GATE CSE AIR 215 (2025) | My Strategy, Mistakes & Free Resources for a Top Rank!

Question

Hi everyone, My Name is Chirag Kathpalia... I have secured AIR 215 in GATE(cse) 2025 and unlike most talented who claim to have cracked the exam in just 4-6 month, it actually took me nearly 2 years of dedicated prepration. So I Will share a little bit of my prepration story in short. So, I'm 2023 college passout, I also wrote gate in 2024 and secured AIR 1150 with 57.79 marks, that Time I studied at UA and major way for me to improve my marks was mock tests and alot of practice.... This year I studied whole syllabus again from GO classes and wrote about 45+ Full length Mock tests from various institutes, I started my revision back in September itself for both 2024 as well as 2025 so I was able to revise all subjects 2-3 times ... The crux is that you need to solve a lot of questions to improve mistakes, I also solved doubts of a great peer group which helped me improve alot but I could do all this because I haven't been doing any job since 2023 so what worked for me might be hard for you if you are in college or doing job.


So First I will share some free and paid resources that are helpful for Gate prep for cse and then will answer some common Questions.

Books I used to refer during my prepration (I still refer them now when someone asks some interesting doubts) :

1. Algorithm and DS : Introduction to Algorithms, by CLRS  

2. Discrete Mathematics : Discrete mathematics and its applications by Kenneth H. Rosen

3. Computer Networks : Data Communications and Networking by Behrouz A. Forouzan

4.Theory of Computation

: An Introduction to Formal Languages and Automata by Peter Linz

5. Digital Logic : Digital Logic and Computer Design by M. Morris Mano

6. Computer Organization : A. Computer Organisation by Carl Hamacher   B. Computer Organization and Design: the Hardware/Software Interface by David A Patterson and John L. Hennessy 

7. C programming : The C Programming Language by Brian Kernighan and Dennis Ritchie 

8. Operating System : Operating Systems by Avi Silberschatz, Greg Gagne, and Peter Baer Galvin

9. Databases :  Fundamentals of Database Systems by Ramez Elmasri and Shamkant B. Navathe

10. EM :  A. First Course in Probability, by Sheldon Ross | B. Linear Algebra for Everyone (The Gilbert Strang Series)


Now I will mention some Video Lectures (Freely Available) :

1. Algorithm and DS : Amit Khurana DSA lecture, 

2. Discrete Mathematics : DP sir Lecture  (Approx you need 400 hours for DM alone from here) | If you have less time Seach DM summary lecture Go classes on Youtube (Still 100 hours required) 

3. Computer Networks : Amit Khurana Lecture

4.Theory of Computation : Amit Khurana TOC

5. Digital Logic : Amit Khurana DLD lecture 

6. Computer Organization : VD Sir Lecture 

7. C programming : Amit Khurana C programming 

8. Operating System : VD sir OS Lecture

9. Databases :  VD sir lecture

10. EM : Sachin Sir EM Lecture

11. Aptitude : Saurabh sir Apti Lecture

I studied from Multiple educators all the subjects, According to be the best ones are mentioned here :
Em : Sachin sir Best, Dm I liked Sanchit sir followed by DP sir summary lectures, OS khaleel sir and VD sir both are best, CN Reddy Sir followed by Sachin Mittal sir for best explanation,  Toc DP Sir or Deva Sir Both are best but if you have to pick one go with DP sir,  DBMS  DP sir is Best, Algo-Ds  Reddy sir is best but sachin sir ka better h (Mtech level stuff),  For C Prog, VD or Reddy sir both are equally Good, you can also study from Sachin mittal sir(if you have alot of patience) and Dld finally DP is best.

Some Commonly asked Questions :
Q1. Can I get Top rank in just 1 year?
Ans. See its possible but not as easy as it looks like, If you can put in 10-12 hours dedicatedly per day for this exam and you have a good memory to retain what you studied/Do proper revisions on time then your chances of top rank are slightly higher (Again I consider any rank less than 1000 as top rank here)
 

Q2. Can I crack exam without Coaching and still get into top IITs?
Ans. yes definately but you will still need to Solve 2-3 test series ( I suggest Gateoverflow+GO classes TS along with MadeEasy, if you are a dropper with under 2500 rank replace Madeeasy with zeal testseries). Also when you prepare from free resources you may find few things here and there mixed up, to save time we usually Buy a course, know that it doesnt guarentee a good rank ultimately its in your hands. Also join a small TG group that will help you compare where you stand among upcoming rankers like you. 

Q3. What is Right Time to Start prepration ?

Ans. Start as early as possible, It may take 2-3 years sometimes and for some people even more (P.S. 6 Month rankers are mostly fake they prepare for years then claim it was overnight success here by rankers I mean under 500)

Q4. What should be right time to finish syllabus ? When to start test series, when to start revision?
Ans. See I always suggest to complete syllabus by Sept. Mid but thats only possible if you are watching 6-8 hours lectures per day (I highly suggest to watch at 1x or at max sometimes at 1.25/1.5 but never go more that that otherwise concepts will fly over your head). So after september mid start Revision(Give one week per subject for 1st rev) and from Oct 1st week Start Full length Tests (give one test per week). If you do that properly by dec Mid your 1st revision will complete with 10+ Full length mocks, from here on start 2nd revision and give 2-4 days for each subject also write atleast 2 mocks per week now.

Q5. Should I leave my job and prepare/ should I sit for placements?

Ans. That depends on a lot of factors like ctc, family condition, your grasp on concepts and most importantly family support. If your ctc >12lpa trust me you do not need to jump in gate competetion for better package, if you want to go to IITs (dream) or PSUs then thats a different story.

Q6. Do I have to study 12-16 hours per day to get top rank?

Ans. Initially its not must, if you are a dropper I suggest put atleast 8 hours or else you are wasting your year...if you are in a job I suggest take your time even if you get a good rank in 2/3 years you are still earning give as much time to gate as possible, if you are still in college (specially tier 3) bunk classes and prepare for gate dont waste time in college.

Q7. If I have less than 4-6 months to prepare how should I make best use of it Or My syllabus is pending at november end?

Ans. Go with crash courses, on youtube you can find Goclasses or gatewallah or Geekforgeek crash courses and simply focus on PYQs (Or you can also watch complete courses of some educators like Rbr, Sanchit jain nearly 400-500 hours full syllabus) Or another way out could be look for most repeated topic from each subject GoClasses Important topics Video

Q8 Any tips/tricks that you followed/suggest?

Ans. There is no hack to good rank some must do things are : 

1. Solve Pyqs atleast 2-3 times

2. Write atleast 10+ Mocks before gate
3. Make your own clean notes, dont be lazy and write in copy "baad mai pdf se dekh lunga". 

4. Try to help others doubts it makes your concepts better
5. Lastly dont take Marks to heart (I got 17 Marks out of 100 in first full length test) we all go through that phase. 

Q9. Should I do Coding/projects along with Gate Prepration?

Ans. Big NO specially if you are a dropper with rank is > 500 OR preparing first time, dont take exam lightly... in 2024 80 marks was Top 25 rank in 2025 80 marks is 215 rank competition is growing at high speed. After gate you will get 4-6 months to master coding.

Q10. Should I prepare for CSE and DA Both?

Ans. Big No again, Master one first otherwise you may not get rank sufficient to get into college in either of exams.

Lastly If you are planning to purchase a course, Go with GO classes its Best Around in the market but still you may need few more teachers to study some topics that you can do from youtube. Also if you feel you can not purchase the course try for scolarship/ buying in sharing and if nothing works out many rankers get top rank with self study (Telegram/Mega if you know you know XD)

If anyone still needs any help from me feel free to ask your questions in comments or you can join this discord server and ask on Voice chat when I am free.

Thankyou for reading.

Comments

Congratulations bro for securing AIR 215 in GATE 2025.

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Congratulations Brother, and thank you for sharing such great insights.

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Nice Post and even Nicer Rank, Congratulations CK Bhaiya 😎

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It's a fake post you dumb arses. Ask for his scorecard.

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Hey @Quixote, If u have any doubt, u can always check his linked in profile right. U can also notice he was at top in some tests of test series too.

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THANKYOU

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@Quixote here is my linked in profile, the score card is posted there jake udhr dekh le https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathpaliachirag/ and Here is link to that post https://www.linkedin.com/posts/kathpaliachirag_gate2025-air215-goclasses-activity-7308159166693445634-uzY6?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAD6MtEsBA_esLyT_2Ht5o75mJsgQvTvRHG8

I am the real deal XD

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These days, many top achievers insist that they use multiple platforms for their preparation, often claiming to follow ten different YouTube channels and actively engage with each one. They assert that they complete 3-4 test series, which is simply unrealistic for third-year or final-year students. These students have the daunting task of covering lectures from various platforms, taking numerous tests, and revising all the necessary topics while striving for high ranks. While there may be a rare exception, it’s hard to believe that every topper today genuinely follows so many resources. It's time to question these claims.

we have to stop such kinds of things over here.

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@I_M_CK , you are not completly correct . 80 marks in 2022 fetched AIR 1 because in 2022 , the question paper was moderate to difficult . Even in this year if you had got 80 marks(without normalization) in set 2 then you would have been in top 10 . Marks vs Rank discussion is completly irrelevant because it varies year to year depending on difficulty of paper . 

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"most talented who claim to have cracked the exam in just 4-6 month"

They are not talented, they are lucky if their claim is true and considering cracking means getting very good rank.

Generally, people who claims that they got good rank in 4-6 months in some exam have a "good background" and "good guidance" and they don't tell these things. Exceptionally good students can get a good rank in 4-6 months without a good background and a good guidance but they are few and in my opinion they don't need GATE.

Most coaching institutes claim that their student got very good rank but what is the backgound of those students. If someone got rank within 500 or 1000 they don't need coachings because they already have a good understanding of the subject.

Some coaching institutes give them 70% or 90%  scholarships and take those students and when they got better ranks next year then they do the marketing to attract more student to get more revenue.

This is the marketing game and people should have to understand it by the posts of coaching institutes.  

I appreciate a teacher when they make someone who is very bad at study to someone who can have a very good understanding of the subject, not who is already good to do marketing. And if someone has a good understanding of the subjects or any other field it would be easy for someone to excel and it is not applicable to gate, it is for some other exams or any other area.

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I am male, 24 , gen. Is it difficult to get something good with gate score - 668, in gate cs  - like ML AI??                                              P.S -I have prepared while having job and 3 years exp.

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a very realistic post and very inspired from you , you have done a great job my friend

i want to ask where we can find great peer group , how did you find , which telegram group to join ,

solving other doubts helps very much

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@Siddharth Bhandari try cminds and minds, also fill MSR in both

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@voyagerdev I created one myself, whenever I saw someone asking a good doubt I offered them to join my Group, Also try to keep it small, less than 15-20 people and only serious people

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@ankitgupta.1729 Very accurate and realistic Verdict you have give, I totally Agree with it... Thankyou for explaining the part I missed

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What a realistic post, this journey feels real where the person has excelled with struggles. Congratulations @I_M_CK