Will GATE 2026 be tougher than GATE 2025? Here's what experts say

As the GATE 2026 calendar is about to be released, many engineering aspirants have one question in their mind: Will GATE 2026 be tougher than GATE 2025? Based on the past five years of GATE paper analysis and candidates' qualifying statistics, many experts and forums reveal early indicators that suggest probable difficulty trends and advise aspirants to prepare accordingly. Read below for more. 

The GATE 2026 admissions will begin soon, and various forums and communities have started predicting the GATE 2026 difficulty level, competition level, expected number of applicants registering and appearing for the exam and more. This year, IIT Guwahati will be conducting the GATE 2026 exam, and many assumptions have been cooking up on the GATE 2026 question paper pattern, whether new changes to be made in GATE 2026, etc. Read below to know more. 

GATE 2026 Predictions: What to expect?

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati will conduct the GATE 2026 exam, and the question paper is expected to follow a moderate to difficult difficulty level, similar to previous years. However, the level of competition in GATE 2026 is likely to rise significantly due to an anticipated increase in the number of test-takers. With growing interest in technology-driven careers and rising demand for PSU and M.Tech admissions, over 10 lakh candidates are expected to register for GATE 2026. This surge in registrations may lead to heightened competition, making strategic preparation more important than ever.

 GATE 2026 Predictions: GATE 2026 Could Mirror GATE 2025's Difficulty, but the competition is expected to get tougher

According to current insights, the GATE 2026 examination, to be conducted by IIT Guwahati, is likely to maintain a moderate to high difficulty level, consistent with the 2025 session held by IIT Roorkee. Analysts note that tricky, concept‑driven NAT (Numerical Answer Type) and MSQ (Multiple Select Questions) questions may account for 30–40% of the paper, making precision and analytical thinking critical. 

 How Difficult was GATE 2025?

Student feedback from GATE 2025 varied by stream:

• For Computer Science, difficulty ranged from easy to moderate, with Engineering Mathematics rated moderate and core CS subjects dipping into moderate-to-difficult territory
• Overall, the GATE 2025 exam was largely rated moderately difficult, though some shifts, especially the first shift, were tougher due to complex MSQs and time crunch. 
• In branches like Civil: MSC, and analytical questions increased, slightly lowering expected cutoffs compared to previous years.

Why GATE 2026 can be Difficult?

• Integrative and cross-disciplinary questions - Experts expect a greater blend of topics, requiring deep concept clarity and problem-solving agility. 
• Heavy inclination towards NATs and MSQs - With a rising trend, answers must be exact, no partial scoring, increasing pressure on accuracy.
• Increased competition - More aspirants eyeing PSUs and M.Tech seats may push question setters to up difficulty.

What Aspirants Should Do Now

• Focus on Core Concepts -  Master fundamentals in Engineering Mathematics and stream-specific subjects.
• Practice high-quality mocks - Coaching platforms recommend test series mimicking the actual GATE 2026 pattern to build speed and accuracy.
• Analyse performance thoroughly - Maintain error logs, revise weak topics, and review previous years’ GATE questions.

While nothing is confirmed, current data and expert commentary strongly suggest that GATE 2026 is likely to be as tough, or even marginally tougher, than GATE 2025. To succeed, aspirants should ramp up focused study, full-length practice tests, and strategic revision to stay ahead of the curve.