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41
AIR: 72.

I'm originally from ECE branch. Preparing for GATE in a separate branch within 10 months felt like an impossible task at first. Fortunately in the early days itself I somehow got introduced to GO. The real strength of the GO platform lies in the brilliant community and Moderators ( specially Arjun Sir, He's made this site the best resource and discussion forum for everyone who decides to prepare for this exam seriously). I referred ME notes, joined a coaching for some time in Bangalore, joined ACE and ME test series, but nowhere have I found the rigor which you can find in the GO community. Every answer will be debated and discussed pertaining to it's foundational basics. There would be no hand waving, you won't be asked to just remember some random formula. Everything would be formulated from the very basics. I've seen several past GATE questions which seem too complicated. If you check those answers in any of the Coaching Institutes books, you'll see how easily they go around the important details. But if you review the same answers in GO, you'll see how much effort has been put in getting the answers. Thanks a lot Arjun Sir. If it wasn't for this platform I'm reasonably confident the preparation would have been hell for me and I very highly doubt I would have got a decent rank.
Kai posted in 2017 Mar 30, 2017
by Kai
1,204 views
42
Gate Overflow is a site I've come to know and love during my preparation for GATE 2017.

I got AIR 77, with GATE score 865 and 71 marks out of 100.

I'm thankful to GO for their free guidance and providing excellent tests and platform for discussion.

Every year, GO answer keys always turn out to be correct and since 2 consecutive years even IITs changed the official keys after members from GO challenged it, so one can be assured of the credibility of the answers by GO mentors.

GO prediction tool was also very accurate and it predicted my rank to be 64-86, so all in all GO is a great initiative and the best part is that they're here to help students free of cost.
Shiva Kulshreshtha posted in 2017 Mar 30, 2017
1,145 views
43
I have found gateoverflow.com great help. Specially previous year paper that were put by site for practice purpose were great help in last time of preparation and they also boost my confidence. And all of the answers on previous year are well debated and beautifully explained. Thanks to Arjun Suresh Sir who made it possible.

PS i got AIR 174 in 2017
lifeisshubh posted in 2017 Mar 29, 2017
1,428 views
44
Samujjal Das posted in Others Feb 26, 2017 recategorized Mar 6, 2017 by Samujjal Das
4,612 views
45

Mark, Normalized Mark and Rank Pragy's App.

GATE 2017 Set 1 Key

GATE 2017 Set 2 Key

Which college I can get? Only top colleges are listed

Please add your GATECSE 2017 results

ADD MY RESULT

GATE CSE 2017 Result responses

Try/Browse Set 2 Questions: Take Exam

Try/Browse Set 1 Questions: Take Exam

You may browse relevant blogs for you written by previous aspirants which should answer most of your queries: http://gateoverflow.in/blogs

 

Expected college : http://gateoverflow.in/mymarks/ScoreToColleges.php

Last Year Ranks:- See each tab in the sheet http://lr.gatecse.in

Last Year Admissions: http://gatecse.in/gate-cse-2016-admissions-responses/

Last year predictions to show the accuracy of the predictor: http://gateoverflow.in/mm/VisualizeMarks.php

2015 Admissions: http://gatecse.in/gate-cse-2015-admissions-responses/

Arjun posted in Announcements Feb 15, 2017 edited Mar 26, 2017 by Arjun
by Arjun
27,157 views
46

Which spoon am I talking about? I'll come to it.

A baby crow is pushed out by mother as soon as it grows up. But this rarely happens in humans. The current generation especially is taken care of by parents so much that they do not know anything. Not true for everyone but for many. This is not only true of parents but also teachers. Teachers are forced to spoon feed the students due to pressure. So, in the end students know only to read and by heart notes which fails them when it comes to competitive exams like GATE.

Okay, now most of you are not parents or teachers but GATE aspirants. Still, why are you doing the same mistake to your friends/juniors? Do you think sharing your notes is going to give them a top rank? I also did this during my bachelors and later only realized my mistake. One can learn only by doing it himself. If you have learned, tell others how you did it-- but not what you learned. When you share a resource think if it is going to help others. There was a big demand for handwritten notes on gatecse site and only I objected to it. My point was to only give "quality" resources. Many people won't agree to it, but quality is what it takes to reach top 100. There is no short cut to success- you have to make your brain work and study the hardway. So, rather than giving your notes or shortcuts to your friends/juniors tell them to learn the subjects properly from standard resources as per GATE syllabus and to do previous year questions. Otherwise you are just ensuring that they never reach top 100 - I hope no one is doing this intentionally to reduce competition. 

The spoon I told early does not stop here. Let me ask you some questions:

  1. How to apply for MS?
  2. How to make an SOP?
  3. How to make a resume?
  4. How to apply at IIT?
  5. How to even fill an application form?

No one is expected to know answers to these, but at 20+ and especially from CSE you all must be able to find answers to these yourself. There is no excuse in giving a resume in doc format -- even science students know to make them in PDF. Never wait for someone to teach you stuffs. Do it yourself with your own hand and not with someone's spoon. Always make you standout from the rest-- even in a resume. When you thrive for excellence you will get help also. Stop using your senior's resume/projects and giving excuse that everyone does it; unless you want to be useless.

You are all CS graduates. This time last year Pragy - who had once failed in B.Tech. made this app - https://github.com/AgarwalPragy/GATE2016_MarksEvaluator which saved the anxiety for CS GATE takers by telling their results a month early- yes he just mocked the GATE results with his programming/analytical skill. He is now in IITB and without knowing anything I can say that he will be topping there. So, instead of worrying about GATE results- which is anyway not going to help, I recommend you to do something useful for you as well as others- but certainly not sharing your preparation materials - because that just takes away people from reaching a top 100.

Rather than giving a fish, teach a hungry man fishing; that will give him food for lifetime

Arjun posted in Preparation Advice Feb 12, 2017
by Arjun
2,854 views
47
If anything from past triggering into your mind again and again.

<<<<-------------------------Message I wrote to Failure------------------>>>>>>>>

 

Dear Failure,

Why you even exist?, I always tried hard but you were aways there. Why "me" ?

Well If i truely say, then i will say that, That was really an awesome experience to meet you, without you i never know how much strong i am. but now you must have understood that i am not a person that you generally deal with and enjoy your success. I am among one that you can not defeat them.

You know why?

what is reason you can not defeat me ?....because i do not measure myself with how many time i failed. I measure myself with how much probability i can still win. and i always find probability to win. So stop scaring me, you can not win this backoff game with me.

By the way, without you my life was incomplete so thanks for comming :)

 

<<<----------------------------Reply from Fauilure--------------------->>>>>

Hi,

Thank you for your concern and please do not curse me, i was there just to make you strong and i will always be there to make you strong at some point in your life. I never wanted to people get depressed because of me, and i am really sick that people take me bad and try to blame their luck.

Anyways when  i find person like you then i feel Mission Successful  !!!

Nice to meet you, will see you "again" at TOP :)

Bye!!

 

<--------Meanwhile Success sent me a message---------------->>>

 

Hi,

You meet my cousin, Failure?. He always comes before me. and i am just one step beyond your failure.

I really want to come to you but unfortunately i do not have legs, i won't come to u, you should come to me ...i am always here welcoming you :)

Many great people you see today, they have failed over and over and over again in their lives and that's why they succeed.

If you are slow walker, i would love to meet you, I can see you, you are on the way to me, so congratulations :)

just dont quit and iam yours:)

Hoping to meet you soon :)
Sachin Mittal 1 posted in Motivation Jan 23, 2017 reshown Jul 5, 2017 by Sachin Mittal 1
4,763 views
48

Sorry for the delay. After a long wait, Digital Logic Chapter is now complete. Next one is Computer Organization and Architecture. Thanks to @Srestha, @Bikram for the contents and also @Praneeth for the latex book. Please give feedback.

Download

 

Except Notes Part of all the Subjects - Download

Arjun posted in Digital Logic Nov 21, 2016 edited Jan 1, 2017 by Arjun
by Arjun
13,309 views
49

Hi,

There are many people here preparing to be in Top 100 or even better. Of course if you are preparing for GATE you should not think below that. GATE is not a difficult exam to get to top 100. So, let me tell somethings I have seen over last 2 years.

  1. Most people with good/correct concepts get to Top 100 - like Pragy got 37 rank even by not studying Networks.
  2. Some good people do miss out on Top 100 - 1-2 people even drop to 1000 rank.
  3. Some people even without proper concepts get to Top 100 - its just a matter of 2-3 questions that can take you to Top 100 from 1000.

So, where do you want to go? Knowingly or unknowingly many of you are in part 3. Some good people are in part 2. And every one wants to be in part 1. So, how to get there? Let me list some common points:

  1. Build confidence by solving previous GATE questions. Analyze what they meant by each word of the question. Think what they can modify in it and make a new question.
  2. Step 1 above is not easy - can be done only by one who knows concepts well.
  3. GATE syllabus is stripped down from 2015 and is very small compared to NET. But still, it has a lot of subjects. But only basic questions are asked for at least 80% - but basic does not mean remembering sentences or formula is going to give marks. It requires proper application of concepts and numericals.
  4. For Engineering entrance there is a saying those who can calculate fast is at advantage. This is not true for GATE CSE. Calculcation power is not important. Though virtual there is a calculator and most numericals donot need it also.
  5. Each subject has a set of stock portions from which questions are asked. This covers 60-70% of the questions.
  6. Now, what one needs to do is to analyze oneself and improve. Many people say that they make a lot of mistakes. But this is common. And even AIR 1 would have made mistakes. So, one needs to prepare for this extra 10-20 marks and not say if I hadnot made those mistakes I would have got to top 100.
  7. I do not know why many people avoid aptitude. For first timers I can imagine lack of time. But those preparing again should give more importance to it. 15 marks is quite a lot. I see less than half takers for Aptitude exam compared to anyother in GO tests.
  8. Make concepts more clearer. This also reduces your chance of making mistakes. One knowing the correct concepts can easily avoid many wrong choices by looking only.
  9. Never be happy with other not knowing as much as you. Most people being ignorant does not make you a genius or guarantees a top 100 rank. You are fighting with yourself only- not among others. Because GATE includes many people who are silent here. So, even if no one objects to your answer or even if everyone is wrong, you must continuously evaluate yourself and improve.
  10. TOC, especially decidability- only few people gets it but those who gets it really find it easy. You can see decidability answers in GO and else where and most of them are different. If you believe me I can say GO answers are correct and elsewhere they are wrong. This is because I have spent such a long time answering them and it is after many verifications. Such wrong answers given for this portion elsewhere was one of the major motivation for starting GO.
  11. I have always told not to over do tests. But one must do tests as well. Without doing any test you have no idea where you stand. Also, knowing concept is onething. Applying it in a problem is another thing. So, you must do tests- if not anything else just do previous year papers as test.
  12. Whenevr you find a topic you don't know be happy that you reduced your chance of getting something wrong in GATE. Identifying what you dont know is more important than knowing what you know. One prime example of this is Akash Kanase- he has answered many questions quite nicely here around this time last year. He became monthly topper also. But he was not happy and realized he was weak in Aptitude and then worked on it. Before GATE he was quite confident and was quite certain of scoring 75+. And he did like that even after making some mistakes. I would say that was the most ideal preparation I have seen for GATE.
  13. Anyhow both 1 and 3 types of people are fine, I really do not want to see any one in 2. But if somehow one ends in 2, he/she should not worry too much. Because
    1. If your concepts are good you can easily clear MS interviews in IISc./IITs or even direct Ph.D. And those with good concepts enjoy doing research - whether you like research now is not important because most of you do not know what is research. And good people can finish MS in 1.5-2 years and only average is 2.5 years.
    2. Even upto 1500 rank one can get to IITM MS/Ph.D. But this does not mean one with rank say 400 can get it. Research interviews are different from an objective exam.
       

 

Arjun posted in Preparation Advice Nov 6, 2016
by Arjun
12,267 views
50

This post is a recollection of questions asked at IIT Kanpur Admission Test Mtech (CSE) 2016. (NOT COMPLETE, but quite many) Thanks Govind Gopakumar :)

Date of Exam: 7th May
Duration: 2 hours Objective + 2 hours Programming Test + 2 hours Subjective (Syllabus at the end)

When you clear first 2 tests, you get called for last. Some 120 people cleared from about 250 for subjective test (AFAIR)


Objective consisted of:  Fill in the gaps, MCQ, one liners (MCQs had negative marking, multiple choices could be right)


Objective:

  1. Theory
     
    1. Height of balanced tree, given the number of nodes.
       
    2. Number of distinct BFS, DFS trees in a graph where any pair of vertices is connected.
       
    3. Solution of $T(n) = T \left ( \sqrt n \right ) + 1$
       
    4. Expression for reachability matrix, given original matrix $A$ and initial reachability matrix $R$
      Also complexity of algorithm it will require.
       
    5. Find remainder: $2^{202} \mod 101$
       
    6. Which of following sets is bijection to set of natural numbers (or Integers maybe)
      $\Bigl ( \mathbb{Z}^{101} \Bigr ),  \Bigl ( \mathbb{Z} \times \mathbb{Q} \Bigr ), \Bigl ( \mathbb{Z} \times \mathbb{R} \Bigr ), \Bigl ( \mathbb{R}^2 \Bigr )$
       
    7. $\begin{align}S &\to aS \mid B \\ B &\to bB \mid \varepsilon \end{align}$
      Which of the following languages is generated?
      (Don't expect me to remember options too eh :D )
       
    8. Which of following languages doesn't have consecutive $b$'s?
      (4 or 5 regular language descriptions were given)
       
    9. Problem related to finding cycle in directed graph (Doubtful)
       
    10. A problem on randomized algorithms (Doubtful, didn't understand)
       
  2. Systems (Some taken from Govind Gopakumar's fb post):
     
    1. UNIX Commands were asked: Searching for file name (kind of)
      Linux command to list all files with a particular keyword in a directory above the current one.
       
    2. DBMS:  Question on performing joins efficiently - best join order - Number of intermediate Queries in best option
       
    3. $32$-bit signed integers - range of integers representable.
       
    4. Diffie-Hellman Key Exchange based on which abstract algebra problem.
       
    5. Problem related to representation of polynomials in Galois Fields (polynomial sum or something)
       
    6. A question on operator forwarding in pipelining (damn it was long, leave for last types :D)
       
    7. A question on operator forwarding in dual issue processors.
       
    8. Virtual Address $\to$ Cache Mapping Question
       
    9. Basic True/False Questions on Virtual Memory.
       
    10. Which segment in Linux process in memory contains information about dynamically linked libraries (something like that)
       
    11. DBMS: $R \Bigl ( \underline{P},  T, U \Bigr )$
      If an index is created on $T$, what will it be called?
      If a further index is created on $U$, what will it be called?
       
    12. Name of function used for integrity in symmetric-key environment.
       
  3. Data Science/ Applications (Didn't attempt this part. Completely ripped off from this post by Govind fb post)
     
    1. Probability question : There are different slots in a day. Batman and Robin can choose at most one slot each to guard (can be same). Different villains choose to attack on different slots (Bane could be defeated only if both Batman and Robin chose this slot). We had to find the probability that 0 villains were defeated, 1 was defeated etc. It had a few tricky cases here and there.
       
    2. Given a channel with one input (0 or 1), and a transition matrix which accounts for error in these inputs, find the entropy of the output. (This was out of syllabus AFAIK)
       
    3. The applications part had really nice questions on probability and linear algebra, mostly logic puzzle kind.

 


Programming Test:

(Partly taken from Govind Gopakumar's Post)

1. Finding number of inversions (find pairs such that i>j but a[i] < a[j].)

2. Checking if row_sum = column_sum for each position in a matrix (Given a grid with coins placed on it, you can take coins from a grid point only if the sum of coins in the point's row matches the sum of coins in the point's column. Find how many coins you can thus obtain. )

3. Calculating Distance values in Edit Distance Problem (Recurrence was provided. Allowed operations: Insert + Delete + Substitution) (Given two strings, find the edit distance between them)

---------------------------   ---------------------------   ---------------------------

Subjective Test:

Again lots of content provided by Govind Gopakumar. The entire Applications part specially :)

I. Theory:

1.  Prove/Disprove:

a) If a graph has k-independent components, it it n-k+1 colorable

b) converse of (a)

c) If a graph is not n-1 colorable, it's a clique

 

2. a) Write O(n) time algorithm to find any cycles in a graph. Print NONE otherwise

b) Prove it's O(n)

 

II. Systems:

1. S is a semaphore.

AddAtomic(Queue* Q1, Queue* Q2)

{

Q1 -> S.wait();

Q2 -> S.wait();

E = Q1 -> dequeue();

Q2 -> enqueue(E);

Q2 ->s.signal();

Q1 -> S.signal();

}

 

This is ought to be a code to atomically dequeue an element from Q1, and add to Q2.

a) Find problem with the implementation

b) Implement a correct solution.

 

2. Give one reason why hierarchical multilevel paging is useful

 

3. Page Table Entry => 8B

Page Size => 4 KB

4-level page table

What is the maximum virtual address space possible?

 

III. Data Science/Applications:


1)

a) Define what a convex set is.
b)Consider two sets A and B of elements from a vector space. Define C = A+B as {x+y | for all x in A and y in B, + here denotes vector addition} Prove C is convex or not. (I think a rigorous definition of this is called the minkowski sum)
c) Define C = A-B similarly, prove if convex or not.

2) a) Consider a discrete sample space {L1, L2...}. Write the expression for expected value of this random variable.
b) Consider two random variables X and Y, which are independent. Prove or provide counterexample for E(X and Y) = E(X)*E(Y) (Where E is expected value)

3) Consider a symmetric matrix A. Prove that the eigenvectors corresponding to distinct eigenvalues of this matrix are orthogonal.

4) a)Consider |u| = 5 and |v| = 6 for two vectors u and v. For the matrix u*v', find the matrix norm (show all steps in computation).
b)prove that |A^t| ≤ |A|^t where A is a matrix and the notation denotes matrix norm.

 

-------------------------- ----------------------------------- --------------------------

Other Stuff:

1. Needed to do atleast 2/3 parts in objective and subjective part.

2. I think programming part had good weightage (as neither of my objective or subjective were great, though in programming did all of them ;) )

3. You get lots of time, manage it well.

4. Read questions properly.

5. Programming part was in C, take care of string processing, took me lots of time, as I had forgotten :P  ( Long time :D )

6. Don't ask me for answers or clarifications, as (a) I'm out of practice (b) I had written these in a copy after-exam, so don't remember much now. Ask other members or in the group

7. Don't send me an instant friend request as a token of appreciation :D . If you have stuff to ask, you're  welcome though ;)

Everyone who gave the test, is welcome to add/edit/suggest content to this post :)

To Everyone else, Open to Suggestions

-------------------------- ----------------------------------- --------------------------

EDIT: Here's another experience  and this one adds some questions in Data Science/Application Part by jagadeesha_kanihal

-------------------------- ----------------------------------- --------------------------

Syllabus below:

 

mysticPrince posted in Interview Experience Jul 2, 2016 edited Jul 8, 2016 by mysticPrince
16,712 views
52

A collection of blogs by previous GATE toppers. Preparation experience and strategies they followed are given in these. 

2021

AIR 8    AIR 13    AIR 75    AIR 118    AIR 123    AIR 152    AIR 152    AIR 179    AIR 206    

AIR 306    AIR 477    AIR 965

2020

AIR 6    AIR 12    AIR 13    AIR 29    AIR 101    AIR 129    AIR 166    AIR 188    AIR 202   

AIR 202    AIR 283    AIR 283    AIR 312    AIR 372    AIR 616

2019

AIR 45    AIR 78    AIR 86   AIR 116    AIR 175    AIR 308    AIR 388    AIR 479    AIR 498   

AIR 582    AIR 558    AIR 673    AIR 888    AIR 1454

2018

AIR 2    AIR 14    AIR 25    AIR 48    AIR 71    AIR 75    AIR 67    AIR 94    AIR 94   AIR 94

AIR 118    AIR 157    AIR 223    AIR 260    AIR 275    AIR 323    AIR 352    AIR 352   AIR 377

AIR 960   AIR 1457   AIR 1644

2017

AIR 5   AIR 20   AIR 28   AIR 31   AIR 35   AIR 37   AIR 39   AIR 70 AIR 72   AIR 77

AIR 88   AIR 164   AIR 167   AIR 172   AIR 174   AIR 207   AIR 242   AIR 248   AIR 265

AIR 297   AIR 302   AIR 383   AIR 2803

2016

AIR 1   AIR 4    AIR 28   AIR 34   AIR 51   AIR 96   AIR 119   AIR 159

2015

AIR 1   AIR 5   AIR 11   AIR 12

> 2015

AIR 8   AIR 1

 

Arjun posted in Preparation Experience Apr 6, 2016 edited Apr 4, 2021 by anonymous
by Arjun
23,158 views
53

Hi,

When I decided to write about my preparation I collected it all together and all recollected is that whole strategy I had I got from posts various toppers. So now Instead of writing each and every thing again, I’m going to write post link & I’m going to tell what I got from each blog post:) You can built your strategy from there:)

  1. http://www.engineering.careers360.com/articles/gate-2015-topper-interview-ravi-shankar-mishra-air-1-in-computer-science-engineering => I got list of books from to use from him. This is essential read for any future toppers. Read this blog to see how someone can get AIR 1 in just few months of preparation in first attempt. Thank you Ravi for your blog.
  2. http://gate2015-tamojit9.blogspot.in/ => This is really nice blog. Do have a good read. Thanks Tamjit for writing this blog. Best thing you can get from this is -> “ REMEMBER THERE IS NO SHORT CUT TO HARD WORK
  3. https://cdn.rawgit.com/AgarwalPragy/GATE16Tips/master/Tips.html => This is blog by Pragy Agrawal. Best thing to take from this is “Flashcards”. This flashcards help me revising. Thanks Pragy for this blog.
  4. https://gateetude.wordpress.com/ => This is blog by Pradeep Pandey. Please check ‘https://gateetude.wordpress.com/2014/06/16/gate-paper-structure/&#8217; this post . That is must. Every post by Pradeep is like Gold mine for serious preparing students. Thanks Pradeep for thsi blog
  5. Check answer by Arvind Devraj here -> https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-best-way-to-study-for-GATE-so-as-to-get-a-good-rank-to-get-into-IISc He talks about which reference books to use and how to study. This is really great post, and you should definitely go through it if you are serious. Thanks Arvind for writing this blog.
  6. http://gatecse.in/ and http://gateoverflow.in/ are two good resources for any serious GATE aspirant. You must go through this websites. Thank you Arjun Suresh , Kathleen bankson for creating this huge corpus of questions, for Gateoverflow book and compiling toppers blog, linking good video lectures etc.

Taken from -> https://akashkanasegate2016.wordpress.com/2016/04/01/how-i-prepared-for-gate-i-used-strategy-of-old-toppers/

Akash Kanase posted in Preparation Experience Apr 2, 2016
14,626 views
54
I was not very much confident about the ISRO examination result but i got shortlisted for the interview. My inerview venue was DOS Staff Housing,Sector 17, Antariksha Vihar,Dwarka, New Delhi. They have asked us to report at 8:00 AM. Then we were asked to wait in the hall. They used to call group of 4 candidate on random order (Specifically it was the strategy to finish all female candidates' interview early). They did document verification and we were asked to wait for the interview. After waiting complete day. My interview started at 7:20 PM.
 
Interview mostly started with my Bio Data(a specific format by ISRO filled by candidates) and favorite subjects.There were approximately 8 ISROians in the panel. Below are the question which were asked to me
  1. Which Encoding Technique its using in Fast Ethernet
  2. Something related to flow Control and access control (Don't remember the exact question)
  3. you have worked on android so do you know about android Database and its supported data types ?
  4. Why linux has become very much popular ?
  5. Basics about pointer and some operation using this ?
  6. What is Race conditions ?
  7. What is Shared Memory ?
  8. One program output they asked to me (There was a board to explain the concepts didactically in case you need or you are asked )
 
Interview result was not out till i wrote this so I don't know even what are my chances but it was good experience and hope it will help you too :)
Sandeep Singh posted in Interview Experience Mar 2, 2016
5,274 views
55

Masters is not very different from Bachelors but in India most students do Masters from IITs and there is a big gap to be filled from lower level college environment. Though GATE preparation is mostly enough a few extra stuffs might come handy during IIT life. 

  1. Get used to unix commands: I first started using linux only in second year of Masters and though I have used it ever since I still think 2 years early start would have helped me a lot. Somethings to try- 
    Install linux (ubuntu or mint or any other) either as dual boot (preferred) or as VM. If you have a credit card you can even get Amazon AWS free for 1 year (it is good). 
    Try running a process in background.
    Try ssh to/from another machine and run a process in background (cronjob, nohup etc. might be needed here). 
  2. B.Tech. level C/C++ skills is enough. But depending on how you did B.Tech. you might need to hone it. Try implementing graph traversals, AVL tree etc. in C and even try using STL in C++ for doing so. 
  3. Java might not be required for B.Tech, but if needed no one is going to send you for a Java coaching. It is actually a subset of C++ (Java is made to make C++ easier), and anyone coding in C++ must be able to use Java. Try some String algorithms in Java. Another use of Java is for programming interviews- it is much simpler (and faster) to use Java to write a code than with C/C++ and even in Google programming interview Java is preferred.
  4. $\LaTeX$ is a publishing tool which all CS students should have used. In IITs, it might be used for assignments, report submissions etc. So, try making your resume in Latex, convert your B.Tech. report to latex one etc. If you have used Mathjax on website (as in gateoverflow), it would be pretty simple. 
  5. Plotting is a needed research tool. There are many shortcoming with using Excel and trying to use gnuplot might come handy during Masters. 
  6. Data analysis is another demanding task- and trying some basic R commands- like finding mean, SD etc. is recommended. Trying Python might also be handy. 
  7. awk - is fun to use. Use it especially if you want to process a text file line by line. 
  8. Whatever you do an editor is important. Knowing commands of a smart editor like vim, emacs etc. can make your work more fun and easier. Using IDEs like Geany, Eclipse etc. are also highly useful as they will reduce many jobs in future.
  9. Being familiar with area specific tools- like installing LLVM if you are interested in Compilers, R language if you are interested in data analytic, making shared libraries if interested on system side, mastering regular expressions if working on text processing and similarly for other areas.
  10. If you are interested in system side, be familiar with gdb
  11. Any project would require versioning and being familiar with git is an added advantage. 
  12. For placements, aptitude- some companies ask CAT level questions - is required. Also, for big software companies, dynamic programming is important. Do practice some questions like sudoku solving using backtracking also. These questions can also help. 
  13. In most places, you will have time for deciding the area of work. Still, if you can find a suitable prof to work under early, it is a good thing. Otherwise also, you can do this in first year. 
Arjun posted in Others Feb 29, 2016 edited Mar 3, 2016 by Arjun
by Arjun
16,388 views