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GATE Exam Date:07 Feb' 26 - 08 Feb' 26
Mistakes to Avoid in GATE 2026 - “To err is human…” but wait, NOT when you are appearing for GATE 2026. The engineering entrance exam at the postgraduate level is not only the entry point to M.Tech programmes at IITs and other esteemed institutes, but it also provides an opportunity to work in Public Sector Undertaking (PSUs), which pays well, like, well enough to brag about. To achieve a job at a Maharatna or Navratna, basically, PSUs, or get admitted to an IIT for M.Tech, you need to work hard because the GATE 2026 Exam doesn’t open all that easily. It covers all the undergraduate-level engineering syllabus extensively, so you can expect to see yourself anxious inside the examination hall. Guess what, you can avoid that by knowing the mistakes to avoid in GATE 2026.
On the big day, we don’t want you to be in a soup; therefore, Careers360 has compiled all the mistakes that can be avoided in GATE 2026. These tips on how to avoid mistakes in GATE 2026 can help you score well in the exam. As they say, it has to be smart work along with hard work in the GATE exam 2026.
Also Read: GATE exam analysis | GATE answer key | GATE question papers | GATE exam cut off
Now, that you know the mistakes that can occur in the exam, know how to avoid them all:
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!
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:
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.
The GATE exam pattern indicates negative marking, and this will be implemented as follows:
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
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.
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!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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.
Early preparation is considered to be best. Candidates must follow the GATE exam syllabus and paper pattern to plan the preparations.
Candidates must be calm and focused during the GATE exam. Read the questions and answer them only if you are confident about your answer.
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.
GATE exam is conducted for 100 marks.
On Question asked by student community
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
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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.
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