GATE Exam Complete Guide

Everything you need to know about GATE – eligibility, preparation, marks, rank, and career opportunities.

What is GATE Exam?

GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering) is a national-level exam conducted by IITs and IISc. It is used for M.Tech admissions and PSU recruitment.

Who Can Apply?

B.Tech / BE students (3rd year, final year)
Graduated students
All engineering branches

GATE Exam Pattern

Total Marks: 100
General Aptitude: 15 Marks
Core Subjects: 85 Marks
Duration: 3 Hours
MCQ, MSQ, NAT Questions

Types of Questions

MCQ: Negative marking
MSQ: No negative marking
NAT: No negative marking

Negative Marking

1 Mark → -0.33
2 Mark → -0.66

Marks vs Rank

Marks	Rank	College
70+	Top 100	IITs
60+	Top 500	Top IITs
50+	Top 1500	IIT/NIT
40+	Top 5000	NIT

Category Cutoff

Category	Marks
General	25–30
OBC/EWS	22–27
SC/ST	15–20

Preparation Strategy

Understand syllabus
Make notes
Practice PYQs
Give mock tests
Revise regularly

Career After GATE

M.Tech

IITs, NITs with stipend

PSU Jobs

ONGC, IOCL, BHEL, NTPC

Research

PhD and higher studies

ISRO / DRDO

Government research organizations

Common Mistakes

No PYQs
No revision
No mock tests