Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering is one of the most prestigious and popular entrance exams in India. With over 10 lakhs applicants on average every year, one has to wonder about the importance of this examination and how one should prepare for it. Before getting into deeper insights about how to prepare for the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering, let us take a few steps back and understand basic aspects about it.
What is the GATE Exam?
Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering/ GATE exam is for admissions to various science and technology post-graduate programs in India. It is an entrance exam conducted annually. IISc Bangalore & the 7 IITs jointly conduct the entrance exam. More than 8.5 Lakh aspirants seat for the exam for pursuing different courses.
Who Conducts the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering?
Administration and conduction of the exam are supervised jointly by the Indian Institute of Science (IISCs) and seven Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) on behalf of the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), Government of India. Every year one IIT or IISc is selected as the Organizing Institute.
When is the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering Conducted?
Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering is usually held on weekends starting from the last week of January or 1st week of February. There could be multiple sessions for some of the streams. Forenoon sessions would be usually conducted from 9 am to 12 noon and the Afternoon Session will be conducted from 2 pm to 5 pm.
What is the Eligibility Criteria for the GATE Examination?
The following individuals are eligible to take the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering.
# Bachelor’s degree holders in Engineering/ Technology/ Architecture (4 years after 10+2/ Post-B.Sc./ Post-Diploma) and those who are in the final year of such programs.
# Master’s degree holders in any branch of Science/ Mathematics/ Statistics/ Computer Applications or equivalent and those who are in the final year of such programs.
# Candidates in the second or higher year of Four-year integrated master’s degree programs (Post-B.Sc.) in Engineering/ Technology.
# Candidates in the fourth or higher year of five-year integrated master’s degree programs or dual degree programs in Engineering/ Technology.
# Candidates with qualifications obtained through examinations conducted by professional societies recognized by UPSC/ AICTE (e.g. AMIE by iE (i), AMICE (i) by the Institute of Civil Engineers (India)-iCE (i)) as equivalent to B.E./ B.Tech.
Those who have completed section A or equivalent of such professional courses, also clear the eligibility criteria for the entrance examination.
Also Read: How to Prepare for GATE Soil Mechanics for CE? A Guide for GATE Preparations
What is GATE Exam Duration?
The examination is of 3 hours duration and contains a total of 65 questions worth a maximum of 100 marks. Candidates are provided with blank paper sheets for rough work and these have to be returned after the examination. At the end of the 3-hour window, the computer automatically closes the screen from further actions.
GATE Exam Pattern for 2022
| How will the GATE exam 2022 be conducted? | It will be through online mode. |
| The GATE exam pattern has how many questions? | 65 |
| Total marks in GATE exam 2022 | 100 |
| What will be the types of questions? | multiple-choice questions/ MCQ |
| How many sections are there in GATE papers? | Three GATE papers that include General Aptitude, Engineering Mathematics and Subject Specification Section.
Note- Chemistry will be compulsory for Life Science (XL) Paper in place of Engineering Mathematics. |
| GATE exam duration | 3 Hours. |
| Is there any sectional time limit in the GATE exam pattern? | No. |
| GATE exam 2022 marking scheme | MCQ type of questions. 1 and 2 marks get added for correct answers. In case of wrong answers, 1/ 3 mark gets deducted for 1 mark types of questions and for 2 questions holding 2 marks, 2/ 3 marks get deducted for each wrong answer. |
Application Form for GATE Exam 2022
IIT Bombay is the organising institute for the GATE exam 2022. Tentatively, the application form for the 2022 exam will be realised by IIT Bombay in the last week of August 2020. The registration will be through online mode, so aspirants do not have to worry about travelling in this pandemic situation.
Aspirants who match the eligibility criteria for the GATE exam 2022, can keep checking the official website to know the latest news regarding the application form.
GATE Exam 2022 Dates
| Events | GATE Exam Dates |
| GATE 2022 application form correction | October 26 to November 1, 2021 |
| Release of GATE mock test | To be notified |
| Admit card release date | January 3, 2022 |
| GATE 2022 exam date | February 5, 6, 12 and 13, 2022 |
| Release of GATE response sheets | To be notified |
| Availability of GATE 2022 question paper | To be notified |
| Release of answer key | To be notified |
| Challenging of answer key | To be notified |
| Release of Final Answer Key | To be notified |
| Declaration of Result | March 17, 2022 |
Important Things to Keep in Mind for GATE Exam 2022
# For rough work, candidates will be provided with a scribble pad that needs to be returned after the exam ends.
# All exam aspirants will be given a virtual calculator.
# It is mandatory to attempt all the questions on the GATE paper.
# There is no negative marking but for wrong answers, marks will be deducted.
Conclusion
Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering is one of the toughest competitive exams in India. For scoring well in this exam, one has to dedicatedly work towards its preparation. Serious candidates, who want to rank well and get admitted in top M. Tech colleges, must seek expert personal mentorship as that will help them immensely.
Hopefully, this article will be helpful for all those aspirants who are planning to appear for the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering in 2022.
Also Read: What is the best time to start the GATE preparation?
