chapter/topic. This may initially take some time but will help you while revising before paper. Click here for expert tips to prepare notes for GATE.
3. While reading any chapter/topic do ask your self following questions “What”, “How”, and “Why” and see improvement
4. Best way to prepare is to follow cycle Learn, Test, Analyze, Improve, Learn, Test, Analyze, Improve ……
   Youdowetest.com can help you when you test your self for GATE and its free.
5. Do remember that GATE is completely objective question based test. Most of time solving objective questions is tricky. Learn tips to solve GATE objective questions from GATE Tutor .
6. In case of doubts do ask some expert or use forums to discuss questions as provided by youdowetest.com
7. Don’t worry if your percentage in university exams is low as GATE admissions do not consider them. Just maintain minimum percentage required by many colleges including IIT’s. Look at GATE Cutoff and eligibility section to know eligibility and cut off of various colleges.
8. Group study is one of the best ways of preparation. Divide sections/topics between you and your partner and have a brief session on topic from your friend before you actually start topic. This will save your time and efforts and will improve your and your partner’s understanding on the topic.
9. Normally coaching GATE is not required but if you are not able to concentrate much then this is a good option.