GATE MT study plan

GATE MT · Give each week a clear focus.

8 weeks · About 7 hours per week

Week 1

Metallurgical Engineering (MT) - official paper syllabus domains not enumerated on the source page

Map the full GATE MT syllabus against your current knowledge and rate each topic strong, weak, or unseen
Derive and solve thermodynamic problems on Gibbs free energy, Ellingham diagrams and equilibrium constants without reference notes
Compute heat and mass balance for a simple pyrometallurgical reactor from first principles
Build a personal formula sheet for thermodynamics and reaction kinetics

A completed syllabus self-rating table plus a one-page thermodynamics formula sheet, both dated and versioned

Week 2

Solve rate-equation problems for heterogeneous metallurgical reactions including mixed control
Explain and apply diffusion laws to carburising, decarburising and slag-metal mass transfer cases
Derive cooling-curve behaviour for pure metals and binary alloys using lever rule and phase diagrams
Work through 30 numerical problems on kinetics and diffusion under timed conditions

A timed 30-question numerical set on thermodynamics, kinetics and diffusion, scored and error-analysed

Week 3

Interpret binary and ternary phase diagrams to predict phases, compositions and invariant reactions
Apply the iron-carbon diagram and TTT/CCT curves to predict microstructures after given heat treatments
Explain the mechanisms and consequences of solidification including segregation, dendrite growth and porosity
Solve 20 phase-diagram and solidification problems including at least 5 ternary cases

A set of 10 hand-drawn phase diagrams with annotated invariant points and worked microstructure predictions for each

Week 4

Classify and explain the strengthening mechanisms: solid solution, precipitation, grain boundary, work hardening
Relate crystal structure and crystal defects to mechanical behaviour and deformation modes
Analyse fracture, fatigue and creep mechanisms and the tests used to characterise them
Complete a full-length timed mock section on physical metallurgy and review every wrong answer

A mid-plan mock test report with per-topic accuracy percentages and a ranked list of the five weakest topics

Week 5

Write balanced reactions and compute slag basicity, oxygen potential and metal recovery for ironmaking
Trace the steelmaking sequence and quantify refining reactions for carbon, phosphorus, sulphur and oxygen removal
Explain the operating principles of blast furnace, BOF, electric arc furnace and ladle metallurgy
Solve 20 extraction and refining numerical problems including charge calculations

A process-flow summary sheet for ironmaking and steelmaking with worked mass and energy balances for two cases

Week 6

Describe the principles and current practice of hydrometallurgical leaching, solvent extraction and electrowinning
Compare pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical routes for a copper, zinc and aluminium case study
Explain roasting, calcination, smelting and refining unit operations with their thermodynamic basis
Attempt 25 mixed problems covering non-ferrous extraction and process selection

A comparative written analysis of three metals' extraction routes, 400 words each, with reaction equations and energy notes

Week 7

Explain the physical and mechanical testing methods: tensile, hardness, impact, fatigue and creep testing
Interpret non-destructive testing techniques and identify which defects each detects
Summarise corrosion mechanisms and select appropriate protection strategies for given environments
Revise powder metallurgy, welding metallurgy and composite processing at concept level

A one-page decision table matching test method to property measured and defect detected, plus 15 solved corrosion cases

Week 8

Re-solve every previously wrong question from weeks 1 to 7 and log the corrected reasoning
Complete two full-length timed mock papers under exam conditions
Memorise and rehearse the consolidated formula and data sheet without notes
Finalise an exam-day strategy covering question selection order and time allocation

Two scored full-length mock papers plus a final consolidated formula sheet and one-page exam-day strategy note

Week 2: Score at least 60 percent on the timed thermodynamics, kinetics and diffusion numerical set and show an error log for every miss

Week 4: Score at least 55 percent on the full-length physical metallurgy mock and identify five ranked weak topics with a repair plan

Week 6: Complete all 25 non-ferrous extraction problems and explain three extraction routes in writing from memory

Week 8: Score at least 65 percent on both final mock papers and recite the consolidated formula sheet with no reference