A GATE Towards Prosperity

GATE is an abbreviated form of Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering. The examination is conducted by the seven Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT’s) and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore on behalf of the National Coordinating Board-GATE, Dept of Education, Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD).

GATE enables students seeking admission for various post-graduate courses like engineering, technology, architecture, pharmacy at various institutes in India. Its score is also considered by universities abroad for admission for research and post-graduate programmes. However, know that the significance of GATE score differs from college to college.

Additional advantage of appearing for GATE is, it opens the door for Junior Research Fellowship in CSIR Laboratories. Despite educational purposes, the GATE helps students in employment too. GATE score is considered by employers to evaluate intelligence of the candidate. Hence GATE’s importance has increased now-a-days.

GATE assesses students’ intelligence and capabilities perfectly, merely in three hours. Candidate appearing for test answers 150 objective-type of questions. Examinee chooses correct option from given four choices.

As GATE is an entrance for post-graduation studies in engineering, architecture, pharmacy and technology, the eligibility for the test is bachelor’s degree in either of the fields. Students appearing for the final or pre-final year of these programmes are also eligible. Additionally, master degree holders in science, mathematics, statistics, computer applications or equivalent course give GATE. Students appearing for final or pre-final year of such programmes are also eligible for GATE.

Besides, eligibility criteria allow students of second or higher year of the four year integrated master’s degree programme in engineering or technology. Candidates studying in third or higher year of five-year integrated master’s degree programme and dual degree course in same fields can appear for GATE.

Usually GATE is conducted on every second Sunday of February. Hence students can plan their studies in advance and appear for GATE with full of their capacity. However, marking system is little tricky. First 30 questions carry one mark each while; next 55 questions carry 2 marks each. The negative marking makes students alert and restrict them from guess-work.

GATE papers are disciplined as:

Paper marked as AG, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, IN, IT, ME, MN, MT, PI, TF have questions on engineering mathematics carrying 20 to 25 marks.

Score beyond 800 is considered as extra-ordinary intellect. If you stand amongst first 100 ranks your seat in IIT is confirmed. A standard qualitative interpretation of the GATE score is as below:

The GATE score is calculated as:

where

m = marks obtained by the candidate.

a = average of marks of all candidates appeared for 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.

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