GATE 2026 Virtual Calculator: The GATE 2026 exam will take place on February 7, 8, 14, and 15, 2026, and the information regarding the virtual calculator mentioned in the GATE 2026 information brochure might confuse many aspirants preparing for the GATE examination. Read here to learn what a GATE virtual calculator is, the steps to use it, and more.
Students who are planning to appear for GATE 2026 examination this year must know and understand how to use GATE 2026 virtual calculator. As the GATE officials, do not allow any electronic gadgets inside the exam hall, candidates are therefore provided with scientific calculator in-built in the computer system. With the help of GATE virtual calculator, candidates can perform complex calculations in short period of time. In this article, we have discussed how to use virtual calculator while solving GATE question paper.
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To ease the situation, GATE provides a virtual calculator during the exam, where candidates can use this feature to solve mathematical problems. As the GATE 2026 will be conducted on Feb 7, 8, 14, and 15, 2026, in two shifts, candidates must know how to use a virtual calculator for the GATE exam.
No, NIT Trichy does not provide direct admission for BTech. NIT Trichy BTech admission is entrance-based. The institute accepts admission to the BTech course through a valid score of JEE Main. Every aspirant needs to qualify for the exam in order to get admission. Selected candidates further need to take part in JoSAA counselling as well. There is no other procedure for admission.
After JEE session 2 is completed, only those candidates who are aiming for IITs need to start preparing for JEE Advanced after clearing JEE Main. Those who are above the 98th percentile should start preparing for JEE Advanced as soon as possible. Those below this, between the 95th and 98th percentile, should focus on attempting more mock tests and previous year question papers so that they have a better chance of clearing JEE Advanced
- How to practice using GATE Calculator: When to start solving?
- GATE 2026 Virtual Calculator: Features
- How to Calculate Arithmetic Expressions Using GATE Scientific Calculator?
How to practice using GATE Calculator: When to start solving?
We advise candidates to start practising questions using GATE calculator as early as possible. Using GATE exam virtual calculator will help students get acquainted with tricks to attempt questions. Be it easy or tough GATE questions, make it a habit of solving questions using GATE calculator. Candidates can install it on their phone and get it from sites (if using desktop).
GATE 2026 Virtual Calculator: Features
Candidates who are appearing GATE (computer-based exam) must know about the properties of the calculator and how to access it.
- For simple operations, the keys are present in the right-hand side of GATE 2026 virtual calculator
- For questions related to scientific functions and operations, the keys are present on the left-hand side
- Inverse functions have separate keys. They can be seen below the respective functions
- The keys for scientific operations and functions are located on the left side of the calculator.
- Candidates must be aware of all the keys and their functions to avoid time consuming
- Trigonometric function keys are grouped in the calculator
- The hyperbolic functions are also group in the GATE 2026 virtual calculator
- There are two display boxes- one displays the sequence of keys pressed by the candidate, and the other shows the actual value entered or the result of the calculation.
Smart Ways to use GATE 2026 Calculator
Here are some tips and hacks to use VIRTUAL Calculator efficiently
- Use the C key to begin calculations. It can be used anytime to begin a new calculations
- Students can use operands and pre-set operators for time management
- Candidates must note that once the answer is entered it cannot be altered. So, use it carefully
- Use MC key to clear memory and MS key to retain digits
- To read a number from memory, use the MR key for faster evaluation
There is no University-wise IISC entrance exam required for BTech course, students need to clear JEE and JEE Mains. If the student qualifies any of this mentioned-exam and you have top rank is qualify for Indian Institute of Science course admissions. Every year cut off is different but you need top ranks.
IISc Bangalore offers admission to candidates based on their scores in the entrance exam. Candidates are selected for BSc via JEE Main, JEE Advanced, IISER Aptitude Test, NEET or KVPY scores. The institute also considers scores in GATE, IIT JAM, etc. for admission to other courses-BTech, MSc, MTech.
No, candidate who are looking for admission at IISC Bangalore need to have a valid GATE score. However, 70% GATE score + 30% performance in written test (100% GATE based for Aerospace, Chemical, Civil, Materials Engg.) + COAP counselling will be accepted. Apart from this, students might face some problems while downloading the GATE hall ticket 2024. The problem might be due to slow internet connectivity or a heavy load on the server. In such situations, candidates should try downloading the admit card after a short duration. In case any candidate forgets their application ID/Enrollment ID or password, they can reset it. In case a candidate has forgotten their password, they can reset it from the GOAPS portal.
It is advised to start practicising daily to get hang of it, as GATE authorities will not provide any other medium to solve questions. Also, the GATE 2026 scientific calculator has a few limitations, which are -
- A factorial calculation has a maximum output 14 digits
- For logarithmic and hyperbolic, the maximum output is 2 digits
- Mod operation can be used only if the number is less than 12 digits
How to Calculate Arithmetic Expressions Using GATE Scientific Calculator?
Here are some examples of how the calculations can be done using the GATE virtual calculator.
- To calculate 60+40 x 2, candidates have to enter the following - 60,+40, *, 2 =
- To calculate 70 x 50-10, candidates have to enter the following - 70, *, 50, -, 10 =
- To calculate 70 x (20 +10), candidates have to enter the following - 70, *, (, 2, +, 3,), =
Functional Calculations
- To calculate 2+ log (30) x10, candidates should enter the following - 30, log, *, 10, +, 2=
- To calculate log (20) x 3 -5, candidates have to enter the following - 20, log, *, 3, -5, =
How to use trigonometric functions
- To calculate sin (25) or cos (25) or tan (25), candidates should enter 25, sin or cos, or tan.
- To calculate tan (30) x 6+2, candidates must enter the following - 30, tan, *, 6, +, 2 =
The GATE 2026 exam will be conducted in two sessions- Morning (9:30 am to 12:30 pm) and Afternoon (2:30 pm to 5:30 pm) on February 7, 8, 14, and 15, 2026. Candidates who will submit the GATE application form can download the GATE 2026 admit card using their GATE enrollment ID and password.

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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