Shortlisted for further process in aforementioned.
Gate Score 715 UR CS
Qualification:
Cutoff was GS 600 for getting invited, also an advice for MTech, there is only one option as MTech, it is for both TA and RA, don't leave filling it (as TA cutoff is 750). Apply even if you have lower than that, as the site doesn't specifically mention eligibility cutoff for RA.
EXPERIENCE:
Process was offline.
Had to report to KReSIT building for the coding test at around 2PM.
For the people who filled MS-TA, they had a written test before that at 9 AM. (Theoretical System, Intelligent System and Computing Systems) A form is circulated well before the test in which candidates need to fill their preference of the pool from the three given, and assign priorities to the given projects in which they wanted to to enroll. This part is common for MS and PhD candidates
The coding test was common for MS TA/TAP/RA/RAP and MTech RA/RAP. It was conducted on their Bodhitree platform.
5 questions were given, each of 5 marks. For institute RA positions the cutoff was 10/25 (2 codes perfectly on all test cases).
For other projects cutoffs varied (depends on the project incharge) and wasn't disclosed.
Questions included printing an n*n 2D array in spiral order, printing all unique prime factors of given number and other questions that I cannot remeber as of now. If you have done coding on competitive platforms, or are good with DSA then you have a fair shot at this test.
Also, be prepared to code in Linux style, i.e. they ask you not to use the IDE in the platform, but make a notepad file, save your code there, run it through terminal. If you are handy with this method, then again your time will be saved, but if not, the TAs there would help you and tell you how to do it (may even tell you approach to the question, but don't try your luck!).
For those questions, earlier it was said we'd get 3 hours, but later it was turned to 2 due to delays and stuff. On a side note, there will be constant interruptions as invigilators will keep on telling instructions to candidates, invigilators and other TAs.
Each candidate was selected for interview in a maximum of 2 positions (did not see anyone with 3 projects, but could not tell for sure) in one test.
By evening 7 everyone was to get their results, this started coming from 7 but by the time everyone got it it was 3 AM (I got mine for MS RAP in project 10 at 1:30 AM).
Following day was for interview. MTech,MS,PhD shortlists were seated in FC auditorium, and as and when their panel got free they were being called for their interview. Day 1 was mostly for PhDs, then MS candidates. What remained here was taken on the next day with MTech RA/RAPs.
INTERVIEW:
After reaching the venue I got to know allottments were changed for some people, I got moved from Project 10 to Project 7 (Filled both in my choices)
Interview in my panel was relatively short, ~10 mins for each candidate.Only the professor was taking the interview.
Professor : Introduce yourself
Me: Did
P: So you have work experience, what did you do
M: Told
P: Okay, tell me what is Rank of matrix
M: Its the number of Linearly independent rows in a matrix
P: So you said rows, what if I interchange rows with the columns of the same matrix.
M: It will still be same
P:Why, would it not change?
M: Asked to confirm if he is talking about taking transpose, he said yes.
M: No sir, it wont change, the vectors are Linearly independent still.
P: No but now the rows are not the same na, you said it's linearly independent rows.
M: (Took a pause, stuttered a bit), No sir, Im correcting my statement, Its the number of linearly independent vectors, it can be rows or columns, by convention we take rows. Matrix that has n LI vectors and there has been no operation on it to change it's properties, it will still have that many LI vectors.
P:(Took a couple of moments, attended a person and a call, then looking at his laptop asked): At this score you can get xyz in top 7 or 8, so why do this
M: Practical work interests me, this is something I did not get to do much at college or company.
P: You have NLP in your interested projects, you are primarily interested in that? ( 3 projects had to be filled, first two were NLP based and this was the last preference, did not have NLP mentioned)
M: Primarily, but not entirely, Im interested in ML as a whole.(Could have thought of a better response)
P: Is there anything else you may prefer above this, since you have a decent score?
M: (This is the part where I think I messed it up, I was shortlisted for this project but didn't know if it was MS or MTech since it was not mentioned anywhere , assuming that I was interviewing for MS RAP I said): In the same project if there is MTech RA/RAP, then I can consider it, but it is on the timing, whichever offer I get first I will be accepting that.
P: Okay your interview is over.
Verdict: Not selected.
A tip for all the future interviewees, don't show the panels that you are confused or this is a backup option, they want candidates who will not abandon the course midway. (some) peope with ranks <600 were not selected for MS courses, but guys with (UR) 1500+ ranks did get into these.
Show sincerity and committment apart from your knowledge, and prepare some level of coding as well.
