How Many Attempts Are Allowed for GATE 2026 Exam? Eligibility Explained

How Many Attempts Are Allowed for GATE 2026 Exam? Eligibility Explained

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GATE Application Date:28 Aug' 25 - 06 Oct' 25

Team Careers360Updated on 29 Sep 2025, 12:54 PM IST

How Many Attempts for GATE 2026 - IIT Guwahati is responsible for conducting the GATE 2026 exam this year. The exam will be conducted in online mode through a computer-based test(CBT). According to the official notification, there are no restrictions on the number of attempts as per the official notification; candidates appear in as many attempts as they wish. The General Aptitude Test for Engineering(GATE) is a post-graduation entrance exam, which offers admission into M.E./M.Tech/Ph.D programs in top IITs, IISCs, and other reputed institutes. The authority will conduct the GATE 2026 on February 7,8, 14 & 15, 2026.

This Story also Contains

  1. How Many Attempts for GATE 2026?
  2. GATE 2026 Eligibility Criteria
  3. GATE 2026 Scorecard Validity
  4. Is There Any Age Limit in GATE 2026?
  5. Top Engineering Colleges Participating in 2026
How Many Attempts Are Allowed for GATE 2026 Exam? Eligibility Explained
How Many Attempts for GATE

GATE exam is only conducted once in a year, for candidates who want to pursue M.E./M.Tech/Ph.D may appear for this examination. Unlike other competitive exams, there are no limited attempts to appear in GATE; candidates may appear in as many as attempts they want. Read this complete article to know more about “How Many Attempts for GATE 2026”
Also Check: GATE 2026 Syllabus, GATE 2025 Cutoff

How Many Attempts for GATE 2026?

As per the official information, there is no age limit or a limited number of attempts for GATE 2026. Candidates may write as many attempts as per their choice, However, it is advised to use each attempt with sincerity. The authority shared the GATE 2026 Eligibility Criteria on their official website.

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GATE 2026 Eligibility Criteria

To appear for GATE 2026, candidates must fulfill the following eligibility conditions:

Criteria

Details

Educational

Completed or in final year of UG degree in Engineering/Technology

Age Limit

No age limit

Attempt Limit

Unlimited attempts allowed

Nationality

Indian citizens and certain international candidates are eligible

Note : Students from any age group or academic background (as long as it aligns with approved programs) can register.

GATE 2026 Scorecard Validity

The GATE scorecard is valid for 3 years from the date of the result declaration. This is important if you plan to apply for:

  • M.Tech/ME programs

  • Ph.D. admissions

  • Public Sector Unit (PSU) recruitment

  • Higher studies abroad (some universities accept GATE scores)

  • Example: If you clear GATE 2026, your score remains valid till March 2029.

GATE Previous Year Question Paper's
Download GATE previous year question papers to understand exam pattern and difficulty level. Practice with these papers to boost your preparation and improve your score.
Check Now

Is There Any Age Limit in GATE 2026?

There is no upper or lower age limit to appear in GATE 2026. Whether you are a recent graduate or a working professional in your 30s or 40s, you are eligible to appear if you meet the academic criteria. This flexibility makes GATE one of the most accessible exams for engineering aspirants and professionals alike.

Top Engineering Colleges Participating in 2026

There are around 985 colleges offering post graduation admission through GATE Examination, including IITs, NITs, IISERs and some reputed private institutions. Here is a list of a few top engineering colleges participating in GATE 2026.

Participating IITs in GATE 2026

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What are the GATE 2026 Exam dates?
A:

IIT Guwahati has announced the GATE 2026 exam dates as February 7,8, 14 & 15, 2026.

Q: Do PSUs reject candidates with multiple GATE attempts?
A:

No. PSUs only consider your GATE score for the current recruitment year, not your number of attempts.

Q: Can I appear in GATE 2026 if I failed in previous attempts?
A:

Yes, failing or not qualifying in earlier attempts does not affect your eligibility for GATE 2026.

Q: Is there any limit to how many times I can appear for GATE?
A:

No, there is no limit. You can attempt GATE as many times as you want, if you meet the eligibility criteria.

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Questions related to GATE

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to GATE ?

Hello,

Yes, you as a Bachelor of Science graduate in home science can appear for the GATE 2026 exam, as the eligibility criteria include graduates from "Science" and other fields, as well as those in the 3rd year or higher of an undergraduate program.

I hope it will clear your query!!

Hey! The GATE exam (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering) is very important for long-term career growth. It opens opportunities for postgraduate studies (M.Tech, MS, PhD) in top institutes like IITs and NITs and is also used by many public sector companies (PSUs) for recruitment, often with higher salary packages. In the long run, qualifying GATE can enhance your technical knowledge, career prospects, and credibility in the engineering field.

If your GATE application shows failed status even after a successful payment, don’t worry, this usually happens due to server or transaction update delays. First, wait for 24–48 hours as sometimes the status gets updated automatically. If it still shows failed, you should raise a query through the GATE application portal by providing your enrollment ID and payment receipt or transaction details. You can also contact the GATE zonal office via email or helpline with proof of payment. Keeping a screenshot of the payment success message will also help in resolving the issue quickly.

Hi dear candidate,

You can refer to the online E Books for GATE examination available on our official website that you can download anytime.

Kindly refer to the link attached below to access them for practice.

Link: GATE E-books and Sample Papers

BEST REGARDS

Hey! The qualifying cutoff for GATE CSE in 2025 was around 29.2 marks for General, 26.2 for OBC/EWS, and 19.4 for SC/ST/PwD. For GATE 2026, the official cutoff is not declared yet, but if we look at the past trends, it usually stays around 30–32 marks for General category. So, if you are preparing, it’s better to target a score well above this range to be on the safer side.