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GATE 2025 Statistics top five high weightage topics preparation strategy Exam Pattern cutoff trends and study guide with FAQs
Manisha Tanwar logo

Manisha Tanwar

| Updated On - Nov 9, 2024

GATE 2025 has been scheduled to be held on  1, 2, 15 and 16 February. GATE 2025 Statistics paper includes 10 key topics. The core subject will constitute 85 marks weightage and General Aptitude will be of 15 marks respectively. Out of these, top-five topics which cover 44 to 61% of the total syllabus are these: 

  • Probability and Statistics contributes around 10-15% of the total questions, 

  • Statistical Inference holds a weightage of approximately 12-15%,

  • Regression Analysis has a weightage of 8-12%

  • Time Series Analysis which contributes around 8-10%.

  • Design of Experiments is also significant, accounting for 6-9% in past exams.

Candidates can now download, GATE 2025 Statistics syllabus for GATE’s official website. 

As per the “Two Paper Combinations” candidates appearing for the Statistics paper will also be able to sit for: Computer Science and Information Technology (CS), Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (DA), Mathematics (MA), Humanities and Social Science (XH)

Here is a detailed analysis of top-five high-weightage topics under GATE 2025 Statistics syllabus and strategies to help the candidate prepare effectively for GATE 2025 exam..

Also check:

GATE 2025 Statistics Exam Pattern

Here is a detailed analysis of GATE 2025 Statistics Exam Pattern to help the candidate formulate a clear idea before appearing for the said exam.

Section

Number of Questions

Marks per Question

Total Marks

Negative Marking

General Aptitude

10

1 or 2

15

1/3 mark for wrong answers (1-mark questions)

Core Statistics

55

1 or 2

85

2/3 mark for wrong answers (2-mark questions)

Total

65

100

GATE 2025 Topic-Wise Weightage Distribution for key topics under Statistics

The GATE 2025 Statistics exam assigns notable weight to key topics, with Calculus contributing around 8-12 marks and Matrix Theory accounting for 6-10 marks. Other major areas like Probability and Standard Distributions collectively carry 10-14 and 8-10 marks, respectively, with additional emphasis on topics like Stochastic ProcessesEstimation, and Hypothesis Testing.

  • Calculus: Typically carries a weightage of 8-12 marks, covering topics like limits, continuity, differentiability, Taylor series, and integrals.

  • Matrix Theory: Expected weightage is 6-10 marks, with key areas including eigenvalues, eigenvectors, and matrix decompositions.

  • Probability: Generally accounts for 10-14 marks, emphasizing probability distributions, Bayes' theorem, and inequalities.

  • Standard Distributions: Topics like binomial, Poisson, and normal distributions cover around 8-10 marks.

  • Stochastic Processes: Estimated weightage of 6-8 marks, with a focus on Markov chains, Poisson processes, and Brownian motion.

  • Estimation: Contributes about 6-8 marks, focusing on methods like maximum likelihood and interval estimation.

  • Testing of Hypotheses: Expected weightage of 6-10 marks, covering Neyman-Pearson lemma and likelihood ratio tests.

  • Non-parametric Statistics: Around 4-6 marks, focusing on tests like chi-square, Mann-Whitney U, and rank correlation.

  • Multivariate Analysis: Weightage of 4-6 marks, covering multivariate normal distribution and Hotelling’s T² test.

  • Regression Analysis: Expected to contribute 4-6 marks, with emphasis on linear regression and tests for regression coefficients.

GATE 2025 Past Six Years’ cutoff trends for Statistics

The expected GATE 2024 cut-off for the General category is 25, with 22.5 for OBC-NCL and 16.6 for SC/ST/PwD candidates, following a consistent trend from previous years, except for 2019, where the cut-off was notably higher. The official cut-off is anticipated to be released on March 16, 2024.

Year

General

OBC-NCL

SC/ST/PwD

Expected Cut-off Release Date

2024*

25 (expected)

22.5 (expected)

16.6 (expected)

March 16, 2024

2023

25

22.5

16.6

Released

2022

25

22.5

16.6

Released

2021

25

22.5

16.6

Released

2020

25

22.5

16.6

Released

2019

32.5

29.2

21.7

Released

the waveform graph representing the GATE cut-off trends from 2019 to 2024 for different categories (General, OBC-NCL, SC/ST/PwD).

  • General: The cut-off remains constant at 25 from 2020 to 2024, with a spike to 32.5 in 2019.

  • OBC-NCL: Similarly, it remains steady at 22.5 from 2020 to 2024 after a peak of 29.2 in 2019.

  • SC/ST/PwD: The cut-off is stable at 16.6 from 2020 to 2024, following a peak of 21.7 in 2019.

GATE 2025 90-day Preparation strategy for statistics

Day

Topic

Subtopics/Focus

Hours

Activities

1-5

Calculus

Finite, countable, uncountable sets; real number system

3

Read and summarize concepts

6-10

Sequences & Series

Convergence, tests of convergence, alternating series

4

Solve practice problems

11-15

Power Series

Radius of convergence, Taylor’s theorem, L'Hospital’s rules

5

Derive and solve examples

16-20

Functions of Real Variables

Limits, continuity, differentiability, maxima & minima

5

Practice past GATE questions

21-25

Functions of Several Variables

Partial derivatives, directional derivatives, double & triple integrals

5

Work on applications

26-30

Matrix Theory

Linear independence, span, basis, rank, row echelon form

4

Solve numerical problems

31-35

Matrix Theory (Contd.)

Eigenvalues, eigenvectors, diagonalizability, SVD

4

Apply concepts in practical problems

36-40

Probability

Axiomatic definition, conditional probability, Bayes’ theorem

5

Derive and practice theorems

41-45

Random Variables

Distributions, probability mass function, probability density function

5

Solve distribution-related problems

46-50

Standard Distributions

Bernoulli, binomial, Poisson, normal

6

Apply properties in problems

51-55

Jointly Distributed Variables

Conditional distributions, independence, correlation coefficients

5

Solve examples from previous years

56-60

Convergence Theorems

Convergence in distribution, CLT, Borel-Cantelli lemma

5

Work through theorem applications

61-65

Stochastic Processes

Markov chains, Poisson process, birth-death process

5

Solve related GATE problems

66-70

Estimation

MLE, unbiased estimation, Rao-Blackwell theorem

5

Practice estimation problems

71-75

Testing of Hypotheses

Neyman-Pearson lemma, likelihood ratio tests, large sample tests

5

Work on hypothesis testing examples

76-80

Non-parametric Statistics

Chi-square test, Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, Mann-Whitney U-test

5

Solve non-parametric test problems

81-85

Multivariate Analysis

Multivariate normal distribution, Hotelling’s T² test

5

Apply multivariate concepts

86-90

Regression Analysis

Simple & multiple regression, R² and adjusted R², confidence intervals

6

Solve regression problems

Also Check: GATE 2025 Statistics 6 month preparation strategy

GATE Statistics Previous Years’ Question Papers with Answer Key

GATE Statistics Paper carries a total of 100 marks and comprises 65 questions that need to be attempted within a time frame of 3 hours. Aspirants preparing for GATE Exam can download the previous year GATE Statistics Question Paper with answer key PDFs in the article below:

Exam date 

Session

Question Paper pdf

February 12,2023

Forenoon Session

download Paper

February 6,2024

Forenoon Session

download paper

February 7,2021

Afternoon Session

download paper

February 2,2022

Forenoon Session

download paper

February 3,2019

Afternoon Session

download paper

Also Check: GATE 2025 statistics mock test series

Study Tips:

  • Regular Practice: Consistently solve numerical problems and conceptual questions.

  • Schedule Revision: Hold revision sessions regularly for better retention.

  • Mock Tests: Regular mock tests help assess their level of preparation and increase the speed and accuracy of students.

Be sure to tailor the study schedule to your own strong and weak points in each subject!

GATE 2025 Recommended books for Statistics

Book Title

Author(s)

Key Focus Areas

Introduction to Probability and Statistics

William Mendenhall, Robert J. Beaver, Barbara M. Beaver

Basics of probability theory, descriptive statistics, hypothesis testing

Probability and Statistics for Engineers and Scientists

Sheldon M. Ross

Probability theory, stochastic processes, statistical methods for engineers

Mathematical Statistics with Applications

Dennis Wackerly, William Mendenhall, Richard L. Scheaffer

Probability distributions, statistical inference, regression analysis

Schaum's Outline of Probability and Statistics

Murray R. Spiegel, Larry J. Stephens

Solved problems, practice on core concepts, probability and statistics

Statistical Inference

George Casella, Roger L. Berger

Estimation theory, hypothesis testing, statistical inference

All of Statistics: A Concise Course in Statistical Inference

Larry Wasserman

Quick review of estimation, hypothesis testing, and statistical modeling

An Introduction to Probability Theory and Its Applications

William Feller

Detailed study of probability theory

Also Check: GATE 2025 statistics book recommendations

GATE 2025 FAQs for Statistics syllabus

Q1. What are the most important topics in the GATE Statistics syllabus that I should focus on for a high score?

Key topics include Probability Theory, Statistical Inference, Regression Analysis, Design of Experiments, and Time Series Analysis. In the last five years, Probability and Inference have consistently had the highest weightage, contributing about 30-40% of the total marks.

Q2. Can someone explain the differences between hypothesis testing and confidence intervals with examples?

Hypothesis testing involves making decisions based on data; for example, testing if a new drug is more effective than a placebo. Confidence intervals provide a range of values (e.g., 95% CI) within which the true population parameter is expected to lie. While hypothesis testing yields a yes/no decision, confidence intervals offer an estimation.

Q3. How do I approach solving problems related to probability distributions in the GATE Statistics paper?

Familiarize yourself with common distributions (Normal, Binomial, Poisson). Practice solving problems using the properties of these distributions. Use tools like cumulative distribution functions (CDFs) and probability density functions (PDFs) for clarity.

Q4. What strategies can I use to effectively prepare for the numerical problems in the GATE Statistics exam?

Regularly practice previous years’ question papers and sample problems. Use a mix of theoretical study and practical application. Consider timing your practice sessions to simulate exam conditions, focusing on accuracy and speed.

Q5. Are there any recommended books or resources specifically tailored for GATE Statistics preparation?

Key resources include "Statistical Inference" by Casella and Berger, "Probability and Statistics" by Morris H. DeGroot and Mark J. Schervish, and online platforms like NPTEL for lectures. Solve GATE Statistics previous year papers available on educational websites.

Q6. How do I manage my time effectively during the GATE Statistics exam, especially with complex problems?

Allocate time based on question weightage; spend about 1-1.5 minutes on easier questions and 2-3 minutes on tougher ones. Practice mock tests to improve your pacing, aiming to leave 15-20 minutes for reviewing your answers.

Q7. Can anyone share tips on how to tackle the theoretical concepts in the GATE Statistics syllabus?

Break down complex theories into manageable parts, summarizing key points in your own words. Use flashcards for definitions and theorems. Teaching concepts to a peer can reinforce your understanding and retention.

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