GATE

Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering

This refers to the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering, the entrance examination to postgraduate engineering programs all over India. This is one of the most popular of its kind and one of the best determinants of admission to universities. GATE is conducted in eight different zones all over India and many institutes that offer postgraduate courses in engineering are part of it. There are several types of institutions that choose its candidates based on the standards of GATE, government institutions, government assisted institutions and some private institutions will accept applicants who have passed through GATE. Those who have passed GATE are eligible for postgraduate programs in the participating universities.  They are eligible to study engineering, architecture and pharmacy courses at doctoral levels.

It is norm for a candidate to first apply to the institutions and get considered, then make the qualification through GATE. This examination is conducted by the Indian Institute of Technology Madras. Applicants who want to sit the GATE examination must have a bachelor’s degree in engineering, technology and architecture. Those who are in their final year of working on their undergraduate degrees in the above mentioned areas can apply using their provisional transcripts. It is because they are supposed to assure the institutions they are applying to that they have a high score in their respective areas of study to be considered before graduating. Those who have master’s degrees in any part of science, computer applications, mathematics and statistics can make applications as well. Not to be left out are those who are in their final years of master’s degrees and who can prove it using their provisional transcripts as well. Candidates who are working on their integrated master’s degree programs e.g. engineering and technology or those who are working on a dual degree, a combination of engineering and technology can also make applications for the programs in the participating institutions of GATE. Candidates who are qualified after sitting examinations conducted by bodies such as UPSC/AICTE are also considered eligible.

There is no definite pattern of the GATE examinations and it may differ from year to year. The 2011 examination was done in January and considered of a three hour paper with 65 questions that had a total of 100 marks. There are objective questions and multiple answer questions. Questions with multiple answers each have four multiples, with one right answer. A wrong answer does not have any implication on the total marks as with many exams. GATE is one of the few examinations in India that are conducted online and results are therefore given immediately. Applicants can make their applications online and offline, depending on their preferences. For the sake of speed and convenience, many candidates choose online application. Application fees differ depending on the course, the method of application and special interest groups. Offline application forms can be gotten from designated areas and will be handed to you upon the payment of the required application fees. You can get application forms from designated GATE office after handing in a demand draft.

Application forms have to be well filled; otherwise they will not be considered. They have to be accompanied by a clear recent photograph of the applicant and addressed to the required administration. These application forms have to be received before the deadline otherwise they will not be considered. One can follow up his results on the GATE website after they have been officially announced and posted. Even as this is an examination done online, it takes some time for the official results to be announced. Those institutions which want to get their results earlier always have to pay for the release of the results before the official date of release.

Last modified: 2011-04-30 09:03:46