Students’ Speak: A low GATE percentile is not the end of the road
Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering 2026 ( GATE )
GATE 2026 Scorecard (free download)
27 Mar '26 - 31 May '26
By: Akansha Maurya
If you have given the exam and couldn’t make it through or you have cleared the exam but got marks lower than you had expected, you don’t have to worry. You still have so many other ways to complete your dream and get ahead in life.
After graduation, some of us think about getting a job while some of us want to do further studies and pursue Masters in Technology (MTech). For getting enrolled in M tech the greatest exam that is held in our country is GATE exam. All the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), National Institutes of Technology (NITs) and all other reputed technical institutes take admissions through this exam.
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If you have given the exam and couldn’t make it through or you have cleared the exam but got marks lower than you had expected, you don’t have to worry. You still have so many other ways to complete your dream and get ahead in life.
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The options you have after getting low marks in the exam are:
- Give it a second chance: This is the hardest decision to make after graduation because it is not easy to dedicate a whole year just for an exam. If you succeed in the second attempt that’s the best. However, if you can’t make through it this year as well, it is going to put a lot of pressure on you and that’s not a good feeling. But if you can dedicate yourself completely and you know that you can achieve your goal then definitely go for it. Dedication and hard work will pay you off.
- Get admission in the college that you are getting through your percentile: This option is better than the previous one because in this case you do not have that pressure on you. The ultimate goal of doing m tech is getting a good job and if you study well and stay focused then you can achieve your dreams from any college or university.
- Get a job and do preparation alongside: If you are not happy with your percentile then you can get a job in a company and continue your GATE preparation alongside. This way, if you face any failure, you would have a good back up plan and you will not have to start from scratch.
- Give some other exams: GATE is not the only exam that is conducted for the MTech admissions. There so many other exams that you could give BITS HD, VITMEE, etc. these exams will make you get admission in good institutes.
- Reconsider your career option: If you have given the exam twice and still can’t clear it then you may need to reconsider your career and try to explore other options.
About the Author:
Akansha Maurya is a B.Tech Computer Science student at B.M. Institute of Engineering and Technology.
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 3 days ago
MANIT M.Tech fellowship is paid every month based on your attendance. You need to fill out a simple form and get it signed by your teacher. This shows you attended your classes and did your lab assistant work. Once the department confirms this, the money goes straight to your bank account.
R
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 3 days ago
MANIT M.Tech application starts by qualifying the GATE. Next, you register on the CCMT portal during the month of May. You will fill in your personal details and upload your scorecard. Then, you must list your preferred branches at MANIT in order. If you are allotted a seat, pay the fee and verify y
R
Contributor-Level 9
Answered a week ago
This year, 10,11,719 candidates registered for Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering, and 797434 candidates appeared for the GATE. The number of qualified students list will be available once statistical report is released.
S
Contributor-Level 7
Answered a week ago
Yes, COAP is only for M.Tech and PhD admissions at IITs and IISc Bangalore. The portal also updates job offers for some PSUs. Overall, around 23+ IITs participate in GATE COAP counselling every year.
A
Contributor-Level 7
Answered a week ago
With a GATE EC 2026 score of 609 and EWS category rank, you are well within the cutoff range for M.Tech in VLSI/Microelectronics at several IITs (like IIT Guwahati, IIT Hyderabad, IIT Roorkee) and top NITs (like NIT Trichy, NIT Warangal, NIT Calicut). Your score is strong enough to target premier in
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
Yes, you can join NIT Puducherry without GATE, but only through specific alternative admission channels such as the Self-Support M.Tech program, Sponsored/QIP (Quality Improvement Program), or DASA (Direct Admission of Students Abroad). Regular M.Tech seats are primarily filled via GATE and CCMT cou
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
The GATE exam is conducted in the month of February. Registrations can be done on respective website. The application forms are generally out in last week of August. The application fee is INR 1,000 (female/SC/ST/PWD) and INR 2,000 (Male/General/OBC/EWS). Students have to register separately on univ
B
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
No, Indian students don't need JEE, NEET, or GATE exam score to get a seat at Imperial College. However, programs like MBBS (UCAT), MBA (GMAT), and some STEM programs (ESAT, TMUA, GRE) do ask for additional test scores.
Make sure to check entry requirements for desired course before applying at Impe
A
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
Yes, you can get admission in M.Tech without GATE exam at MIT College of Management and Computer Application. In that case, you can appear for PERA CET or MIT-WPU CET exam and get a valid score for admission.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
| Target Performance | Desired Score | Approx. Questions to Attempt | Reasoning |
| Top IITs / PSUs | 70 - 85+ | 55 - 60 Questions | High attempts with near-perfect accuracy are required to compete for the top 500 ranks. |
| Old IITs / Top NITs | 55 - 70 | 45 - 52 Questions | A safe zone where you focus on high-weightage topics and core subjects. |
| Qualification / New NITs | 30 - 45 | 35 - 40 Questions | Focus on General Aptitude, Mathematics, and your the strongest 3–4 technical subjects. |
S
Contributor-Level 10