GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering) — Eligibility, Syllabus & Exam Pattern
The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) is a national-level examination that primarily tests the comprehensive understanding of various undergraduate subjects in engineering and science for admission into the Master's Program and recruitment by some Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs). It is a prestigious exam that opens doors for higher education at premier institutes like IITs, IISc, and NITs, as well as for direct employment in top PSUs. The exam is a single-stage Computer-Based Test (CBT).
📌 Eligibility Criteria
Nationality
A candidate must be a citizen of India or from countries like Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Singapore, Ethiopia, or the United Arab Emirates.
Age Limit
There is no age limit to appear for the GATE examination.
Educational Qualification
A candidate who is currently studying in the 3rd or higher years of any undergraduate degree program is eligible to appear for GATE, or a candidate who has already completed any government-approved degree program. This includes:
- A B.E./B.Tech./B.Pharm. degree holder or a student in the 3rd year or higher.
- A B.Arch. degree holder or a student in the 3rd year or higher.
- A B.Sc. (Research)/B.S. degree holder or a student in the 3rd year or higher.
- An M.Sc./M.A./MCA or equivalent degree holder or a student in their final year.
✍️ Exam Syllabus & Pattern
GATE is a single-paper, computer-based test (CBT) that is conducted for 30 different subject papers.
| Section | Subject | Marks Distribution | Total Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | General Aptitude (GA) | 15 Marks | 100 | 3 Hours |
| 2 | Core Subject Paper | 85 Marks |
Syllabus for Sections
- General Aptitude (GA):
This section is common for all papers. It tests a candidate's language and analytical skills.
- Verbal Aptitude: Basic English grammar, vocabulary, sentence completion, comprehension.
- Quantitative Aptitude: Data interpretation, numerical computation and estimation.
- Analytical & Spatial Aptitude: Logic, deduction, and transformation of shapes.
- Core Subject Paper:
This section covers the entire syllabus of the undergraduate curriculum for the specific subject paper chosen by the candidate. Popular subject papers include:
- Aerospace Engineering (AE)
- Agricultural Engineering (AG)
- Architecture and Planning (AR)
- Biomedical Engineering (BM)
- Biotechnology (BT)
- Civil Engineering (CE)
- Chemical Engineering (CH)
- Computer Science and Information Technology (CS)
- Chemistry (CY)
- Electronics and Communication Engineering (EC)
- Electrical Engineering (EE)
- Environmental Science and Engineering (ES)
- Ecology and Evolution (EY)
- Geomatics Engineering (GE)
- Geology and Geophysics (GG)
- Instrumentation Engineering (IN)
- Mathematics (MA)
- Mechanical Engineering (ME)
- Mining Engineering (MN)
- Metallurgical Engineering (MT)
- Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering (NM)
- Petroleum Engineering (PE)
- Physics (PH)
- Production and Industrial Engineering (PI)
- Statistics (ST)
- Textile Engineering and Fibre Science (TF)
- Engineering Sciences (XE)
- Humanities and Social Sciences (XH)
- Life Sciences (XL)
- Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (DA)
👉 Note
- The GATE score is valid for three years.
- It is primarily used for admissions into Master's and doctoral programs and for recruitment by various Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs).
- For full official syllabus & eligibility, refer to GATE Official website .
☞ Tip for Aspirants: Always refer to the latest official notification for syllabus and eligibility details as they may change year to year.