DETAILS OF GATE EXAM

GATE - Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering




The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) is an all -India

Examination conducted by the six Indian Institutes of Technology and

Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, on behalf of the National

Coordinating Board - GATE, Ministry of Human Resources Development

(MHRD), Government of India.

We are providing detailed information for SYLLABUS and Structure of

GATE , Question Paper Structure , General Information about GATE . Get

information about GATE Eligibility , How to Apply for GATE , Important

Dates For GATE 2006.

We are providing GATE Sample Papers For GATE Exams , Some Tips & Tricks

, GATE Exam Cities , Discipline Codes , College Code , GATE Score and

many more information about GATE.


OBJECTIVES OF GATE


* Identify, at the National level, meritorious and motivated candidates

for admission to Postgraduate Programmes in Engineering, Technology,

Architecture, Science and Pharmacy.

* Serve as a mandatory qualification for the MHRD

scholarship/assistantship.
* Serve as benchmark of normalization of the Undergraduate Engineering

Education in the

country.


Why should we take GATE:


To pursue M.Tech program in a leading institute of the country. The

benefits of M.Tech are:

1. More and better companies are coming for Campus Placement in leading

Institutes

2. Higher salaries are being offered for M.Tech as compared to B.E.

3. M.Tech degree leads to specialization and furthering of interest in

a certain area which may lead to Ph.D

4. M.Tech degree is a must for those wishing to apply for

Faculty/Research positions in educational Institutes/R&D centers.

5. Scholarship is paid during M.Tech, so no headache to parents for

financial requirements.

6. The M.Tech program is a 3 semester (18 months) program; so get more

time to work out career opportunities.

7. MOST IMPORTANTLY to get to be a part of any Nationally reputed

Educational Institute and enjoy learning and research.


Important Dates:


1. Availability of GATE forms: October, 1st week
2. Last Date for filling up forms: November, 1st week
3. Exam Date: 2nd Sunday of February
4. Results: March 31st

General Information and Results are also published on the Web.


Examination Details:


1. The examination is a single paper of 3 hours duration and generally

consists of Section A (Objective Type) which is of 75 marks and Section

B (Problem Type) which is of 75 marks. Total: 150 marks.
2. You have to opt for your subject and study as per the syllabus

mentioned in the GATE brochure (available in the Library).
3. The subjects of our interest are Computer Science and Engineering,

Electronics & Communication Engineering., Electrical Engineering and

Instrumentation Engineering. Other subjects are also available such as

Mathematics, Physics, etc (consult the GATE brochure).
4. Generally a large number of students appear for the Computer Science

subject in order to do a M.Tech in Computer Science.
5. Old question papers are available in the shops.
6. Results of qualified candidates in GATE will give All India Rank and

indicate percentile score. For example, a percentile score of 99 means

you are in the top 1% category of the candidates who appeared for GATE.
7. Candidates who get less than 70 percentile get no score card.
8. GATE scores are valid for 2 years. You may reappear the GATE exam if

you are not satisfied with the earlier score and the new score (if

better than the old one) will be used for admission purposes.


After the Exam, what next:


1. After publication of GATE results, students must apply to individual

Institutes to get their application forms.
2. Institutes advertise M.Tech admissions in leading newspapers from

1st April till end July. However some Institutes do not advertise and

therefore students have to get the forms themselves.
3. In the application forms, you have to mention your GATE score

alongwith other details.
4. The concerned Institute may conduct written test and/or interview

for the purpose of admission.
5. General thumb rules: If your Gate score in Computer Science is 96

percentile or more then you can try for IITs, if between 85 - 96

percentile, then apply for top RECs, JADAVPUR, SHIBPUR, ROORKEE, etc.

If less than 85, you have to look for appropriate institutes.


Scholarship:


During the pursuit of M.Tech, you are paid a scholarship of Rs. 8000.00

per month by the Government of India. This amount is enough for living

expenses including purchase of books, etc. The scholarship is paid for

the entire 18 months M.Tech period.


SPECIAL:


I encourage 3rd year students to also appear GATE alongwith Final Year

students since:

1. GATE score is valid for 1 year.
2. The syllabus as required by GATE is generally over by 5th semester.
3. Anyway, it will be a good try ! If it is a bad score you can always

try again.


GATE QUESTION PAPER STRUCTURE


* Main Papers (Non-XE/XL Papers)

1. The question paper will be fully objective type for a total of 150

marks divided into three groups:
1. Group I: Question Numbers 1 to 20 (20 questions) will carry one mark

each.
2. Group II: Question numbers 21 to 75 (55 questions) will carry two

marks each. Out of this, Q.71 to Q.75 may be common data based

questions.
3. Group III: Question Numbers 76 to 85 (10 questions) will carry two

marks each. 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.

1.

Each question will have four choices for the answer. Only one choice is

correct.
2.

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. However,

there is no negative marking in Q.77, Q.79, Q.81, Q.83 and Q.85.
3.

Papers bearing the code 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.
4. The multiple choice objective test questions can be of the following

type:

5. Each choice containing a single stand-alone statement/phrase/data.

Example:

Q. The symmetry of stress tensor at a point in the body under

equilibrium is obtained from


1. conservation of mass
2. force equilibrium equations
3. moment of equilibrium equations
4. conservation of energy


6. 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 infra-red stretching frequency ?co of
(P) Mn(CO)6+ (Q) CO (R) H3B?CO (S) [V(CO)6]- follows the order


1. P>R>S>Q
2. S>P>R>Q
3. Q>S>P>R
4. R>Q>P>S


7. 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. Determine the correctness or otherwise of the following Assertion

[a] and the Reason [r]

Assertion: For a fully developed laminar flow in a circular pipe the

average velocity is one half of the maximum velocity.

Reason: The velocity for a fully developed laminar flow in a circular

pipe varies linearly in the radial direction.


1. Both [a] and [r] are true and [r] is the correct reason for [a]
2. Both [a] and [r] are true but [r] is not the correct reason for [a]
3. Both [a] and [r] are false
4. [a] is true but [r] is false


8. Match items: Match all items in Column 1 with correct options from

those given in Column 2 and choose the correct set of combinations from

the choices A, B, C and D. Example:
Q. Group I contains some properties of bitumen. Group II gives a list

of laboratory tests conducted on bitumen to determine the properties.

Match the property with the corresponding test.

1.
Group I Group II
P. Resistance to flow 1. Ductility test
Q. Ability to deform under load 2. Penetration test
R. Safety 3. Flash and fire point test


1.
(A) (B) (C) (D)
P - 2 P - 2 P - 1 P - 3
Q - 1 Q - 3 Q - 2 Q - 1
R - 3 R - 1 R - 3 R - 2


1. 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 Q. 74 & 75: A glass-reinforced polymer composite

comprises of 35 vol % glass fibres and 65 vol % of polymer resin. The

elastic moduli of glass and polymer resin are respectively 70 GPa and 3

GPa.

Q.74. The elastic modulus (in GPa) of the composite under iso-strain

state is

(A) 4.51 (B) 25.45 (C) 26.45 (D) 27.45

Q.75. The elastic modulus (in GPa) of the composite under iso-stress

state is

(A) 3.51 (B) 4.51 (C) 6.51 (D) 26.45


2. Linked answers question: These questions are of problem solving

type. A problem statement is followed by two questions based on the

problem statement. The two questions are to be 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 Q. 76 & 77: : A four-hour unit of a

hydrograph of a catchment is triangular in shape with a base of 80

hours. The area of the catchment is 720 km2. The base flow and f-index

are 30 m3/s and 1 mm/h, respectively. A storm of 4 cm occurs uniformly

in 4 hours over the catchment.

Q.76 The peak discharge of four-hour unit hydrograph is

(A) 40 m3/s (B) 50 m3/s (C) 60 m3/s (D) 70 m3/s

Q.77 The peak flood discharge due to the storm is

(A) 210 m3/s (B) 230 m3/s (C) 260 m3/s (D) 720 m3/s

In the above simplistic example, the calculation of peak flood

discharge due to the storm in Q.77 requires the value of peak discharge

of four-hour unit hydrograph calculated in Q.76 as the first step.

XE/XL Papers

1. XE and XL papers contain a number of sections. Each Section is of 50

marks. Each Section will be fully objective type and the questions are

divided into three groups.

1. Group I: Question Numbers 1 to 6 (6 questions) will carry one mark

each (subtotal 6 marks).
2. 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.
3. 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).
2. All questions have four choices with only one being correct.
3. 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.

However, there is no negative marking in Q.26 and Q.28.

The pattern of multiple-choice questions is the same as in the Main

papers as described in Main Papers(e).

GATE Eligibility

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

* Bachelor's degree holders in

Engineering/Technology/Architecture/Pharmacy and those who are in the

final or pre-final year of such programmes.

* Master's 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's degree programme (Post-B.Sc.) in Engineering/Technology or in

the third or higher year of Five-year Integrated Master's degree
programme and Dual Degree programme in Engineering/ Technology.

* Candidates with qualifications obtained through examination conducted

by professional societies recognised 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.


SYLLABUS & Structure of GATE Examination

The GATE is held every year on the second Sunday of February, across

the country in over 100 cities. At present nearly 60,000 students write

GATE every year. Candidates can choose a single paper of 3 hours

duration to appear in GATE from the discipline papers shown in the

following Table.

The GATE 2006 examination consists of a single paper of 3 hours

duration and of 150 marks. GATE 2006 will have the following twenty one

papers:


PAPER CODE
AG Agricultural Engineering
AR Architecture and Planning
CE Civil Engineering
CH Chemical Engineering
CS Computer Science & Engineering
CY Chemistry
EC Electronics & Comm Engineering
EE Electrical Engineering
GG Geology & Geophysics
IN Instrumentation Engineering
IT Information Technology
MA Mathematics
ME Mechanical Engineering
MN Mining Engineering
MT Metallurgical Engineering
PH Physics
PI Production & Industrial Engg.
PY Pharmaceutical Sciences
TF Textile Engg. & Fiber Science
XE Engineering Sc iences
XL Life Sciences

Papers XE and XL are of general nature and will comprise the following


Sections:



Engineering Sciences(XE):
Section Code
Engg. Mathematics (Compulsory) A
Computational Science B
Electrical Sciences C
Fluid Mechanics D
Materials Science E
Solid Mechanics F
Thermodynamics G

Life Sciences(XL):
Section Code
Chemistry (Compulsory) H
Biochemistry I
Biotechnology J
Botany K
Microbiology L
Zoology M

Candidates appearing in XE or XL papers are required to answer three

sections. Sections (A) and (H) are compulsory in XE and XL

respectively. Candidates can choose any two out of the remaining

sections mentioned against the respective papers.

* The choice of the appropriate paper is the responsibility of the

candidate. However, some guidelines are suggested below:

1. Candidates are expected to appear in a paper appropriate to the

discipline of their qualifying degree.
2. However, the candidates are free to choose any paper according to

their admission plan, keeping in mind the eligibility criteria of the

admitting institute.

* The question paper of GATE 2006 will be fully of objective type.

1. Candidates have to mark the correct choice by darkening the

appropriate bubble against each question on an Objective Response Sheet

(ORS).
2. There will be 'negative' marking for wrong answers. The deduction

will be 25% of the marks allotted.

3. Here is the Structure of Question Papers





CS - COMPUTER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING


syllabus


ENGINEERING MATHEMATICS

Mathematical Logic: Propositional Logic; First Order Logic.

Probability: Conditional Probability; Mean, Median, Mode and Standard

Deviation; Random Variables; Distributions; uniform, normal,

exponential, Poisson, Binomial.

Set Theory & Algebra: Sets; Relations; Functions; Groups; Partial

Orders; Lattice; Boolean Algebra.

Combinatorics: Permutations; Combinations; Counting; Summation;

generating functions; recurrence relations; asymptotics.

Graph Theory: Connectivity; spanning trees; Cut vertices & edges;

covering; matching; independent sets; Colouring; Planarity;

Isomorphism.

Linear Algebra: Algebra of matrices, determinants, systems of linear

equations, Eigen values and Eigen vectors.

Numerical Methods: LU decomposition for systems of linear equations;

numerical solutions of non-linear algebraic equations by Secant,

Bisection and Newton-Raphson Methods; Numerical integration by

trapezoidal and Simpson’s rules.

Calculus: Limit, Continuity & differentiability, Mean value Theorems,

Theorems of integral calculus, evaluation of definite & improper

integrals, Partial derivatives, Total derivatives, maxima & minima.

COMPUTER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING

Theory of Computation: Regular languages and finite automata, Context

free languages and Push-down automata, Recursively enumerable sets and

Turing machines, Undecidability; NP-completeness.

Digital Logic: Logic functions, Minimization, Design and synthesis of

combinational and sequential circuits; Number representation and

computer arithmetic (fixed and floating point).

Computer Organization and Architecture: Machine instructions and

addressing modes, ALU and data-path, CPU control design, Memory

interface, I/O interface (Interrupt and DMA mode), Instruction

pipelining, Cache and main memory, Secondary storage.

Programming and Data Structures: Programming in C; Functions,

Recursion, Parameter passing, Scope, Binding; Abstract data types,

Arrays, Stacks, Queues, Linked Lists, Trees, Binary search trees,

Binary heaps.

Algorithms: Analysis, Asymptotic notation, Notions of space and time

complexity, Worst and average case analysis; Design: Greedy approach,

Dynamic programming, Divide-and-conquer; Tree and graph traversals,

Connected components, Spanning trees, Shortest paths; Hashing, Sorting,

Searching.

Compiler Design: Lexical analysis, Parsing, Syntax directed

translation, Runtime environments, Intermediate and target code

generation, Basics of code optimization.

Operating System: Processes, Threads, Inter-process communication,

Concurrency, Synchronization, Deadlock, CPU scheduling, Memory

management and virtual memory, File systems, I/O systems, Protection

and security.

Databases: ER-model, Relational model (relational algebra, tuple

calculus), Database design (integrity constraints, normal forms), Query

languages (SQL), File structures (sequential files, indexing, B and B+

trees), Transactions and concurrency control.

Computer Networks: ISO/OSI stack, LAN technologies (Ethernet, Token

ring), Flow and error control techniques, Routing algorithms,

Congestion control, TCP/UDP and sockets, IP(v4), Application layer

protocols (icmp, dns, smtp, pop, ftp, http); Basic concepts of hubs,

switches, gateways, and routers.