Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) Entrance — Overview, exam pattern, eligibility & procedure to apply

Looking for admissions in top IITs of India? Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) is an all India Entrance Exam conducted in eight zones across the country, jointly by Indian Institute of Science and seven IITs under Ministry of HRD, Government of India. Here is the eight zones and the corresponding administrative institutes.


Zone 1: Indian Institute of Science Bangalore
Zone 2: Indian Intitute of Technology Bombay
Zone 3: Indian Intitute of Technology Delhi
Zone 4: Indian Intitute of Technology Guwahati
Zone 5: Indian Intitute of Technology Kanpur
Zone 6: Indian Intitute of Technology Kharagpur
Zone 7: Indian Intitute of Technology Madras
Zone 8: Indian Intitute of Technology Roorkee

Why GATE exam is required? — Know the reasons and importance

The objective of GATE exam is to facilitate candidates, to get admissions for Post Graduate Programs in Engineering, Technology, Architecture and Pharmacy at National Level and for Doctoral programs in relevant branches with attractive scholarship for GATE qualified candidates.

Public Sector recruitment through GATE Scores is the latest in job sector, as you see in GAIL, NTPC, IOCL, BPCL, HPCL, MECON, BHEL and other PSUs which uses GATE scores as their base for selection process in recruitment of Engineer vacancies.

Even top self financing colleges in India prefers GATE qualified candidates. Also, if you are a GATE qualified candidate interested to get enrolled in Ph.D, then you have the exemption from PhD Entrance Test.

Know the eligibility for GATE Entrance Exam

Candidates who falls in the categories mentioned below are eligible to appear for GATE entrance exam.

• B.E / B.Tech / B.Arch / B.Pharm (Post-Diploma / Post B.Sc / 4 years after 10+2) are eligible. Also those who are in the 4th year can also apply.
• B.S (Post Diploma / 4 years after 10+2) are eligible.Also those who are in the 4th year can apply.
• M.Sc / M.A/ MCA or equivalent are eligible. Also candidates of final year are eligible.
• Integrated M.E/M.Tech (Post BSc) are eligible. Also candidates who are in the 2nd /3rd or 4th year can apply.
• Integrated M.E / M.Tech or Dual Degree (after Diploma or 10+2) are eligible. Also candidates who are in the 4th or 5th year are also eligible to apply.
• Integrated M.Sc / Integrated B.S.-M.S. program are eligible. Also candidates who are in the final year are eligible. Also the candidates who are in the final year can apply.
• Professional Society Examinations equivalent to B.E/B.Tech/B.Arch recognized by MHRD / UPSC/ AICTE are eligible. Also candidates who completed Section A or equivalent are eligible.

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GATE exam papers, pattern and syllabus

GATE exam structure and pattern: Online CBT is conducted for all the 22 papers and you can apply for only one paper. The GATE exam consists of a single paper which contains 65 questions carrying total of 100 marks. Time duration to complete GATE exam is 3 hours. GATE entrance exam question paper is of both MCQ and numerical answer type. For MCQ type you need to select the answer from the given options and for numerical answer type, you need to use the mouse select answer on virtual keyboard.

List of GATE Papers: There will be 22 exam papers for GATE exam out of which you can apply for only one. Sometimes new changes in GATE exam will be implemented, so you need to look out for latest GATE notification for what is new in GATE for the current year. Here is something new in GATE 2014 in which a new GATE paper Ecology and Evolution is introduced.

Here is the list of GATE papers and its corresponding codes for your reference.

• Aerospace Engineering - AE
• Agricultural Engineering - AG
• Architecture and Planning - AR
• Biotechnology - BT
• Civil Engineering - CE
• Chemical Engineering - CH
• Computer Science and Information Technology - CS
• Chemistry - CY
• Electronics and Communication Engineering - EC
• Electrical Engineering - EE
• Ecology and Evolution - EY
• Geology and Geophysics - GG
• Instrumentation Engineering - IN
• Mathematics - MA
• Mechanical Engineering - ME
• Mining Engineering - MN
• Metallurgical Engineering - MT
• Physics - PH
• Production and Industrial Engineering - PI
• Textile Engineering and Fibre Science - TF
• Engineering Sciences - XE
• Life Sciences - XL

All the exam papers for GATE entrance have few questions on General Aptitude apart from the core subject of relevant paper.

GATE Exam XE Paper: If you wish to appear for XE paper for GATE then you need to answer Section A Engineering Mathematics, General Aptitude (both are compulsory) and you have the option to take any two of the following from XE paper section (Fluid Mechanics, Materials Science, Solid Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Polymer Science and Engineering, Food Technology) after viewing the questions at the time of exam.

GATE Exam XL Paper: If you wish to appear for XL paper for GATE, then you need to attend Section H Chemistry, General Aptitude (both are compulsory) and select the option to choose any two from the following XL paper Section (Biochemistry, Botany, Microbiology, Zoology, Food Technology) after viewing the questions at the time of exam.

Procedure to apply for GATE Entrance Exam

GATE entrance exam applications are accepted online only. Visit the official website of GATE and click the link new user register here. Duly fill the online application form for GATE exam and upload your photograph and signature. Pay the prescribed fees either through net banking or through bank challan (SBI or Syndicate Bank). Take the print out of the submitted application form. Have one copy with you for your record. Then the printed application form along with relevant documents should be sent to the Zonal Office as mentioned in the printed address slip that comes along with the pdf file of the form by the way of Speed post or registered post before the prescribed last date mentioned in the GATE notification.

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