Pro Tips To Crack GATE Computer Science & Information Technology (CS)

Pursuing a Master in Technology (M.Tech) in Computer Science and its various branches from renowned educational institutes (IITs/NITs/IISc) is a dream of many GATE aspirants.

The course of computer science is crafted to provide students with an in-depth understanding of computer science's theoretical foundations and limitations, the ability to adapt existing models, techniques, data structures, and algorithms, and so on. Hence, it should be studied thoroughly during the GATE exam preparation. 

Needless to say, the door of opportunities opens for candidates once they equip themselves with the right set of knowledge, skills, and expertise in Computer Science & Information Technology. There is no dearth of job opportunities for candidates with the right skill set in sectors like IT companies, Corporate Industry, Multinational companies, Banking sector, etc. 

Why study M.Tech Computer Science?

With all the technological advancements in the 21st century, especially in the field of Computer Science, and the ever-increasing demand for skilled candidates in the software industries, this course has gained significant prominence in the last few years.

A few of the many perks of the M.Tech in Computer Science qualification are listed below:

Diverse Opportunities: After completing the degree, a student can find job opportunities in various domains of CS such as Data Scientist, Machine Learning Engineer, Blockchain Developer/Engineer, Big Data Engineer, Data Analyst, and many more.

Competitive Paycheck: A M.Tech in Computer Science graduate with more experience in the field can attract handsome salaries.

Higher Education: Students can also opt for higher education by enrolling in several Ph.D programs after completing the CS degree. 

Research Opportunities: M.Tech in Computer Science or in its various branches provides ample opportunities for the candidates to devote themselves to various research institutes and organisations.  

When the CS degree has so much to offer, it’s natural to witness fierce competition among students to bag a dream seat in their desired educational institute to pursue the course. CS is one of the most competitive papers in the GATE, and its preparation demands unwavering discipline and attention.

To make your GATE preparation convenient, we have compiled a list of PRO tips that will assist you in preparing for the exam effectively. But before diving into those, let’s first quickly glance at the GATE CS&IT syllabus for its better understanding.

CS&IT Syllabus for GATE 2022

Topic	Sub-topics
Engineering Mathematics	Discrete Mathematics Linear Algebra Calculus Probability and Statistics
Digital Logic	Boolean algebra. Combinational and sequential circuits. Minimization. Number representations and computer arithmetic (fixed and floating point).
Computer Organization and Architecture	Machine instructions and addressing modes. ALU, data-path and control unit. Instruction pipelining, pipeline hazards. Memory hierarchy: cache, main memory and secondary storage; I/O interface (interrupt and DMA mode).
Programming and Data Structures	Programming in C. Recursion. Arrays, stacks, queues, linked lists, trees, binary search trees, binary heaps, graphs.
Algorithms	Searching, sorting, hashing. Asymptotic worst-case time and space complexity. Algorithm design techniques: greedy, dynamic programming and divide-and-conquer. Graph traversals, minimum spanning trees, shortest paths
Theory of Computation	Regular expressions and finite automata. Context-free grammars and push-down automata. Regular and context-free languages, pumping lemma. Turing machines and undecidability.
Compiler Design	Lexical analysis, parsing, syntax-directed translation. Runtime environments. Intermediate code generation. Local optimisation, Data flow analyses: constant propagation, liveness analysis, Common subexpression elimination.
Operating System	System calls, processes, threads, inter-process communication, concurrency and synchronization. Deadlock. CPU and I/O scheduling. Memory management and virtual memory. File systems.
Databases	ER-model. Relational model: relational algebra, tuple calculus, SQL. Integrity constraints, normal forms. File organization, indexing (e.g., B and B+ trees). Transactions and concurrency control.
Computer Networks	Concept of layering: OSI and TCP/IP Protocol Stacks; Basics of packet, circuit and virtual circuit switching; Data link layer: framing, error detection, Medium Access Control, Ethernet bridging; Routing protocols: shortest path, flooding, distance vector and link state routing; Fragmentation and IP addressing, IPv4, CIDR notation, Basics of IP support protocols (ARP, DHCP, ICMP), Network Address Translation (NAT); Transport layer: flow control and congestion control, UDP, TCP, sockets; Application layer protocols: DNS, SMTP, HTTP, FTP, Email.

Pro Tips to Prepare for GATE CS&IT 2022 

# Know the Syllabus Well

Before embarking on your GATE preparation journey, it is imperative to know the nitty-gritty of its syllabus. Familiarize yourself with the syllabus well so that you don’t waste crucial time studying unnecessary/irrelevant topics.  

Read more: How To Prepare For GATE General Aptitude?

# Tailor a Well Structured Study Plan

After you know the A-Z of the syllabus, make a well-structured study plan and follow it religiously. The study plan should have adequate time for the complete syllabus coverage with equal time for revision. Studying for 5-8 hours daily should be an integral part of your plan.

Watch this video for a detailed insight into the preparation strategy for GATE CS&IT by Dr. Khaleel Ur Rahman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qd7EOz3gMcY&t=632s 

#  Gather Relevant Study Material

Having access to relevant and latest study material is paramount during its preparation. Make sure you have the standard author books for practice, video lectures, Qbank, and other learning resources to prepare well. For instance, PrepLadder has done a remarkable job in providing GATE aspirants with everything required to ace GATE on one platform.

# Be Consistent in your Preparation

Your preparation should be fueled with the passion for cracking GATE with a good score. No matter what, you have to be consistent in your preparation. To make it more fruitful, set achievable daily and weekly targets.

# Make Notes

It is important to make self-prepared notes during GATE preparation. It will help you record all the important information/formulas/topics in one place and serve as a Quick Guide. Also, making notes helps us to reduce the information to a manageable size.

# Analyze your Preparation with Mock Tests

Take mock tests to ensure you are on the right track and your GATE preparation is aligned with the actual exam. Regularly analyze your preparation with mock tests and work on your weak areas.

# Refer Previous Years’ Question Papers and Revise Frequently

Mould your preparation according to the weightage of marks and frequently asked questions in the previous years’ question papers. They are a valuable learning resource and will help you to focus on high-priority areas.

All that is studied can only be retained for a longer period if you revise it. Revision is an indispensable part of the GATE preparation and hence should be done regularly.

We hope the tips mentioned above will make your GATE CS&IT preparation more productive and assist in getting your dream score.

If earning a decent score in GATE CS&IT is your ultimate goal, then PrepLadder is the place to go!

It is the most comprehensive preparation resource for GATE aspirants and has everything you need to ace GATE on one single platform. Get expert guidance from India’s best GATE educators and nail the exam like a pro.

Be ahead and keep following our articles and our Telegram channel for the latest updates about the exam.  

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How to Prepare for GATE Electronics & Communication Engineering?

 How to Prepare for GATE Electronics & Communication Engineering?

Electronics & Communication Engineering (EC) is one of the most promising and sought-after streams of engineering. Every year, lakhs of students take the GATE exam to get admissions in premier institutes like IISc, the IITs, and the NITs to pursue their masters in EC.

EC involves designing, researching, developing, and testing crucial electronic equipment used in various systems. It deals with basic electronics, analog transmission, digital and analog communication, analog integrated circuits, microprocessors, solid-state devices, microwave engineering, satellite communication, antennae, and wave progression.

With tough competition in the GATE EC exam, it is imperative to have an effective preparation strategy during GATE exam preparation for ECE to help you face the exam with ease.

If you are currently preparing for GATE EC, and looking for simple yet effective tips for its preparation, then you have landed on the right page. In this article, we will discuss the right strategy and steps you need to follow to crack GATE EC. But, before proceeding further, let’s have a look at the EC syllabus.

Electronics & Communication Engineering Syllabus for GATE 2023

Section	Important Topics
Networks, Signals and Systems	Node and mesh analysis, superposition, Thevenin's theorem, Norton’s theorem, Reciprocity theorem. Sinusoidal steady state analysis: phasors, complex power, maximum power transfer. Time and frequency domain analysis of linear circuits: RL, RC and RLC circuits, solution of network equations using Laplace transform. Linear 2-port network parameters, wye-delta transformation. Fourier series and Fourier transform, sampling theorem and applications. DTFT, DFT, z-transform, discrete-time processing of continuous-time signals. LTI systems: definition and properties, causality, stability, impulse response, convolution, poles and zeros, frequency response, group delay, phase delay.
Electronic Devices	Energy bands in intrinsic and extrinsic semiconductors, Equilibrium carrier concentration, direct and indirect band-gap semiconductors. Diffusion current, drift current, mobility and resistivity, generation and recombination of carriers, Poisson and continuity equations. P-N junction, Zener diode, BJT, MOS capacitor, MOSFET, LED, photo diode and solar cell.
Analog Circuits	Diode circuits:Clipping, clamping and rectifiers. BJT and MOSFET amplifiers: biasing, AC coupling, small signal analysis, frequency response. Current mirrors and differential amplifiers. Op-amp circuits:Amplifiers, summers, differentiators, integrators, active filters, Schmitt triggers and oscillators.
Digital Circuits	Number representations:Binary, Integer and Floating-point- numbers. Combinatorial circuits: Boolean algebra, minimization of functions using Boolean identities and Karnaugh map, logic gates and their static CMOS implementations, Arithmetic circuits, Code converters, Multiplexers, Decoders. Sequential circuits:Latches and flip-flops, counters, shift-registers, finite state machines, propagation delay, setup and hold time, critical path delay. Data converters:Sample and hold circuits, ADCs and DACs. Semiconductor memories:ROM, SRAM, DRAM. Computer organization: Machine instructions and addressing modes, ALU, data-path and control unit, instruction pipelining.
Control Systems	Basic control system components; Feedback principle; Transfer function; Block diagram representation; Signal flow graph; Transient and steady-state analysis of LTI systems; Frequency response; Routh-Hurwitz and Nyquist stability criteria; Bode and root-locus plots; Lag, lead and lag lead compensation; State variable model and solution of state equation of LTI systems.
Communications	Random processes:Autocorrelation and power spectral density, properties of white noise, filtering of random signals through LTI systems. Analog communications: Amplitude modulation and demodulation, angle modulation and demodulation, spectra of AM and FM, superheterodyne receivers. Information theory:Entropy, mutual information and channel capacity theorem. Digital communications:PCM, DPCM, digital modulation schemes (ASK, PSK, FSK, QAM),Bandwidth, inter-symbol interference, MAP, ML detection, matched filter receiver, SNR and BER. Fundamentals of error correction, Hamming codes, CRC.
Electromagnetics	Maxwell's equations:Differential and integral forms and their interpretation, boundary conditions,wave equation, Poynting vector. Plane waves and properties:Reflection and refraction, polarization, phase and group velocity, propagation through various media, skin depth. Equations, characteristic impedance, impedance matching, impedance Transmission lines: transformation, S-parameters, Smith chart. Rectangular and circular waveguides, light propagation in optical fibers, dipole and monopole antennas, linear antenna arrays.

Practical Tips for GATE EC Preparation

Below listed are a few practical tips that GATE aspirants will find helpful during their GATE EC preparation. Apart from these tips, aspirants should also consider using the best free apps for gate preparation.

# Tip 1 Make a concrete study plan and follow it rigorously. It is recommended to study for at least 6-8 hours daily.

# Tip 2 To prepare better for GATE EC, it is recommended to understand its syllabus thoroughly. It will serve as a guiding tool for your preparation. A careful analysis of the syllabus will further help you to filter the important topics that should be covered on priority. However, you should cover the entire syllabus to score well in the exam. 

#Tip 3 General Aptitude and Engineering Mathematics have a significant marks weightage in the GATE exam. Hence, sufficient time should be devoted to their preparation.

#Tip 4 Do study from reference books. They will expedite your GATE exam preparation. Some of the essential books for GATE EC preparation are listed below:

Topic	Book
Engineering Mathematics	BS Grewal
Control System	Control Systems by Nagarath and Gopal Control Systems Engineering by Norma Nise
Electronic Devices	Electronic Devices and Circuits by Millman & Halkias. Semiconductor Physics And Devices by Donald A. Neamen. Solid state electronic devices by Ben G. Streetman and Sanjay Banerjee
Signal Systems	Digital Signal Processing by S.K Mitra. Modern digital and analog Communications system by BP Lathi. Signals & Systems By Alan V. Oppenheim
Analog Circuits	Analog Electronics, Electronics devices and circuits – Donald A Neaman. Microelectronics Circuits by Sedra & Smith. Electronic Devices and Circuit Theory by Robert L Boylestad & Nashelsky. Pulse and Digital Electronics by Millman and Taub.
Digital System	Digital Logic and Computer Design by M.Morris Mano, Digital Circuits and Design by Salivahanan or Fundamentals of digital systems by Anand kumar. Digital Electronic Principles and applications by Ronald J. Toccii, Pearson Publications.
Electromagnetics	Elements of Electromagnetics by Matthew N.O. Sadiku. Network lines and fields by J.D ryder (Transmission lines part). Electromagnetic waves and Radiating Systems by Jordon and Ballmain. Antenna Theory by Balanis. NPTEL Lectures by Prof. R. Shevgaonkar.
Communication System	Analog and Digital Communication System by Simon Haykin. Principle of Communication System by Taub& Schillings. Modern digital and analog Communications system by BP Lathi. Electronic Communication Systems by Kennedy and Davis (just the Noise chapter).

# Tip 5 Follow the most important ritual of solving Mock Test Papers (MTPs) and Previous year’s question (PYQs) papers to get familiar with the GATE exam pattern. Solving practice test papers improve the problem-solving skills of candidates and help in finding areas that need more focus. Your GATE exam preparation for ECE 2023 should include solving MTPs and PYQs.

We hope these tips will assist you and give you an edge in your Electronics & Communication Engineering preparation.