GATE 2026: 10 Signs You're Officially a Aspirant and Proud of it, How many did you tick off already?
Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering 2026 ( GATE )
Exam On - 7 Feb '26
10 signs you are officially a GATE aspirant: Being a GATE aspirant is like signing for a reality show, where villains are distractions, drama are those heavy study materials, and grand prize is your dream institute. Well, to be honest, studying for GATE is overall a personality upgrade and here are 10 signs that make you officially a GATE aspirant. Read below.
Here is a breakdown of 10 relatable signs stating that you are a TRUE GATE ASPIRANT!
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| Signs | Do You Relate? |
|---|---|
| 🍵Coffee or Tea Is Your New Blood Group |
Normal people drink coffee to feel awake. You drink coffee because thought of solving one more differential equation at midnight would otherwise feel like climbing Mount Everest barefoot. Your mugs are now trophies, each one silently screaming, “This aspirant survived another all-nighter.” Now, your bloodstream isn’t blood anymore, it’s half caffeine and half determination. Keep it up!! |
| ☮You’ve Made Peace with the Syllabus |
GATE syllabus isn’t just a PDF on your laptop; it’s practically your new roommate. You now remember each term like your favourite lyrics. The GATE Mechanical aspirants whisper “Thermodynamics” in their sleep. GATE CS students dream in binary. And Civil? Well, they look at every bridge like it’s a potential exam question. Right? Sure, it feels endless, but secretly, you’re proud of knowing more formulas than the average calculator. |
| ⏳Time Is Now Displayed in Mock Test |
While others measure time in hours or weeks, you measure it in GATE mock tests. “How long till your birthday?” someone asks. You reply, “About 6 mock tests away.” Your life calendar isn’t Google, it’s the GATE test series. Deadlines? Assignments? Festivals? Nope. Everything is scheduled around the next full-length test. |
| 🔬Friends = Study Groups, Enemies = Distractions |
Your old college gang is long forgotten. Now your WhatsApp groups are filled with screenshots of tricky GATE PYQs, arguments over standard textbooks, and someone constantly asking, “What are some of the important topics in computer science?” or Is covering just standard books and PYQs enough for GATE? The new villain in your life? Instagram reels. One innocent scroll and boom, you’re two hours deep into cat videos, viral memes, questioning all your life choices. |
| 📚PYQs and Problem-Solving Skills Are Your Love Language |
You will come to know you are true GATE aspirant, when your idea of bonding is not gossiping about the latest shows, but solving questions together. You join community forums to discuss and bond through hustle memes. In fact, PYQs are like horoscopes, you analyse them to predict your destiny. If you get all of them correct, you feel like an achievement. |
| 📌You’ve Developed a ‘Formula Vision’ |
Ever noticed how The Matrix characters see the world in green code? That’s you now. Every situation reminds you of formulas and concepts. A simple swing in the park? That’s SHM. A leaking tap? Fluid mechanics. The whole world revolves around GATE chapters. You just don’t see the world, you live in it and solve it. |
| 💻Your Laptop/Desktop Is Your Battle Station |
A lot of you might agree on this. A student appearing for GATE or planning for PSU through GATE will raise a hand to it. Your study table is sacred. |
| 🤖You’re Fluent in the Language of Panic and Motivation |
You wake up motivated, declaring, “I will finish Signals and Systems today!” By noon, you’re panicking, whispering, “Maybe I should just open a tea stall instead.” By night, you’re motivated again, planning your IIT dream. These are true signs of being a GATE aspirant. |
| 📲Your Social Media Is 90% Memes, 10% Notes |
You scroll through your mobile gallery, and it is a battlefield of memes, formula shortcuts, tricks to solve important GATE questions, or screenshots of the GATE toppers' timetable. You don’t even share vacation photos and selfies anymore, what you share are GATE memes. But deep down, we all know these memes feel like therapy to get through the deadly nights. |
We all know, that GATE exam is tough, syllabus is vast, and competition is massive, yet deep down you kind of feel proud of yourself. Because, not everyone plans to go for such a demanding goal, by sacrificing weekends.
No, applicants cannot opt for any paper from the combination list. Candidates can only select from the options provided by the GATE authorities in the GATE 2026 paper combination list. For example, a CS student has the free will to choose from the following set of exam papers: DA, EC, GE, MA, PH, and ST.
You can apply for two GATE papers (maximum). While filling out the GATE application form, you need to select the primary and secondary paper. The GATE secondary paper must be from the subject list prescribed by the GATE authorities. Before adding the paper, go through the subject combination list and GATE paper codes.
Candidates opting for two GATE papers will have to pay double the fees mentioned -
For example,
- If a general category candidate is applying for two GATE papers, then he/she has to pay a fee of INR 4000 (during the regular timeline) and INR 5000 (during the extended period).
- The same applies to the female, SC, ST, and PwD category candidates, INR 2000 (during the regular time period) and INR 3000 (during the extended period).
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Upasana Pradhan is an Mtech graduate in Electronics and Communication Engineering from DTU who specialises in curating postgraduate and undergraduate engineering entrance exam content, such as GATE, TS PGECET, KCET,
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 21 hours ago
You are still eligible for M.Tech admission at SIT Pune without GATE score. In this case, you will have to take an entrance test followed by a personal interview round. Based on the combined score of entrance exam and personal interview, you will get admission.
J
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 23 hours ago
For the DJ Sanghvi PhD admissions, candidates will most probably be needing a valid GATE or PET score. Sponsored candidates may be considered under specific norms, as per previous records.
J
Contributor-Level 10
Answered Yesterday
Qualifying mark of GATE exam usually varies every year depending on certain factors. Candidates can refer to expected cutoff based on last year's trends
- General - 25 to 32
- OBC - 22 to 28
- SC/ST/PwD - 17 to 25
I
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 2 days ago
GATE score is preferred for admissions in DJ Sanghvi M.Tech courses. If you do not have a GATE score, you can still be considered when seats remain vacant. Final selection depends on institute-level merit norms.
J
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 days ago
Yes, you can get admission in DBS Global University M.Tech without GATE score. The university also accepts valid CUET-PG scores for M.Tech admission. Alternatively, students may appear for the university's entrance test.
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 days ago
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D
Beginner-Level 3
Answered 6 days ago
Yes, IIT Guwahati has released GATE exam admit card 2026. The link to download GATE hall ticket is available at gate2026.iitg.ac.in. Candidates must keep their enrollment ID and password to download admission ticket of Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering.
A
Contributor-Level 7
Answered a week ago
The IIIT Bangalore M.Tech Cutoff 2025 has been released for admission for all categories under the All India quota. The closing cutoff in the last round for 2025 was 668 for the General AI category candidates. Whereas, in 2024, the closing cutoff in the last round was 570, indicating that the compe
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
The IIIT Bangalore GATE COAP Cutoff 2025 has been released for admission to the M.Tech course specialisations for all categories under the All India quota. For the General AI category candidates, the last round cutoff score ranged from 555 to 668, wherein M.Tech. in Computer Science and Engineering
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
The IIIT Bangalore GATE Cutoff 2025 was released for admission to the M.Tech programmes via the COAP counselling process. The cutoff was released for all categories under the All India quota. According to the IIIT Bangalore COAP Cutoff 2025, the closing cutoff score ranged from 522 to 635 for the st
N
Contributor-Level 10
Yes, candidates having qualifying degree in B.Com can apply for GATE exam to get admission to the master's programmes in IITs and IISc. Candidates must go through the GATE information brochure carefully before applying. Also, students in 3rd year or final year in commerce are also eligible for GATE.