Students’ Speak: Want to ace GATE 2020? These are the books you must refer to
Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering 2025 ( GATE )
Admit Card - 2 Jan '26
By: Swapnaneel Bhuiya
The initiative to prepare for Graduate Aptitude Test for Engineering (GATE) has to start early. This helps in preparing the right study plan and get hold of the material you need to refer to.
Early preparation will also ensure that you get enough time to strategise and to study various concepts and topics present in the syllabus. Ensure that no day is left wasted and make use of each and every minute while also prioritising your health and sleep.
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The first step once you begin your preparation is to find topics that are top-scoring. Knowledge about the topic distribution in the question paper is a good strategy to adapt for preparation purposes. You can go through the previous year question papers to see how the topics and concepts were divided for the examination. By having an idea of the weightage, you can concentrate on those topics which seem to have more questions and distribution in the question paper. Knowing your topic-wise distribution is a great way to start your preparation for the examination.
Creating a Study Plan
After checking the syllabus and topic weightage, the next step in how to prepare for GATE 2020 is to create an individual study plan. A personalised study plan will help you to divide the study sessions subject-wise according to your preference. By preparing a study plan, you will be able to equally give your time to an allotted chapter or topic while squeezing in time for mock tests, sample paper practice and also some rest. The following points can be remembered while preparing the study plan:
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- Daily, weekly and monthly targets should be kept.
- You should remember to evenly divide the difficult, moderate and easy topics.
- Topics should be divided in such a way as to not make it monotonous.
- Give more importance to those topics which have more chances of having high weightage in the examination.
- Make sure to give adequate time for mock tests and sample papers.
- Break times should be placed strategically so that you remain fresh during studies.
Similarly, the following points should be avoided while the study plan is being prepared:
- Do not overcrowd a single slot with tough or difficult topics.
- Do not forget to make time for revision after finishing a particular chapter.
- Do not follow another person’s schedule. Make your own personalized study plan since it will fit your taste and help you in a better way.
How to source correct study material and books for your stream/branch?
A lot of books are often named for reference by previous year toppers for GATE preparation. While the textbooks can be used for studying, it is recommended that extra books should also be looked into to give that extra boost. The following table can be referred to know the best books for preparation of GATE 2020.
| GATE Preparation Books for ME |
Author |
|---|---|
| Mechanical Vibration |
GK Grover |
| Design Of Machine Elements |
VB Bhandari |
| Engineering Mechanics |
SS Bhavikatti |
| Fluid Mechanics |
RK Bansal |
| Heat & Mass Transfer |
PK Nag |
| Engineering Thermodynamics |
Cengel & Boles |
| Internal Combustion Engine |
V Ganesan |
| Refrigeration & Air Conditioning |
CP Arora |
| Material Science |
UC Jindal |
| Production Engineering |
Amitabh Ghosh |
| Industrial Engineering
|
OP Khanna
|
| GATE Preparation Books for CSE |
Author |
| Algorithms |
Cormen |
| Operating System |
Galvin |
| Theory of Computation |
Ullman |
| Computer Networks |
Tanenbaum |
| Computer Organisation |
Carl Hamacher |
| Database System |
Korth |
| Compiler Design |
Aho & Ull Man |
| Digital Logic |
Morris Mano |
| Software Engineering |
Pressman |
| GATE Preparation Books for EE |
Author |
|---|---|
| Network Analysis |
Val Valken Burg |
| Solution of Network Analysis |
GK Publications |
| Engineering Circuit Analysis |
Hayt & Kemmerly |
| Graph Theory |
Narsing Das |
| Circuit Theory |
Chakravarthy |
| Control System |
Nagrath Gopal |
| Electrical machines |
PS Bimbhra |
| Power Electronics |
UA Bakshi |
| Power Systems |
Nagrath Kothari |
| Signals & Systems |
Oppenheim Wisky |
| GATE Preparation Books for ECE |
Author |
| Network Analysis |
Van Valken Burg |
| Solutions of Network Analysis |
GK Publications |
| Engg. Circuit Analysis |
Hayt and Kemmerly |
| Network Analysis |
Soni and Gupta |
| Graph Theory |
Narsing Deo (Cutset and Others) |
| Circuit Theory |
Chakravarthy |
| Electric Circuits |
Schaum’s Series |
| Network Theory |
Prof Yoganarasimhan |
| Electronic Devices Circuits |
Boylested and Neshelsky |
| Microelectronic Circuits |
Sedra and Smith |
| Electronic Devices Circuits |
Millman and Halkias (Black Pad) |
| Microelectronics |
Millman and Grabel |
| Integrated Electronics |
Millman and Halkias |
| Electronic Circuits |
Schilling and Belove |
| Switching and Finite Automatic Theory |
Kohavi |
| Digital Logic and Computer Design |
Mano |
| Digital Electronics |
Malvino and Leach |
| Digital Systems, Principles and Applications |
Tocci |
| Microprocessor and its Applications |
Goankar |
| Microprocessors |
B Ram |
| Automatic Control Systems |
BC Kuo |
| Control Systems |
Nagarath and Gopal |
| Modern Control Systems |
Ogata |
| OP Amps and Linear Integrated Circuits |
Gayakwad |
| Electrical and Electronic Measurements and Instrumentation |
AK Sawhney |
| DC Machines Measurements and Measuring Instruments |
GB Bharadhwajan |
| Electrical Machines |
PS Bimhra |
| Electrical Technology |
Hughes |
| The performance and Design of AC Machines |
MG Say |
| Electrical Engg. (Problems and Solutions) |
Natesan |
| Electrical Machines |
Mukherjee & Chakravarthy |
| Elements of Power System Analysis |
William D Stevenson |
| Modern Power System Analysis |
Nagrath and Kothari |
| Electrical Power Systems |
Wadhwa |
| Power Systems |
VK Mehta (For basics of PS) |
| GATE Preparation Books for Civil Engineering |
Author |
|---|---|
| Gate 2020: Civil Engineering Solved Papers |
Made Easy |
| Gate Guide Civil Engg. 2020 |
Gkp |
| Gate Tutor 2020 Civil Engineering |
Prasant Dixit |
| Gate 2020: Civil Engineering Chapterwise Solved Papers: 20 Years |
Hitesh Aggarwal |
| Gate 2020 Civil Engineering |
Vani Institute |
| Civil Engineering Gate 2020 30 Years Solution |
IES Master |
| Gate Guide Civil Engineering 2020 |
Hitesh Aggarwal |
| Gate Guide Civil Engg. 2020 |
GKP |
| Gate Paper Civil Engineering 2020 (Solved Papers 2000-2016) |
GKP |
| Engineering Branch |
GATE Reference Books 2020 |
|---|---|
| GATE 2020 Bio-Technology |
Lehning M Prescott, Eldon John, Lehninger |
| GATE 2020 Marine Engineering |
RK Rajput, RK Bansal, |
| GATE 2020 Paint Technology |
PK Nag |
| GATE 2020 Chemical Engineering |
Cengel & Boles |
| GATE 2020 Instrumentation & Control |
Natesan, Mukherjee & Chakravarthy |
| GATE 2020 Architecture |
The Road Ahead, GATE Architecture |
| GATE 2020 Oil Engineering |
RK Bansal, RK Rajput |
About the Author:
Swapnaneel Bhuiya is a fourth-year student in Mining Engineering at Indian Institute of Engineering Science And Technology (IIEST), Shibpur. He appeared for JEE in 2016 and scored 140 in his first attempt.
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 2 days ago
The GATE exam is conducted once a year. The entrance test takes place on multiple dates and shifts for 30 test papers. For 2026, IIT Guwahati is conducting the exam on February 7, 8, 14, and 15.
S
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 2 weeks ago
Yes, IIT Guwahati has extended the GATE 2026 registration date with late fees. The new GATE 2026 registration date is October 13.
S
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 2 weeks ago
If you notice an error or discrepancy after submitting your GATE form, don't panic. Once the application correction window opens, log in via GOAPS using your credentials and make the corrections. Details like category, gender, exam city, paper choice, date of birth, etc., can often be edited — usual
D
Contributor-Level 6
Answered a month ago
The factors that determine the GATE cutoff are -
- Availability of seats (the total seat intake varies every year for NITs, IIITs, and IIT admission)
- Number of registered applicants
- The difficulty level of the examination - (GATE is conducted on multiple days, however, the paper difficulty varies for eve
I
Contributor-Level 7
Answered a month ago
Based on the previous year's trends, the GATE 2026 expected cutoff for computer Science and engineering can be checked below-
- For General category it might go around 30 to 31.0
However, the GATE cutoff varies every year, depending on the difficulty level, number of applicants appearing for the exam,
U
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
No, a duplicate GATE 2026 admit card will not be provided at the test center. Candidates must carry their own admit card along with the mentioned documents and items to the GATE exam center. IIT Guwahati will release the GATE admit card on January 2.
P
Contributor-Level 7
Answered a month ago
Candidates will get only one scribble pad at a time. They must write their name and registration number before using it. If the rough sheet gets filled, then they can ask for another one scribble pad after returning the previous one to the invigilator. After the exam concludes, candidates must retur
B
Contributor-Level 7
Answered a month ago
Yes, candidates will get a scribble pad in the GATE exam 2026 to do the rough work. Candidates have to write their name and registration number on the scribble pad before using it. However, the rough sheet must be returned after the completion of the exam.
S
Contributor-Level 7
Answered a month ago
The barcode present in the GATE admit card 2026 carries the candidate's information. It is required for a faster verification process and fraud prevention. So, make sure it does not get tampered. Carry multiple copies in case your GATE 2026 hall ticket is torn or tampered.
T
Contributor-Level 7
Answered a month ago
Applicants must carry the following documents and items to the center along with the GATE 2026 admit card -
- Photo ID proof (as uploaded in the application form)
- Passport-size photograph
- Transparent water bottle
- Pen (blue or black)
It is advised to carry two to three copies of the GATE admit card to avoid
A
Contributor-Level 7