GATE – Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering

Overview

The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) is a highly competitive national-level exam conducted jointly by IISc Bangalore and the IITs for admission to postgraduate programs in Engineering, Technology, Architecture, and various science disciplines. It assesses a candidate’s understanding of core subjects, analytical thinking, and problem-solving ability based on undergraduate-level concepts. GATE scores are widely accepted for admission to M.Tech, M.E., M.Arch, and Ph.D. programs in top institutions such as IITs, NITs, IIITs, and government-funded institutes. In addition to academic admissions, the GATE score is also a major criterion for recruitment by Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) like NTPC, IOCL, ONGC, BHEL, and others, making it a valuable career gateway.

Exam Pattern

Duration of exam: Total 3 hours (180 minutes) is allotted for the exam.
No. of questions: 65 questions in total
Marks distribution: Total Marks: 100, General Aptitude: 15 marks, Engineering Mathematics (for selected papers): 13 marks, Core Subject: 72 marks
Marking scheme: MCQs: +1 or +2 for correct answers, –1/3 negative marking for 1-mark questions, –2/3 negative marking for 2-mark questions, NAT (Numerical Answer Type): No negative marking, MSQ (Multiple Select Questions): No negative marking

Syllabus

Common sections across most papers:

General Aptitude
Engineering Mathematics (varies by paper)
Core Subject Topics (paper-specific)

Exam Registration & Eligibility Details

Registration: Candidates can register for GATE online through the GATE Online Application Processing System (GOAPS).
Eligibility: Candidates must have completed or be in the final year of a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering/Technology/Science/Architecture. No age limit. Students from arts/commerce backgrounds may apply for select interdisciplinary GATE papers (e.g., XH, MA).
Documents Required: Recent passport-size photograph, Signature, Graduation certificate/semester mark sheet, Category certificate (if applicable), PwD certificate (if applicable), Valid photo ID (Aadhar, Passport, Voter ID, etc.)
Exam fee: General/OBC Male: ₹1,800, Female / SC / ST / PwD: ₹900, International candidates: Fee varies by center
(Late fees apply beyond deadline.)

Selection Process

After the results are announced, candidates are shortlisted based on GATE scores for M.Tech/M.E./Ph.D. admissions through COAP (for IITs) or CCMT (for NITs and other institutions). PSUs may directly shortlist candidates for interviews or group discussions based on their GATE score cutoffs. The final selection depends on GATE rank, academic performance, and institute-specific criteria.

F.A.Q