Study plan to crack GATE (2016)

Electrical Engineering Exam in 90

days
Posted in Articles On October 31, 2015
Dear GATE Electrical Engineering Aspirants,
Competition for getting good rank in GATE exam has increased manifold during
the last few years as many of the Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) have started
recruiting the people based on the rank obtained in the GATE exam. Many number
of students are joining coaching institutes for getting a grip on the subjects. Just
joining a coaching centre wont suffice. Cracking GATE exam would require proper
Planning, Preparation and Execution besides Hard work and Dedication.
By this time every GATE aspirant of electrical engineering would be aware of
its syllabus. However, proper planning before the exam can get a good rank in the
exam. Preparing for the GATE exam syllabus without analysing previous GATE exam
papers might lead to spending more time on some subjects that may not carry
more marks. Allotting time to each subject based on the weightage given to each
subject in the previous GATE exams would get you the desired result.
You need to give enough time to each subject. Understanding the basic concepts is
the key for cracking exam. GATE exam wont test how much you remember but it
tests your basic concepts.

Counting from today, we have exactly 90 days left for GATE exam. The following
points need to be kept in mind before starting the preparation of GATE within
these 90 days.
Allot the some days to each subject based on the weightage in the previous
GATE exams.
Understand the fundamentals and basic concepts which are essential for GATE
type exams.
 Make revision notes of all the subjects which should contain important formulas
etc.
Testing the level of preparation by solving the previous GATE questions and
attempting quizzes/online tests.
Although every subject is important but some subjects carry more weightage,
hence it is not compulsory to go through every subject. To know the gate Electrical
Engineering technical syllabus including mathematics click on the following link
(Aptitude topics link is given later in the aptitude section). Key points in each subject
and the reference books to be followed are given.

GATE Electrical Engineering Syllabus

Electric Circuits
(Stage-1: 9- days of Preparation)
Start preparing the Electrical Engineering GATE with Electrical circuits. All the basic
electrical engineering concepts such as circuit elements, KCL, KVL, RLC circuits,
Network Theorems etc., would be covered in this subject. All the electrical
engineering subjects such as Control systems, Power systems, Electrical Machines
and Measurements would require knowledge of electrical circuits.

Reference Book: Circuit Theory: Analysis & Synthesis, Author: Dr. Abhijit
Chakrabarti
This book contains number of numerical problems on each topic with solutions to
each problem, where you can clearly understand how to solve the networks and
how the networks behave etc. Once you practice the numerical examples given in
the book on each topic, you will be able to solve all the questions. Only thing you
need to remember to more the number of questions you solve and more will be
confidence you get.

Make short notes of all the formulae for future reference and these short notes will
be useful in revising the subject at a later stage.
Key Topics: Circuit Elements, KCL, KVL, Steady State Analysis, Network Theorems,
Analysis of three phase circuits, Power relations in AC Circuits, Laplace Transform,
2-Port Network Analysis

Control Systems
(Stage-2: 7- days of Preparation)
Once you understand the numerical examples in electrical circuits subject, you will
find easy to understand control systems. Looking at the previous GATE exam
papers, most of the questions that are asked in control system subject are of
numerical type. Practicing the sample questions in each topic is the best way to
score full marks in this subject. For understanding the basic concepts of control
system, book mentioned below would suffice:

Reference Book: Control Systems Engineering, Author: I.J.Nagrath and M.

Gopal
However, for getting grip on the numerical questions asked in this subject, the
following book would be the best one to follow:

Reference Book: Circuit Theory: Control Systems, Author: A Nagoor Kani

Key Topics: Transfer functions, Time domain Analysis, 2nd order systems, State
variable Analysis, Frequency domain Analysis, Root Locus, Bode-plot, Nyquist
Stability Criteria
Power Systems
(Stage-3: 9-days of Preparation)
Power Systems can be easily understood by following the topics mentioned in the
order of priority. Start the power systems with Line Parameters, performance of
transmission lines, Wave travelling, Voltage Control. Then go to power system
stability, fault analysis and load flow studies. Questions were asked in every topic of
power system subject in previous GATE exams. Hence, it is better to study every
topic of this subject. The following two reference books would be best to
understand the power system:

Reference Book: (1) Electric Power Systems, Author: CL Wadhwa

and (2) Power System Engineering, Author: Nagrath and Kothari
Reference book-1 mentioned above contains sample multiple choice questions at
the end of the text book. One must solve all these multiple choice questions in
addition to previous GATE questions in this subject.

Key Topics: Transmission lines, Per unit quantities, Load flow methods, Voltage
control, Power system stability and fault analysis.
Electrical Machines
(Stage-4: 10-days of Preparation)
Electrical Machines can be divided into four topics i.e, Transformers, Induction
Machines, Synchronous Machines and DC Machines. Start this subject by
transformers followed by Induction machines as the only difference between them
being static and rotating. There are many similarities between these two. DC
machines are simple understand, hence start with this topic followed by
synchronous machines. All these four topics are covered clearly in the reference
book mentioned below:

Reference Book: Electrical Machinery, Author: P S Bimbhra

This Reference book contains lot of sample multiple choice questions at the end of
the text book. Hence, solve all these multiple choice questions in to get grip on this
subject. Every topic in this subject is important and questions were asked from
every topic.

Key Topics: Transformers, Induction Machines, Synchronous Machines and DC

Machines
Power Electronics
(Stage-5: 7-days of Preparation)
Start reading power electronics subject by understanding power electronic devices
such as diodes, thryristors, IGBTs etc and their characteristics. Simple questions on
this topic would be based on these devices. Hence, one should practice the
questions thoroughly. Then proceed to 1-ph & 3-ph rectifiers, different type of
inverters and DC to DC converters etc. Finally, continue to power electronic based
drives for finishing this subject.

Reference Book: Power Electronics, Author: P.S.Bimbhra

Examples and sample Questions given in the text need to thoroughly studied to get
feel of the questions.

Key Topics: Type of Power Electronic devices, Phase controlled rectifiers,

Inverters, Choppers, Electric Drives
Electrical and Electronic Measurements
(Stage-6: 6-days of Preparation)
Reference Book: A Course in Electrical And Electronic Measurements And
Instrumentation, Author: A K Sawhney
This is the best book for preparing the measurements and it covers each and every
topic of the subject followed by number of numerical examples. Practice the
questions given at the end of each topic. First, solve the sample example questions
given in the text book and then solve the previous GATE questions on this subject.
You will realise that you will be able to solve all questions.

Key Topics: Bridges, Potentiometers, Instrument types, Instrument transformers,

Measuring devices etc.
Analog and Digital Electronics
(Stage-7: 5-days of Preparation for Analog Electronics and 5-days
for Digital Electronics)
Reference Book: Integrated Electronics: Analog and Digital Circuit, Author:
Jacob Millman , Christos Halkis, Chetan D Parikh
Millman and Halkis is the best book for preparing Analog electronics. Questions
from this topic in GATE electrical would be relatively easier. However, on needs to
go through all the topics and remember the concepts. Start with characteristics of
devices, amplifiers and complete the syllabus with filters, timers.

Reference Book: Digital Logic and Computer Design, Author: M Morris Mano
Morris mano is the best book for preparing digital electronics. Almost every GATE
topper refers this book. Combinational Circuits and Sequential Circuits are must
read from this book. You can understand digital logic easily if you go in sequence.
Very easy questions are asked from digital electronics in GATE electrical paper and
hence do not skip the topics in digital logic.

Key topics of Analog: Characteristices of devices, OP-Amps, filters and timers

Key topics of Digital: Simplification, Combinational Circuits, Registers, Counters
and Floating point representation.
Electromagnetic Fields
(Stage-8: 6-days of Preparation)
Reference Book: Engineering Electromagnetics, Author: William H Hayt, John
A Buck
Concentrate mainly on theorems, different type of laws and dielectrics. As seen
from previous GATE exam papers not many questions are asked in on this topic.
However, preparing this subject would be better as it is relatively easy to answer
questions from this topic.

Key Topics: Gauss Theorem, Amperes and Biot-Savarts laws, dielectrics.

Signals and Systems
(Stage-9: 7-days of Preparation)
Reference Book: Signals and Systems, Author: Alan V. Oppenheim , Alan S.
Willsky , S. Hamid Nawab
Oppenheim and Willsky is the best book to understand signals and their behaviour.
Questions from this subject are almost similar to mathematics. Start with type of
signals such as discrete and analog following sampling theorems. Further to
perform better in this topic, fourier, laplace and Z-transforms are essential.

Key topics: Type of signals, Fourier, Laplace and Z-Transforms, Sampling theorem
Engineering Mathematics
(Stage-10: 7-days of Preparation)
Grewal book has enough concepts for GATE exam, so follow the book according
to GATE syllabus and keep an eye on those topics which are not in syllabus. Try
to prepare as soon as possible and also do not forget to prepare revision notes to
include formulas and concepts wherever it is necessary.
Reference Book: Higher Engineering Mathematics, Authors Name: B. S.
Grewal
This book is sufficient to cover linear algebra and other topics. Examples and
exercise problems are covered in this book to practice the questions. Grewal book
is famous for undergraduate engineering mathematics courses. Book is well
organized and recommended book for GATE preparation.
Key topics: Matrix Algebra, Probability, Differentiation, and Integration
Aptitude
(Stage-11: 5-days of Preparation)
Aptitude can be prepared in less time compared to other subjects. Focus only on
GATE Syllabus and read all important topics from the following books. To know
the GATE Syllabusclick here: APTITUDE SYLLABUS.
Reference Book: A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning,
Authors Name: R.S. Aggarwal
Reference Book: Quantitative Aptitude For Competitive Examinations, Authors
Name: R.S. Aggarwal
Revision of Subjects
(Stage-12: 7-days of Preparation)
Finally, every GATE aspirant should remember that More the number of questions
you practice, the more the confidence you get. More the confidence you get and
more you perform in the exam.

ALL THE BEST!!!