GATE Application Date:28 Aug' 25 - 28 Sep' 25
How to Prepare for GATE 2026 by Self Study - Getting admission into the top institutes offering postgraduate engineering courses is a dream for many students, but only lucky ones get through. The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) is a gateway to get admission into the best institutes. GATE exam 2026 is one of the most important entrance examinations. Aspirants are often confused about whether they should enroll in a coaching institute or study on their own. The GATE 2026 exam is tentatively scheduled for February 2026.
Many people strongly believe that in order to crack the GATE 2026 entrance examination, one should get help from a coaching institute. But is it really true? No, candidates can prepare for GATE 2026 by self-study. Here in this article, we are presenting the ways to prepare for GATE by self-study. Candidates can find some important points to keep in mind while preparing for the exam. These points will help them to crack GATE 2026 by self study. Read the complete article to know more about how to clear GATE 2026 by self study.
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Having the right preparation strategy is the most crucial of all. Candidates are advised to follow the below given steps in order to crack GATE 2026.
Start your preparation as early as possible
The thumb rule to crack GATE 2026 is to start its preparation as early as possible. Give it enough time to prepare in the best possible way. Many times, students fail to crack the entrance exam because of their inability to complete the syllabus on time. Therefore, it is advisable to start your preparation as soon as possible.
Know the syllabus & exam pattern
GATE 2026 preparation requires candidates to have an accurate understanding of the syllabus. It must be noted that the GATE 2026 syllabus is an important key for preparation. It helps candidates to know what to read. The syllabus comprises all the topics that must be covered by the students while preparing for the exam. The questions in the GATE 2026 exam will be asked from the prescribed syllabus. Also, it will enable the students to ensure that they are not missing out on any important topic.
Along with the syllabus, candidates must have knowledge of the exam pattern of GATE 2026. The exam pattern allows candidates to prepare a strategy in a much more effective way. The exam pattern contains details about the exam such as the mode of exam, type of questions, the total number of questions, sections, total duration, and more.
Take help from the internet
We are living in an era of technology. Hence candidates are advised to take help from the internet to prepare for the exam. It has answers to all questions. There are many online lectures that can be attended by students while preparing for the exam. Search all your queries on Google. If utilized in the right way, you'll be exam ready in no time.
Do not leave any topic
It is important to remember that every topic is equally important. Make sure you give all subjects the same amount of time and attention. Skipping any particular topic can often cause you to fall behind. Therefore, it is crucial to avoid skipping any topic.
Solve more and more previous years’ question papers
Focus on solving more and more GATE previous years’ question papers. It helps candidates to identify the pattern of the question paper in a much better way. Also, Practicing question papers help in understanding how to manage time, speed, and accuracy.
Analyze your tests
Solving GATE 2026 mock tests or question papers is not enough, analyzing them properly is equally important. Check your tests and know the mistakes that you have made. This will help in knowing the strong and weak points.
Make short notes
It is recommended to make notes on all the topics that are completed. The notes should include all the important formulas and concepts. This helps in revising the topics anytime and anywhere without wasting much time on it. Regular revision allows candidates to keep topics fresh in mind.
We have given the links of question papers of GATE 2025 below. You can check them to get a better understanding of the question papers.
Subject Code | Subject Name | Download |
AE | Aerospace Engineering | |
AG | Agricultural Engineering | |
AR | Architecture and Planning | |
BM | Biomedical Engineering | |
BT | Biotechnology | |
CE-1 | Civil Engineering (Forenoon) | |
CE-2 | Civil Engineering (Afternoon) | |
CH | Chemical Engineering | |
CS-1 | Computer Science and IT (Forenoon) | |
CS-2 | Computer Science and IT (Afternoon) | |
CY | Chemistry | |
DA | Data Science and Artificial Intelligence | |
EC | Electronics and Communication Engineering | |
EE | Electrical Engineering | |
ES | Environmental Science & Engineering | |
EY | Ecology and Evolution | |
GE | Geomatics Engineering | |
GG-1 | Geology and Geophysics - Geology | |
GG-2 | Geology and Geophysics - Geophysics | |
IN | Instrumentation Engineering | |
MA | Mathematics | |
ME | Mechanical Engineering | |
MN | Mining Engineering | |
MT | Metallurgical Engineering | |
NM | Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering | |
PE | Petroleum Engineering | |
PH | Physics | |
PI | Production and Industrial Engineering | |
ST | Statistics | |
TF | Textile Engineering and Fibre Science | |
XE | Engineering Sciences | |
XH-C1 | Humanities & Social Sciences - Economics | |
XH-C2 | Humanities & Social Sciences - English | |
XH-C3 | Humanities & Social Sciences - Linguistics | |
XH-C4 | Humanities & Social Sciences - Philosophy | |
XH-C5 | Humanities & Social Sciences - Psychology | |
XH-C6 | Humanities & Social Sciences - Sociology | |
XL | Life Sciences |
Paper Name | GATE Question Paper |
AE: Aerospace Engineering | |
AG: Agricultural Engineering | |
AR: Architecture and Planning | |
BM: Biomedical Engineering | |
BT: Biotechnology | |
CE: Civil Engineering | |
CH: Chemical Engineering | |
CS: Computer Science and Information Technology | |
CY: Chemistry | |
DA: Data Science and Artificial Intelligence | |
EC: Electronics and Communication Engineering | |
EE: Electrical Engineering | |
ES: Environmental Science and Engineering | |
EY: Ecology and Evolution | |
GE: Geomatics Engineering | |
GG: Geology and Geophysics | |
IN: Instrumentation Engineering | |
MA: Mathematics | |
ME: Mechanical Engineering | |
MN: Mining Engineering | |
MT: Metallurgical Engineering | |
NM: Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering | |
PE: Petroleum Engineering | |
PH: Physics | |
PI: Production and Industrial Engineering | |
ST: Statistics | |
TF: Textile Engineering and Fibre Science | |
XE: Engineering Sciences | |
XH: Humanities & Social Sciences | |
XL: Life Sciences |
Paper Name | GATE Question Paper |
CE: Civil Engineering Previous Year Question Papers | |
CH: Chemical Engineering | |
CS: Computer Science Engineering Previous Year Question Papers | |
CY: Chemistry | |
IN: Instrumentation Engineering Previous Year Question Papers | |
XE: Engineering Sciences | |
XH: Humanities & Social Sciences | |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Coaching is not mandatory. Many toppers have cracked GATE through self-study using standard textbooks, previous year papers, online lectures (like NPTEL), and mock tests. What matters most is a clear plan, disciplined execution, and regular revision.
A balanced daily plan should include 2–3 hours for technical subjects, 1 hour for Engineering Mathematics or Aptitude, and 1 hour for problem-solving or revision. Weekly goals and monthly targets help maintain progress and motivation.
Mock tests and previous year question papers are essential. They improve time management, expose weak areas, and simulate exam pressure. Practicing PYQs helps you understand the GATE exam pattern and frequently asked concepts.
Ideally, 10 to 12 months of consistent preparation is sufficient for GATE. However, candidates starting even 6 months before the exam can succeed with a disciplined schedule. The key is maintaining 3–5 hours of focused study daily in the early phase and increasing it gradually.
On Question asked by student community
Hello there,
For GATE Aerospace Engineering , here is a concise list of essential books to cover all important topics:
Aerodynamics:
Fundamentals of Aerodynamics – John D. Anderson Jr.
Aerodynamics for Engineering Students – Houghton & Carpenter
Flight Mechanics / Performance / Stability:
Introduction to Flight – John D. Anderson Jr.
Aircraft Performance & Design – John D. Anderson Jr.
Propulsion:
Mechanics and Thermodynamics of Propulsion – Hill & Peterson
Gas Turbines – V. Ganesan
Structures:
A Textbook of Strength of Materials – R.K. Bansal
Aircraft Structures for Engineering Students – T.H.G. Megson
Space Mechanics:
Orbital Mechanics for Engineering Students – Howard D. Curtis
Engineering Mathematics:
Advanced Engineering Mathematics – Erwin Kreyszig / R.K. Jain & S.R.K. Iyengar
Practice:
GATE Aerospace mock tests and previous years’ solved papers.
Focus on these books to strengthen concepts, practice numericals, and revise efficiently for the exam.
To download free study materials for your exam,
CLICK HERE
.
I hope this answer helps you. If you have more queries, feel free to share your questions with us, and we will be happy to assist you.
Thank you, and I wish you all the best in your bright future.
Hello,
Yes, the GATE exam is valued for M.Sc. Microbiology in some institutes.
Many IITs, IISc, and some top universities accept GATE scores for admission to M.Sc. or integrated PhD programmes in Microbiology and related fields.
It is more commonly used for M.Tech/PhD admissions, but for M.Sc. Microbiology, a few institutes also consider GATE.
Some universities may prefer their own entrance exams instead.
It is best to check the admission rules of the specific university or institute you are interested in.
Hope it helps !
Hello
As an EEE (Electrical and Electronics Engineering) graduate, your core GATE paper is EE (Electrical Engineering).
You can also choose papers like IN (Instrumentation) or EC (Electronics and Communication) if you're comfortable. GATE now allows two-paper combinations EE plus IN is a valid pair.
Choose based on your strengths and future goals (e.g., PSU jobs, M.Tech). Always check the latest GATE brochure for updated paper codes and combinations.
Here’s a concise 5-point version you can use:
Know syllabus & pattern: Focus on core subjects of your branch and General Aptitude.
Study material: Use UG textbooks, reference books, and previous year GATE papers.
Plan & practice: Make a daily/weekly schedule, solve problems, and revise regularly.
Mock tests & accuracy: Take weekly mock tests, analyze mistakes, and improve speed.
PSU recruitment: Apply to PSUs like NTPC, IOCL, BHEL, ONGC, GAIL based on GATE scores; some conduct interviews.
Hello,
Yes, you can change your category from General to OBC during the GATE 2026 correction window.
GATE always allows candidates to correct details like category. You will need to pay a small correction fee for this change. Make sure you upload a valid OBC certificate as per the format and date mentioned by GATE.
So, wait for the correction window, log in to your application, and update your category to OBC.
Hope it helps !
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