Analogy ESE GATE
Purpose Recruitment test :
For central government jobs
(Govt. of India) in various Engineering Departments.

Entrance test :

  • For admissions to higher education
    • ME/ M. Tech / MS / Ph.d
    • PG Diploma in Mgnt.
  • For jobs in
    • PSUs
Who Conducts? UPSC, New Delhi IISc Bengaluru / Any of seven old IITs
Syllabus Almost Maximum of
Engineering Graduate Syllabus + GS
and Engineering Aptitude.
Part of Engineering Graduate Syllabus + Numerical
and Verbal Ability.
Exam Papers

ESE exam is conducted in four streams

  1. Civil Engineering
  2. Mechanical Engg.
  3. Electrical Engg.
  4. E&TC Engineering.
GATE exam is conducted in 27 Papers. (as per GATE 2020)
including both Engineering and Non-Engineering.
Examination Mode Offline Exam Online (CBT) Exam.
Exam Pattern

ESE exam is of 3 tier

  1. Preliminary (obj. type) 500 marks
  2. Mains (Conventional type) 600 marks
  3. Personal Interview 200 marks.

GATE exam is of only Objective type questions.

  1. Multiple Choice Questions
  2. Numerical answer Questions.
  3. Multiple Select Questions
Use of Calculator
  • Is not allowed in Preliminary examination.
  • Is allowed in Main examination.
Virtual calculator will be provided
(Physical programmable calculator not allowed).
Negative Marks?
  • 1/3 of marks allotted in prelims.
  • No negative marks in Main examination.
  • 1/3 of marks allotted for Multiple choice Questions.
  • No negative marks for Numerical answer questions.
  • No Negative marks for Multiple Select Questions.
Time Duration
  • Prelims (one day – two sessions)
    • GS & EA
    • (2 hr, 100 Questions, 200 marks)
    • (Technical 3 hours 150 Questions 300 marks)

Main exam:
Two sessions of each three hours one of the 4 streams
mentioned above on same day. 300 Marks for each.

3 hours (One specified session on a particular day)
100 Marks (30 One mark + 35 two marks)
Types of Questions
  • Prelims more of conceptual based, majority theoretical
    questions from wide spectrum of the syllabus.
  • Main is more of numerical oriented.
  • More numerical oriented.
  • Stronger fundamentals (basic concepts).
  • Application based.
Time Management
  • In prelims for one question approximately 1.2 minutes
    is available.Hence, speed and accuracy are important.
  • Need not run for all questions.
  • In main conventional papers being QCAB format, Practice
    of writing with in the available space in the available time
    is a deciding factor.
  • In GATE exam, approximately 1.8 minutes is available
    for one mark question, 3.6 minutes for two marks
    question are available.
  • On an average 2.7 minutes per question are available. Hence,
    Time is not the major constraint compared to ESE Prelims.
Competition ratio
  • Competition ratio in terms of the number of vacancies
    versus the number of candidates appearing the examination
    is about 1:300.
  • From Prelims exam the qualifying ratio varies from 1: 6 to 1:8
    for main examination.
  • From main exam the qualifying ratio to personal interview is about
    1:2 to 1:2.5
Competition ratio in terms of the number of candidates
qualified versus the number of candidates appearing the
examination is nearly 1:7. (approximately 15% of the
candidates appearing). Hence, qualifying in GATE exam
is relatively easy compared to ESE.

Special note to 3rd and final year students of B.E / B. Tech

Summer short term Batches: For GATE about 50 to 60 days will be arranged at Hyderabad & Delhi. These batches will be arranged during the summer vacation of the students. This will be very much useful for 3rd, final year & passed-out (who cannot stay for long time) students who cannot take long-term regular batches.

Winter short term Batches: For GATE about 50 to 65 days will be arranged at Hyderabad. These batches will be arranged during the winter vacation of the students. This will be very much useful for 3rd, final year & passed-out (who cannot stay for long time) students who cannot take long-term regular batches.