GATE 2013 ECE Question Paper Analysis - SET A,SET B,SET C,SET D

GATE 2013 paper is easier when compared to the difficulty level of questions of last year gate (2012) paper. There are some common questions for ECE and EEE for the common areas like Networks, Control Systems, Signals and Systems, Analog and Digital Circuits (a total of 40 marks), but Engineering Mathematics is different for the two branches. For a common student, the main difference between the last year's paper and this year’s paper is that, there were a lot of new variety questions asked last year which made it difficult to even attempt. But this year, problems are easier to comprehend and students will find many ways to solve the problem, i.e by looking at the problem student is reminded of different approaches and choosing right approach lands on correct answer. Interesting thing in this paper is that, critical care has been taken in developing the 4 options (A, B, C, D) by considering all the possible common mistakes committed by the students. All the questions are tricky and student should be extra careful while choosing the answer. The maximum mark can be above 85 Marks, and qualifying mark may be around 25-28Marks. Decent score of 60-65 Marks can get rank below 1000.

The weightage given to Engineering mathematics (13 Marks) plays a crucial part in maximizing the score. General Aptitude includes 6 marks for Verbal Ability and 9 marks of Numerical Ability (same as last year) and the questions are easy for a common engineering student, who can apply simple algebra, probability. One can score easily 10-12 marks with proper guidance and practice.

Electrical Networks is having the highest weightage when compared to all other subjects. Last year also, Networks had the highest weightage, as this subject is significant to understand the advanced subjects like EDC, Analog, Circuit analysis. The examiners have set the paper to test the students more on the basic concepts. For example, students will study about the equivalent capacitance and connections, but the question asked is based on break down voltage and charge associated in the resultant capacitance of the connection. To answer this questions student should be aware of capacitance, charge and voltage relations when connected in series and parallel, similarly simple concepts like impedance for maximum power transfer theorem based problem, conversion of star to delta, are given for 1 Mark, but for 2 mark magnetically coupled coil connections and transformer with attenuator tests the basic understanding of the concepts, and AC thevenins model, common data questions test the student how far he is applying the basic theorems KVL and KCL for simpler solution.

For Electronic Devices, there are no numerical problems for 1 Mark questions, but the 3 theoretical questions are relatively difficult to answer. Student should be aware of the working of diode, FET in different modes, along with the fabrication steps and the advantages and disadvantages of each step involved in fabrication process of ICs. In 2mark questions the numerical problems clearly tests the understanding the definitions, formulae and deriving further required results. To calculate the power rating of zener diode one should know at which condition maximum power occurs to zener diode, deriving small signal resistance from current equation by differentiating gives the solution for other.

Normally in GATE exam, all the 4 options look alike and sometimes, it will be difficult to judge the answer by looking at the circuit without the basic concepts. The questions from EDC, and Analog circuits in this paper belong to the same category. In Analog Circuits one can answer confidently if he/she is aware of the facts, like how circuit Rin and Rout changes with feedback, deciding the region of operation for a transistor in op amp circuit, and frequency analysis of MOSFETs etc. Trial and error methods are not suitable for electronic circuit problems in this paper. Students normally study the circuits of bridge rectifier, and formulae related to voltages, and currents, but by changing the diode positions a new circuit has been formed and asked for the output of the bridge. One should be careful in analyzing the circuit for each sinusoidal swing. Other circuits include op-amp analysis for inverting and non-inverting modes.

As of last year 2012, this time also Digital circuits is having less weightage of 6 marks, with no question on combinational or sequential circuits, out of 6 marks - 3 marks are from microprocessor and interfacing, 2 marks from logic families and remaining 1 mark from basic gates. The circuit diagram of RAM interfacing occupied one page in question paper, but the solution takes only few minutes if student is comfortable with address mapping of microprocessor. One should aware of the fact that decoder and demultiplexer do the same operation to answer this question.

Signals and Systems had a weightage of 11 marks, out of which 7 marks were from very basic concepts of type of signals and systems, sampling, Laplace transforms. The student who understands the concept of impulse response and step response clearly can answer 5 marks easily, the other question is on DFT which needs some application of formulae.

Communications is having a weightage of 8 marks which also includes a Common Data question on bit error rate when pdfs are given, 2 mark questions are from random process and information theory, and it is surprising to see no questions from Analog modulation at all.

Least weightage is given to Electromagnetics (5 Marks) with just 1 mark on VSWR and a linked answer question on plane wave transmission. It will be a big relief for the majority of the students and it made the paper easier. Last year, 12 Marks were given from Electromagnetics.

The preparation for a subject should not be based on few concepts, sometimes there may not be any question from the topics considered as important, for example this year there is no question on transient analysis, or 2 port circuits in Networks which has highest weightage of 15marks. The preparation should be cover every corner of the subject, but should not be limited to few concepts. Practice of more problems may fetch students in choosing error free solutions.

In the General Aptitude section of GATE 2013, the weightage given to verbal ability and numerical ability were 6 Marks and 9 marks respectively. The level of difficulty of questions varied from easy to moderate with no difficult questions. A student can score 12 marks out of 15 Marks in this section without facing great challenge. The section thus provided much needed avenues to score as the students were choked for marks in their branch of engineering. The questions on verbal ability were on sentence completion, grammar, Antonyms/synonyms and Critical reasoning. The questions on numerical ability involved questions on basic Arithmetic like Time and Distance, Time and work, Progressions and Probability.