How to Prepare for GATE 2026 in 6 Months

How to Prepare for GATE 2026 in 6 Months

Upcoming Event

GATE Exam Date:07 Feb' 26 - 08 Feb' 26

Team Careers360Updated on 29 Jul 2025, 08:59 PM IST

How to Prepare for GATE 2026 in 6 months- With GATE 2026 all set for next year, aspirants are now preparing for the exam. The GATE 2026 syllabus PDF can be accessed on the official website of GATE for better knowledge of the exam demand. Likewise there will be other relevant information available as well such as the exam date and eligibility criteria. Once you have familiarized yourself with the syllabus, you can begin your preparation by using recommended books and study materials. Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) is a highly competitive exam that provides access to various postgraduate courses and opportunities in the fields of engineering and science.

GATE 2026 Exam Overview

How to Prepare for GATE 2026 in 6 Months
How to Prepare for GATE 2026 in 6 Months

Particulars

Details

Negative Marking Scheme

Two types of MCQs:

  • MCQs - 1 mark for each correct answer; 1/3 mark will be deducted for every wrong answer.

  • MCQs - 2 marks for each correct answer; 2/3 marks will be deducted for every incorrect response. There are no negative marks for Numerical Answer Type (NAT) questions

  • NO negative marking for MSQ & NAT.

Conducting Institute

IISc Bangalore

Mode of application

Online

Eligibility

Graduate in engineering/post graduate in science

Mode of exam

Online

Duration of exam

3 hours

Total number of questions

65

Type of questions

MCQs,MSQ & NAT


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GATE Preparation

The GATE examination is taken by nearly 10 lakh candidates each year, with the goal of securing admission to PG engineering courses or PSU recruitment through GATE . The exam is highly competitive, as the number of applicants far exceeds the available seats for higher education and PSU recruitment through GATE. GATE assesses the comprehensive and analytical understanding of undergraduate engineering and science subjects. To qualify for the GATE exam, students must have a conceptual understanding and in-depth knowledge of the basic principles from each subject and topic. Additionally, dedication and determination are essential to succeed in the exam. Students are advised to use the best books for GATE preparation to maximize their chances of success. The GATE exam is conducted for a total of 30 subjects, and each subject has a different minimum qualifying mark. Students who pass the exam can use their score for three years from the date of the GATE result announcement.

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How to Prepare for GATE in 6 months?

Below students are provided with some tips and suggestions based on tips and suggestions as recommended by previous year toppers, coaching institutes and various subject experts for how to prepare for GATE 2026 in 6 months.

Refer Previous Year Papers

It is advised that students refer to the previous year question papers to understand the exam's difficulty level, pattern, and topics' weightage. Students should refer to question papers from the last 10 years to strategize their GATE preparation plan in 6 months.

Check Syllabus and Exam Pattern

It is essential for students to have a clear understanding of the GATE syllabus and exam pattern. The official syllabus of GATE is released by the organising institute. The syllabus comprises subjects and topics taught at the graduate level programs in engineering. Students must identify the important topics, allocate more time to topics that are challenging, and focus on topics that are covered in their undergraduate syllabus.

Students must also be aware of the GATE exam pattern. The exam paper will consist of 65 MCQ questions for a duration of 3 hours. GATE exam is conducted for total marks 100 Marks. GATE negative marking is deducted for MCQs .

Select Books and Study Materials

To achieve the best results in GATE, it is important for students to select best study material for GATE preparation. The best books for GATE preparation in 6 months should have easy-to-understand language, lots of examples to clarify topics, and cover the complete syllabus. Additionally, students can utilise online e-books as a source of information since they have limited time available for preparation.

Study Regularly

Regularity in studies with complete dedication and determination is essential to crack the exam. Students should make a timetable, allocate proper time to every topic covered in the exam, learn basic concepts of every topic, solve more numerical questions, and avoid rote learning. Students should also make separate short notes for important topics and formulas to study and revise whenever they get time.
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Revise Everyday along with Mock Tests

Revising topics is crucial because if students do not revise what they have studied, they may not be able to recall them at the time of the test. It is recommended that students revise every day before going to bed and first thing in the morning before beginning to study a new topic. Solving mock tests regularly is also important to have an understanding of their preparation level.

Check :- GATE Mock Test

Stay Motivated

Motivation is crucial to keep going on a journey. Students must stay motivated, keep preparing for the exam, and not give up. Watching interviews of previous year GATE toppers, motivational videos, and interviews on previous year GATE toppers who have done great in life can help students stay motivated.


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What is the age limit for GATE 2026?
A:

There is no age limit for appearing in the GATE 2026 exam. Candidates from any age group can apply as long as they meet the other eligibility criteria.

Q: Is 6 months enough to prepare for the GATE?
A:

Yes, six months are enough to crack the GATE exam for CSE students. Candidates with adequate knowledge of all disciplines included in GATE, can easily crack the exam in 6 months. They need to understand the GATE syllabus for CSE first.

Q: How can I effectively prepare for GATE 2026 in 6 months?
A:

 To prepare for GATE 2026 in 6 months:

  1. Understand the Syllabus and Exam Pattern: Begin by downloading the GATE 2026 syllabus PDF from the official website and reviewing the exam structure.
  2. Divide Your Preparation Time: Allocate time proportionately for learning concepts, practicing problems, and revising. Cover high-weightage topics first.
  3. Use Standard Resources: Study from recommended books and resources specific to your stream.
  4. Practice Regularly: Solve previous years' GATE question papers and take mock tests to identify strengths and weaknesses.
Q: Will GATE 2026 have multiple sessions on the same day?
A:

Yes, GATE 2026 will likely have multiple sessions (morning and afternoon) on each exam day.

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Questions related to GATE

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to GATE ?

Hello dear candidate,

You will not receive another rectification mail unless and until there is still an error in your reuploaded signature. if everything is okay your status will change to accepted on the GATE portal.

My advice is that you should keep checking your application status on the official website of GATE 2026.

Thank you.

Hello,

Visit the below website to download the previous 15 years question paper of GATE exam.

https://engineering.careers360.com/articles/last-15-years-gate-papers-solutions

You'll also get the solutions from it. These question papers will help you a lot in your preparation.

All the best.

This is likely a temporary portal or validation issue, not something you did wrong. When candidates try to change category from GEN to OBC-NCL during the GATE correction window, the system checks required fields and sometimes a supporting certificate or fee is needed. If any required data or document is missing, or the server is busy, the portal can show Something went wrong, please try again. Explain to them that first they should log into the GATE portal, open the Correction tab and confirm which fields are editable and whether a payment or document upload is required for category change. Tell them to clear browser cache or try a different browser/device and retry. If the error persists, advise contacting GATE support or the zonal office with a screenshot and timing of the error so officials can check server logs.

Hello,

The GATE 2026 Agricultural Engineering (AG) paper will have a total of 100 marks. Out of this, 15 marks are for General Aptitude and 85 marks are for core Agricultural Engineering subjects.

The marks are generally distributed among major topics like Engineering Mathematics (12–13 marks), Farm Machinery (10–11), Farm Power (14–15), Soil & Water Conservation (12–13), Irrigation & Drainage (10–12), Agricultural Process Engineering (10–12), and Dairy & Food Engineering (9–10 marks).

The official qualifying marks for GATE 2026 are not yet released. However, based on previous years, the cutoff for the Agricultural Engineering paper is expected to be around 25 marks for General, 22.5 for OBC/EWS, and 16.6 for SC/ST/PwD candidates.

Hope it helps !

Hello dear candidate,

No, you application of GATE 2026 will not get rejected.

Under scrutiny, rectification done means they have got your correction and are checking it. If everything matches your application will be accepted soon.

I hope you find thie helpful. Thank you.