What is GATE?

The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) is an All-India Examination conducted by the seven Indian Institutes of Technology and the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, on behalf of the National Coordinating Board - GATE, Department of Education, Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD), Government of India.

Eligibility for GATE?

The following categories of candidates are eligible to appear in GATE 2008:

a) Bachelor's degree holders in Engineering/Technology/Architecture/Pharmacy and those who are in the final or pre-final year of such programmes.
b) Master's degree holders in any branch of Science/Mathematics/Statistics/Computer Applications or equivalent and those who are in the final or pre-final year of such programmes.
c) Candidates in the second or higher year of the Four-year Integrated Master's degree programme (Post-B.Sc.) in Engineering/Technology or in the third or higher year of Five-year Integrated Master's degree programme and Dual Degree programme in Engineering/ Technology.
d) Candidates with qualifications obtained through examination conducted by professional societies recognised by UPSC/AICTE as equivalent to B.E./B.Tech. Those who have completed Section A or equivalent of such professional courses are also eligible.

What is the Date and Time of GATE Exam?

GATE is usually held on the second Sunday of February every year. Candidates will be required to appear in a single paper of three hours duration. The examination will be held on second Sunday of February from 0930 to 1230 hrs.

What is the Application / Registration process?

There are two different processes by which a candidate can apply/register for GATE 2006, namely, "offline" and "online". The registration-cum-application fee for offline applications in 2005 was Rs.1000/- for General candidates and Rs.500/- for SC/ST candidates. The fee for online application was Rs. 850/- for General candidates and Rs. 350/- for SC/ST candidates. The registration fee is not refundable and the application form is not transferable.

Dates and Deadlines for GATE Exam.

We do not have the deadlines for GATE 2006. However the deadlines for GATE 2005 have been given below for a tentative idea about the deadlines.

Sale of Information Brochures & Application Forms / Online submission started from September 24, 2004 (Friday)

Application Process Deadlines:
Last Date for
a) Receipt of request at GATE Office for Information Brochure and Application Form by post October 23, 2004 (Saturday)
b) Sale at Bank Counters October 28, 2004 (Thursday)
c) Online submission of application form and payment at Banks October 30, 2004 (Saturday)
d) Sale at GATE Office Counters November 2, 2004 (Tuesday)
e) Receipt of bank pay-in-slip and completed application forms at GATE Offices by registered/speed post (P&T) only November 2, 2004 (Tuesday)

Last date for dispatch of admit cards by the respective Institutes was January 21, 2005 (Friday)

Date of the Examination February 13, 2005 (Sunday)

Anouncement of results March 15, 2005 (Tuesday) 0900 Hrs

Where can I get GATE question papers for the previous years?

GATE question papers for the following streams are available with us:

· ECE
· CS
· ME
· EE
· IT

Please visit our downloads section to download the question papers. The question papers are free to download.

Where can I discuss the previous year GATE question papers?

The question papers can be discussed at our forums. The “discuss” link is provided beside the “download link” on the “Previous years question papers” page.

Is GATE objective type this time?

GATE 2006 pattern will be of objective type with a total of 150 questions to be answered in a total time of 3 hours.

What is GATE paper structure this time?

a. The question paper will be fully objective type for a total of 150 marks divided into three groups:
i. Group I: Question Numbers 1 to 20 (20 questions) will carry one mark each.
ii. Group II: Question numbers 21 to 75 (55 questions) will carry two marks each.
iii. Group III: Question Numbers 76 to 85 (10 questions) will carry two marks each.

b. Each question will have four choices for the answer. Only one choice is correct.
c. Wrong answers carry 25% negative marks in Q1 to Q80 and Q81a, 82a, 83a, 84a, 85a.
Marks for correct answers to Q77, 79, 81, 83, 85 will be given only if the answer to the corresponding previous question is correct. However, Q81b, 82b, 83b, 84b, 85b will not carry any negative marks.
d. Papers bearing the code AG, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, IN, IT, ME, MN, MT, PI, TF will contain questions on Engineering Mathematics to the extent of 20 to 25 marks.

What has the individual weightage of different topics in different years of GATE?

Individual Weightage analysis of different topics in different years of GATE may be made available to our subscribed candidates. However, it is not a part of our package.

Where can I get model test papers for GATE?

Apart from the model test papers in the package offered, we are not committed to providing you any Model Test papers. We may provide some question papers for download.

Are there any online tests available for GATE 2005?

Online Tests are being tested and is not a part of the package this year. However, we may be providing online tests free of cost to all. You will have to visit our site www.gateforum.com for updates.

How are people evaluated in GATE? What do I need to know about GATE score cards?

GATE Score Card
a. Score card will be sent only to the qualified candidates. No information will be sent to candidates who are not qualified.
b. The GATE score card is a valuable document. Care should be taken to preserve it. Additional Score Cards, (upto a maximum of two) will be issued on payment basis only once.
c. The Score Card cannot be treated as a proof of category.
d. The score card of the Qualified Candidates will include GATE Score, Percentile Score and Rank.

i. GATE Score
The GATE SCORE of a candidate is a statistical performance index in the range 0 to 1000. It reflects the ability of a candidate, irrespective of the paper or year in which he/she has qualified. Candidates with same GATE SCORE from different disciplines and/or years can be considered to be of equal ability.
GATE Score = K1 + K2 ((m-a)/s)
where,

m = marks obtained by the candidate.
a = average of marks of all candidates who appeared in the paper mentioned on this scorecard, in the current year.
s = standard deviation of marks of all candidates who appeared in the paper mentioned on this scorecard, in the current year.
K1 and K2 are determined respectively from the mean and standard deviation of marks of all candidates across all papers and years since GATE 2002.

A typical qualitative interpretation of the GATE SCORE, for example, can be as follows:
Ability Level GATE Score Range
Outstanding 800 to 1000
Excellent 675 to 800
Very good 550 to 675
Good 425 to 550
Above average 300 to 425
Average 100 to 300
Below average Below 100

ii. Percentile Score
The percentile score is not the same as percentage of marks. The percentile score of a candidate shows what percentage of candidates, who appeared in the same paper in GATE 2005, scored less marks than him/her. It is calculated as follows: Let N be the total number of candidates appearing in that paper and n be the number of candidates who have the same all India rank c in the same paper (there can be bunching at a given all India rank). Then all the candidates, whose all India rank is r, will have the same percentile score P, where

[P = {(no. of candidates securing marks less than the candidate concerned) / N} x 100]

e. The evaluation of the ORS is carried out by a computerized process using scanning machines, with utmost care. Requests for revaluation of the answer script and re-totaling of marks will not be entertained.
f. The GATE result and particulars of the qualified candidates will be made available to interested organizations (educational institutions, R and D laboratories, industries etc.) in India and abroad based on written request by the organization and on payment. Details can be obtained from GATE Chairmen of IITs / IISc.

When will GATE results be announced?

The GATE 2006 dates have not been announced yet. GATE 2005 results were announced on 15.3.2005 at 0900 hrs. at GATE offices of IITs / IISc.
It is also available on their website.

Can I get a CD for preparation of GATE 2006?

The CDs are not a part of the package this year.

What are the different sites for IITs and IISc?

IISc Bangalore http://www.gate.iisc.ernet.in/
IIT Bombay http://www.iitb.ac.in/gate
IIT Delhi http://www.iitd.ernet.in/
IIT Guwahati http://www.iitg.ernet.in/
IIT Kanpur http://www.iitk.ac.in/
IIT Kharagpur http://www.iitkgp.ernet.in/~gate
IIT Madras http://gate.iitm.ac.in/
IIT Roorkee http://www.iitr.ac.in/gate

What is the fees for GATE Examination?

For GATE 2005 the fees is given below. This will be updated when the fees of GATE 2006 is released by GATE office.
· Online Registration Fee:
. Rs. 850/- for General category candidates.
. Rs. 350/- for SC/ST category candidates.
Candidates are encouraged to apply through the online process and avail the benefit of lower registration fees and faster processing.
· Offline Registration Fee:
. Rs. 1000/- for General category candidates.
. Rs. 500/- for SC/ST category candidates

Does anybody have GATE statistical analysis for GATE 2003?
The link is
http://www.gate.iisc.ernet.in/Statgate2003.htm

Does anybody have GATE statistical analysis for GATE 2004?
The link is
http://gate.iitd.ac.in/Stat_Reports/Reports.asp

Are there any online resources for preparation in my stream?

Please refer to our online Library for online resources. We update our online resources as and when we come across them over the internet.

Are tutorials and coaching enough?

Honestly, No. Tutorials and coaching may give you the training, but will lack direction unless supported by an All India Test Series. We are keeping track of our competition. Though most of the coaching centers provide a Test Series, they are not upto the mark in terms of quality, content and feedback. GATE Forum is the only institute with a wide database of students from over 30 cities across the country. A Test Series provides you with feedback on the areas of improvement and improvisation on strategy to tackle the exam in a more efficient guy.

Fee details of various institutes
The fees details of various institutes can be found on their websites.

What is the minimum percentile for individual IITs, IISc and other institutes?

We are still updating our database and we do not have the complete information right now. You can help by filling in our questionnaire, in case you cleared the exam, or you can send our form to some of your friends/seniors who have cleared it and help us

Why is GATE Forum not providing Solutions to previous year papers?

The solutions are already available in the market, and GATE Forum does not want to come up with yet another solutions. Instead we provide you with a forum where you can discuss GATE papers with other students who are preparing for GATE. This will help you get different approaches to the solution of controversial questions.

PG programmes in IISc and IITs
Please refer their website where it is given in detail.