What is GATE?
Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) is an all India entrance Examination conducted jointly by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore and the seven Indian Institutes of Technology (at Bombay, Delhi, Guwahati, Kanpur, Kharagpur, Madras, and Roorkee). It is conducted every year in the month of February.The GATE Score/Rank is mandatory for admission into and/or financial assistance to Master’s programs and direct Doctoral programs in Engineering/Technology/Architecture in IISc, IITs and other prestigious Institutes / Universities in India. The GATE Score is also used by many PSUs for the recruitment of candidates into prestigious jobs with attractive salary packages. Some of the PSUs which use GATE score for providing jobs include BARC, BHEL, IOCL, HPCL, NTPC, Powergrid, NHPC etc.
GATE is an exam that primarily tests the comprehensive understanding of the candidate in various undergraduate subjects in Engineering/Technology/Architecture and post-graduate level subjects in Science. The GATE score reflects the relative performance level of the candidate in a particular subject. GATE score is valid for THREE years.
GATE Exam is conducted in 24 subjects shown in the table below:
| Exam Paper | General |
| Aerospace Engineering | AE |
| Agricultural Engineering | AG |
| Architecture and Planning | AR |
| Biotechnology | BT |
| Civil Engineering | CE |
| Chemical Engineering | CH |
| Computer Science & Information Technology | CS |
| Chemistry | CY |
| Electronics and Communication Engineering | EC |
| Electrical Engineering | EE |
| Ecology & Evolution | EY |
| Geology and Geophysics | GG |
| Exam Paper | General |
| Instrumentation Engineering | IN |
| Mathematics | MA |
| Mechanical Engineering | ME |
| Mining Engineering | MN |
| Metallurgical Engineering | MT |
| Petroleum Engineering | PE |
| Physics | PH |
| Production and Industrial Engineering | PI |
| Statistics | ST |
| Textile Engineering & Fiber Science | TF |
| Engineering Sciences | XE |
| Life Sciences | XL |
Eligibility for GATE 2019
| Qualifying Degree | Qualifying Degree / Examination |
Description of Eligible Candidates |
Year of Qualification not later than |
| B.E./ B.Tech./ B. Pharm. |
Bachelor’s degree holders in Engineering/ Technology (4 years after 10+2 or 3 years after B.Sc./Diploma in Engineering /Technology) |
Currently in the Final Year or already completed |
2019 |
| B. Arch. | Bachelor’s degree holders of Architecture (5 years course) |
Currently in the Final Year or already completed |
2019 |
| B.Sc. (Research)/ B.S |
Bachelor’s degree in Science (Post-Diploma/4 years after 10+2) |
Currently in the 4th year or already completed |
2019 |
| Pharm.D (After 10+2) |
6 years program, consisting of intership or residency training during sixth year |
Currently in the 4th / 5th / 6th year already completed |
2021 |
| M. Sc./ M.A./MCA or equivalent |
Master’s degree in any branch of Science /Mathematics/Statistics/ Computer Applications or equivalent |
Currently in the final Year or already completed |
2019 |
| Int. M.E./ M.Tech. (Post-B.Sc.) |
Post-B.s.c Integrated Master’s Degree Programs in Engineering Technology (4 years program) |
Currently in the 2nd/ 3rd/ 4th Year or already completed |
2021 |
| Int. M.E./ M.Tech. or Dual Degree (after Diploma or 10+2) |
Integrated Master’s degree program or Dual Degree program in Engineering/Technology (5 years program) |
Currently in the 4th / 5th year or already completed |
2020 |
| Int. M.Sc./ Int. B.S.-M.S. |
Integrated M.Sc. or 5 years integrated B.S.-M.S. program |
Currently in the final Year or already completed |
2019 |
| Professional Society Examinations* (equivalent to B.E./B.Tech./B. Arch.) |
B.E./B.Tech./B.Arch. equivalent examinations of Professional Societies, recognized by MHRD/UPSC/AICTE (e.g., AMIE by Institution of Engineers India, AMICE by the Institute of Civil Engineers-India and so on) |
Completed Section A or equivalent of such professional courses |
NA |
* Some of these Professional Societies / Institutions, which conduct examination in various fields of engineering are as follows:
- The Institution of Engineers (India) (IE)
- The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE)
- The Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers (IETE)
- The Aeronautical Society of India (AeSI)
- The Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers, including Polymer and Environmental Group (IIChemE)
- The Indian Institute of Metals (IIM)
- The Indian Institute of Industrial Engineers (IIE)
However, the candidates who possess certification from any of the professional societies must ensure that those examinations conducted by the societies are approved by MHRD/AICTE as equivalent to B.E./B.Tech./B.Arch.
Pattern of Questions:
GATE 2020 would contain questions of two different types in all the papers:
(i) Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) carrying 1 or 2 marks each in all the papers and sections. These questions are objective in nature, and each will have a choice of four answers, out of which the candidate has to select (mark) the correct answer.
Negative Marking for Wrong Answers: For a wrong answer chosen in a MCQ, there will be negative marking. For 1-mark MCQ, 1/3 mark will be deducted for a wrong answer. Likewise, for 2-mark MCQ, 2/3 mark will be deducted for a wrong answer.
(ii) Numerical Answer Type (NAT) Questions carrying 1 or 2 marks each in all the papers and sections. For these questions, the answer is a signed real number, which needs to be entered by the candidate using the virtual numeric keypad on the monitor (keyboard of the computer will be disabled). No choices will be shown for these type of questions. The answer can be a number such as 10 or -10 (an integer only). The answer may be in decimals as well, for example, 10.1 (one decimal) or 10.01 (two decimals) or -10.001 (three decimals). These questions will be mentioned with, up to which decimal places, the candidates need to present the answer. Also, for some NAT type problems an appropriate range will be considered while evaluating the numerical answer type questions so that the candidate is not unduly penalized due to the usual round-off errors. Wherever required and possible, it is better to give NAT answer up to a maximum of three decimal places.
There is NO negative marking for a wrong answer in NAT questions
GATE 2019: Exam Paper and Category wise Qualifying Marks
| Exam Paper | General | OBC | SC | ST |
| Electronics Engineering | 26.7 | 24 | 17.8 | 89.00 |
| Electrical Engineering | 39.6 | 35.6 | 26.4 | 97.33 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 34.1 | 30.7 | 22.7 | 94.75 |
| Civil Engineering | 28.2 | 25.4 | 18.8 | 87.70 |
| Computer Science & IT | 29.5 | 26.6 | 19.7 | 88.67 |
| Instrumentation Engineering | 31.9 | 28.7 | 21.3 | 83.00 |
| Production Engineering | 32.2 | 29 | 21.5 | 78.00 |
Electronics & Communication Engineering
| Year | General | OBC(NCL) | SC/ST/PWD | All India 1st Rank |
| 2019 | 26.7 | 24 | 17.8 | 89 |
| 2018 | 25 | 22.5 | 16.6 | 73.67 |
| 2017 | 25 | 22.5 | 16.6 | 83.83 |
| 2016 | 25 | 22.5 | 16.6 | — |
| 2015 | 25 | 22.5 | 16.6 | — |
Electrical Engineering
| Year | General | OBC(NCL) | SC/ST/PWD | All India 1st Rank |
| 2019 | 39.6 | 35.6 | 26.4 | 97.33 |
| 2018 | 29.1 | 26.1 | 19.4 | 90.33 |
| 2017 | 25.2 | 22.5 | 16.7 | 81.25 |
| 2016 | 25.1 | 22.5 | 16.7 | — |
| 2015 | 25 | 22.5 | 16.6 | — |
Mechanical Engineering
| Year | General | OBC(NCL) | SC/ST/PWD | All India 1st Rank |
| 2019 | 34.1 | 30.7 | 22.7 | 94.75 |
| 2018 | 34.7 | 31.2 | 23.1 | 96.83 |
| 2017 | 32.7 | 29.4 | 21.8 | 94.85 |
| 2016 | 26.6 | 29.6 | 19.7 | — |
| 2015 | 32.73 | 29.46 | 21.82 | — |
Civil Engineering
| Year | General | OBC(NCL) | SC/ST/PWD | ALL India 1st Rank |
| 2019 | 28.2 | 25.4 | 18.8 | 87.70 |
| 2018 | 26.9 | 24.2 | 17.9 | 91.29 |
| 2017 | 28.7 | 25.8 | 19.1 | 92.94 |
| 2016 | 25 | 22.5 | 16.6 | — |
| 2015 | 25 | 22.5 | 16.67 | — |
Computer Scinece & IT
| Year | General | OBC(NCL) | SC/ST/PWD | All India 1st Rank |
| 2019 | 29.5 | 26.6 | 19.7 | 88.67 |
| 2018 | 25 | 22.5 | 16.6 | 83.33 |
| 2017 | 25 | 22.5 | 16.6 | 86.38 |
| 2016 | 25 | 22.5 | 16.6 | — |
| 2015 | 25 | 22.5 | 16.6 | — |
Instrumentation Engineering
| Year | General | OBC(NCL) | SC/ST/PWD | All India 1st Rank |
| 2019 | 31.9 | 28.7 | 21.3 | 83 |
| 2018 | 37.1 | 33.3 | 24.7 | 92.67 |
| 2017 | 34.6 | 31.1 | 23 | 89.68 |
| 2016 | 31.6 | 28.4 | 21 | |
| 2015 | 25.45 | 22.9 | 16.96 | — |
Production Engineering
| Year | General | OBC(NCL) | SC/ST/PWD | ALL India 1st Rank |
| 2019 | 32.2 | 29 | 21.5 | 78 |
| 2018 | 32 | 28.8 | 21.3 | 88.00 |
| 2017 | 33.1 | 29.7 | 22.0 | 89.68 |
| 2016 | 26.4 | 23.7 | 17.5 | — |
| 2015 | 26.82 | 24.14 | 17.88 | — |
To get detailed insights into how to prepare for GATE exam click on the video link given below
