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GATE: Exam Dates, Eligibility Criteria, Application Fees & More

Updated on 03 January, 2024

Akansha Semwal

Akansha Semwal

Study Abroad Expert

GATE's full form is the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering, an entrance exam for engineering and science graduate students. Jointly organized by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and seven Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), GATE is an entry route to postgraduate courses spanning a range of subjects and government jobs. It is one of the most competitive exams in India, with over 9 lakh candidates appearing for it each year.

What is GATE Exam

Feature

Details

Full Form

Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering

Level

National Level

Conducting Authority

IITs and IISc

Colleges Accepting GATE

Over 1,200

Frequency

Annually

Mode

Online (Computer-Based Test)

Language

English

Duration

3 hours

Source: Official Website 

GATE 2024: Important Dates

Activity

Date
Closing date of GATE 2024 registration (for late fee)

20th October 2023
Closing date of online registration/application process (without late fee)

12th October 2023
GATE online application processing system (GOAPS) 

31st August 2023
Closing date of extended online registration/application process (with late fee)

20th October 2023
New two-paper combinations available

11th to 17th November 2023
Modifications in the GATE 2024 application

18th to 24th November 2023
Availability of GATE exam admit cards

3rd January 2024
GATE 2024 examinations

03, 04 and 10, 11 February 2024
Candidate's response available in the application portal

16th February 2024
Answer keys available on the application portal

21st February 2024
Submission of challenges by candidates on answer keys

22nd to 25th February 2024

Source: Official Website (*Dates are liable to change)

GATE 2024: Eligibility Criteria

Before applying for the GATE 2024 examination, candidates must review and ensure they meet the eligibility criteria. The GATE exam eligibility is as follows:

Category

Eligibility Criteria
Candidates Currently Studying
  • Completion of at least three years of an undergraduate degree program.
  • Candidates fulfilling the requirements of a government-approved degree program in engineering, technology, science, architecture, or humanities.
Professional Societies/Institutions
  • Candidates with certificates from professional groups or institutes administering tests in various engineering disciplines.
  • Examinations cleared must be equivalent to BE/BTech/BArch/B Planning, etc., with approval from the Ministry of Education (MoE), the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), the University Grants Commission (UGC), or the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). 
 
Candidates from Countries Other than India
  • Currently in the 3rd year or higher or have completed a bachelor’s degree (of at least three years) in Engineering/Technology/Science/Architecture/Humanities.

Apart from this, aspirants pursuing any higher degree or possessing a degree higher than that mentioned in the table below. They can appear for GATE 2024. 

Qualifying Degree/Examination and Eligibility

The eligibility criteria differ based on the chosen course. The following table lays down the eligibility criteria for different degrees:

Degree/Program

Qualifying Degree/Examination

Eligibility Criteria
BE/BTech/BPharm Bachelor’s degree in Engineering/Technology Pursuing 3rd year or higher, or already completed.
BArch Bachelor’s degree in Architecture Pursuing 3rd year or higher, or already completed.
BSc (Research)/BS Bachelor’s degree in Science (Post-Diploma/4 years after 10+2) Pursuing 3rd year or higher, or already completed.
Pharm D (after 10+2) 6 years degree program with internship/residency training Pursuing  3rd/4th/5th/6th year or already completed.
MBBS/BDS/BVSc Degree holders in MBBS/BDS/BVSc In the 5th/6th/7th semester or higher semester or already completed.
MSc/MA/MCA or equivalent Master’s degree in Arts/Science/Mathematics/Statistics/Computer Applications or equivalent Currently in the first year or higher or already completed.

Int. ME/MTech

(Post-BSc)

 Post-BSc Integrated Master’s degree programs in Engineering/Technology (4-year program) Currently in the 1st/2nd/3rd/4th year or already completed.
Int. ME/MTech/MPharm or Dual Degree (after Diploma or 10+2) Integrated Master’s degree program or Dual Degree program in Engineering/Technology (5-year program) Currently in the 3rd/4th/5th year or already completed.
BSc/BA/BCom Bachelor's degree in any branch of Science/Arts/Commerce (3-year program) Currently in the 3rd year or already completed.
Int MSc/Int BaS/MS Integrated M.Sc. or 5-year integrated BS-MS program Currently in the 3rd year or higher or already completed.
BSc (Agriculture, Horticulture, Forestry) 4-years program Currently in the 3rd/4th year or already completed.

Note: For candidates with BSc/BA/BCom degrees in a 3-year program seeking admission to master’s programs in IITs and IISc, JAM 2024 is recommended.

GATE 2024 Papers

The GATE 2024 examination has 100 points for each subject, with 15 marks allocated to General Aptitude (GA) across all papers. The remaining 85 marks are dedicated to covering the material for the corresponding test paper. 

XE Paper Sections

Code

XH Paper Sections

Code

XL Paper Sections 

Code

Engineering Mathematics Compulsory

A

Reasoning and Comprehension Compulsory

B1

Chemistry Compulsory

P

Fluid Mechanics

B

Economics

C1

Biochemistry

Q

Materials Science

C

English

C2

Botany

R

Solid Mechanics

D

Linguistics

C3

Microbiology

S

Thermodynamics

E

Philosophy

C4

Zoology

T

Polymer Science and Engineering

F

Psychology

C5

Food Technology

U

Food Technology

G

Sociology

C6

    

Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences

H

        
  • For XE Paper: Candidates need to select any two optional sections.
  • For XH Paper: Candidates need to select any one optional section.
  • For XL Paper: Candidates need to select any two optional sections.

GATE 2024 Application Form

Aspiring candidates can complete the GATE 2024 application form online. The application fee varies based on the category and gender of the applicant. The following documents are required for filling out the online application form:

  • Personal info (name, date of birth, personal mobile number, parents’ name & mobile number, etc.)
  • Address (including PIN code).
  • Eligibility degree details.
  • GATE paper(s) and their respective codes in which the candidate wants to appear.
  • GATE examination cities choices (three choices from the same zone).
  • Payment details for fee payment.

Application Fee

Category

Regular Period (30th Aug to 12th Oct 2023)

Extended Period (13th Oct to 20th Oct 2023)

Female/SC/ST/PwD* candidates (per test paper)

₹900

₹1,400

All other candidates, including foreign nationals (per test paper)

₹1,800

₹2,300

Source: Official Website 

GATE 2024 Exam Pattern and Marking Scheme

The following table shows the various details about the GATE 2024 examination, including mode, duration and types of questions.

Particulars

Details

Examination Mode

Computer Based Test (CBT), English language, conducted at select centers in select cities

Duration

3 Hours

Number of Subjects (Papers)

30

Sections

General Aptitude (GA) + Candidate's Selected Subjects

Type of Questions

Candidate’s Selected Subject(s)

(a) Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ)

(b) Multiple Select Questions (MSQ)

(c) Numerical Answer Type (NAT) Questions

Questions for testing abilities

(a) Recall

(b) Comprehension

(c) Application

(d) Analysis & Synthesis

Distribution of Marks

  • In all Papers EXCEPT AR, CY, DA, EY, GG, MA, PH, ST, XH, XL, the expected marking scheme is: 

a)General Aptitude: 15 marks

b)Engineering Mathematics: 13 marks (XE includes Engineering Mathematics section XE-A of 15 marks)

  • Subject Questions: 72 marks
  • Total: 100 marks
  • Questions carry 1 mark or 2 marks

Negative Markings

  • For wrong answer in MCQ:

a)1/3 mark deduction for 1-mark MCQ

b)2/3 mark deduction for 2-mark MCQ

  • No negative marking for wrong answer(s) to MSQ or NAT questions
  • No partial marking in MSQ.

GATE 2024 Result

GATE exam results will be available on the official website. The scorecard remains valid for three years, and candidates can download it during the specified period.

Activity

Day

Date

Announcement of Results for GATE 2024

Saturday

16th March 2024

Availability of Score Card for download by candidates

Saturday

23rd March 2024

GATE is not just an exam but key to many doors in the engineering and technology world. In order to succeed, prospective candidates must follow every step of this process closely in addition to staying informed about any updates related to this procedure.

Read More:

FAQs

Is there any age limit for appearing in the GATE exam?

No, there is no age limit to take the GATE exam.

Can a candidate apply for multiple papers in GATE 2024?

Yes, a candidate can apply for up to two papers.

Are there any changes in the GATE exam pattern for 2024?

As of now, there are no significant changes in the exam pattern for GATE 2024. Candidates should refer to the official website for updates.

How can I prepare for the GATE exam effectively?

To prepare effectively, candidates should start early, understand the exam pattern, focus on weak areas, and practice with previous year's question papers.

Akansha Semwal

Study Abroad Expert

Akansha Semwal is a content marketer at upGrad and has also worked as a social media marketer & sub-editor. Experienced in creating impressive Statement of Purpose, Essays, and LOR, she knows how to captivate the attention of Admissions Committee. Her research-driven;study-abroad articles helps aspirants to make the prudent decision. She holds a bachelor's & master's degree in Literature from the University of Delhi.

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