GATE 2016

How to Prepare for

Electronics & Communication
Engineering

GATE 2016
Correspondence
Program Premium

GATE 2016 How to Prepare for Electronics & Communication Engineering

Contents

Foreword

Introduction

Whats New in GATE 2016

GATE 2016 Exam Pattern

Changes in GATE 2016 Electronics & Communication Engineering Syllabus

Important Topics And Books for Electronics & Communication Engineering

Some Important Tips

10

Useful Links

11

GATE 2016 Correspondence Program Premium 

13

Complete GATE Online Test Series 

14

GATE 2016
Correspondence
Program Premium

GATE 2016 How to Prepare for Electronics & Communication Engineering

Foreword

ATE 2016 will be held from January 30, 2016. That leaves GATE aspirants with
around four months of preparation for what is one of the toughest entrance exams
in the country. Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE) is an extremely
popular branch which also has one of the largest numbers of applicants for GATE. Around
200443 candidates had applied for ECE in GATE 2015. Considering that a good number
of PSUs have also advertised for ECE candidates, who will have qualified GATE 2016, it is
expected that this figure will not diminish.
Careers360 brings forth concise preparation guidelines for GATE 2016 Electronics
and Communication Engineering (ECE) candidates in this EBook. Compiled from the
interviews with experts, toppers and alike, these guidelines covering important topics and
books are just meant to aid students in their preparation for GATE 2016. It is imperative for
students to check the complete GATE 2016 Electronics and Communication Engineering
(ECE) Syllabus before starting their preparation. We strongly advise students to study the
whole prescribed syllabus and not just rely on the topics mentioned in this book.
Success is nothing more than a simple few disciplines, practiced every day.
So study the concepts, get them right, practice the formulae, solve the problems and do
this every day till the day of the GATE 2016 Exam. Success will be yours.
All the Best!
Team Careers360

GATE 2016
Correspondence
Program Premium

GATE 2016 How to Prepare for Electronics & Communication Engineering

Introduction to GATE 2016

ATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering) is

the All India examination that is used to screen the
applicants from across the country for admissions
to the various Post Graduate courses in Engineering in the
IITs, IISc Bangalore, NITs, some CFTIs and many private
institutes as well as many state universities.

GATE is an entrance test designed to test the comprehensive understanding of the various subjects in Engineering
and Technology of the applicants. Candidates can apply to
the PG courses like M.Tech/M.E/ Integrated courses like
M.Tech-Phd and even M.Des at some IITs on the basis of
their GATE 2015 scores. GATE qualified candidates are
given preference over other candidates in many state conducted entrance exams.

Salient Points of GATE 2016:

l

GATE 2016 will be organized by Indian Institute of

Science, Bangalore supported in the operations at the
zonal level by the seven IITs namely IIT Bombay, IIT
Delhi, IIT Madras, IIT Kharagpur, IIT Kanpur, IIT
Guwahati, and IIT Roorkee

l
l

Admission to the IITs and IISC is based on the GATE

scores.
The GATE 2016 Application Form will be completely
online. Candidates will have to upload the supporting
documents as specified along with their photograph and
signature.
The Application Process will be through GOAPS (GATE
Online Application Processing System )
GATE 2016 will also be completely online and held
in multiple sessions for those papers that have a large
number of applicants.
GATE 2016 Admit Card will have to be downloaded
by candidates and will not be available to candidates
through any other means.
Biometric information (Photograph and Fingerprints)
for randomly selected candidates may be captured before
the start of the examination
The Result will be available to candidates after logging
while the GATE 2016 Score Card will also need to be
downloaded within the given time frame by students.
GATE 2016 Scores are valid for a period of three years
An increasing number of PSUs are recruiting candidates
on the basis of their GATE scores.

GATE 2016
Correspondence
Program Premium

GATE 2016 How to Prepare for Electronics & Communication Engineering

GATE 2016 New Changes

ome new changes have been introduced in GATE 2016. Candidates must be aware of
them before applying. They are listed as below

New Paper: GATE 2016 will see the introduction of a new paper- Petroleum Engineering raising the number of papers to 23.
Use of Online Calculator: Candidates will no longer be permitted to carry their own
calculators to the exam hall. Instead Online Calculators will be provided within the exam
in the system. To allow candidates to familiarize themselves with the Online Calculator, it
will be made available shortly before the exam along with the mock test.
Syllabus Revision: The Syllabi of some papers has been revised. Candidates must check
the GATE 2016 Syllabus for the respective paper before starting their preparation.
Provision of the Answer Key: The Answer Keys of the various GATE 2016 Question
Papers will be made available to the candidates after the exam is completed. Candidates
will also be given a chance to raise objections if any within a given period for a requisite
amount of fee. The Final Answer Key will be published after the considerations of any such
objections that are raised by students.

GATE 2016
Correspondence
Program Premium

GATE 2016 How to Prepare for Electronics & Communication Engineering

GATE 2016 Exam Pattern:

General Aptitude (GA) Questions: This is a compulsory section carrying 15 marks and
will have 5 questions carrying 1 mark each (sub-total 5 marks) and 5 questions carrying 2
marks each (sub-total 10 marks). A total of 10 questions will be asked in this section
Rest of the Paper: will have 25 questions carrying 1 Mark each and 30 questions carrying
2 Marks questions each making the Total Questions asked to be 55 and Total Marks 85
Engineering Mathematics: This section will carry around 15% of the total marks
Electronics & Communication Engineering: The rest of the 70% of the questions will be
from Electronics & Communication Engineering

GATE 2016
Correspondence
Program Premium

GATE 2016 How to Prepare for Electronics & Communication Engineering

Types of Questions asked:

Multiple Choice Questions
l

Numerical Questions

These questions carry 1 or 2 marks

each in all papers and sections.

l They

are objective in nature with a

choice of four answers, out of which
the candidate has to mark the correct
answer(s).

These questions carry 1 or 2 marks each in all

papers and sections.

l The

answer for these questions is a real number

l There
l

will be no choices given for these questions

Candidates must key in the answer using the

virtual keypad (The keyboard of the computer will
be disabled).

Marking Scheme
l There

will be negative marking.

For 1-mark questions, 1/3 mark will be

deducted for a wrong answer.

For 2-mark questions, 2/3 mark will be

deducted for a wrong answer

l There

is no negative marking for Numerical

questions

Design of Questions in the GATE 2016 Paper:

(i) Recall: These are based on facts, principles, formulae or laws of the discipline of the
paper..
(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.
(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.

GATE 2016
Correspondence
Program Premium

GATE 2016 How to Prepare for Electronics & Communication Engineering

Changes in GATE 2016 Electronic & Communication

Engineering Syllabus:
Topics Added

Topics Removed
Engineering Mathematics

Linear Algebra:

Complex Analysis:

Vector space, basis, linear dependence and Independence

Solution integrals

Calculus:
Taylor series
Vector Analysis:
Vectors in plane and space, vector operations, gradient, divergence
Numerical Methods:
Convergence criteria
Probability and Statistics:
Exponential function, Joint and conditional Probability
Signals and Systems:

Networks

Sampling theorem and applications, interpolation of

discrete-time signals, digital filter design techniques.

Network graphs
Signals and Systems:
Definitions and properties of Laplace transform Definitions
and properties of Laplace transform

Electronic Devices:

Electronic Devices:

Poisson and continuity equations, solar cell

n-tub, p-tub

Analog Circuits:

Analog Circuits:

Voltage reference circuits ripple removal and regulation.

Analog CMOS amplifier

Digital Circuits:

Digital Circuits:

Number systems, static CMOS implementations, finite state machines

PROMs and digital IC families (DTL, TTL, ECL, MOS,CMOS)

Control Systems:
Elements of Proportional-Integral Derivative (PID)

Communication:

Communication:

Mutual information, QAM, MAP and ML decoding,

Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) calculations for AM,FM PM

Fundamentals of error correction, Hamming codes;

Timing and frequency synchronization, inter-symbol
interference and its mitigation;
Electromagnetic:

Electromagnetic:

Directivity, return loss, Basics of radar

Pulse excitation

GATE 2016
Correspondence
Program Premium

GATE 2016 How to Prepare for Electronics & Communication Engineering

Important Topics & Books for GATE 2016 Electronics

and Communication Engineering:
Topics

Books and Authors

Maths

Advanced Engineering Mathematics by R. K. Jain, S. R. K. Iyengar Narosa Publications

Higher Engineering mathematics by Dr. B.S Grewal

General Aptitude

Quantitative Aptitude by R.S Agarwal

Quantitative Aptitude by CAT by Arun Sharma

MCQ book

Gate ECE by R.K Kanodia

Electronic Devices

Semiconductor Physics And Devices by Donald A. Neamen

Solid state electronic devices by Ben G. Streetman and Sanjay Banerjee
Electronic Devices and Circuits by Millman&Halkias

Analog Circuits

Analog Electronics, Electronics devices and circuits Donald A Neaman

Microelectronics Circuits by Sedra & Smith
Electronic Devices and Circuit Theory by Robert L Boylestad & Nashelsky
Pulse and Digital Electronics by Millman and Taub

Control System

Control Systems Engineering by Norma Nise

Control Systems by Nagarath and Gopal
NPTEL Video lectures by M. Gopal

Digital System

Digital Electronic Principles and applications by Ronald J. Toccii, Pearson Publications

Digital circuits and design by Salivahanan or Fundamentals of digital systems by Anandkumar
Digital Logic and Computer Design by M.Morris Mano

Communication System

Analog and Digital Communication System by Simon Haykin

Principle of Communication System by Taub& Schillings
Modern digital and analog Communications system by BP Lathi
Electronic Communication Systems by Kennedy and Davis (just the Noise chapter)

Electromagnetics

Elements of Electromagnetics by Matthew N.O. Sadiku

Network lines and fields by J.D ryder (Transmission lines part)
Electromagnetic waves and Radiating Systems by Jordon and ballmain
Antenna Theory by Balanis
NPTEL Lectures by Prof. R. Shevgaonkar

Network

Network Theory by Alexander Sadiku

Circuit Theory by A.Chakraborty
Network Analysis by Van Valkenburg

Signal Systems

Signals & Systems By Alan V. Oppenheim

Modern digital and analog Communications system by BP Lathi Digital Signal Processing by S.K Mitra

GATE 2016
Correspondence
Program Premium

GATE 2016 How to Prepare for Electronics & Communication Engineering

Some Tips and Tricks:

10

Prepare a Handbook containing the Formulae and their gist during your preparation.
These will come handy during the last days before the exam as well as a quick reckoner
for answering the numerical questions.
Make handy notes or short notes on all topics that you have covered. These will be useful
for the last minute preparations or for a quick refresh session before the exam.
Make your time table. If you are one of those people who cant live by a schedule, do it
in your own pace but keep tab of the syllabus and try to cover all of it.
Do not neglect Mathematics and General Aptitude. They constitute a good amount of
marks in the question paper. Contrary to popular perceptions, both these sections are
relatively easy to prepare for.

GATE 2016
Correspondence
Program Premium

GATE 2016 How to Prepare for Electronics & Communication Engineering

Useful Links for GATE 2016

GATE 2016

GATE 2016
Exam Pattern

11

Whats New in GATE

GATE 2016 Changes in

Electronic & Communication Engineering (ECE)
Syllabus

GATE 2016 Syllabus

GATE 2015 ECE Analysis

GATE 2016
Correspondence
Program Premium

GATE 2016 How to Prepare for Electronics & Communication Engineering

GATE 2016 Sample Papers

GATE 2016
Official Website

12

GATE 2016 Mock Test

PSU Recruitment
Through GATE 2016

Follow us on Facebook for

all the latest updates

GATE 2016
Correspondence
Program Premium

GATE 2016 How to Prepare for Electronics & Communication Engineering

GATE 2016 Correspondence Program Premium

A Complete GATE Preparation Package for your success in GATE
Highlights of the Package:
Study Material Package:
Quick Refresher Guide
E-Lectures
All India Mock Tests
Full Length Test
Sectional Tests
Subject Wise Tests
Post GATE Guidance information

13

GATE 2016
Correspondence
Program Premium

GATE 2016 How to Prepare for Electronics & Communication Engineering

Complete GATE Online Test Series

Highlights of the Package
50+ Test papers.
Previous 4 years' papers.
40+ Engg Mathematics Tests.
08 Mock Tests.

14

GATE 2016
Correspondence
Program Premium