Mistakes to Avoid in GATE 2026 - Know How to Avoid

Mistakes to be avoided in GATE 2026

• Mistake No. 1 - Not saving the answer after marking
• Mistake No. 2 - Time being the enemy
• Mistake No. 3 - Answering all the questions
• Mistake No. 4 - Considering a scribble pad as useless
• Mistake No. 5 - Being naive about using the virtual calculator

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 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!