GATE 2024 Preparation Tips – Check Complete Guide to Crack GATE exam

GATE Exam Preparation Tips 2024: The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) is one of the most sought-after entrance examinations for engineering graduates in India. Preparing for the GATE exam requires an effective study plan, time management, understanding the syllabus, and practicing the concepts.

It is important for all the GATE 2024 aspirants to understand that before they start preparing for the exam, they are well versed with the GATE Syllabus, Exam Pattern, Books & study material, Exam Guidance & support from experts.

GATE is a national level engineering entrance exam. It is conducted jointly by IITs and IISC Bangalore for admission to master’s & doctoral programs in the field of Engineering, Technology, Architecture, etc. 

What makes the GATE exam special is not only that you can pursue PG courses from the top institutes of the country, but also have a great chance to get employment in the top PSUs of the country namely ONGC, IOCL, Power Grid, BHEL, NTPC to name a few.

GATE 2024 Exam Preparation Tips

GATE as we all know is one of the highly competitive examinations in India. To crack the exam with a good score candidates need a well planned strategy, an understanding GATE 2024 syllabus and paper pattern, role of coaching or self study. 

GATE 2024 Exam Dates have been announced by IIT, Kanpur. It will be held on February 4, 5, 11, and 12, 2024. As the schedule has been announced, candidates should start their preparations on an early basis.

In this article, we will discuss in detail GATE preparation tips and tricks & a complete study plan, that will help you to crack the GATE exam with a good rank.

Know your Syllabus

The first step in preparing for any competitive examination is understanding the syllabus. Knowing the entire syllabus is preparing accordingly is the best way one can kickstart his/her preparation.

For the latest GATE 2024 syllabus, refer to the official GATE website & information brochure. 

Candidates preparing for the GATE exam, can download the syllabus as per their stream in UG engineering course.

Always make sure that you start your preparation by looking at the syllabus or the topic that you have to study. 

Start your Preparation Early

GATE syllabus is vast, comprising your engineering subjects and general Aptitude. Starting early in your preparation will give you more time to study in-depth and will also help in revising your syllabus.

• Analyze and make a routine for yourself, know how much time, days, and months you have to complete the entire syllabus and then plan accordingly.
• Go through the Syllabus and mark the important topics that carry more weightage in the exam.
• Make short notes for daily revision and practice as much as you can.
• Stick to the syllabus and routine that you have created and try not to divert or change your study plan. 
• Try to solve previous years GATE questions topic-wise, this will help you in understanding the types of questions asked in the exam.

Finding Best Books & Study Material

• Finding the best study material is also an important aspect of GATE 2024 preparation. For this watch interview of GATE toppers, you can also take help from GATE faculties, Teachers etc.
• Watch GATE preparation videos on YouTube and also read articles about best preparation books and resources.
• Read articles on sites like Quora, where ex-students share their strategies and preparation resources for the GATE exam.
• Also take help from teachers in choosing reliable study material for GATE exam preparation.
• Once you have sorted the Books & study material for GATE, try to stick to it. Never make a mistake of changing the books/study material in the middle of preparation or a few months prior to the examination.

Writing Notes

It is known worldwide that learning while making notes helps you in remembering concepts for a long time. Therefore writing notes on every topic that you study is one of the best study practices that one can adopt.

Self-written notes are a powerful practice. It helps in comprehension of material, and knowledge retention and in turn supporting the brain’s capacity for retrieval of information. 

Also one can use sticky notes to mark the important points that are essential for quick revision.

Making a chart of important formulas, equations & concepts and sticking them on walls of your study room is also an effective strategy of learning & revising on a daily basis.

Making a robust Time Table

Everything we have discussed so far won’t work unless you have an effective and practical timetable. Make sure that you create a timetable keeping in mind everything that includes learning new topics daily, revision of the studied topics, solving mock papers, taking short breaks in between studies and evn long breaks on weekdays.

Timetable is the roadmap of your study plan. Make sure that you follow the timetable with utmost honesty and integrity. 

Your chances of getting successful in the GATE 2024 exam is directly related to how honestly you follow your timetable.

Below we have provided a sample timetable, aspirants can modify & design  the timetable as per their study plan.

Revision – A key to Success

• As the education experts say, “Revision is the only key to success”. 
• An effective revision helps in recalling the studied topics, it gives you more confidence and helps in organizing your studies which give higher chances of success.
• Make sure that you revise for at least 1-2 hours per day.
• Timely revision also helps in reducing the anxiety and stress levels during exams.
• Practice & Solve Mock Test/Previous year’s Papers
• By practicing mock tests, candidates will get a rough idea about the examination pattern, answering method and other details.
• Solving mock tests will enhance your problem solving ability which plays a key role in developing speed & accuracy.
• Solving previous year test papers will help you in understanding the types of questions asked in the paper and will also familiarize you with the topics that have appeared frequently from the last few years.
• By solving mock tests, candidates will be able to analyze their performance. This will help them in improving their weak areas.
• Candidates should try to solve at least two mock tests per week. Also for every topic studied try to look at the previous years papers.
• Solving mock tests & previous years papers will improve your skills, knowledge and also let you know about your time management & speed.

Aspirants can solve mock tests provided by Made Easy, GATE Academy and ByJu’s.

Subject Wise GATE Preparation Tips

Candidates preparing for the GATE 2023 exam must focus on each and every subject. There will be two sections in the GATE paper General Aptitude (GA) & Candidate’s selected subject. The question papers will be of MCQ type, comprising a total of 65 questions in the paper. From GA section 10 questions will be asked and 55 questions from candidates selected.

GATE General Aptitude Preparation Tips

The General Aptitude section in the GATE paper is common for all subjects. Candidates must prepare this section as this will comprise of 15 Marks in GATE exam. The General aptitude section is further divided into –

1. Numerical Ability
2. Verbal Ability

• The general aptitude section is very scoring, and with good practice, candidates can secure full marks in this section.
• Read concepts & fundamentals and try to practice as much as you can.
• Learn and write down important formulas, shortcuts, tips & tricks to solve numerical problems.
• For the verbality ability part, read newspapers and mark down important words.
• Focus on vocabulary and grammar.
• Take help from Youtube videos, online Apps for improving verbal skills.
• Listen to English Podcasts, and try to communicate in English this will improve your listening & speaking skills.

GATE Engineering Subjects Preparation Tips

The engineering related subjects in GATE 2024 exam carry 85% weightage. This section is based on the stream/branch of the candidates in their UG engineering courses. Candidates should follow a proper study plan and solve mock papers to gain speed and accuracy.

GATE Preparation Books & Study Material

The recommended books for GATE 2024 preparation are given below:

GATE General Aptitude Books

The best & recommended GATE 2024 General Aptitude Books are –

1. A Modern Approach to Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning by R.S Aggarwal S. Chand Publication
2. How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude by Arun Sharma McGraw – Hill Education
3. High School English Grammar by Wren and Martin S. Chand Publication
4. Reasoning and Aptitude by Nem Singh Made Easy Publication
5. GATE General Engineering Mathematics Books
6. The best & recommended GATE 2024 Engineering Mathematics Books are –
7. Higher Engineering Mathematics by B.S. Grewal
8. Advanced Engineering Mathematics by Erwin Kreyszig
9. GATE Engineering Mathematics for all streams by Arihant Publications
10. GATE Engineering Mathematics by Made Easy Publications

GATE Mechanical Engineering Books

The best & recommended GATE 2024 Mechanical Engineering Books are –

1. Engineering Mechanics  –  Engineering Mechanics by Bhavikatti
2. Design of Machine Elements – Machine Design by V.B. Bhandari
3. Fluid Mechanics – Fluid Mechanics by R K Bansal /Modi and Seth
4. Heat Transfer – Heat and Mass Transfer by J P Hollman and R C Sachdeva
5. Manufacturing Engineering – Production Technology: Manufacturing Processes, Technology and Automation by R.K. Jain
6. Industrial Engineering –  Industrial Engineering  by O P Khanna, Buffa and Sarin
7. Thermal Science – Engineering Thermodynamics by P.K Nag
8. Strength of Materials – Strength of Materials by Gere & Timoshenko / B.C Punamia
9. Thermodynamics – Thermodynamics by Cengel
10. Theory of Machines – Theory of Machines by Ratan
11. Vibrations – Mechanical Vibration by Grover

GATE Computer Science & Engineering (CSE) Books

The best & recommended GATE 2024 CSE Engineering Books are –

1. Programming and Data Structures – The C Programming language (Edition 2) by Brian W. Kernighan, Dennis M Ritchie
2. Algorithms – Introduction to Algorithms (Edition 3) by Thomas H. Cormen, Charles E. Leiserson, Ronald L. Rivest, Clifford Stein
3. Computer Networks – Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach by James F. Kurose, Keith W. Ross
4. Operating Systems – Operating Systems Concepts by Silberschartz Galvin, Gagne
5. Databases – Database System Concepts bySilberschartz, Sudarshan and Korth
6. Theory of Computation – An Introduction to Formal Languages and Automata by Peter Linz
7. Computer Organization & Architecture Computer Organization & Architecture Hamacher, Vranesic, Zaky
8. Digital Logic – Digital Logic and Computer Design by M. Morris Mano
9. Compiler Logic Compiler: Principles Techniques and Tools Alfred V. Aho, Ravi Sethi, D. Jeffery Ulman

GATE Civil Engineering Books

The best & recommended GATE Civil Engineering Books are –

1. Structural Engineering by Theory of Structure by CK Wang, S. Rammamrutham, L.S. Negi & Jangit 
2. Theory of Elasticity by Timoshenko & Gere
3. Theory of Structure by Wilbur & Norris
4. Strength of Material by B. C Punmia, U. C Jindal, R. K Bansal
5. Structural Analysis – Theory of Structures by S. Ramamrutham & R. Narayan
6. R.C.C. Design – Reinforced Concrete Design by Devdas Menon & S. Pillai
7. Design of Steel Structure by S.K. Duggal
8. Environment Engineering by S. K Garg
9. Transportation Engineering Transportation by Justo Khanna
10. Soil Mechanics – Basics and Applied Soil Mechanics by Gopal Ranjan & A. S. R. Rao
11. Hydraulics and Fluid Mechanics byDr. P. N. Modi & Dr. S. M Seth
12. Fluid Mechanics in SI Units by Yunus Cenge

GATE Electronics & Communication Engineering Books

The best & recommended GATE Electronics & Communication Engineering Books are –

1. Microelectronic Circuits: Theory and Applications Adel S. Sedra, Kenneth C. Smith
2. Networks Fundamentals of Electrical Circuits Charles by K. Alexander, Matthew N. O. Saidiku
3. Control Systems Automatic Control Systems by Benjamin C. Kuo
4. Signals and Systems Signals and Systems (Edition 2) by Alan V. Oppenheim, Allan S. Willsky, S.Hamid Nawab
5. Digital Circuits Digital Logic and Computer Design by M. Morris Mano
6. Electromagnetics Principles of Electromagnetics by Matthew N. O. Saidiku
7. Electronic Devices and Circuits Semiconductor Physics and Devices (Edition 4) by Donald A. Neaman, Dhrubes Biswas

GATE Agriculture Engineering Books

The best & recommended GATE Agriculture Engineering Books are –

1. Concept of Agricultural Engineering by Mohanty Das
2. Soil & Water Conservation by VVN Murty
3. Farm Machinery by Three Authors by R.A Kepner, Roy Bainer, E.L Barger

GATE 2024 Preparation – Self-Study or Coaching

Whether candidates opt for coaching or self-study for GATE preparation. A well-planned strategy and study plan is always needed to crack the exam. Candidates should understand the exam pattern & syllabus throughly and start their preparation as early as possible.

One can prepare for GATE exam with the help of Coaching centres. In India, there are many good coaching centres that have excellent faculties and a good track record of selection. Candidates may join these institutes either online or offline. Coaching institutes do help students in a way that it creates a good competitive environment and concept of peer learning helps the students in so many ways. Also student can clarify their doubt with the teachers and discuss in detail about the topic in which they are having problems.

Coaching Institutes do have a systematic training program that is tried & tested and it makes the task of students a bit easier.

Having said that, we have seen many GATE toppers in the past who were self taught and yet they qualified the exam with a good rank. These day good quality study material is available for free online on YouTube, GATE preparation Apps, and also some personal websites of GATE aspirants.

Candidates who want to prepare GATE examination with Self-study can refer these online sources to get good-quality study material. Also, aspirants can follow GATE toppers on social media, watch their Interview or read their blog posts to learn about their preparation strategy and thought process.

GATE 2024 Preparation through Online App

Candidates can get help from various online Apps for preparing GATE 2024 exam. These online GATE preparation Apps has an easy-to-use interface where students can watch topic wise video lectures from experienced faculties. With the help of GATE prep apps students can learn the concepts topic wise and then solve the questions based on that topic.

One of the advantages of these APPs is you can watch the lectures any time, you can pause, rewind or forward the lectures as per your need.

Aspirants can appear in the test series, solve mock papers online and participate in the discussion or problem-solving session to clarify their doubts. Some of the recommended GATE preparation Apps are:

• UnAcademy
• PrepLadder
• BYJU’s
• GradeUp
• Made Easy and GATE Solved Papers & Solutions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)