GATE Preparation

The GATE Civil Engineering syllabus covers the following chapters and topics -

• Engineering mathematics - linear algebra, calculus, ordinary differential equations, partial differential equations, probability and statistics, and numerical methods
• Core topics/subjects - structural engineering, geotechnical engineering, water resources engineering, environmental engineering, transportation engineering, and geomatics engineering. 

Honestly, textbooks are not enough for GATE preparation (especially if you are targeting IITs and top colleges). 

Besides your college books, look out for top GATE books recommended by toppers, mentors, and professors. Pick at least one standard book for each subject and start studying it side by side. Apart from that, also practice solving GATE question papers of last 5 to 10 years to get hands on the question difficulty and pattern. 

Stay consistent, prepare a practical timetable and religiously follow it. At the end, it's all upto how you prepare for the exam. 

The GATE Energy Science syllabus can be checked below -

• Energy resources and conversion technologies - fossil energy resources, nuclear energy resources, biomass, hydropower, etc.
• Energy storage, economics, environment, and efficiency - energy storage systems, energy management, environmental impacts of energy use, etc. 

The GATE paper code of Energy Science is GATE XE-I. 

NAT are Numerical Answer Type questions, where candidates have to enter a numerical value using GATE virtual calculator. There is no negative marking for GATE NAT questions.

The GATE 2026 exam pattern for CS, EC, EE, and ME can be checked below. The general aptitude section (GA) carries 15 marks, while the subject-based questions carries 85 marks, out of which engineering mathematics section consists of 13 marks. The GATE question paper will be in English language and the time duration is three hours. 

Reserve at least two to three months for GATE revision. Grab your notes, formula handbooks, and shortcut tricks sheet and revise daily. Avoid starting anything new. Practice question papers and mock tests daily to build efficiency and accuracy to attempt the questions, and you are good to go. 

There is no ideal time to start the GATE preparation. Start early (from the first year itself). It is mainly because your bachelor's topics and chapters have the most weightage in the GATE question paper. The topics that are taught in your third year are the backbone. If you are clear with the fundamentals and concepts (taught in classes), then you do not require extra time to prepare for GATE. Just revise and practice questions. That's enough. 

So, start preparing for GATE right from the first year. Your brain is fresh with the concepts and formulas, thus making it easy to solve the questions and prepare for the exam. 

To prepare for the GATE General Aptitude section, here are some of the best books -

• Quantitative Aptitude for all competitive exams by Abhijit Guha
• A Modern Approach to Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning by R.S Agarwal

To fetch full marks in GATE General Aptitude, here's what you can do -

• Study English Grammar Textbooks.
• Try solving language puzzles and take online quizzes to test your skills and accuracy.
• Practice general aptitude section from previous year's GATE question paper.

Here are some good books for GATE Electrical Engineering and Electronics and Communication Engineering  -