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 - 14 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 17 hours ago
GATE memory-based answer key, also known as the unofficial answer key released by several coaching institutes immediately after the completion of the exam. These questions are mainly derived by students feedback and might not be 100% accurate.
These memory-based GATE answer key helps students to ana
A
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 17 hours ago
The GATE provisional answer key is an official document released by the official authorities along with the response sheet. The provisional answer key of GATE contains all the correct answers to the questions that were asked in Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering.
With the help of the GATE 2026 pr
S
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 18 hours ago
In GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering) official answer key, MTA stands for Marks to All.
"Marks to All" states that the marks allotted to that question will be given to all candidates who attempted that particular test paper.
I
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 18 hours ago
No, both are the same in difficulty level. GATE is conducted for 30 papers, while JAM is held for seven papers. The difficulty level of IIT JAM and GATE varies from paper to paper. To score good marks, students must focus on the exam syllabus and high-weightage topics.
V
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 18 hours ago
If you are aiming for branches like computer science, electrical engineering, electronics and communication or mechanical engineering, then a GATE score of 750+ is highly recommended.
But if you are aiming for GATE branches, such as Mtech in architecture and planning or aerospace engineering at IIT
S
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 18 hours ago
A GATE score of 700 to 800 is mainly required for M.Tech admission at IIT (especially for top IITs). However, the score also depends on the IIT popularity, branch popularity, and other factors. For new IITs, a GATE score of 500 to 600 is mainly required.
It is advised to check the past year's GATE c
P
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 19 hours ago
Based on last year's cutoff mark and number of students appearing in the exam, the expected GATE cutoff for DA this year can be checked below -
Category | Qualifying Marks |
|---|---|
General | 36.5 - 38.7 (This year, GATE DA is expected to get tough, as the registered candidates are increasing) |
OBC-NCL/EWS | 27.5 |
SC/ST/PwD | 20.0 |
S
Contributor-Level 7
Answered Yesterday
Candidates can check GATE response sheet answer key at GOAPS portal using enrollment ID and password. The link will be activated at candidate login.
T
Contributor-Level 7
Answered Yesterday
Based on past year's trends, IIT Guwahati will publish GATE answer key in the last week of February 2026. Once date is announced, it will be updated here.
A
Contributor-Level 7
Answered Yesterday
Yes, GATE is a mandatory entrance exam for CGC Landran M.Tech admissions. The selection of candidates for the M.Tech course is done during the PTU counseling. During the PTU counseling round, CGC Landran will look at the GATE score obtained by a candidate to decide their admission.
S
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.