Mistakes to Avoid in GATE 2026 - Aspirants who applied for the GATE 2026 exam must follow the given guidelines in this article to avoid mistakes in GATE 2026 exam. The GATE exam 2026 is not just an entrance exam for M.Tech admissions in IITs, but also provides a gateway for job opportunities in many PSUs. Candidates have to work harder to clear the GATE examination successfully with good GATE scores. Careers360 provides complete details about what mistakes to avoid in the GATE 2026 exam to get the best score. Candidates must focus on GATE preparation tips, the GATE syllabus, exam pattern of GATE 2026, etc. Regular practice of GATE 2026 mock tests also improves candidates' performance in the examination. The GATE 2026 exam dates are February 7, 8, 14 & 15, 2026.
Now, that you know the mistakes that can occur in the exam, know how to avoid them all:
How to avoid mistake no. 1 - Not saving the answer after marking
This may sound silly, but there are very high chances of this mistake being committed by you. Amidst the exam pressure and time limitations, you may hurry to answer the next question and forget to save the one that has been attempted. BOOM!
What next? Now, search for the question you attempted. Difficult? Let’s know how to get ourselves together!
Solution to mistake no. 1 - Stay in a calm state of mind when inside the exam hall. Remind yourself each time after solving a question that you need to save it, otherwise, it will be taken as completed and hence will not contribute to the GATE score calculation. One of the most important tips that GATE toppers give is to appear in online mock tests as many times as possible. GATE mock test is designed to do just that - get you familiar with the exam pattern and type of questions that will be asked, thereby reducing the chances of making this mistake. Easy to avoid these mistakes in GATE 2026 by saving your answers!
How to avoid mistake no. 2 - Time being the enemy
The biggest hurdle you may face in any competitive exams is the lack of time management to answer all, but that’s an important rule because then there would be no exam.
Solution to mistake no. 2 - BEAT the time! Play it smart. Follow the tips given below for time management in GATE 2026:
Glance at the complete question paper before you start
Choose which questions to attempt first- 2 mark questions first or 1 mark questions first
Don’t waste too much time on any one particular question
Attempt the paper with a calm state of mind
Answer what you know, and mark for review if you are not sure so you can come back
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.
GATE 2015 topper, Santosh Kumar Pabbineedi, had this tip for GATE aspirants: “My analysis of GATE shows that a score of 60 marks will fetch a rank below 200. So target it like that, and you should have a clear-cut agenda of how you should attempt the exam. My advice is to attempt the 1-mark questions first. Then move on to the 2 marks and other questions. The target simply is to answer 20 questions of 1 mark each, and schedule to answer 20 questions of 2 marks and mixed marks. Linked answers don’t fetch you negative marks if the first answer is correct.” Hmm - you could try this and avoid making a mistake in GATE 2026.
How to avoid mistake no. 3 - Don't force yourself to answer all the questions
The GATE exam pattern indicates negative marking, and this will be implemented as follows:
⅓ mark deducted for each incorrect answer in case of 1 mark MCQs
⅔ mark deducted for each incorrect answer in case of 2-mark MCQs
Zero marks will be given for questions not attempted
No negative marking for Numerical Answer Type (NAT) questions in the exam.
Solution to mistake no. 3 - To avoid negative marks, answer the question you are confident about. Don’t bother to answer all the questions in the exam as it is a great idea unless you know the answers to all of them. If you do, then you are a TOPPER already! Else be wise, answer judiciously, and avoid this mistake in GATE 2026
How to avoid mistake no. 4 - Considering a scribble pad as useless
All the candidates appearing in the GATE exam will be given a pad to scribble on. This pad will have to be returned to the invigilator after the exam concludes.
Solution to mistake no. 4 - Generally, this scribble pad is used for calculations only. One of the common mistakes made in the exam hall is that at times, you read a question and mark it to solve later. Now, it will be difficult to remember and keep track of which question was, especially if you have a good number to solve. So, WRITE the question number on the scribble pad, and you won't waste time by scrolling through the complete question paper. So avoid this mistake in GATE 2026 by putting the scribble pad to good use.
How to avoid mistake no. 5 - Not being conversant with the virtual calculator
Virtual calculators are now the norm for all computer-based or online exams. They are built into the system, and if you are appearing for an online exam, you ought to know how to use them. It's not the same as the physical calculator, so take the time to get to know how to use it.
Solution to mistake no. 5 - Now, the virtual calculator in GATE is designed keeping the student requirements in mind. So, how to use the GATE 2026 virtual calculator is a known how for every GATE aspirant; otherwise, some of the calculations will take time if done manually, and time is of the essence here.
These are some common mistakes to avoid in GATE 2026. Keep them in mind when you appear for the exam, and you are good to go! Wishing you all the luck!
How to avoid mistake no. 6 - Neglecting health
GATE aspirants usally neglect their health by working more hard all the day till the GATE exam date appears. Most of the candidates won't take proper nutritious food, lack sleep, take too much caffeine. These negligence will impact candidates health very badly. Candidates may faint, get sick during the exam.
Solution to mistake no. 6 - GATE aspirant must sleep for at least 7 hours a day to recharge their brain and improve mental health. Candidates must take nutritious food and must do light exercise regularly. Practising yoga and meditation will help candidates to increase their concentration power and focus on the examination.
How to avoid mistake no. 7 – Avoiding General Aptitude and Mathematics
The GATE aspirants must not avoid General aptitude and Mathematics sections which forms crucial part of the GATE examination. The general aptitude and mathematics combined have 28% of the marks in the GATE exam.
Solution to mistake no. 7 - Candidates must regularly practise the general aptitude and mathematics questions from mock tests and previous years' question papers. Attempting these sections well will help candidates to score high marks in rank in GATE 2026 exam.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Is GATE tougher than jee?
A:
Both are of the same difficulty level. As per the previous year exam analysis, the difficulty level of JEE Main and GATE was moderate to difficult.
Q: When should I start preparing for GATE 2026?
A:
Early preparation is considered to be best. Candidates must follow the GATE exam syllabus and paper pattern to plan the preparations.
Q: What is GATE total marks?
A:
GATE exam is conducted for 100 marks.
Q: How to avoid silly mistakes in GATE exam?
A:
Candidates must be calm and focused during the GATE exam. Read the questions and answer them only if you are confident about your answer.
Q: Why do students fail in GATE?
A:
There could be many reasons for the failure of the GATE exam. Lack of preparation, exam pressure, and weak memory can be a reason to fail in GATE.
Balancing Engineering semester exams with competitive exam preparation can feel confusing but with right and realistic routine makes it very achievable.
Start by dividing your day into two parts: use college hours and afternoons for semester prep and keep early mornings or late evenings for GATE prep.
Make weekly targets instead of daily pressure, revise class notes on the same day.
Use weekends for mock tests, previous year papers and deeper revision.
Try to limit social media, study in 40 to 50 mins focused blocks and take short breaks.
Most importantly stay consistent and give yourself patience.
With consistent timetable and steady effort you can manage both in smooth. All the best Aanchal!
If you are interested in Development Studies and planning to appear for GATE XH C6 (Sociology), then you are already moving in the right direction. Having a backlog does not disqualify you from pursuing higher studies, as long as you clear it before the admission process begins. Since you mentioned that you can clear the backlog before February 2026, it should not affect your eligibility for PG admissions. Most universities require a completed bachelor’s degree with no active backlog at the time of admission.
Your CGPA of 6.9 is acceptable for many institutes, although some top institutes may have higher cutoffs. Your interest in sociology and Development Studies will be helpful because the GATE XH paper tests conceptual understanding. If you prepare consistently and score well in GATE, you can apply to reputed institutes offering Development Studies such as IITs, TISS, JNU, Azim Premji University, and others.
Focus on clearing your remaining backlog and continue your GATE preparation strongly. If you balance both, you can build a good academic profile for admission into Development Studies. All the best.
You can change your category in the GATE application by logging into the GOAPS portal during the correction window and using the "Edit GATE Application Form" option to make the change. You will likely need to pay an additional fee for the change and may need to provide a valid category certificate.
Other than the GATE exam, admission to MTech programs in Data Science/AI for 2026 includes university-specific entrance tests like VITMEE, BITS HD Entrance Test, and SRMJEEE PG, as well as state-level common entrance tests such as Karnataka PGCET and TS PGECET.
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