GATE CH study plan
GATE CH · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 6 hours per week
Chemical Engineering
Build a one-page formula sheet covering material and energy balances, and unit conversions for mass, mole, pressure, and temperature
Solve 15 steady-state material balance problems on single and multiple units, including recycle, bypass, and purge streams
Solve 10 energy balance problems involving sensible heat, latent heat, and heat of reaction using reference-state methods
Set up and solve 5 combined material-and-energy balance problems on reactive systems
Diagnose and correct common sign and basis errors by reworking every missed problem into a short error log
Your checkpoint
A completed formula sheet plus a 30-problem worked set with an error log classifying each mistake by type (basis, sign, unit, concept)
Chemical Engineering
Derive and apply rate laws for batch, CSTR, PFR, and PBR reactors for first-order, second-order, and zero-order kinetics
Solve 12 reactor sizing problems using conversion, space time, and residence time relationships
Analyze series and parallel reactor arrangements and select the better configuration for a given rate-conversion curve
Solve 6 non-isothermal reactor problems using the energy balance coupled to the design equation
Interpret and use Levenspiel plots to determine reactor volume and configuration
Your checkpoint
A reactor design problem set of 20 solved problems with a comparison table of reactor types showing design equation, volume, and assumptions
Chemical Engineering
Apply Fick's first and second laws to steady and unsteady diffusion in slabs, cylinders, and spheres
Solve 10 mass transfer problems involving diffusion with homogeneous reaction and equimolar counter-diffusion
Compute individual and overall mass transfer coefficients and convert between driving-force conventions
Analyze absorption and stripping columns using operating lines, minimum solvent rate, and Kremser or graphical methods
Apply HTU-NTU and HETP concepts to packed column sizing
Your checkpoint
A mass transfer summary sheet of key equations and conventions plus 15 solved problems, including 3 full absorption column designs
Chemical Engineering
Solve 12 heat transfer problems covering conduction in composite walls and cylinders, including fins and contact resistance
Apply convection correlations for internal and external flow, and evaluate the appropriateness of each correlation
Perform LMTD and effectiveness-NTU calculations for shell-and-tube and cross-flow exchangers
Compute radiation heat transfer between gray surfaces using view factors and the network method
Analyze unsteady conduction using lumped capacitance and Heisler charts
Your checkpoint
A timed 90-minute mock test of 20 heat transfer questions scored and reviewed, with every wrong answer traced to a missing equation or concept
Chemical Engineering
Build and interpret McCabe-Thiele diagrams for binary distillation, including q-line, reflux ratio, and stage count
Solve 8 distillation problems to find minimum reflux, minimum stages, and actual stage efficiency
Analyze liquid-liquid extraction and leaching using ternary diagrams and right-triangle coordinates
Solve 6 drying problems using drying-rate curves, critical moisture content, and drying time equations
Apply humidification and dehumidification concepts to psychrometric chart problems
Your checkpoint
A separation processes problem portfolio of 20 solved problems including at least 4 complete McCabe-Thiele constructions with labeled diagrams
Chemical Engineering
Solve 10 fluid mechanics problems applying Bernoulli, continuity, and momentum balances to pipe networks and fittings
Compute friction factors for laminar and turbulent flow using the Moody chart and Colebrook correlation
Select and size pumps and compressors using system curves, NPSH, and affinity laws
Analyze flow through packed beds and fluidized beds using Ergun and minimum fluidization velocity relations
Solve 5 particle mechanics problems involving terminal velocity, settling, and classification
Your checkpoint
A fluid mechanics and mechanical operations problem set of 20 solved problems with a pump selection worked example and a fluidization regime summary
Chemical Engineering
Review thermodynamics fundamentals: equations of state, fugacity, activity coefficients, and phase equilibrium
Solve 8 vapor-liquid equilibrium problems using Raoult's law, modified Raoult's law, and Henry's law
Apply the first and second laws to power cycles and refrigeration cycles, computing efficiency and COP
Solve 6 chemical equilibrium problems using equilibrium constants and extent of reaction
Review process control basics: transfer functions, PID tuning, stability, and control valve characteristics
Your checkpoint
A thermodynamics and process control review sheet plus a 15-problem set covering VLE, cycles, and control loops
Chemical Engineering
Take two full-length timed mock tests under exam conditions and score them against the marking scheme
Rework every incorrect or guessed question until the underlying method is reproduced without notes
Consolidate all formula sheets into one indexed reference and drill the 20 most error-prone equations
Practice rapid estimation and unit-consistency checks to eliminate options on numerical questions
Build a final-week revision checklist mapped to each topic area and confirm coverage of every syllabus item
Your checkpoint
Two scored full-length mock tests with a gap analysis report listing weak topics, a remediation action for each, and a finalized one-page master formula sheet