Overall Paper Snapshot:
The candidates who appeared for GATE 2012 EE branch were in for a surprise, an unpleasant one though. There were no 'expected' questions which happen in an exam and the questions were designed to test not just the conceptual Knowledge of the candidates, but indepth understanding of the subject - coupled with extensive practice. The students who came out of the exam hall felt that paper was difficult than usual. An unusual thing about the EE GATE Paper this time, was in topics - Networks, Signals & Systems, Control Systems, Analog and Digital Electronics and Engineering Mathematics, ECE & EEE got the same questions. Thus in topics like Signals & Systems and Analog & Digital Electronics which are traditionally ECE subjects the questions, were unusually difficult from the perspective of EE student.
The General Aptitude section of GATE 2012 provided much need avenues to increase overall GATE Score of the candidate. Most of the questions were easy or of Moderate Level of difficulty – A candidate who has put in the required effort in practicing General Aptitude can score upto (10-12) marks in this section and this can go a long way in helping him meet the basic qualifying criteria. The candidates who found the level of difficulty of Engineering stream and Engineering Maths questions high would have got the much needed relief they were looking for in their quest to increase the GATE Score.
A candidate who can score (42-45) above can easily get a rank 1000’s below.
| Core Subjects | 1 Mark Qtns | 2 Mark Qtns |
| Electric Circuits and Fields | 5 | 6 |
| Signals and Systems | 1 | 1 |
| Electrical Machines | 1 | 3 |
| Power Systems | 3 | 2 |
| Control Systems | 1 | 5 |
| Electrical and Electronic Measurements | 3 | 1 |
| Analog and Digital Electronics | 4 | 4 |
| Power Electronics and Drives | 2 | 3 |
| Total Marks | 20 | 50 |
| Engineering Maths | 1 Mark Qtns | 2 Mark Qtns |
| Linear Algebra | 0 | 1 |
| Calculus | 0 | 2 |
| Differential equations | 1 | 0 |
| Complex variables | 2 | 0 |
| Probability and Statistics | 1 | 1 |
| Numerical Methods | 0 | 1 |
| Transform Theory | 1 | 0 |
| Total Marks | 5 | 10 |
| General Aptitude | 1 Mark Qtns | 2 Mark Qtns |
| Verbal Ability | 4 | 1 |
| Numerical Ability | 1 | 4 |
| Total Marks | 5 | 10 |
Core Subjects
Electric Circuits and Fields: (Networks for other branches) had highest weightage 17 Marks when compared with last year’s 11 marks. The questions were from fundamental topics; they will be easy for students who know the very basic concepts.
- The 1M question on average power, students usually study about the power dissipated in a resistor for DC current and to calculate the average value of current, for a given time dependent sinusoidal expression of current as two separate problems, but this time it was a combination of two such questions; hence moderately tough.
- There were 1 mark questions from Thevinin’s theorem and polyphase circuits which were asked directly from very basic concepts and were easy questions.
- Similarly capacitor and switch problem, one should know how ideal capacitor works with Resistor and with other ideal capacitor when connected through switch to answer this question, as both capacitors doesn’t respond for sudden changes in voltage.
- Other network problems like KVL and KCL analysis need some lengthy solutions, but by using simple short cuts one can solve them in lesser time.
- Difficult questions were seen from areas like maximum power transfer theorem and 2 port networks (Common data) for which no direct values were mentioned. To understand the question, a lot of thought process was required.
Signals and systems: Had same weightage 6 Marks when compared with last year. Questions were of analysis and application type. Usually this subject questions had a trend of framing question patterns as of previous question papers, but this time all questions were fresh, unique and analytical ones.
- Questions on Fourier transform, discrete convolution, system properties were difficult to answer.
- Question on ROC of z transform question is moderately difficult.
Electrical Machines: had very less weightage of 7 Marks when compared with last year’s 9 marks.
Electrical students always usually have high hopes on this subject, but this time it has gone down
- There was one memory recall type question which was very easy.
- Problems on DC motor and Induction motor were not much analytical; also similar questions have appeared in previous years. But would require few steps to get an answer.
- The question on transformer was lengthy and a lot of thought process would be required to understand the question.
Power systems: had less weightage of 7 Marks when compared with last year’s 11 marks.
Most of the questions were from familiar topics but either the questions were new or the solutions were a little bit complicated.
- The questions on economic power generation concepts (a previous year gate question pattern) and question on faults were moderate.
- The problems on bus admittance matrix, complex power demand and fault analysis were a bit difficult ones.
Control system: (common subject for all branches, EEE, EC, IN) was given more than expected weightage of 11 Marks when compared with last year’s 9 marks. But the level of difficulty is moderate for this subject.
- Linked answer question on compensator was a direct question to solve; one should have the knowledge of lead, lag compensator.
- Similarly a 2mark question from state variable analysis is a question pattern which was seen in past few year as well.
- Other questions in the area of steady state analysis are moderately difficult.
Electrical and Electronic Measurements: Had same weightage 5 Marks when compared with last year.
- There was one memory recall type question from AC bridges which was easy
- Other questions were from familiar and easier portion like PMMC, Measurement of power, Analog voltmeter; but were of moderate difficulty.
Analog and Digital Electronics: was given less weightage of 9 Marks when compared with last year’s 11 marks
- Questions can be also answered with simple basic concepts, V–I characteristics of diode question, one can get the answer simply by applying KVL (assume diode as dependent current source).
- Gain of BJT amplifier was difficult to answer; questions on flip-flops and Opamp Differentiator were moderately difficult.
- Question on state diagram was difficult to answer and question on number of input combinations was easy with application of little logic.
Power Electronics and Drives: Had same weightage 8 Marks when compared with last year.
- All the questions were from familiar topics and were of moderate difficulty.
- The common data question on 3 phase inverters but to understand the question and to think of a solution would be a little brainstorming.
| Mark Distribution based on Difficulty Level | ||||
| Subject | Easy | Moderate | Difficult | Total Marks |
| Electric Circuits and Fields | 7 | 10 | 17 | |
| Signals and Systems | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
| Electrical Machines | 1 | 6 | 7 | |
| Power Systems | 2 | 5 | 7 | |
| Control Systems | 8 | 3 | 11 | |
| Electrical and Electronic Measurements | 1 | 4 | 5 | |
| Analog and Digital Electronics | 10 | 2 | 12 | |
| Power Electronics and Drives | 8 | 8 | ||
| Total Marks | 1 | 42 | 27 | 70 |
Engineering Maths
- Engineering mathematics would be a key for good score; there were direct questions from Laplace transforms, linear algebra, but difficult questions from calculus, complex variables, probability & statistics. Comparatively, this year, Engineering mathematics was tougher than last few years.
| Mark Distribution based on Difficulty Level | ||||
| Topic | Easy | Moderate | Difficult | Total Marks |
| Linear Algebra | 2 | 2 | ||
| Calculus | 2 | 2 | 4 | |
| Differential equations | 1 | 1 | ||
| Complex variables | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Probability and Statistics | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
| Numerical Methods | 2 | 2 | ||
| Transform Theory | 1 | 1 | ||
| Total Marks | 5 | 5 | 5 | 15 |
General Aptitude
Questions from verbal ability were moderately difficult and questions from numerical ability were easy, except a different question from geometric probability which was difficult to answer. Data interpretation question were easy too.
| General Aptitude | Easy | Moderate | Difficult | Total Marks |
| Verbal Ability | 1 | 4 | 1 | 6 |
| Numerical Ability | 4 | 3 | 2 | 9 |
| Total Marks | 5 | 7 | 3 | 15 |
Though GATE 2012 paper included questions from easier topics hence the questions turned out to be complex and tougher. For solving them which requires thorough knowledge of basics and about how to use them in many different ways.
The Students, who have invested time and effort on Mathematics and G.A, have brighter chances of scoring well.
Overall GATE 2012 would have been easier for students who had a planned portion coverage focusing on basic fundamentals and who have the habit of reading standard author text books. For good score, it is not important to remember the lengthy formulae but need to know the basic concepts and techniques and methods to solve problems.
BY
ADMIN
Moki.
Great Article
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