Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering or GATE is an online national level examination conducted for Master of Engineering (ME), Masters in Technology (MTech) and direct PhD admissions to Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), National Institutes of Technology (NITs), Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs) and other institutes/universities across India. The exam is jointly conducted by IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Guwahati, IIT Kanpur, IIT Kharagpur, IIT Madras, IIT Roorkee and Indian Institute for Science, Bangalore (IISC Bangalore), on a rotational basis on behalf of the National Coordination Board (NCB - GATE), Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Human Resource & Development (MHRD), Government of India.
In 2022, the GATE exam will be conducted online by IIT Kharagpur tentatively in February. The registration process for this exam is likely to begin in the first week of September and will end in the first week of October 2021.
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Admission to postgraduate programmes with government scholarships/assistantships in engineering colleges/Institutes/Universities is open to those who qualify through this test. Apart from admissions to MTech/ME/MS courses, GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering) is also the qualifying test for many public sector undertakings (PSUs) such as BHEL, NTPC, IOCL etc. So, if you want a high paying job with the security of a PSU, GATE is the only option for you.
Check PSUs accepting GATE scores for recruitment!
After completion of the GATE examination, students are allowed to challenge the answers published by the organiser by paying a nominal fee to avoid non-serious challenges. This GATE score is valid for three years and all the registration process is online. The test is conducted online for all the 29 streams and has numerical questions and answers along with multiple-choice questions.
Implications for aspirants
- As the student is not permitted to carry a scientific calculator to the exam centre the student will have to get used to virtual scientific calculators not having enough practice may consume more time while at the examination centre.
- With the exam being conducted online, a lot of practice would be needed for students to familiarise themselves with the computer-based test. A peculiar problem that can arise while giving a GATE exam, is that some questions might need work to be done on a complicated figure/diagram (in case of a paper-based test the same can be done on the question paper itself), is that of replicating the diagram. Students might need to practice that.
- With the test having numerical answer questions, wherein one has to enter an answer, instead of choosing between four options, guesswork is eliminated and hence one cannot bet on luck or a solution based on the elimination of wrong options.
GATE Preparation Tips for aspirants
Set your goals: Different goals have different strategies and hence it is important to define your goals in terms of the rank you want to achieve. If you are aspiring for the top IITs or PSUs, you will need a rank below 1,000. So, prepare thoroughly on all topics. On the other hand, if your goal is to just qualify, then you can afford to leave out a few topics from your preparation.
Take a diagnostic test: Before starting your preparation it is important to know your initial level of competence. An analysis of your performance in this test will help you find out your strengths and weakness. Based on this, you can devise your preparation strategy.
Build your concepts: GATE tests your concepts as well as their application thoroughly. Join a good classroom programme or an online tutoring programme which will help strengthen your concepts.
Practice makes a man perfect: As the old adage goes, there is nothing better than extensive practice. Solve all types of questions you come across in various books and be prepared on all question patterns.
Familiarise with formulae: Engineering subjects have a lot of formulae, which more often than not have to be memorised. Noting down all formulae as and when you finish each topic or referring to a collection of formulae will help you get familiar.
Focus on high-return topics: Engineering Mathematics and General Ability constitute 30 per cent of the total marks and are relatively easier to score in. You could look at some online lectures to prepare for these topics.
Appear in a mock-test series: Take up a mock-test series as it will help you adapt to the online pattern. It will also help you assess your preparation and based on the test analysis you can focus on areas that you are weak in. It will also give you exhaustive practice on different types of questions.
Make your own exam strategy: Based on your experiments in the mock test series, you can fine-tune your own exam strategy. Some people like to start solving a paper from the first question, while some people like to glance through the entire paper and start answering questions from their areas of strength.
Relax before the exam: One day before GATE, stop thinking about it. Watch a movie or anything that relaxes you. Appear for the exam with a fresh mind.
It is not the end of the world: Put your best foot forward and do not worry excessively about the results.
About the author:
Abhijit Chaudari is the Director at GATEFORUM
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This account contains a repository of informative articles by external authors with domain expertise in various aspects of guiding students on how to go about pursuing their undergraduate and postgraduate studies in... Read Full Bio
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Student Forum
Answered Yesterday
Yes, as an official notification released by IIIT Bhopal, admission to M.Tech (Part Time) courses is not entrance-based. Candidates seeking admission to M.Tech (Part Time) courses are not required to present a valid score in GATE. Such candidates can directly apply for the preferred course on the in
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 days ago
Yes, GATE is compulsory for MTech course at KJ Somaiya Institute of Engineering and Information Technology. As per the admission guidelines, admission to the M.Tech course is subject to a valid score in the GATE exam. Candidates must secure a non zero positive score in Graduates Aptitude Test in Eng
J
Beginner-Level 4
Answered 3 days ago
Candidates seeking M.Tech admission at IIIT Guwahati are required to apply with a valid GATE score. However, merely having a valid entrance test score does not guarantee admission. Once all the students have applied, the institute's admission committee screens all the applications and shortlists stu
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
Yes most probably you can get admission in NIT durgapur with 365 marks in GATE but it also depends on the toughness of the paper correct data is not revealed yet but you can use rank predicter of shikha you can use any rank predicter but according to me rank predicter of shikha is gives accurate res
A
Contributor-Level 6
Answered a week ago
Hii, Admission to IIITDM Kancheepuram for M.Tech programs through GATE depends on the specific cutoff percentile, which varies yearly based on factors like the program, applicant pool, and seat availability. A 70 percentile in GATE might be considered for certain programs if the cutoff for that year
A
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
Yes, candidates belonging to SC/ST/PwD category, are required to submit the category certificate while filling in the GATE 2025 application form.
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
No, qualifying in GATE or NET is not mandatory for M.Tech admissions at MANIT Bhopal. Candidates are selected based on their eligibility in the respective categories and an interview, though GATE/NET scores can enhance the chances of admission
a
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
Yes, it may be possible to join M.Pharma at NSHM without GATE if the institute offers alternative admission routes, such as direct admission based on academic performance or other entrance tests. However, candidates with GATE/GPAT scores often get preference and scholarships
U
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 2 weeks ago
The GATE score for M.Tech in IIT Bhubaneswar is as follows:
Course | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
---|---|---|---|
M.Tech. in Computer Science and Engineering | 429 | 373 | 352 |
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
Yes, a student can wait for the next cutoff round without losing their current seat at IIIT Allahabad by opting for the float or slide option during JoSAA/CSAB counseling. These options secure the current seat while allowing consideration for better preferences in subsequent rounds. If no better sea
N
Contributor-Level 6
Can I take admission in IIIT Bhopal M.Tech (Part Time) without GATE?