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Thursday, September 16, 2010

GATE CS Preparation

In this post I will discuss some ideas related to GATE preparation. These may or may not work for everyone but this is how I went about preparing for GATE myself.


When to Start

As of writing this post, its September. Ideally you should have started the preparation by now. If you haven't, its still not very late. Assuming that you have a fair understanding of Computer Science concepts, even starting now, you could manage to finish the syllabus and test preparations on time. I myself started it from end of Sept. Do keep in mind that GATE has a fairly huge syllabus, so its going to be a big task to finish all that.

 

Where to study from

This is perhaps the most frequently asked question related to GATE. Where to study from, that is what to refer and what not to refer. In my experience, the best resource to study for GATE is your own textbooks that you used during your engineering. But no subject will have a single book that is sufficient for that subject. That is why I would suggest that you refer atleast two books for every subject. I know this is a going to take more time, but it helps. I had a primary book for every subject, but I referred other books for some specific topics that I didn't find properly covered in the primary book. So for example my primary book for OS was Galvin. But I didn't understand synchronization that well from this book. So I referred internet or other sources for this topic. The bottom line is: Do not depend on just one source, study from as many sources as possible. This is a list of some of the books I referred:




Book Subject Remarks
Data Structures in C, Horowitz, Sahani Data Structures Excellent book for DS
Introduction to Algorithms, by Cormen, Rivest Algorithms Need to study first few chapters only .
Computer Algorithms, by Horowitz, Sahani Algorithms
Principles Of Compiler Design, by Aho and Ullman Compilers De-facto books for Compilers
John Martin TOC
Hopcroft & Ullmana TOC
Digital Design, by Morris Mano Digital Logic Excellent book for Digital Logic
Operating System Concepts, by Galvin and Silberschatz OS Standard book for OS
OS, by Tanenbaum OS
Fundamentals of Database Systems, By Elmasri, Navathe DBMS Covers normalization very well
Ramakrishna Gherke DBMS Good for SQL, relational algebra
Tanenbaum Computer Architecture
Computer System Architecture, by Morris Mano Computer Architecture
Hamacher, Zaky Computer Architecture
Tanenbaum Networks
Peterson, Davie Networks
Computer Network, By Douglas Comer Networks Good for TCP/IP and internet
Trembly & Manohar Discrete Mathematics A little heavy but good
C. L. Liu Discrete Mathematics
Graph Theory, by Narsingh Deo Graph Theory A complete reference for Graph theory
The C Programming Language, by Kernighan and Ritchie C Excellent book for C. (Preferred over Let us C)

Note: The list is not exhaustive. If there are other books that you have found useful, you can suggest them in the comments.

Online Resources
Link Subject Remarks
Kentucky Notes TOC Excellent resource for TOC. Covers Automata, Computability, Languages, Unsolvability. Must read.
Kentucky Notes on Algorithms Algorithms
Crack the Interview Data Structures, Algorithms, DBMS An extensive resource. It is a compilation of campus interview questions. Go through it if you have time.

Previous Year GATE Papers

This is probably the most important thing that helped me get a decent score in GATE. Once you are done with a complete study of the GATE syllabus, you should solve at least one previous year GATE paper completely. By solving I don't mean solving it like an exam, but solving each and every question open book without any time limit. You can refer any book, internet, ask your friends or do whatever you can. Just solve each and every question in that particular question paper. It can take weeks for you to find out all the answers. Remember just knowing the answer to every question is not sufficient, you should also know how the answer was derived. This process will clear your concepts like anything.You will feel the difference in your confidence and your preparedness for GATE after finishing this exercise.

Coaching

Since personally I never joined any coaching for GATE, I cannot suggest anything in this regard. But even if you do not plan to join a GATE coaching institute full time, at least try joining a test series on GATE. A lot of coaching institutes have only test series packages. These test series give you good practice of GATE exam. I joined one such test series towards the end of the year. Apart from this, I have not taken any other coaching.

Conclusion

Studying for GATE is not like studying for CAT. GATE is not about practice but about knowledge. Studying for GATE is almost like doing a research project. You have to refer as many books as possible and study as much as you can. Remember if you think that there is too much to study in GATE, just wait till you get admission into an IIT. Compared to the workload in IITs, GATE will look like piece of cake to you. PS: If you know of a good book or resource for GATE, please share via comments. Thanks.


Like my facebook page below to keep in touch with me. I will keep posting any links/resources relevant to M. Tech. You can also ask questions you might have on the Facebook page, and I will try to answer.

56 comments:

  1. hey, jus had a chance to read thru ur posts.... Was wonderful! I jus finished my M.S from NTU,Singapore in Communications Engineering. Wat u hav added in ur posts is really true and applauds for job u hav done....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Vinoth,
      I just read somewhere that with the good Gate score you can get a admission in NTU Singapore.Which is a very good college as per International World ranking as compared to IITs in India. Comparision in the sense of International exposure and the better faculty, and Infrastructure.Could you please share your experience of studying in NTU Singapore....... at nishantkshyp2004[at] gmail[dot]com. Thanks in Advance.

      Delete
  2. nice post.
    m preparing for gate2011,ur posts r really gud


    this might be helpful...
    http://vishallovesualot.blogspot.com/2011/01/free-gate-preparation-tutorial-and-e.html

    ReplyDelete
  3. yeah ur the best!!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. good article sir !! thanks a lot !
    precise and clear explanation..although being a human and a reader i expect some more of you !! well i m preparing for gate-2012.any of your suggestions will be of help and more of a motivation..!! thanks !!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hello sir,
    I am preparing for GATE-2012 , can u suggest me good text book for operating system: synchronization concept other than galvin text book
    thank you in advance........

    ReplyDelete
  6. @sri,

    Dont know exactly, but you can try Dhamdhere or Tanenbaum. If not then you can always read from sources of the net.

    ReplyDelete
  7. can we get job in abroad like US UK...aftr doing mtech from IITs???

    ReplyDelete
  8. @above,

    if you are talking about direct placements abroad from IIT, they are rare but they happen. Some people were placed in Tokyo by Sony, Rakuten etc and to Taiwan by some other electronics company. but dont know about placements to US, UK

    ReplyDelete
  9. @akshay,

    we didnt have aptitude when I appeared for GATE.
    I will need to go thru some recent gate papers to see what would be needed. I will then update my post.
    But in general I can say that solving CAT papers is very good for aptitude. I solved CAT papers a lot during my final year, even though I was not planning to appear for it. The practice has helped me a lot.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hi,

    Can you please throw some light on how to prepare for GATE while working, specially the time management part.

    Thanks in advance.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hi!!..I have done my b.tech in 2011 and took GATE exam this year...but couldn't score good(only 40.33/100).Now I am thinking of attempting once again in 2013 will the gap of 2 yrs will affect my chances of admission in iit's if i score well in 2013.

    ReplyDelete
  12. You said that GATE exam is not about practice....but in exam i scored 40...but at home i have solved easily of 65-70 marks ....
    Should i do practice to handle exam pressure....because i feel like in exam my mind gets completely blocked....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. what is best for you is always best for you.

      Delete
  13. Dear God/mentor!
    Should I say thanx or just praise u for the holy work U r doing!
    K enuff!! Sorry a bit of Drama Queen I m!
    So here it is!
    Appeared for CAT11 tried hard but got a bad score, really very bad!
    Unfortunately appeared fo GAtE 11 //coz of my frnd// got 22marx cutoff was 22.33 OBC.
    N considering i was in My frnd's bday party beforenyt of gate11 n i was drunk n stoshed!
    I scored well(mind u it was my groups opinion).
    I was placed but the joining was far(dont know y they take us if they dont hav work)
    so i thought lets give this Gate thing a try!
    Prepared fo gate12 n boom!
    I was so confident of my prep!
    I always scored well in tests.. I was focussed, dedicated n was sure of g8ing 60 70 atleast.
    In the last few days b4 gate12 i got a model gatepaper of a coaching. Lets name th8 bit*h Made easy!
    There were 3 tests I scored 60 in 1st,52 in 2nd,90 in 3rd.
    So i was so so confident of my prep!
    N th8 was the knife which killed the crow!
    I boinked in gate!
    Totalled 48 something in first 2 hrs.
    Then I realised the paper is easy may b these marx will get me NIt but i can get IIT too if I try!
    So i started :D (really it is funny)
    N when the result was out I got 31 n AIR 25k(the cherry on the cake).
    So here I'm!
    *One year of prep.
    *Forbidden a job
    *Endless nyts of studies.
    N Got nothing!!
    N the bigger problem is there r no jobs in the IT sector now thanx to recession!
    Now DEAR GOD HELP ME OUT N SUGGEST ME
    SHOULD I GO FO GATE13.
    AS I GOT GR8 KNOWLEDGE, IT WAS JUST A MOMENT OF MANIAC WHICH KILLED MY SCORE N I DONT REGRET!
    I M GOOD N I CAN DO GOOD.
    OR TRY FINDING A JOB AFTER A GAP OF 1 YR?

    PS- IF U RED THE WHOLE STORY THEN I CAN BE A WRITER TOO. :D
    sorry fo the longest reply even this qwerty keys of my cellfone cant stop me. :D
    M IN DEEP SHIT NOW.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. @9T girl,
      I would say first try finding a job, and keep studying side by side.
      taking a gap again wont make much sense. appear for gate 13 and see if you do any better.
      otherwise continue with the job

      Delete
  14. Sorry sorry sorry!!

    PS - i forgot to tell u..
    I know this is not the place where i should ask this query!
    But u know its for those ppls also who r thinking to go fo gate someday!
    All dear CS grads n freshers!
    I know ppl say u can get whateva u want!
    But sometyms LuCk plays a role!

    Prepare really well but be cautious in xam!
    Sometyms v want to achieve everything!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hi,

    Your blog is both informative and inspirational.

    I am currently working in an IT company.

    Since you have also prepared for GATE while working, I would like you to throw some light on how to prepare for GATE while working, specially the time management part.

    Did you take a long leave or something like that?

    I would be of great help to me.

    Thanks buddy

    ReplyDelete
  16. see i think u did a great job preparing for gate and doing job hats off to u :)
    truely inspirational !!
    in which company r u working and how r the salaries for mtech cs passouts ??

    ReplyDelete
  17. U r post is really wonderfull.i'm preparing for gate 13.ur post would really help me.

    ReplyDelete
  18. i have query please suggest me..
    i have my engg in mechanical and at present i m working for a mnc i will complete 2yrs of work experience in IT feild.i want to do continue my feature in this feild.i want to do MTECH in computers.first thing is do u suggest me to do MTECH in CS?? and the other thing is as a begginer how should i start my preparation??
    Please suggest me as early as possible..

    ReplyDelete
  19. this post is really nice...its a novel work u have done..
    you have precisely mentioned all d things that an aspirant(gate exam) need to know.....
    could u plzzzzzz suggest me good coaching in delhi for
    gate CS preparation....i m preparing for gate 2013...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thanks a lot yashi for your complements.
      i am sorry but i dont have any idea about coaching institutes at all :(

      Delete
  20. hello, sir, you probably have the most informative and earnest , closest perspective on GATE I ever read, thank you, It might come handy. I have a very particular query, I have done my b.tech in computer science in 2006, and I have not worked in relevant field ever since, I want to appear for 2013 GATE, so I can apply to the PSUs recruiting through GATE. My problem is My current knowledge of Computer Science is zilch, the other day I was trying to read my old copy of fundamentals of algorithm by ellis horrowitz, It all looked greek to me. I am totally at loss as where to start from. your words of advice on this particular scenerio will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for the complements.
      I would suggest you start from your favorite subjects. In general I feel that Discrete mathematics is the theoretical foundation of computer science, and simple to understand. That could be your starting point. then proceed to algo and ds and other CS subjects.

      Delete
  21. I Found your blog really impressive and probably the best of all the blogs i've seen yet...after all,it's managed by an IITian!!

    I am going to start my B.Tech in CSE.

    I got 92.6 % in my 10th with a merit certificate in Information Technology (I got 100 on 100!! :D)


    Then I went for coaching for IIT-JEE for 2 yrs in KOTA.
    But then a series of bad events started.


    First of all I secured a bad 77% in my 12th
    And then,Failed to clear JEE And Even got a lac rank in AIEEE.

    I decided to drop and move back to Kota.And I went on.
    Worked really hard there (14-17 hrs of daily study including coaching hrs)
    But This yr finally again, I was handed over a very bad failure...I got depressed and didn't prepared well for AIEEE..
    And That was That.
    I got 36k AIR in AIEEE and was alloted Birla institute of applied sciences,Bhimtal (Sister Concern Of BIT Mesra)

    And Now I've decided to surely get into IIT-Delhi-CS
    After qualifying GATE

    Although that's 5-6 yrs far away but I am really serious about it.
    Am not in a mood to take coaching(coz i think it was my mistake to take coaching for JEE.)
    Instead,
    I've decided to get on me myself and on books...

    With 77% in my 12th and 92.6% in 10th..
    and probably above 80% in my B.Tech,
    Will I be able to get into IITs ?

    What strategy should I get on starting from my first yr of B.Tech??

    Please Don't Ignore..I need your help..Plz reply
    ASAP...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Break it down year by year. In the first year concentrate on C language (K & R as suggested above) is an excellent book (you can also see Let Us C) and the mathematics part. Work on the subjects as they come, no need to load yourself, but always follow standard books, none of that Indian author crap - it seriously wastes lives. Standard books have gone through years of testing and are mostly flawless. Lastly and most importantly keep yourself motivated...

      Delete
    2. he there !
      first of all thanx Anonymous person that replied.
      And mh2753 ,
      can't you reply... i was expecting a reply frm u..

      Delete
    3. Most people start preparing for GATE in the 3rd year, and you can do that too. meanwhile, ensure that you understand each subject and not just memories them. if you do that, half your battle is won. i dont think your percentages will pose any problems.

      Delete
    4. hey aisha ,,hi !! jst read ur post..
      i was surprised how similar dat was to ma story...
      same here.. 10th -> 89% ,,
      went to kota fo 2year iit-jee programe ,,(banal classes)
      nd in my view it was the greatest mistake of ma life..
      that was the starting point of may acadmic degradation.
      droped 1 year ,,nd went kota again..
      worked hard in strtng days ..got gr8 result ..bt in end left everthng nd again the same result..
      so somehow wid 42k eee rank managed to get gud private cllg ,,presently ,,2nd year cse..
      having the same goals nw as u have..!!! :)
      jst difference is instead of iitd ,,,m aiming fo iitb cs..

      Delete
  22. Hi,
    Im a graduate and currently working at an MNC (this is my second year). Was just going through your book list, excellent work by the way, for TOC I think Peter Linz is a also a good book.

    PS: you can find electronic copies of most of these standard books @ www.4shared.com

    Best of luck

    ReplyDelete
  23. sir
    can u plz tell me in detail thar what are the benifits of a good GATE score in getting a Job in PSU's?
    i am from I.T.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sorry Karan, I have not tried for PSU myself, so not much idea.

      But regardless whether you are trying for PSU or private companies, a good GATE score always puts a good impression. One of the objectives behind conducting GATE exam is to benchmark engineers. So if you have a good GATE score, it proves that you are a good engineer.

      Delete
  24. sir,
    can you please suggest good books containing practice sums for operating system concepts.

    Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Hi sir
    these days GATE comes with aptitude questions as well.
    Could you please tell us which is the appropriate book to learn that as far as gate is concerned...

    ReplyDelete
  26. @4f503a2eac53ead9a98f6a674071a753:disqus, sorry dude, but when i appeared for GATE, there were no aptitude questions. so no idea what is the best source to study. but in general, solving CAT papers is the best way of practicing aptitude.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Sir,
    i completed my B.Tech in IT Branch(2012) from such a kam chalayu
    college with 76% marks and didnt placed. My soul motive is to work as a
    researcher. So i started preparing for GATE, but now i am afraid from
    not getting good score because my preparations are not so good..but i
    really want to be in IISc or IIT.

    Sir suggest me what to do?

    either i should go with a normal NIT or Private college or i should wait for one more year with hard core studies??

    is there any problem in getting into the IITs or in any college, if i
    got a gap of 2 years without having any job experience..will it affects
    my profile for job or anywhere??

    please suggest me sir, i really need your advise..

    ReplyDelete
  28. Sir,
    I am 2012 passed out, got 753 AIR in GATE 2012 but joined mnc & after working 3-4 months i hve realized that i should better go for m.tech so again m preparing for GATE 2013 , so can you tell me by what rank I can get direct admission in IIT bombay
    Thankyou

    ReplyDelete
  29. Direct Admit for IITB closes around rank 100. You can get mtech RA around 700 AIR which is not bad either.

    refer:

    http://mtech-admission-iits.blogspot.in/2011/08/cutoffs-2011.html

    ReplyDelete
  30. I would like to ask one more question.

    How did you prepare for the subject Networks. Even after covering tannenbaum, i find it difficult to answer the questions from this subject. especially the problems part.

    ReplyDelete
  31. I have a question. Will it be too hard to survive in iit for a common man during his pg? Job opportunities after mtech?

    ReplyDelete
  32. If u want good grades than definitely you have to work hard otherwise getting 7 - 7.5 cpi is not a tough task. if you are an average student you will get 8-9 lpa easily

    ReplyDelete
  33. Questions are not tough as CAT exam (you may check previous years question papers) You can take any coaching institutes book or its photostat copy .It is more than sufficient.

    ReplyDelete
  34. in 2012 IITB closed at 80 for general and around 220 for bc candidate

    ReplyDelete
  35. rather than going for NIT you should do 1 more year of preparation and then decide what to do in future otherwise you will always feel guilt in future and don't get nervous i'm sure you will do great.

    ReplyDelete
  36. BEST OF LUCK GUYS FOR GATE 2013 :)

    ReplyDelete
  37. Highest selection in IES 2011 examination coaching in Delhi

    ReplyDelete
  38. sir ,i'm not getting some of the solutions of previous yr ques.,i searched many of the websites but they don't provide the solutions.kindly help !!!!!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  39. you can like the facebook page above and put the question on the page. perhaps someone from the group might be able to help you.

    ReplyDelete
  40. kk..bt i need the solutions early,isnt dere ny odr way?

    ReplyDelete
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    ReplyDelete
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    ReplyDelete
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    ReplyDelete