The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) is an examination that primarily tests the comprehensive understanding of various undergraduate subjects in engineering and science. It is conducted jointly by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and seven Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) on behalf of the National Coordination Board – GATE, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), Government of India. The test is conducted every year in the month of February.
Eligibility: To be eligible to appear for GATE, a candidate must have completed, or be in the final year of, any of the following educational qualifications: -Bachelor’s degree in Engineering/Technology (4 years after 10+2 or 3 years after B.Sc./Diploma in Engineering/Technology) -Bachelor’s degree in Architecture (Five years course) -Master’s degree in any branch of Science/Mathematics/Statistics/Computer Applications or equivalent -Candidate in the second or higher year of Four-year Integrated Master’s degree (Post-B.Sc.) in Engineering/Technology -Candidate in the fourth or higher year of Five-year Integrated Master’s degree or Dual Degree in Engineering/Technology -Candidate with qualifications obtained through examination conducted by professional societies recognized by UPSC/AICTE (e.g. AMIE by Institution of Engineers-India, AMICE by the Institute of Civil Engineers-India) as equivalent to B.E./B.Tech.
Exam Pattern: -The exam is conducted in an online mode (computer-based test) and is of a total duration of 3 hours. -The test has a total of 65 questions, out of which 10 questions are in the General Aptitude (GA) section and 55 questions are from the candidate’s chosen subject. -The GA section has a total of 15 marks, while the remaining 85 marks are for the subject paper. -The questions are of multiple-choice format, with a choice of four options. -For each correct answer, the candidate is awarded 1 or 2 marks, while there is a penalty of 1/3 marks for an incorrect answer.
Scoring and Validity: -The GATE score is valid for a period of three years from the date of announcement of the results. -The score is used for admissions to postgraduate programs (e.g. M.E., M.Tech, Direct Ph.D.) in Indian institutes of higher education with financial assistance provided by the MHRD and other government agencies. -Additionally, many public sector and private sector companies also use the GATE score for recruiting engineers in their organizations.
GATE 2021: The GATE 2021 was conducted on the 6th and 7th February 2021, and the result was declared on the 22nd March 2021. It was the 34th edition of the test. The GATE 2021 will be organized by Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay.
Preparing for GATE: Preparation for GATE requires a strong foundation in the relevant undergraduate subjects, as well as a good understanding of the exam pattern and syllabus. Practice with previous years’ question papers, mock tests, and studying from GATE-specific study materials and books can also be helpful.
Hope that gives you a fair idea of the GATE examination and its pattern. Let us know if there’s anything more specific I can help you with.