What is New in GATE Exam?

Application Process:

In GATE, candidates need to register and fill the application ONLINE only by accessing the zonal GATE websites of IISc and seven IITs. The application process is complete only when a print out of the filled ONLINE application with the candidate's signature and a good quality photo affixed in the appropriate place is received by the respective GATE office along with necessary documents, if any, on or before 24 October 2011. Please note that sale of application forms through banks and GATE office counters has been discontinued.

Downloadable Admit Card:

Sending Admit cards by post has been discontinued from this year. Admit cards can only be downloaded from the zonal GATE websites from 2nd January 2012. Bring the admit card to the test center along with at least one original (not photocopied / scanned copy) and valid (not expired) photo identification.

Use of black ink ball point pen:

The use of pencils to darken the bubbles in the answer sheet has been discontinued from this year. Candidates should use only black ink ball point pen for darkening of the bubbles in the answer sheet. Since bubbles darkened by the black ink ball point pen cannot be erased, candidates should darken the bubbles in the answer sheet very carefully.

ONLINE examination in two additional papers:

In GATE 2011, the papers with codes GG, TF, AE and MN had ONLINE examination. In GATE 2012, two additional papers, AR and AG, will also have ONLINE examination. The ONLINE examination will be conducted in two sessions on Sunday, January 29, 2012.

Forenoon session (09:00 hrs to 12:00 hrs): AR, GG and TF.

Afternoon session (14:00 hrs to 17:00 hrs): AE, AG and MN.

Numerical answer type questions in ONLINE papers:

In the ONLINE papers (AE, AG, AR, GG, MN and TF), the question paper will consist of questions of multiple choice type and questions of numerical answer type. For multiple choice type questions, each question will have four choices for the answer. For numerical answer type questions, each question will have a number as the answer. The number of numerical answer type questions may vary between 5 and 10 in each question paper.

Pre-final year students:

Pre-final year students are not eligible to write GATE 2012. For details, refer to eligibilityfor GATE examinatio

GATE 2014 Question Types

GATE 2014 Question Types:

Multiple choice questions in all papers and sections will contain four answers, of which only one is correct. The types of questions in a paper may be based on following logic: (i) Recall: These are based on facts, principles, formulae or laws of the discipline. The candidate is expected to be able to obtain the answer either from his/her memory of the subject or at most from a one-line computation. Example Q. During machining maximum heat is produced (A) in flank face       (B) in rake face (C) in shear zone     (D) due to friction between chip and tool.   (ii) Comprehension:  These questions will test the candidate's understanding of the basics of his/her field, by requiring him/her to draw simple conclusions from fundamental ideas. Example Q. A DC motor requires a starter in order (A) to develop a starting torque (B) to compensate for auxiliary field ampere turns (C) to limit armature current at starting (D) to provide regenerative braking   (iii) Application: In these questions, the candidate is expected to apply his/her knowledge either through computation or by logical reasoning. Example: Q. The sequent depth ratio of a hydraulic jump in a rectangular channel is 16.48. The Froude number at the beginning of the jump is: (A)  10.0  (B) 5.0 (C)  12.0  (D) 8.0 (iv) Analysis and Synthesis: These can be linked questions, where the answer to the first question of the pair is required in order to answer its successor. Or these can be common data questions, in which two questions share the same data but can be solved independently of one another. Common data questions Go to TOP Multiple questions may be linked to a common data problem, passage and the like. Two or three questions can be formed from the given common data problem. 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 instance, Questions 48 and 49 in main paper: Let X and Y be jointly distributed random variables such that the conditional distribution of Y, given X=x, is uniform on the interval (x-1,x+1). Suppose E(X)=1 and Var(X)= 5/3 First question using common data: Q.48 The mean of the random variable Y is (A) 1/2  (B) 1   (C) 3/2       (D) 2 Second question using common data: Q.49 The variance of the random variable Y is (A) 1/2       (B) 2/3       (C) 1       (D) 2 Linked answer questions: Go to TOP These questions are of problem solving type. A problem statement is followed by two questions based on the problem statement. The two questions are 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 Questions, for instance, for Questions 52 and 53 in Main Paper: The open loop transfer function of a unity feedback control system is given by First question of the pair: Q.52 The value of K which will cause sustained oscillations in the closed loop system is Second question of the pair: Q.53 The frequency of sustained oscillations is The questions based on the above four logics may be a mix of single stand alone statement / phrase / data type questions, combination of option codes type questions or match items types questions. Go to TOP