GATE 2021 Preparation Guide – Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering is one of the biggest All India level entrance examination conducted for admission in M.Tech / M.E / M.Arch and Ph.D courses. Every year, almost over 6-7 lakh candidates appear for GATE. As per the sources, only 1-2 lakh test-takers manage to pass the examination. This makes GATE a highly competitive examination which demands proper preparation.
So, basically, GATE preparation is a blend of discipline, practicing question papers on a regular basis, tracking the strengths and weaknesses etc. Check the important tips given here for GATE 2021 preparation.
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GATE 2021 Exam Preparation Guide
All the aspirants preparing for GATE 2021 must start its preparation as early as possible. This helps in analyzing the important topics in a better way. By starting the preparation early, the aspirants will be able to understand the concepts in a better way.
This will help in the last months of GATE preparation as well because then, the focus has to be on revising the formulas and tricks to solve the questions.
Important Tips for GATE 2021 Preparation
As we all GATE is considered to be a highly competitive examination. But, at times in life, we get to know that, it is not just the hard work that pays off. Along with hard work, smart work is also needed. Hence, it is advised to all the GATE aspirants to do the smart work as well as needed for cracking GATE. The candidates can check the important tips given below for GATE 2021 preparation.
Tip 1: Be Organized and Disciplined
The first thing that GATE aspirants have to keep in mind is to be a little organized and disciplined. Decide well in advance which topics have to be covered in one month, two months, three months, and so on.
For this, make a schedule or time table and decide how much time has to be devoted daily for the preparation and then abide by it until the day before the examination. This is the first step that every GATE aspirant has to follow in order to prepare for GATE 2021.
Tip 2: Know the GATE 2021 Syllabus
Before starting with the preparation, analyze the syllabus. Check the GATE syllabus carefully and note down then and there only what are the chapters that need to be taken up first and demand more preparation. Note down the topics where proper guidance or assistance is needed.
Tip 3: Select the trusted reference material
For the preparation of GATE 2021, this is the most important technique to score well in the examination. The books are basically the most important friends, a GATE aspirant need while preparing. So, during the preparation, purchase the good reference material.
To clear the concepts, the books of graduation can also be referred. But keep in mind, that referring many books creates confusion rather than helping. Thus, refer only 2-3 reference books and study from them.
Tip 4: Practice previous year GATE question papers
Another important strategy to crack GATE is to practice from the practice year question papers. No matter, how much time is left for the examination, always practice from the previous year question papers before the examination in order to improve the speed and accuracy to solve the questions at the time of the examination. So, find the last 10 years previous year question papers and solve them.
This will help the aspirants to know the pattern of questions that have been repeating over the years. By solving the GATE previous year question papers, the aspirants will get to know the terminologies that have been used in the exam in the past years and then, they can understand them.
Tip 5: Analyze the weak and strong areas
While doing the preparation for GATE 2021, note down the areas which took more time to prepare. Similarly, note down the topics which are taking less time to prepare. After this, for the better preparation of GATE, focus more on those areas which were taking more time. However, do not completely leave the topics that you found easy to solve.
To have a better grasp of the concepts, even when the solving and understanding of concepts is going on, keep on revising those topics again and again.
Tip 6: Do not start the preparation with the most difficult topic
During the start of the preparation, do not take up the most difficult topics. To stay motivated, start the preparation from the easy topics or those topics where you know some of its concepts. Then, go on to the difficult topics. Try to maintain the balance this way in order to score well in GATE 2021.
Tip 7: Make notes or refer notes
For the better preparation of GATE 2021, make your own notes or refer the notes which have been provided by the respective coaching centres. To make your own notes, underline the important concepts, and try giving pointers for every topic / concept. This will help at the time of last-minute revision as well.
Tip 8: Maintain the records of tricks
While solving the GATE questions, if you come across any new technique or short trick or way to solve a question, jot it down in a copy or in the notes that you have been preparing. Be organized and consistent in maintaining the record of the tricks as well.
Tip 9: Do not neglect Mathematics and General Aptitude section
While preparing for the particular subject paper, do not forget to pay attention to the General aptitude and Mathematics section. For the mathematics section, solving 10-year previous years questions would be enough. But, for scoring good in the General Aptitude section, try to practice the aptitude questions on a daily basis.
Tip 10: Give mock test
After completing the preparation, give a lot of mock tests. This will help in preparing the proper mindset needed for the examination. By solving the mock tests, you will get to know how much time is actually needed for solving a question.
Just keep on observing which questions of a particular topic is taking more time, which questions of a particular topic are taking less time, and so on. This also one of the most important strategies to crack GATE.
GATE 2021 Mock Test
Giving mock tests for GATE 2021 is one of the most essential strategies that every aspirant must follow. The aspirants must set an aim to give at least 25-30 mock tests while preparing for GATE 2021. Check the link of free mock tests given below for every GATE subject paper. Every mock test given below is of 1-hour duration.
| Subject | Mock test |
| GATE – CH | Start now |
| GATE – CE | Start now |
| GATE – BT | Start now |
| GATE – AR | Start now |
| GATE – AG | Start now |
| GATE – TF | Start now |
| GATE – PI | Start now |
| GATE – PH | Start now |
| GATE – MT | Start now |
| GATE – MN | Start now |
| GATE – ME | Start now |
| GATE – MA | Start now |
| GATE – IN | Start now |
| GATE – GG | Start now |
| GATE – EE | Start now |
| GATE – ECE | Start now |
| GATE – CSE | Start now |
| GATE – ST | Start now |
| GATE – PE | Start now |
| GATE – CY | Start now |
| GATE – AE | Start now |
GATE 2021 Syllabus
It is important to be aware of the syllabus before starting with the preparation. Having a look at the syllabus helps the aspirants to have a mental model ready as after having a look at the syllabus, they are able to decide which topic has to be taken up first for GATE preparation and which topic has to be taken up last. Check the PDF of GATE 2021 syllabus given below.
| Paper Code | GATE Exam Syllabus |
| GA | Syllabus of General Aptitude Common in all papers |
| BM | Syllabus of Biomedical Engineering |
| ST | Syllabus of Statistics |
| AE | Syllabus of Aerospace Engineering |
| AG | Syllabus of Agricultural Engineering |
| AR | Syllabus of Architecture and Planning |
| BT | Syllabus of Biotechnology |
| CE | Syllabus of Civil Engineering |
| CH | Syllabus of Chemical Engineering |
| CS | Syllabus of Computer Science and Information Technology |
| CY | Syllabus of Chemistry |
| EC | Syllabus of Electronics and Communication Engineering |
| EE | Syllabus of Electrical Engineering |
| EY | Syllabus of Ecology and Evolution |
| GG | Syllabus of Geology and Geophysics |
| IN | Syllabus of Instrumentation Engineering |
| MA | Syllabus of Mathematics |
| ME | Syllabus of Mechanical Engineering |
| MN | Syllabus of Mining Engineering |
| MT | Syllabus of Metallurgical Engineering |
| PH | Syllabus of Physics |
| PI | Syllabus of Production and Industrial Engineering |
| PE | Syllabus of Petroleum Engineering |
| TF | Syllabus of Textile Engineering and Fibre Science |
| XE | Syllabus of Engineering Sciences |
| XL | Syllabus of Life Sciences |
GATE 2021 Exam Pattern
Before starting with the preparation of GATE, it is very important to know the exam pattern as well. The exam pattern will help the aspirants to know the marking scheme, total number of questions, maximum marks etc of the exam. Check the exam pattern given below for GATE 2021.
Duration: The candidates are given 3 hours to complete the exam
No. of questions: There are total 65 questions in the exam
Maximum marks: The exam is of 100 marks
Type of questions: The exam consists of multiple-choice questions and numerical answer type of questions
Marking scheme:
For MCQ and NAT (For correct answers)
- Add 01 marks for 01 marker questions
- Add 02 marks for 02 marker questions
Negative Marking (For incorrect answers)
MCQ
- -1/3 for 01 marker questions
- -2/3 for 02 marker questions
NAT
- There is no negative marking for the incorrect answers in case of NATs
Distribution of questions
For AE, AR, AG, ME, BM, BT, CE, CS, CH, CY, EE, EC, IN, MA, MN, MT, PE, PH, PI, SE, SF
| Section | 01 marker ques + 02 marker ques | Marks |
| Section A – General Aptitude | 10 | 15 |
| Section | 25 + 30 | 85 |
| Total | 65 | 100 |
For GG (Geology or Geophysics): In this, the candidates have to attempt any 01 section from Section B
| Sections | 01 marker ques + 02 marker ques | Marks |
| General Aptitude | 10 | 15 |
| Part A (Compulsory) Part B – Geology or Geophysics | 25 + 30 | 85 |
| Total | 65 | 100 |
For XE (Engineering Sciences) – Here, the candidates have to compulsorily attempt the first 2 sections. The second part has sub-parts, from which any two sections have to be attempted.
| Sections | 01 marker ques + 02 marker ques | Marks |
| General Aptitude section | 10 | 15 |
| Section A – Engineering Mathematics | 7 + 4 | 15 |
| Section B – (Any 2 sections from B to H) | (9 + 13) x 2 | 70 |
| Total | 65 | 100 |
For XL (Life Sciences): Here also, the candidates have to compulsorily attempt the first 2 sections. The second part has sub-parts, from which any two sections have to be attempted.
| Sections | 01 marker ques + 02 marker ques | Marks |
| General Aptitude section | 10 | 15 |
| Section A – Engineering Mathematics | 5 + 10 | 15 |
| Section B – (Any 2 sections from B to H) | (10 + 10) x 2 | 60 |
| Total | 65 | 100 |
Books Recommended for GATE 2021
Candidates can check the books given below to prepare for GATE 2021.
General Aptitude and Engineering Mathematics
| Books | Links |
| GATE GENERAL APTITUDE & ENGINEERING MATHEMATICS 2021 | Click Here to buy |
| Wiley Acing the GATE: Engineering Mathematics and General Aptitude | Click Here to buy |
| GATE 2020 – Guide – General Aptitude & Engineering Mathematics | Click Here to buy |
| GATE General Aptitude & Engineering Mathematics | GATE 2020 | Click Here to buy |
For Mechanical Engineering
| Books | Links |
| GATE Mechanical Engineering (Old Edition) | Click here to buy |
| GATE 2021: Mechanical Engineering Previous Year Solved Papers | Click here to buy |
| GATE Mechanical Engineering 2021 | Click here to buy |
| GATE 2020 – Guide – Mechanical Engineering | Click here to buy |
For Electrical Engineering
| Books | Links |
| GATE 2021: Electrical Engineering Previous Year Solved Papers | Click Here to Buy |
| Electrical Engineering GATE 2020 (Old Edition) | Click Here to Buy |
| GATE 2020 – Guide – Electrical Engineering | Click Here to Buy |
| GATE Electrical Engineering 2021 | Click Here to Buy |
| GATE 2021: Electrical Engineering – Guide & Solved Papers | Click Here to Buy |
For Electronics and Communication Engineering
| Books | Links |
| GATE Electronics and Communication Engineering | Click Here to buy |
| Electronics and Communication Engineering GATE 2020 | Click Here to buy |
| GATE 2020 – Guide – Electronics and Communication Engineering | Click Here to buy |
| GATE 2021: Electronics & Communication Engineering – Guide & Solved Papers (Set of 2 books)(New Edition) | Click Here to buy |
For Computer Science & Engineering
| Books | Links |
| GATE 2020 : Computer Science & Information Technology | Click here to buy |
| Computer Science and Information Technology GATE 2020 | Click here to buy |
| GATE Computer Science and Information Technology | GATE 2020 | Click here to buy |
For Civil Engineering
| Books | Link |
| GATE 2021: Civil Engineering Previous Year Solved Papers | Click here to buy |
| A Handbook for Civil Engineering | Click here to buy |
| 20 years GATE Civil Engineering Chapter-wise Solved Papers | Click here to buy |
| GATE Civil Engineering 2021 | Click here to buy |
Best of luck!
More on GATE Exam Preparation
- Syllabus
- Mock Test
- GATE Previous Year Question Papers with Answers
- GATE Topper Interviews
- 5 Month Preparation Plan
- This QnA clears all GATE Preparation doubts – Mr. B.Singh, CMD MADE EASY (Interview)
- GATE Preparation Tips and Tricks for All Papers
- Why to appear for GATE?
- Important books for GATE preparation
- GATE Coaching – To Join or Not?
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