GATE 2018 to open gates of your dreams
As the name suggests, GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering) can be undertaken by Graduates, for securing admission in postgraduate courses, with financial assistance from Indian Government agencies. Many Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) offer jobs basis GATE score.
GATE is a competitive exam that requires smart-work more than hard-work. It is not easy to crack the exam with good results until the quality time is spent in learning the how’s and why’s of the basics.
With GATE 2018 approaching and with lakhs of people attempting the exam, it is all the more important that proper coaching is undertaken to take up the exam in a structured manner for effective results.
GATE 2018 exam related information
GATE 2018 examination will be conducted for 23 papers (subjects). A candidate can appear for only one of the 23 GATE papers. The examination for all the papers will be conducted in an ONLINE Computer Based Test (CBT) mode where the candidates will be shown the questions on a computer screen.
Pattern of the paper
GATE 2018 would contain questions of two different types in all the papers:
(i) Multiple Choice Questions carrying 1 or 2 marks each in all the papers and sections.
These questions are objective in nature, and each will have a choice of four answers, out of which the candidate has to select (mark) the correct answer. For a wrong answer chosen there will be negative marking.
(ii) Numerical Answer Type Questions carrying 1 or 2 marks each in all the papers and sections.
For these questions, the answer is a signed real number, which needs to be entered by the candidate using the virtual numeric keypad on the monitor (keyboard of the computer will be disabled). No choices will be shown for these type of questions. The answer can be a number, either integers or with decimals. There is NO negative marking for a wrong answer.
Pattern of Marks
In all the papers, there will be a total of 65 questions carrying 100 marks, out of which 10 questions carrying a total of 15 marks will be on General Aptitude (GA), which is intended to test the Language and Analytical Skills.
So, in the papers bearing the codes AE, AG, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, IN, ME, MN, MT, PE, PI, TF and XE, the Engineering Mathematics will carry around 15% of the total marks, the General Aptitude section will carry 15% of the total marks and the remaining 70% of the total marks is devoted to the subject of the paper.
Aso, In the papers bearing the codes AR, CY, EY, GG, MA, PH and XL, the General Aptitude section will carry 15% of the total marks and the remaining 85% of the total marks is devoted to the subject of the paper.
Design of Questions
The questions in a paper may be designed to test the following abilities:
(i) Recall: These are based on facts, principles, formulae or laws in the discipline of the paper.
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.
(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.
(iii) Application: In these questions, the candidate is expected to apply his/her knowledge either through computation or by logical reasoning.
So, the questions based on the above logics may be a mix of single stand alone statement/phrase/data type questions, a combination of option codes type questions or match items type questions.
(iv) Analysis and Synthesis: In these questions, the candidate is presented with data, diagrams, images, etc. that require analysis before a question can be answered. A Synthesis question might require the candidate to compare two or more pieces of information.
Here, questions in this category could, for example, involve candidates in recognizing unstated assumptions or separating useful information from irrelevant information.
Marking Scheme – Marks and Questions Distribution
General Aptitude (GA) Questions
In all papers, GA questions carry a total of 15 marks. So the GA section includes 5 questions carrying 1-mark each (sub-total 5 marks) and 5 questions carrying 2-marks each (sub-total 10 marks).
Question Papers other than GG, XE, and XL
These papers would contain 25 questions carrying 1-mark each (sub-total 25 marks) and 30 questions carrying 2-marks each (sub-total 60 marks) consisting of both the MCQ and NAT Questions.
GG (Geology and Geophysics) Paper
So, apart from the General Aptitude (GA) section, the GG question paper consists of two parts: Part A and Part B. Part A is compulsory for all the candidates. Part B contains two sections: Section 1 (Geology) and Section 2 (Geophysics). Candidates will have to attempt questions in Part A and questions in either Section 1 or Section 2 of Part B.
Also, Part A consists of 25 questions carrying 1-mark each (sub-total 25 marks and some of these may be numerical answer type questions). Either section of Part B (Section 1 and Section 2) consists of 30 questions carrying 2-marks each (sub-total 60 marks and some of these may be numerical answer type questions).
XE Paper (Engineering Sciences)
A candidate appearing in the XE paper has to answer the following:
- GA – General Aptitude carrying a total of 15 marks.
- Section A – Engineering Mathematics (Compulsory): This section contains 11 questions carrying a total of 15 marks: 7 questions carrying 1-mark each (sub-total 7 marks), and 4 questions carrying 2-marks each (sub-total 8 marks). Some questions may be of numerical answer type.
- Any two of XE Sections B to H: The choice of two sections from B to H can be made during the examination after viewing the questions. Only TWO optional sections can be answered at a time. So, a candidate wishing to change midway of the examination to another optional section must first choose to deselect one of the previously chosen optional sections (B to H).
Here, each of the optional sections of the XE paper (Sections B through H) contains 22 questions carrying a total of 35 marks: 9 questions carrying 1-mark each (sub-total 9 marks) and 13 questions carrying 2-marks each (sub-total 26 marks). Some questions may be of numerical answer type.
XL Paper (Life Sciences)
A candidate appearing in the XL paper has to answer the following:
- GA – General Aptitude carrying a total of 15 marks.
- Section P– Chemistry (Compulsory): This section contains 15 questions carrying a total of 25 marks: 5 questions carrying 1-mark each (sub-total 5 marks). And 10 questions carrying 2-marks each (sub-total 20 marks). Some questions may be of numerical answer type.
- Any two of XL Sections Q to U: The choice of two sections from Q to U can be made during the examination after viewing the questions. Only TWO optional sections can be answered at a time. A candidate wishing to change midway of the examination to another optional section must first choose to deselect one of the previously chosen optional sections (Q to U).
Here, each of the optional sections of the XL paper (Sections Q through U) contains 20 questions carrying a total of 30 marks: So, 10 questions carrying 1-mark each (sub-total 10 marks) and 10 questions carrying 2-marks each (sub-total 20 marks). Some questions may be of numerical answer type.
An opportunity not to be missed
So, GATE 2018 is certainly a benefit to those who aspire to learn. All the more, the benefit of learning in the case of GATE has assured growth in terms of securing a job as well as gaining a scholarship for certain programs. So, It is never too late to start preparing for this exam. It is an opportunity that no one who is eligible can afford to miss.
