How to get good marks in GATE 2026 - Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering or GATE is one of the most sought after exams for high pay jobs as well as for higher studies and research opportunities in engineering. Students who would be appearing for the examination are advised to know the smart tips to score high in GATE exam. As GATE 2026 is a very big exam, it brings along a lot of pressure and anxiety among students. Scoring high in the exam can be made easy with some smart tips for GATE 2026 to score high.
How to Get Good Marks in GATE 2026- Smart Tips to Score Higher
GATE 2026 will be conducted across various test cities in India. The test will be held completely in online mode as computer based test. The GATE exam is scheduled to happen on February 7, 8, 14, and 15, 2026. The result of GATE 2026 will be announced online on the official website. Students are advised to follow a certain regime and preparation tips along with smart tips for scoring high in GATE. Below are some important tips and guidance which can help the candidates to score good marks in GATE 2026.
Students should always study as per the prescribed syllabus of GATE. The authority will release the GATE syllabus 2026 online. Candidates can get all topics from GATE syllabus and a complete overview of the entire syllabus which will be covered in the exam.
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The questions in GATE paper is prepared strictly in accordance to the standard pattern prescribed by the exam conducting authority. Students must understand the exact GATE exam pattern 2026 and get to know how questions are being asked, what is the difficulty level of questions from the particular topics and is there any topics that are more or less asked. Students can also take the help of previous year papers to understand how questions have been designed and formulated over the past years. Understanding the exam pattern will help students in streamlining their preparation and plan the preparation accordingly.
Analyse and practise previous year papers
Previous year papers are very important guides to understand how questions have been asked in past years of GATE exam and what is the difficulty level of questions. GATE Previous year papers also help in understanding the pattern of question paper, like which topic is frequently covered and which is given extra importance, if any. Previous year papers will help students in making a plan according for their preparation according to the recent trends and difficulty level of exam.
Point out the easy and difficult topics
Students must point out easy and difficult topics as per their study level and preparation so far. Since the syllabus of GATE covers almost the entire topics of the respective UG engineering courses, it is highly advised that students must figure out which topic they should give more attention and which ultimately requires more attention. There are some topics that are easy to score, there might be some topics that require extra attention. Questions in GATE exam papers are however more or less designed invariably, giving importance to all the topics that may fall sort of hectic. Students are thus suggested to plan their GATE 2026 preparation in a smart manner as per the difficulty level of topics.
Make a study plan
Preparing for the exam without a study plan is like boarding a train without any fixed destination. If students prepare for their GATE 2026 exam with a proper plan, they are more likely to score good marks. Students must divide time for each and every topics they have decided to study for the exam. Revision is one of the most important parts which should be given a high priority while preparing a study plan. Students must allot proper time to topics as per their preparation level and revise all the topics regularly.
Read books from expert writer
The books which we select to prepare for the examination plays a very important part in GATE preparation. The question papers of GATE is formulated and designed by expert faculties of IISc, IITs, NITs, and other institutes of international repute. Books written by expert and experienced faculties have detailed and analytical descriptions of all the topics in an easy and adaptive manner. If we choose to study books by expert writers, we will be more likely to understand all the topics in an easy manner which will eventually help us in scoring high marks in GATE 2026. Students are thus advised to select the best books for GATE 2026.
Solve mock test
Students must practice mock tests in order to score good marks. It is one of the most important tools which can assure good marks in GATE 2026. Practising the GATE mock test papers will allow students to know their strong and weak points. It will help students in understanding the areas where they face difficulties or which takes much of their time for solutions. Solving mock tests also help in time management and as is said, practice makes a man perfect, it will certainly lead you to score good marks in GATE 2026.
Practice time management
Time management is very important to practice in order to score good marks in GATE 2026. The total duration for the GATE exam is 3 hours and students are required to solve all the questions within a specified time interval. Some of the questions in the GATE exam are of high to moderate difficulty level while others may require lengthy calculations and smart assumptions, it is thus of utmost importance that students must learn how to manage time during the exam. If any particular type of question is requiring more time, try to find out where is it taking that extra time. It is also a smart choice during the exam to leave questions which is taking more time as it would leave you with no time for other questions.
Don’t study any new topic in the last time
Students are strongly advised not to study any new topic during the last time of exam preparation. Studying any new topic before the exam could bring unnecessary anxiety which could eventually lead to degrading the performance in GATE 2026. Instead of studying new topics the last time, students must revise the topics which they have studied earlier.
Students are advised to revise all the topics on a regular basis that they have studied for the GATE 2026 exam. Since the syllabus and topics in GATE is vast and lengthy, revision plays a key role in bagging success. Revision should be planned and monitored as per the difficulty level of topics. If certain topics require more attention or are difficult to remember, they should be more frequently revised so as to strengthen the grip on that particular topics. All the other topics should also be revised on a regular basis in order to keep things in mind. Important formulas and key points should be written on a separate sheet and students must revise and remember them on regular basis.
Relax and meditate on the day before exam
The day before the exam is the dawn before the sunrise. Attempting the GATE 2026 exam with a positive attitude and the right approach will certainly bring success to the candidate while if students do not relax and calm their mind in the last phase of their preparation, the entire hard work might go in vain. Students should compile and wrap up their preparation before one or two days of the GATE 2026 and must meditate in order to relax their mind. Students should avoid any unnecessary tension regarding exam preparation and go for the exam with positive mind.
Tips to GATE 2026 Aspirants
As the students who would be appearing for GATE 2026 have tp prepare well for the exam, there are some important implications that might get missed amidst the preparation
Students must practice solving calculations without the use of a scientific calculator. Students are not allowed to carry scientific calculators inside the exam hall and a virtual keyboard is provided during the online CBT exam.
As the GATE 2026 exam is a computer-based exam, students must try to practice solving the questions in the online platform.
Students are advised not to indulge in studying new topics during the last time of preparation.
Questions with lengthy calculations and requiring much time should be attempted in the last as attempting them, in the beginning, can shorten the time for other questions.
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.
Q: What if I reach the GATE exam center but the exam is delayed or canceled on my scheduled date?
A:
If the exam is delayed or canceled, the GATE authorities will notify you of the new schedule or arrangements on-site or through official channels like the website.
Q: Can I get an alternative exam center if I am unable to reach my assigned center due to local unrest or disturbances?
A:
Unfortunately, GATE does not provide alternate exam centers once the date and center are assigned. However, in extreme cases (e.g., natural disasters), authorities may inform candidates about any changes.
Q: How many hours do GATE toppers study daily?
A:
Most toppers maintain 5–7 hours daily focused study and increase it to 8–9 hours closer to the exam, balancing concept clarity, problem-solving, and revision.
Q: Do GATE toppers rely only on coaching or self-study?
A:
Many toppers combine standard reference books, self-prepared notes, and PYQs; coaching is helpful for structure but self-study and discipline are key.
If you missed the correction window for GATE 2026, the portal will not allow changes right now. Usually, IIT opens a correction period only once. Since you need to change your surname, the best option is to contact the GATE organizing institute through their official support email or helpline and explain your issue with valid proof like your Aadhaar or school documents. They sometimes allow corrections in genuine cases, but it depends on their approval. Make sure to keep all documents ready when you contact them.
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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