GATE 2026: GATE Exam vs Placements, Which is better for aspirants, benefits, salary, and more
Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering 2025 ( GATE )
Admit Card - 2 Jan '26
GATE Exam Vs Placements: For engineering students in India, making a decision between campus placements and preparing for GATE exam is difficult. Both routes have their own benefits and can offer amazing career paths. Read below to know more about GATE exam vs campus placements.
GATE 2026 Exam Vs Placements: For engineering aspirants, choosing between GATE and campus placements is one toughest decisions. Your brain might ask tons of questions like where should I invest? Should I prepare for GATE to aim IITs and NITs or grab a job through campus placement? Both are promising but right decision always lies on long term goals.
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Latest Updates: GATE 2026 branch-wise exam schedule released: check now
GATE 2026 Exam: Route to Higher Studies and PSU Jobs
GATE exam is a tough competitive exam for engineering students that tests candidates analytical skills and conceptual knowledge. But what benefits do you get after qualifying? Check below -
What are Benefits after qualifying for GATE?
The GATE marks is the actual marks obtained by the candidate. It is calculated out of 100. On the other hand, the GATE scores is calculated out of 1000 using a formula of GATE normalisation process. The GATE result will be released on March 19.
NIT Trichy has released the cutoff list for admission to the MCA course. The cutoff for the General AI category candidates was closed at 47. Looking at the cutoff ranks over the three years, it seems as if the competition has increased among the General AI category. The table below contains the cutoff ranks for NIMCET in current and past years:
| Year | Cutoff |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 48 |
| 2024 | 52 |
| 2025 | 47 |
- A good GATE score gets you admission into IITs, NITs, IIITs, etc. It helps you building technical expertise and skills.
- Many PSUs offer jobs through GATE. These provide you job security with interesting salary and attractive perks
- Candidates can get into research fellowships
- Achieve scholarships to become financially independent.
- Many international universities accept GATE scores for admission.
Advantages of Campus Placements
- Gives early job security
- Experience in building skill set in relevant industry
- Corporate culture experience with lucrative salary
Who Should Prepare for GATE Examination?
- Aspirants who want to opt for higher studies in IITs, NITs, and GFTIs
- PSU recruitments
- Eager to work in research labs and facilities
- Teaching industry
GATE offers long term career opportunity.
| PRO TIP - If you’re in 3rd or 4th year, appear for GATE once. Even if you don’t score well, you’ll gain experience for the final attempt. IIT Guwahati has started the GATE registrations. Aspirants can apply at gate2026.iitg.ac.in. |
Who Should Choose Campus Placements?
- Students who want to earn immediately and become financially independent
- Experience corporate culture
- Get into business and consultancy roles
| PRO TIP: If you’re confident about placements and still attempt GATE, it adds credibility to your resume. |
Explore more Engineering exams with upcoming dates
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Also read:
- What is the salary of a GATE topper in a month?
- How to get into FAANG companies through GATE?
- Post-GATE career tips: How to build a strong LinkedIn profile for career opportunities and networking
Can I prepare for GATE with Job Placements?
Yes with right plan and strategy one can easily prepare GATE along with campus placements -
- Focus on building strong fundamentals. Take your lectures seriously. Building concepts can help both in GATE preparation and technical interviews.
- Dedicate your weekends on GATE preparation by learning coding skills and new languages.
- Attempt GATE question papers to test your analytical skills which can help in placements.
| Even if you secure a placement, keep your GATE score valid, as it remains useful for higher studies or PSU opportunities later. The GATE scorecard is valid for three years. |
Conclusion: Which one is best?
- If your plan is for higher studies, then go for GATE. Build your concepts and achieve AIR and get into top institutions for research work.
- If you are immediate financial independency, then look for campus placements.
In short, GATE gives long term career growth and experience. Don’t think of it as GATE vs Placements. Think of it as GATE and Placements, and how you can use both to your advantage.
Also, it depends on your goals: Are you chasing knowledge, research, and security, or do you want experience, money, and corporate growth? Either way, both roads lead to success. So, make your choices wisely.
CAT exam is a national level MBA entrance exam conducted by the IIM. Every year, over 2.3 lakh candidates apply for it. Since the last two years, the competition has increased further with oveer 3 lakh candidates applying for the exam.
The CAT score is accepted by the Iims and all top MBA colleges in India. To select the best candidates from over 3 lakh test takers there is a need for stringent criteria. That's why, the CAT exam is tougher than other MBA entrance exams. Even though the syllabus of CAT is same as that of other MBA entrance exams, the question paper set by the IIM faculty always has tough questions. Moreover, CAT has sectional time limit for each section which is not there in any other exam except XAT. Having a time limit for each section adds pressure on candidates to complete solving adequate number of questions in a section within the time limit. If a student is weak in a particular subject, they can't use the time as per their need. CAT's Reading Comprehension passages are long and dense unlike other MBA exams. This is one more reason why most candidates feel CAT is tougher than any other MBA entrance exam.
IISc Bangalore has been ranked 1 and 2 by the NIRF 2023 Rankings under the 'University' and 'Overall' categories, respectively. The NIRF ranking is better than most of the IITs. Also during IISc placements 2023, the highest package offered was INR 85 LPA and the average package offered was INR 28 LPA. Moreover, IISc Bangalore is the only institute that considers the scores of JEE Advanced for admission to its B.Tech course except all the IITs.
Both IIT Bombay and NIFT Mumbai are recognised for their BDes course. For better comparison, below are some parameters to compare BDes programme of both the institutes:
| Parameter | IIT Bombay | NIFT Mumbai |
|---|---|---|
| Total tuition fee* | INR 8 Lacs - INR 11.6 lakh | INR 5.6 Lacs - INR 11.7 lakh |
| Overall NIRF Ranking 2023 | 4 | NA |
| Specialisation | Industrial Design, Communication Design, Animation, etc. | Fashion Design, Fashion Communication, Textile Design, etc. |
| Selection criteria | UCEED | NIFT Entrance Exam |
*The fee is taken from an unofficial source. Hence, data might vary.
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 4 days ago
GATE 2027 is expected to be conducted by IIT Madras for all 30 branch papers. Official announcement will be made soon.
A
Contributor-Level 7
Answered a month ago
The GATE exam is conducted once a year. The entrance test takes place on multiple dates and shifts for 30 test papers. For 2026, IIT Guwahati is conducting the exam on February 7, 8, 14, and 15.
S
Contributor-Level 7
Answered a month ago
Yes, IIT Guwahati has extended the GATE 2026 registration date with late fees. The new GATE 2026 registration date is October 13.
S
Contributor-Level 7
Answered a month ago
If you notice an error or discrepancy after submitting your GATE form, don't panic. Once the application correction window opens, log in via GOAPS using your credentials and make the corrections. Details like category, gender, exam city, paper choice, date of birth, etc., can often be edited — usual
D
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 2 months ago
The GATE cutoff changes every year depending on seat intake, number of applicants appeared in exam, toughness of question paper, and previous cutoff trends. Candidates who meet cutoff score can participate for counselling.
I
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 2 months ago
Based on the previous year's trends, the GATE 2026 expected cutoff for computer Science and engineering can be checked below-
- For General category it might go around 30 to 31.0
However, the GATE cutoff varies every year, depending on the difficulty level, number of applicants appearing for the exam,
U
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 months ago
No, a duplicate GATE 2026 admit card will not be provided at the test center. Candidates must carry their own admit card along with the mentioned documents and items to the GATE exam center. IIT Guwahati will release the GATE admit card on January 2.
P
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 2 months ago
Candidates will get only one scribble pad at a time. They must write their name and registration number before using it. If the rough sheet gets filled, then they can ask for another one scribble pad after returning the previous one to the invigilator. After the exam concludes, candidates must retur
B
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 2 months ago
Yes, candidates will get a scribble pad in the GATE exam 2026 to do the rough work. Candidates have to write their name and registration number on the scribble pad before using it. However, the rough sheet must be returned after the completion of the exam.
S
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 2 months ago
The barcode present in the GATE admit card 2026 carries the candidate's information. It is required for a faster verification process and fraud prevention. So, make sure it does not get tampered. Carry multiple copies in case your GATE 2026 hall ticket is torn or tampered.
T
Contributor-Level 7
This year, IIT Guwahati is conducting the GATE 2026 exam. IIT Guwahati conducted the GATE exam in 2018. Based on the GATE 2018 and past year paper format, the GATE 2026 is expected to be moderately difficult. The question paper is expected to have higher weightage on concept-based questions, blending numerical and practical analysis. Candidates are advised to practice the previous year's question paper as many times as possible to understand the difficulty level of the question paper.