Is Calculator Allowed in GATE 2026 - Exam Rules and Virtual Calculator Guide

Is Calculator Allowed in GATE 2026 - Exam Rules and Virtual Calculator Guide

Ongoing Event

GATE Application Date:28 Aug' 25 - 28 Sep' 25

K Guna SahitiUpdated on 27 Jun 2025, 03:16 PM IST

Is Calculator Allowed in GATE? - Candidates preparing for the next year exam must be curious to know if a calculator is allowed in GATE 2026. Well, the answer is no. IIT Guwahati will not allow applicants to carry a calculator within the exam hall. However, GATE exam aspirants need not worry. They will have the option to use the virtual GATE calculator. The authority will use a GATE 2026 exam interface that has an inbuilt calculator. For more information, go through this page.

This Story also Contains

  1. Is Calculator Allowed in GATE 2026?
  2. Are Virtual Calculators allowed in GATE?
  3. Items Prohibited in the GATE 2026 Exam
  4. GATE Exam Day Guidelines
Is Calculator Allowed in GATE 2026 - Exam Rules and Virtual Calculator Guide
Are Virtual Calculators allowed in GATE?

Is Calculator Allowed in GATE 2026?

The aspirants will not be allowed to carry any instrument like the calculator inside the exam hall. All the calculations must be done using the virtual calculator. Moreover, a scramble pad will be provided to the candidates for the rough work. Candidates must focus on their problem-solving skills and remembering the formulas.

Why are calculators not allowed in GATE exam?

  • To maintain the authenticity of the exam.

  • Checking the problem-solving skills of the candidates

  • Candidates will focus on the concepts and formulas. Also, they will find the best possible way to answer the questions.

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Are Virtual Calculators allowed in GATE?

Yes, virtual calculators are allowed in the exam. GATE virtual calculator will display on the monitor screen. Candidates can use the calculator whenever required. It is important to be familiar with the virtual calculator for GATE for quick calculation to save time. At the same time, candidates must memorize the formulas for solving the mathematical problems.

Items Prohibited in the GATE 2026 Exam

Candidates appearing for the exam must be aware of prohibited items. Carrying the prohibited items may lead to disqualification. Below is the list of items prohibited in the GATE exam 2026.

  • Calculators

  • Electronic Devices

  • Books, study materials, paper (written or blank)

  • Smart watch

  • Geometry box

  • Metal object

  • Jewellery

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.
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GATE Exam Day Guidelines

Candidates who are appearing for the exam must follow the GATE exam day guidelines. The guidelines are mentioned in the GATE admit card 2026. Below are a few of the important guidelines.

  • Report to the test centre 90 minutes before the exam commencement.

  • Candidates will be allowed to occupy their seats before the commencement of the exam. Candidates can log in and start reading the instructions 20 minutes early before the exam begins.

  • Personal calculators, mobile phones, watches (any kind), charts, tables, papers, books, sheets, and heavy ornaments are prohibited.

  • A Scribble pad will be provided for rough work.

  • Carry a pen and pencil. A transparent water bottle is allowed.

  • Carry a hard copy of the GATE admit card and a valid photo id.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Is calculator allowed in GATE 2026?
A:

No, calculators are not allowed in the GATE 2026 exam. 

Q: Which calculator is best for GATE exam?
A:

Virtual calculators will be provided for the GATE 2026 exam.

Q: How to use a virtual calculator in GATE exam?
A:

The virtual calculator will be displayed on the monitor screen as per the requirement. 

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Questions related to GATE

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to GATE ?

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 !

Hello! If you are preparing for GATE, there are plenty of free resources available online that can boost your preparation. You can easily access e-books, handwritten notes, subject wise PYQs, and test series shared by toppers on different platforms. Along with that, free PDFs and study material are available through various websites and Telegram channels. To make it easier, I will be attaching the link where you can find preparation tips, a study timetable, free study materials, and previous year question papers all in one place.
https://engineering.careers360.com/articles/gate-preparation-timetable
https://engineering.careers360.com/articles/how-to-prepare-for-gate
https://engineering.careers360.com/articles/gate-preparation-material
https://engineering.careers360.com/articles/gate-mock-test
https://engineering.careers360.com/articles/gate-question-papers

Hello, with an AIR of 25070 and a score of 499 in NEET PG 2025 under the General category, getting a government seat in West Bengal for highly demanded branches like General Surgery or Orthopedics may be difficult, as these usually close at much higher ranks. However, you still stand a chance for other clinical or para-clinical branches through the state quota counselling. I suggest using the NEET PG college predictor link I’m sharing here, which will give you a clearer idea of the colleges and branches you may get based on your rank and category.

NEET PG College Predictor- https://medicine.careers360.com/neet-pg-college-predictor


Hello,

You can download GATE Previous Year Question Papers either from the official website of GATE 2026, or from Careers360. Here are the links for both :

Official Website : Download GATE Previous Papers (https://gate2025.iitr.ac.in/download.html)

Careers360 : GATE Question Papers with Solutions

Hope it helps !

To take GATE mock tests, first choose a reliable source like GATE official portal, NPTEL, Made Easy, or ACE Engineering. Sign up or register online to access the full-length tests. Simulate the actual 3-hour exam with proper timing and no distractions. Attempt complete tests to practice time management and exam strategy. After each test, analyze your performance to identify weak areas and revise. Regularly taking 1–2 mocks per week helps improve speed, accuracy, and confidence.