All About GATE What is GATE all about?

GATE is organized by IITs and IISc, which have pioneered advanced education at master's level in India. The sole purpose of GATE is not only to conduct a test for admission but, which is also the major goal, to identify the suitable engineers/researchers in various areas and make them to choose their area of choice in which they can pursue their master degree. As you know by now, GATE is only organized by IITs and IISc which always try to innovate and introduce new systems to test the basic knowledge of candidates in various fields. As a part of that innovation, the previous year GATE papers were fully objective type. This year also the same pattern is being used, and mathematics added! Although this made the job relatively easier for the evaluators, the candidates now have a bound choice to cover all the topics. As you know, the setting of questions papers at IITs and IISc in itself is very interesting. The designated faculty in each of the areas who provide the syllabus of a particular stream have the burden to set the questions which is finally combined to a full length paper. Being set by the highly qualified faculty, the questions papers are not like a very traditional one. They always try to test the very basic of candidates in respective areas by bringing the element of innovation in these papers. It is not surprising that sometimes the questions are mere applications of basic concepts in their area of research. The implication of this, it seems is that cracking GATE with a very high percentile is merely having the basics cleared. No! Absolutely not! As innovations are always a part of the question paper, one needs to be able to apply the basics in a new application, too. That is why similar to JEE, GATE is altogether different from other competitive exams. Here in GATE, one needs to prepare thoroughly by understanding the basics. It's not at all the mugging up the end results (formulae) and directly applying them; instead, you need to know the principle in the derivation of those end results because in most of the cases the questions are based on the basic principle involved in the derivation, or the case where they may ask the behavior of the system under some other conditions or simple application of that result. To secure a very high percentile you should always remember the fact that you are adjudged relatively not absolutely. Hence, your rank obviously depends on how you performed relative to your competitors. Many times, it happens that the candidates are sure of getting many questions correct. But one should always know that although the questions have only one correct answer, other probable choices are deliberately put there to confuse the candidates. In that sense, preparing the choices other than the correct one is also a part of the bringing the element of innovation, which really makes the life hell for a test taker to arrive at the very correct choice. The question that poses itself to the GATE aspirants now is, how does he prepare, what methods he should adopt that would ensure his admission in the esteemed IITs or the IISc. How to Prepare How does one prepare for GATE, specifically GATE 2010 Before the marathon begins, the 'runner' puts in months, even years, of effort before he actually runs the race. As the saying goes - get your fundamentals right. GATE is an exam that tests you on your fundamentals. The questions are generally derivations of the fundamentals. Preparation for GATE is an ongoing process, and is supposed to happen in stages. First get your fundamentals right, and then test yourself on those fundamentals. When you have done this, you should pit yourself with the competition, which means a mock test which would give you a percentile to let you know where you stand amongst competitors. How do you choose which coaching material to go with. This is something that is quite subjective. A coaching material cannot be assessed until you have gone through it. So, you could go by the word of your seniors as to what coaching material they followed to prepare for GATE. Here are some parameters on which you can decide whether you should go for a particular

coaching institute, use a particular coaching material, or tests: 1. Uniqueness in their study material: Study material provided by the coaching institutes is of little assistance if they are compact copy-paste or rewrite of materials taken from other books. If the reading of such material doesn't increase interest and enjoyment then they are not worth it. There are plenty of standard books on each subject by good authors, which can make your study enjoyable during preparation. 2. Collection of quality books in their library: During the process of theory conceptualization and building application capabilities, you need good books, which can really put your brain on exercise. Check out their library! 3. Flexibility in the Coaching Model: What happens when your pace of learning is much faster or slower than the average? Is there any mechanism by which the model can identify exactly where you need help and provide the same? Is it possible in that coaching model to minimize the wastage of your time? 4. Quality of questions discussed: Number of questions discussed is not that important. By discussing and solving 10-15 conceptual questions on each topic you can build a good application capability. On the other hand solving many tricky non-conceptual questions will simply waste your time. 5. Tests and evaluation model: How is the progress of your preparation tested and analyzed? To what extent the feedback helps in identifying the areas for further work? Here I must say that this is the most crucial part of the preparation. This is the area where most of the students fail due to lack of proper test materials which can help them to build in themselves a real-test-like environment and temperament. Once you are able to choose the correct assistance for your GATE journey, it will be an enjoying and thrilling experience. Here are some things apart from working on your engineering concepts, that you should do for a complete preparation for GATE 1. Solve previous years' GATE papers: Solving previous years' papers gives you a fair idea of what the actual paper would be like. It also brushes up your basics and exposes your 'areas of improvement'. 2. Solve test papers: Solve as many test papers as possible. This actually is the best way to keep improving as you prepare for GATE. 3. Analyze : Analyzing your test results is a very important part of taking the test. If you do not analyze, the test does not add value. You should minutely analyze and define as to where you could have scored more; analyze your accuracy rates in various topics and maintain a topic wise datasheet which lists your performance topic wise for different test papers. 4. Take up a TarGATE which gives you your percentile and All India Rank : This is very important to avoid the "frog in the pond" syndrome. Students tend to take it easy if they attain a high score in the tests. However, GATE is an exam in which people are selected on their relative scores. So even if you have scored 95% it does not essentially translate to a percentile of 95. You are competing with the best in India, and to get through GATE you should know where you stand to be among the 'top few' selected for the interview. A test series of this sort is being provided by GATE Forum (www.gateforum.com). 5. Simulate actual test environment: This is very important. The actual test happens in a classroom, and is timed. When you take up the test, switch off your cell phone, have a timer which times your tests, and avoid taking any breaks. Also, if possible, take up a mock test series which enables you to take the test in a classroom environment.

We are presenting below a series of interviews of some of our toppers in GATE 2009. Arko Barman, AIR 16, EE, GATE 2009, answers below some of the questions posed by us in an interview to help benefit present and future GATE Aspirants. Arko Barman Arko Barman AIR 16 EE GATE 2009 "Gateforum has been helpful for my preparation for GATE. It has helped me understand the structure and pattern of GATE and has provided me valuable practice." - Arko Barman 1. From which college did you complete your engineering? Jadavpur University, Kolkata 2. Have you taken GATE earlier and how was your performance in it? Gate 2008 - AIR 191 Score 586 3. Can you recollect when you started preparation for GATE 2008? (Which year of engineering / job) 3rd year. Actually if you learn the basic concepts from 1st year itself, then preparation is much easier. 4. When you started your preparation, what was your aim in GATE? To get a good rank, preferably within 50. 5. What were the subjects you felt were tough? Power electronics. 6. What were the subjects you felt were easy? Control System, Power system, Circuit theory, Digital electronics. 7. Which books and material did you refer to in your preparation? Standard books referred to by my professors. 8. How did Gateforum's test series help in your preparation? It helped to identify my weak areas and provided valuable practice. The projected GATE score provided was indication of my relative performance with respect to other candidates. 9. What are the strengths of Gateforum's product? Similarity with latest GATE pattern, coverage of all topics. 10. In your opinion what are the major reasons for your success in GATE? Scheduling the time I allotted to each topic depending on respective importance and my strengths and weaknesses, and of course hardwork. 11. What was your methodology while preparing for GATE? Preparing a list of subjects given more stress in GATE and preparing a list of formulae and small but important details for ready reference. 12. When did you complete the syllabus? And were you able to revise? (how many times) Completing the syllabus is important but not essential! You have to decide which topics are more important and devote more time to those topics.

13. How did you prepare in the last 2 months before GATE? Go through the important topics and the formulae and small details over and over again. 14. What suggestion and preparation tips would you like to give to GATE aspirants? Don't panic. Give adequate time. But that does not mean hamper your other activities. Lead a normal life. This keeps you stress free. And of course, ther is no susbstitute for hardwork. But what I think is most important is "intelligent" studying rather than studying for long hours. 15. Which institute and specialization are you planning to take up? IIT Bombay, Microelectronics or Power system and Power Electronics. Debadrita Paria, AIR 12, IN, GATE 2009, answers below some of the questions posed by us in an interview to help benefit present and future GATE Aspirants. Arko Barman Debadrita Paria AIR 12 IN GATE 2009 "Gateforum has provided me a proper guide to come out with such a rank! Gateforum study material is an excellent preparation guide for GATE. All India mock test also helps you to identify your strength and weakness. In my opinion Gateforum is must for all GATE aspirants. I would like to sincerely thank Gateforum!" - Debadrita Paria 1. From which college are you pursuing / completed your engineering? Haldia Institute of Technology. I'll b passing out in 2009. 2. Have you taken GATE earlier and how was your performance in it? Yes I appeared for GATE 2008 and my AIR was 64. 3. Can you recollect when you started preparation for GATE 2009? (Which year of engineering / job) I had experience from GATE '08 along with that I seriously started preparing for the second time after my 7th semester exams in December. I was also taking the TarGATE of gateforum. 4. When you started your preparation, what was your aim in GATE? I wanted a rank within Top 20. 5. When you were preparing for GATE, were you expecting this rank? I was expecting a rank within AIR 50. 6. What were the subjects you felt were tough? Analog Electronics, Industrial Instrumentation (because of the vast syllabus and a lot of things to remember). 7. What were the subjects you felt were easy? Maths, Digital Electronics, Control Theory and Sensors. 8. Which books and material did you refer to in your preparation? Books I studied for the semester, Gateforum's study material and Brilliant Tutorial's study material. 9. How did Gateforum's test series help in your preparation? Each test had questions covering the whole syllabus. I also found new conceptual questions which you generally don't find in any conventional books. After each test the detailed performance analysis in each subject helped me to identify my strength and weakness and

increase my confidence level. 10. How did Gateforum's Correspondence Course help in your preparation? It has a wide range of problems which gave me a thorough practice. 11. What are the strengths of Gateforum's product? It has a very vast range of questions covering the whole syllabus, the ideal requirement for a lot of practice and good preparation. 12. In your opinion what are the major reasons for your success in GATE? My parent's, teacher's support, friend's encouragement, and Gateforum. 13. What was your methodology while preparing for GATE? I paid more stress on important subjects like Maths, Control , Electronics, Circuit Theory and Measurement. I solved a lot of problems. 14. When did you complete the syllabus? And were you able to revise? (how many times) I completed 75% of the syllabus before GATE '08, the rest I did during 4th year. I tried to get my concepts cleared during my semester studies so that I could concentrate more on problem solving before gate. Yes I revised few times before GATE '08 and finally once before GATE '09. 15. How did you prepare in the last 2 months before GATE? I already had a good preparation and experience from GATE '08, so it was really easy for me to prepare this time. I had a final revision of the theory and solved lots of problems. I was also taking TarGATE of Gateforum which helped me a lot in my preparation. 16. What suggestion and preparation tips would you like to give to GATE aspirants? GATE IN paper has a huge syllabus, so in my views it is almost impossible to cover the whole syllabus thoroughly. So one should concentrate on important subjects like Math's, Digital and analog electronics, Circuit theory, Control theory, DSP, Measurement, and Sensors. If time permits then one can just go through few important topics of Industrial instrumentation, Optical, Biomedical and analytical instrumentation. Basic concepts and fundamentals are very important. A lot of problems should be solved. Finally mock test and a good study guide like Gateforum. 17. Which institute and specialization are you planning to take up? IISC, instrumentation or IIT Bombay, electronic technology, selection results are yet to come Emil Mathew, AIR 6, EE, GATE 2009, answers below some of the questions posed by us in an interview to help benefit present and future GATE Aspirants. Emil Mathew AIR 6 EE GATE 2009 "TarGATE was really helpful. I recommend all aspirants to enroll for it." - Emil Mathew 1. From which college are you pursuing / completed your engineering? College of Engineering, Trivandrum. 2. Have you taken GATE earlier and how was your performance in it? Yes, in 2008 my rank was 280. 3. Can you recollect when you started preparation for GATE 2009? (Which year of engineering / job)

Before 6 months. 4. When you started your preparation, what was your aim in GATE? To get within AIR 50. 5. When you were preparing for GATE, were you expecting this rank? No. 6. What were the subjects you felt were tough? Power Systems. 7. What were the subjects you felt were easy? Network Analysis. 8. Which books and material did you refer to in your preparation? NPTEL notes, college text books. 9. How did Gateforum's test series help in your preparation? It gave me feel of the new pattern, improved my time management, helped to improve in my weak areas, analyze my performance throughout my preparation. 10. What are the strengths of Gateforum's product? Test series which has good quality questions. 11. In your opinion what are the major reasons for your success in GATE? Gods' providence, my preparation, & test series. 12. What was your methodology while preparing for GATE? Study the full syllabus, checked my performance in whatever portions completed through the test series. 13. When did you complete the syllabus? And were you able to revise? (how many times) I just completed it.....digital and analog part not satisfactorily. 14. How did you prepare in the last 2 months before GATE? I made notes of formulas as and when I completed a particular portion. 15. What suggestion and preparation tips would you like to give to GATE aspirants? Master your favorite areas....& be jack of others. 16. Which institute and specialization are you planning to take up? IISc Microelectronics . Naveen Kumar, AIR 18, EC, GATE 2009, answers below some of the questions posed by us in an interview to help benefit present and future GATE Aspirants. Arko Barman Naveen Kumar AIR 18 EC GATE 2009 "By conducting Test Series you are doing an excellent job. Little bit of toughness is required in exam papers." - Naveen Kumar 1. From which college are you pursuing / completed your engineering? JNT UNIVERSITY KAKINADA , A.P.

2. Have you taken GATE earlier and how was your performance in it? Got 372 rank. 3. Can you recollect when you started preparation for GATE 2009? (Which year of engineering / job) 3RD YEAR. 4. When you started your preparation, what was your aim in GATE? To get a seat in IITS in my interested specialization. 5. When you were preparing for GATE, were you expecting this rank? Yes ... I expected within AIR 25. 6. What were the subjects you felt were tough? SIGNALS AND SYSTEMS. 7. What were the subjects you felt were easy? MATHS , CONTROLS , NETWORKS, COMMUNICATIONS. 8. Which books and material did you refer to in your preparation? TEXT BOOKS. MATHEMATICS: R.K.JAIN SRK IYINGAR,GREWAL, ANALOG :SEDRA SMITH , INTEGRATED ELECTRONICS -MILLMAN HALKIES, DIGITAL : BOGART, MORIS MANO, NETWORKS : HAYTH KIMMERLY,CONTROLS: NAGRATH GOPAL, COMMUNICATIONS: SYMON HAYKINS 2ND EDITION, SAM SHANMUGAM, KENNEDY,SCHAUM SERIES,SIGNALS:SIGNALS AND SYSTEMS BY OPPENHEIM,DIGITAL SIGNAL PROCESSING BY OPPENHEIM,ELECTROMAGNETICS: JORDAN BALMINE ,NN RAO,SCHAUM SERIES,OPTICAL-SENIOR,TRANSMISSION LINES-UMESH SINHA,EDC:MILLMAN HALKIES, EDC BY STREETMAN,ALL PREVIOUS GATE PAPERS, PREVIOUS AND PRESENT GATE FORUM PAPERS. 9. How did Gateforum's test series help in your preparation? Gateforum helped me a lot.... Changed my way of preparation. Test Series gave me 10 chances to write GATE, which gave me a lot of experience regarding exam pattern and easy/toughness estimation. 10. What are the strengths of Gateforum's product? Good. If papers are given a little bit tougher than GATE it will be much better. 11. In your opinion what are the major reasons for your success in GATE? Your Test Series. 12. What was your methodology while preparing for GATE? Analysing each and every concept. 13.When did you complete the syllabus? And were you able to revise? (how many times) By the end of October. 14. How did you prepare in the last 2 months before GATE? I revised two times, and solved previous year question papers, and read short notes prepared by me. 15.What suggestion and preparation tips would you like to give to GATE aspirants? Revise thoroughly as many number of times. Prepare short notes while reading each subject. After completion of each subject go through previous year GATE question papers in that subject.

16.Which institute and specialization are you planning to take up? IIT Bombay , MICRO ELECTRONICS. Rony Thomas Roy, AIR 6, CS, GATE 2009, answers below some of the questions posed by us in an interview to help benefit present and future GATE Aspirants. Arko Barman Rony Thomas Roy AIR 6 CS GATE 2009 "Gateforum provides good courses. I especially like the books. The way they are structured serves well to let the candidate know exactly what to expect in the exam." - Rony Thomas Roy 1. From which college are you pursuing / completed your engineering? St. Joseph Engineering college, Mangalore. 2. Have you taken GATE earlier and how was your performance in it? Yes, in 2008. Rank 254. 3. Can you recollect when you started preparation for GATE 2009? (Which year of engineering / job) Two weeks before the Exam. 4. When you started your preparation, what was your aim in GATE? Mainly to get within the 100th rank. 5. When you were preparing for GATE, were you expecting this rank? No. 6. What were the subjects you felt were tough? Software Engineering, Logic Design, Computer Networks (lost touch) 7. What were the subjects you felt were easy? Data structures, Algorithms, Theory of computation (my favorite subjects) 8. Which books and material did you refer to in your preparation? Gateforum's correspondence course and the standard text books. 9. How did Gateforum's Correspondence Course help in your preparation? It was very helpful. Got a clear idea about GATE syllabus. 10. How did Gateforum's eTutor (online classes) help in your preparation? It was very helpful. 11. What are the strengths of Gateforum's product? Well structured. Complete GATE syllabus was covered. Lot of sample questions are given for preparation. 12. In your opinion what are the major reasons for your success in GATE? Well... the correspondence course helped... also I was familiar with some of the tough subjects. 13. What was your methodology while preparing for GATE? Studied very hard during the last two weeks to the exam. 14. When did you complete the syllabus? And were you able to revise? (how many times)

I don't think I covered the syllabus. I didn't have to prepare for math (Gate math is trivial), Algorithms, Data structures, TOC. Studied subjects like Operating Systems, Computer Networks, Computer Organization and Compiler Design. 15. How did you prepare in the last 2 months before GATE? Kept all the books with me, always. Every hour took a different subject and tried to finish a topic in one hour. 16. What suggestion and preparation tips would you like to give to GATE aspirants? GATE is a relatively easy exam. It doesn't require detailed knowledge of the subjects. To have success in GATE, you need to know the basics of all the subjects. A breadth-wise knowledge base will serve better than a depth-wise one. Also a certain level of mathematical flexibility is required. 17. Which institute and specialization are you planning to take up? IISc, MSc or M.E. Interviews of some of our toppers in GATE 2008. Rakesh, AIR 1, CS, GATE 2008, answers below some of the questions posed by us in an interview to help benefit present and future GATE Aspirants. Pimplikar Rakesh Pimplikar Rakesh Rameshrao Stream CS AIR 1 [Roll no: 156551] 1. When and from which college did you complete your engineering? I have completed my B.E. in Computer Science from Shri Guru Gobind Singhji Institute of Engineering & Technology, Nanded (Maharashtra) in the year 2007. 2. Have you taken GATE earlier and how was your performance in it? Earlier I have attempted GATE twice. In GATE 2006, my score was just 355 and rank was 2238. In GATE 2007, my score was 424 and rank was 932. I improved it significantly in GATE 2008. Now my score is 935 and rank is 1. 3. Can you recollect when you started preparation for GATE 2008? (Which year of engineering / job) I got job through campus. But as I was desperate for M.Tech. from a reputed institute, I didn't join the job. I feel it is very difficult to give time for technical studies while doing a job. I was very good in basic concepts in my engineering course. I started preparing seriously for GATE 2008 in August 2007. I think if you are good in basics, a consistent study of 4-5 months is sufficient to crack GATE. Third and final year of Engineering is the right time to clear your basics. 4. When you started your preparation, what was your aim in GATE? In the beginning I didn't aim high. (Consequently) My aim was to get into top 100 rankers so that I can get admission in IIT. Accordingly I planned my studies. 5. When you were preparing for GATE, were you expecting this rank? When I started preparing I wasn't expecting this rank. Later on, I joined GATEFORUM test series in August 2008. When I started getting good All India Rank in mock tests, my confidence was boosted. I felt that with consistent study I could get AIR 1 in GATE as well. In such a way, GATEFORUM test series helped me to analyze myself and to improve over weak areas. It was really useful to know where I stand in India. 6. What were the subjects you felt were tough?

In the beginning, Theory of Computation, Compilers, Computer Organization, Operating Systems & Computer Networks were tough for me. But logical approach helped me to get command over these subjects. I concentrated over only those topics which are given in GATE syllabus and I solved as many problems from these subjects as possible. 7. What were the subjects you felt were easy? Subjects like Discrete Mathematics, Data Structures, Computer Algorithms, C-Programming, Digital Electronics, Database Managements Systems were easy for me. 8. Which books and material did you refer to in your preparation? I think books prescribed by any university syllabus are standard books and those books are sufficient for GATE studies. Books only help us clearing concepts, but GATE is all about application of those concepts. So unless you practice problems from previous GATE papers or from other mock test series, you cannot crack GATE. 9. How did Gateforum's coaching / correspondence course / test series help in your preparation? I had joined GATEFORUM test series only. I think it played a very important role in my preparation. The main thing is that it provides All India Rank in every test so that you come to know where you stand in India. It helps very much to boost your confidence. In the beginning I was thinking to get into top 100 rankers only. As I started improving in test series, I thought I could also get into top 5 or even AIR 1. It also helped me to learn time management. Subject wise analysis and ranking is another feature of this test series so that I came to know where I was weak and which area I should improve upon. Reading tough topics, appearing for next test, analyzing weak areas, improving over weak areas, again appearing for next test, this cycle can be followed in this test series. And 10 such tests are enough to get perfection. Thus GATEFORUM test series is the perfect simulation of real GATE exam./ 10. What are the strengths of Gateforum's product? It is precise as per the GATE syllabus and it shows the right direction for the preparation. 11. In your opinion what are the major reasons for your success in GATE? I believe in 3 C's, Confidence, Consistency and Concentration. 3 C's are sufficient to get success in any field. Again you should have burning desire to achieve something. I solved around 35 full length GATE question papers (previous year papers and mock test series papers). And I analyzed each and every paper after solving it. Solving problems is the key. Also, right decision at right time is the reason for my success. 12. What was your methodology while preparing for GATE? I had joined coaching. So my habit was to revise the topic at home on the same day when it was taught in class. Also I was trying to solve problems over that topic at home. If there was any difficulty, I used to ask it to Sir on next day. In such a way, I didn't leave any concept uncleared. I used to revise every subject once in at least 15 days so that it remains fresh in your mind. Otherwise you will forget few concepts by the time of exam. Also I was appearing for GATEFORUM mock tests regularly. 13. When did you complete the syllabus? And were you able to revise? (how many times) I completed my syllabus well in advance before 1 and half month. Then I revised syllabus within 15-20 days. Earlier I kept revising every subject at least once in 15 days. So approximately I revised entire syllabus 6-7 times. And that is important too, because GATE syllabus is so vast that if don't revise periodically, you will forget it. 14. How did you prepare in the last 2 months before GATE? In last 2 months, I revised all subjects twice. In the last 1 month I didn't read any new concept. I was just solving question papers in the last month. 15. What suggestion and preparation tips would you like to give to GATE aspirants?

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Very first point is you should have a strong desire to crack GATE. Give importance to GATE study over activities for at least 4-5 months. Plan your study as per time you have. Don't read entire book for a subject. Be precise and practice as many problems as you can. Practicing problem is the key. Hard work of 4-5 months is sufficient to crack GATE. 16. Which institute and specialization are you planning to take up? Most probably, I will go for IIT Bombay. I am interested in Data Mining and Networks. Achyut, (All India Rank 1, Mechanical, GATE 2008) answers the questions posed by us for the benefit of other GATE Aspirants in the following interview. Bhure Achyut Chatrabhuj Bhure Achyut Chatrabhuj GATE 2008 Topper AIR 1 Stream ME (Mechanical) Gateforum Roll No: [144658] 1. From which college are you pursuing / completed your engineering? Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Technological University LONERE Dist Raigad Maharashtra 2. Have you taken GATE earlier? How was your performance in it? GATE 2006 AIR 2207 GATE 2007 AIR 517 3. Can you recollect when you started preparation for GATE 2008? (Which year of engineering / job) In Third Year of B.Tech 4. When you started your preparation, what was your aim in GATE? In my first attempt(2006) I aimed to obtain at least a valid GATE score; in my second attempt (2007) I decided gain rank within 100 where as in third attempt (2008) tried hard to get rank within 10. 5. When you were preparing for GATE, were you expecting this rank? I had got AIR 1 in 8 out of 10 mock tests conducted by Gateforum so I was expecting my rank at least within 25 6.. What were the subjects you felt were tough? I felt industrial engineering & operation research very boring. Thermal science is very tough to understand but I have mastered it much above the average level of students. Math is tough to understand but easy to score. 7. What were the subjects you felt were easy? Machine design, Solid mechanics, Applied mechanics, Theory of machines, Production engineering, Heat transfer. 8. Which books / material did you refer to in your preparation? SM Singer Pytel (HARPER COLLINS PBL.), Beer Johnson McGraw-hill, Maths - B.S.Grewal, Erwin Kryzig , TOM- S.S.Rattan, Thermodynamics- P.K.Nag, Cengel , Heat transfer- Y.A.Cengel 9. How did Gateforum's Coaching / Correspondence course / Test series help in your preparation? I had applied for the Gateforum test series only. Performance analysis provided by Gateforum

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helped in detecting my weak areas. All India ranking system tells where we stand in national level competition. Method of conducting the exam & many question are very similar to actual GATE paper. Overall test series gives a nice practice of solving the GATE Question Paper in limited time. This experience helps in actual GATE paper. 10. In your opinion what are the major reasons for your success in GATE? Deep understanding of subjects, quick thinking, practice of different type of problems & question papers. 11. What was your methodology while preparing for GATE? As explained below. 12. When did you complete the syllabus? Were you able to revise? (how many times) Actually I had completed most of syllabus thoroughly during my B Tech. so during last year I learned very few concepts & gave much time for revision. (3 to 4 times) 13. How did you prepare in the last 2 months before GATE? Don't learn new things in last two months. Try to study 2 to 3 different subjects each day. Solve at least 1 paper in each week. Prepare all syllabus; do not skip any subject or topic. It is possible to prepare all subjects thoroughly but 'do something from everything' so that you can solve at least easy questions from each topic. 14. What suggestion preparation tips would you like to give to GATE aspirants? Basic requirement for GATE exam is that your concepts should be clear. Try to understand as many concepts as possible thoroughly; but this is not enough for getting very high rankings. To increase speeds, try to solve many different types of problems & many question papers (within time). Try to make optimum use of calculator. 15. Which institute specialization are you planning to take up? I have planned for taking admission in IISc Bangalore in Mechanical Engineering. Adil (CS, AIR5, GATE 2008) answers some Questions on his preparations in GATE 2008 which led to his excellent results. Adil Anis Sandalwala Stream CS AIR 5 Gateforum Roll No: [534445] 1. From which college did you complete your engineering? I have completed engineering from IET-DAVV Indore 2. Have you taken GATE earlier and how was your performance in it? In GATE 2003, Rank - 289 3. Can you recollect when you started preparation for GATE 2008? (Which year of engineering / job) Around November 2007 4. When you started your preparation, what was your aim in GATE? Just to crack a great rank and get into IIT 5. When you were preparing for GATE, were you expecting this rank? Not exactly.. but I've always studied with this in mind that I have to get such rank in GATE

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6. What were the subjects you felt were tough? Computer Architecture and Organization, Computer Networks 7. What were the subjects you felt were easy? Analysis of Algorithms, Database, TOC, Discrete Structures 8. Which books and material did you refer to in your preparation? Just the suggested books for each subject. but the main preparation were in maintaining regularity in studying them. 9. How did Gateforum's coaching / correspondence course / test series help in your preparation? It helped me to maintain my regularity and assessing my performance at all India level. It also helped me to correct and identify my mistakes. 10. In your opinion what are the major reasons for your success in GATE? Regularity, self-confidence but above all HARD WORK.. 11. What was your methodology while preparing for GATE? I always tried to cover each subject to its complete depth before switching to another subject.. I preferred starting with the subjects in which I was weak so that I would have time to re-study it in the end. then to the subjects in which I felt confident.. But I always made sure that I time to REVISE the complete syllabus before each test/exam to have a complete cover and feel for the exam. 12. When did you complete the syllabus? And were you able to revise? (how many times) I completed the syllabus at around mid-January 2008, and was able to revise the subjects once.. And when I had time took on selected and important topics for a further revision. 13. How did you prepare in the last 2 months before GATE? Study, Study and Revision.. 14. What suggestion and preparation tips would you like to give to GATE aspirants? Have your goal clear in your mind and put in your whole hearted effort for the preparation for the exam.. It is not that tough but just have confidence in yourself and you can have good rank in the exam. 15. Which institute and specialization are you planning to take up? IIT Bombay or IISc Bangalore

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