Overview of GATE 2020 for EE and ECE Students

In the context of the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) conducted in 2020, the difficulty levels of the papers for Electrical and Electronics Engineering (EE) and Electronics and Communications Engineering (ECE) students saw notable variations compared to previous years. This article aims to provide an in-depth analysis of these variations and the factors that influenced them.

Comparative Analysis of Previous Years

Let's start by contextualizing the difficulty levels of GATE:

2018 GATE: Considered a challenging year, 41 marks generally resulted in an approximate rank of 1500. 2019 GATE: Resolved to be marginally easier than 2018, with 41 marks translating to around 4500 rank. 2020 GATE: Slightly easier than 2019, where 51 marks corresponded to a rank between 1400 and 1600.

Interpreting these results, it is evident that the trend has been partially in the favor of ease over the past couple of years, but the 2020 paper was notably less challenging than the 2018 paper.

EE Paper Analysis

The Electrical and Electronics (EE) paper of GATE 2020 was significantly more challenging compared to the previous year’s papers. Several factors contributed to this:

Unexpected Structure: The paper was unexpectedly lengthy and included multiple errors, making it difficult for candidates to predict the flow and time management. Complexity of Questions: While there were a substantial number of basic questions, these were mixed with complex calculations, increasing the likelihood of errors and the overall time consumption. Subjective and Unorthodox: The paper's structure was unusual, requiring candidates to think critically and adapt to non-standard presentation of problems.

Despite the challenging nature of the paper, certain sections, such as General Aptitude, Engineering Mathematics, Electromagnetic Theory, Control Systems, and Networks, presented questions suitable for candidates with a solid preparation base. Successfully answering these sections with high accuracy could significantly contribute to better ranks.

ECE Paper Analysis

The Electronics and Communications (ECE) paper, on the other hand, was relatively similar to the 2019 paper, as reported by my peers:

Consistent with Previous Years: The ECE paper adhered to a format familiar to many candidates, making it more predictable and manageable. Rationale Behind the Moderation: The ease of the 2020 ECE paper can be attributed to the moderate difficulty level, which allowed candidates to rely on their existing preparation and knowledge.

However, it's important to note that the perceived ease of both papers was relative. The difficulty of the GATE exam is inherently competitive, and regardless of the year, all students face challenging conditions. Staying calm and maintaining accuracy over the three-hour duration of the exam is key to securing good ranks.

In conclusion, while GATE 2020 was notably more difficult for EE students due to unexpected errors and complexity, the ECE paper was slightly easier but still required a prudent approach to handle the longer and more intricate questions.