# Prepare for GATE > A three-hour, 65-question computer-based test in February for M.Tech admission and PSU recruitment — the marking scheme, the paper choice, and a 6–8 month plan. - **Section:** Entrance exams · **Region:** India · **Difficulty:** hard - **Time:** 6–8 months · registration Aug–Sep · exam February · results March - **Cost:** ₹1,000 (women/SC/ST/PwD) or ₹2,000 (others) per paper - **You end up with:** A GATE score valid for three years, used for IIT/NIT M.Tech, PSU jobs and some fellowships - **Last reviewed:** 2026-09-05 · **Canonical:** https://for.do/p/gate/ ## Before you start - Third year or later of an undergraduate degree in engineering, science, architecture, humanities or commerce, as the paper requires GATE is organised each year by one of the IITs (IIT Guwahati for 2026) for the IITs and IISc jointly, and its score doubles as a recruitment filter for public-sector companies. The paper is long on concepts and short on tricks, which makes it one of the fairest exams to prepare for — provided you respect the marking scheme. ## 1. Choose your paper (or two) - [ ] Pick the paper matching your degree or target M.Tech; check the permitted two-paper combinations if you want a second. - [ ] Download the official syllabus for the paper; it is exhaustive and the exam rarely steps outside it. ## 2. Register on the GATE Online Application Processing System - [ ] Registration runs late August to September (with a late-fee extension); apply on the organising IIT's GATE site. - [ ] Fee ₹1,000 for women, SC, ST and PwD; ₹2,000 for others — per paper. - [ ] Upload photo, signature and ID exactly to spec; defects are the main cause of rejected applications. ## 3. Cover the syllabus with one source per subject - [ ] Standard textbooks or one video series per subject; finish concepts by month four. - [ ] Engineering Mathematics (where included) and General Aptitude are shared scoring areas — do not skip them. - [ ] Solve the last 10–15 years of GATE questions topic-wise; repeats and near-repeats are common. ## 4. Practise with the marking scheme in mind - [ ] MCQ: attempt only at high confidence (negative marking). MSQ and NAT: always attempt. - [ ] Use the official virtual calculator in every mock; it is slower than a physical one and that matters at NAT questions. - [ ] From month five, one full mock a week at the real slot time. ## 5. Exam day - [ ] Sessions run on February weekends in forenoon and afternoon slots; carry the admit card and original ID. - [ ] Do General Aptitude first for 15 quick marks, then the core in the order of your strengths. ## 6. Use the score - [ ] Results in mid-March; scorecards download from the portal. - [ ] M.Tech admission goes through COAP (IITs) and CCMT (NITs/IIITs) with the score; PSUs open separate applications that ask for the GATE registration number. ## Where people get this wrong - Guessing MCQs. One-mark MCQs lose ⅓, two-mark MCQs lose ⅔; MSQ and NAT questions carry no negative — so guess only on those. - Ignoring General Aptitude. It is 15 marks of 100 and the most predictable part of the paper; a weak GA score is entirely avoidable. - Choosing a second paper on a whim. You may sit two papers only in permitted combinations, and each costs the full fee. - Practising on a keyboard-and-paper mix. The virtual calculator on screen is the only one allowed; practise with it. ## Questions **What is the pattern?** 65 questions, 100 marks, 3 hours, computer-based: 10 General Aptitude questions (15 marks) and 55 from the chosen paper (85 marks). Question types are MCQ, MSQ and NAT. **Negative marking?** MCQ only: −⅓ for a 1-mark question, −⅔ for a 2-mark question. No negative for MSQ or NAT. **How long is the score valid?** Three years from the result date for admissions; PSUs usually require the current year's score. ## Tools used - [GATE application portal (GOAPS)](https://find.do/t/gate-goaps/) (official) — The organising IIT's portal for GATE registration, admit cards and results. ## Sources - [GATE 2026 — IIT Guwahati (official)](https://gate2026.iitg.ac.in) - [CollegeDekho — GATE 2026 exam pattern](https://www.collegedekho.com/exam/gate/exam-pattern) - [Collegedunia — GATE exam pattern](https://collegedunia.com/exams/gate/exam-pattern)