How to prepare for GATE (CS)

Overview:

GATE is an all India examination administered and conducted jointly by the Indian Institute of Science and seven Indian Institutes of Technology on behalf of the National Coordination Board - GATE, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), Government of India.

Admission to postgraduate programmes with MHRD and some other Government scholarships/assistantships in engineering colleges/institutes is open to those who qualify in GATE examination. GATE qualified candidates with Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Technology/Architecture or Master's degree in any branch of Science/Mathematics/Statistics/Computer Applications are eligible for admission to Master's degree programmes in Engineering/Technology/Architecture as well as for Doctoral programmes in relevant branches of Science with MHRD or other government scholarships/assistantships. To avail the scholarship, the candidate must secure admission to such a postgraduate programme, as per the prevailing procedure of the admitting institution. However, candidates with Master's degree in Engineering/Technology/Architecture may seek admission to relevant Doctoral programmes with scholarship/assistantship without appearing in the GATE examination.

For more information visit-http://www.gate.iitb.ac.in/gate2013/

My View:

GATE is not that much tough if you are strong in academics. It tests your logical thinking and applications of subjects that you have learned in the last three years. But according to me it is easier to get admission in IITs for post-graduation than graduation. You should give extra time and adopt new way to study, because the way we study for university exams is very bad. So you should be willing to give more effort, read more and solve more.

Time to start:

As it is always said, it is better late than never. Good time to start for study is when examination for third year finishes. As it is last year you will be very busy. You will have your final year project, company placements and other extra-curricular activities (as it is last year to do so). In the first sem you can revise subjects up to 3^rd year. While doing so use reference books as given in syllabus book. I have uploaded some of them. Many times we have wrong concepts or have fear of some subjects (like TOC, PCD). These books will help you to in both cases. While revising make your own notes. So these can be referred in days before exam. In second sem you need to study extensively.

But if you have less time then it is okay to start with that little time and give a try. Prepare a plan and follow it. In my case I started in January and exam was on 13th feb.

Syllabus:

Syllabus for CS includes following

Mathematical Logic, Probability, Set Theory & Algebra, Combinatorics, Graph Theory, Linear Algebra, Numerical Methods, Calculus

Digital Logic, Computer Organization and Architecture, Programming and Data Structures, Algorithms, Theory of Computation, Compiler Design, Operating System, Databases, Information Systems and Software Engineering, Computer Networks, Web Technologies.

Worried……?

Don’t worry. When you will start studying it from reference books you will enjoy it, believe me.

You should have look at detailed syllabus--

http://www.gate.iitb.ac.in/gate2013/cs-syllabus/

Planning:

Get all books according to syllabus.

Mathematical Logic	Any book will work including text books.
Probability
Set Theory and Algebra
combinatorics
Graph Theory
Linear Algebra
Numerical Methods	Refer any book for mechanical (they have in their syllabus).
Calculus	Refer text book.
Digital Logic	Digital logic and computer design- Morris Mano
Computer Organization and Architecture	Computer Organization and Architecture - William Stallings
Programming and Data Structures	Data structures and algorithms - Aho and Ullman
Algorithms	Fundamentals of computer Algorithms -Horowitz and Sahani, Introduction to Algorithm - Thomas H Cormen and Charles E.L Leiserson
Theory of Computation	Introduction to Languages and theory of Computation - John Martin
Compiler Design	Compilers Principles Techniques and Tools - Aho and Ullman
Operating System	Operating Systems - William Stalling, Modern Operating System- Andrew Tanebaum
Databases	Database System Concepts - Korth, Fundamentals of Database Systems - Elmasri R., Navathe S.
Information Systems and Software Engineering	Software Engineering, A Practitioners Approach -Pressman R.
Computer Networks	Computer Networks -Tanenbaum A, Data Communications and Networking -Fourauzan B.
Web Technologies	Any book from library.

Now you have all books.

So before you start you should plan for your study. See the syllabus book and mark the points those you should study. You may not want to study the whole book as only part of it will be enough for GATE.

Make a table for yourself with columns such as ‘subject’, ‘reading started’, ‘reading complete’, ‘Questions solved’. Tick the columns as appropriate. It will help you to follow your study and assign the time.

Question Paper:

If you see the question paper pattern, you will notice that you have sufficient time to solve the problems. As each question gets around 2.5 minutes. So give enough time for each question.

The most important thing after you study is solving the question papers. Refer previous years question papers. Various publications have set of previous years question papers with answers and explanation. Answer of some questions may not be correct. But it will give you the idea as what types of questions are asked. Also solve some online question papers with time limit. Various institutes like Vani offer online test series for free. It will help you solving variety of problems.

Few days before exam:

Get an official leave of 10 days before exam. Complete the reading and solving the previous papers. Two days before exam revise all what you have studied from your notes. If you need any books try to use hard copy as it will help to revise faster than soft copy.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!BEST LUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!