GATE Full Form Name: GATE Meaning
Full Form of GATE:
Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering
GATE Full Form is
Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering. GATE is an entrance exam
conducted in all-India level for admitting students into various postgraduate
programs in the field of engineering, science and technology. This exam is
conducted by a collaboration of 7 IITs (Indian Institutes of Technology) and the
IISc (Indian Institute of Science). The 7 Indian Institutes of Technology or
IITs include Delhi, Mumbai, Kanpur, Guwahati, Chennai, Kharagpur, and
Roorkee.GATE exam is conducted in the engineering streams
like Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Chemical
Engineering, Electronics and Communication Engineering, Instrumentation
Engineering, Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering, Information Technology,
Production Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Metallurgy, Physics, Chemistry,
Biotechnology etc..
GATE exam basically tests the comprehensive
knowledge and understanding of a candidate in different subjects. It assesses
the understanding of his or her undergraduate course of engineering, technology,
architecture, etc. The GATE score is mandatory to seek admission in various post
graduate programs in IITs (Indian Institute of Technology), NITs (National
Institutes of Technology), and IIITs (Indian Institutes of Information
Technology). It also helps to seek employment opportunities in various
government owned companies. Though GATE exam does not comprise of lengthy
questions, it has its level of challenge that only around 15% of candidates
qualify with high percentile.
GATE Full Form – Additional Information
After completing undergraduate studies in
Engineering, if a student wishes to pursue higher studies in the Indian
Institute of Technology (IIT) or any other reputed university that offers
Masters Degree in Engineering, then it is necessary to pass the admission test
known as GATE or Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering.
WHAT IS GATE?
GATE or Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering is
conducted to ascertain the proficiency of the candidate to undertake higher
studies in the selected field of Engineering, Technology or Architecture. It is
essential in order to obtain admission for Masters Degree or get a job in
related fields of Engineering in which the candidate does specialization at the
undergraduate level.
This exam is conducted by the Indian Institute of
Science (IISc) Bangalore along with 7 of the IITs (Bombay, Madras, Roorkee,
Delhi, Kanpur, Guwahati, and Kharagpur). The test scores are utilized to obtain
jobs in public sector companies (government owned organizations) for entry-level
candidates in the field of engineering.
The examination is conducted on behalf of the
Government of India’s National Coordination Board for Department of Higher
Education of Ministry of Human Resources Development. This is a computer based
online test that has duration of 3 hours and the candidate has to answer 65
questions to score total 100 marks. There are multiple choice questions and the
ones with numeric answers. Of the 65 questions, 10 are marked as language and
logical skill questions and these are applicable to all the subjects that you
may opt for.
GATE is conducted to test skills in 23
disciplines of studies like Aerospace / Mechanical / Electrical / Chemical /
Agricultural / Instrumentation / Metallurgical / Mining / Civil / Electronics
and Communication / Production and Industrial and Petroleum Engineering,
Biotechnology, Architecture, Life Sciences and much more.
ELIGIBILITY AND SCORING
The candidates wishing to appear for GATE are
charged a fee of `750 for physically handicapped, SC, ST and female candidates;
whereas, all the regular candidates have to pay `1500. The eligibility criteria
are as follows:
- Final year students and the ones who have completed Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture, Technology or Engineering, with the 10+2 followed by 4 years course pattern of studies.
- Final year students or Master’s Degree holders in any stream of Science/ Computer Applications / Mathematics / Statistics.
- Students from the second year or thereof doing an integrated 4-years master’s course in either Technology or engineering.
- Candidates pursuing 5-year integrated master’s degree program or Dual-degree in Technology or Engineering and who are in their 4th or later year of the course.
- All those who have obtained qualifications through various competitive examinations conducted by professional societies like Institute of Engineering, etc and whose value is at par with B.E or B.Tech
The GATE score calculated on 100 is valid for a
period of three years from the date of declaration of the results. The
qualifying marks vary from subject to subject and different categories. Each
subject is coded and there are some compulsory subjects that the candidates have
to attempt like Engineering Mathematics for Engineering Sciences students and
Chemistry for Life Science students.
Engineering sciences subjects are Engineering
Mathematics (compulsory), and any two options from the remaining like Fluid
Mechanics, Solid Mechanics, Materials Science, Food Technology, Polymer Science
& Engineering and Thermodynamics. Life Sciences has Chemistry (compulsory)
and any two from Food Technology, Zoology, Botany, Microbiology, and
Biochemistry. General aptitude applicable to all disciplines has verbal and
numerical skills test.
WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF GATE?
Post Graduate studies and research scholars have
scholarships / fellowships applicable given by the Government on many occasions.
Thus, it is essential to choose right candidates who have absolute knowledge
about the field that they wish to pursue higher studies.
GATE scores are accepted when a person seeks a
job in Government undertakings and applies for Masters Degree as well as
Doctorate studies. GATE is considered a quite tough examination to crack as
there are objective questions yet a person has to study extensively to attempt
random questions.
Multiple choice questions can be tricky and 65
questions in three hours and that too online is a difficult task, since the
computer shuts down its monitor at the end of 3 hours session leaving you no
chance to grab the opportunity to complete the incomplete work, as is possible
on a paper & pen exam. This requires thorough preparation of the subject to
attempt the questions as fast as possible.
Many students take up a particular stream of
education and complete the undergraduate level. However, in the fields of
Engineering and Technology, there is a need to have in-depth knowledge of the
field in which you wish to make a career. GATE is the first step that you take
in pursuing the higher study of the specialized subject of your choice.
ADVANTAGES OF TAKING THE TEST
Every year there are over thousands of people
applying for PSU (public sector undertaking) jobs in India. Even though the
demand is more, the requirement is quite less and then the companies find it
very difficult to appoint the right candidate by just interview process. Since
the application rate is high and the vacancies are limited, the interview
sessions get too long and tedious.
Thus, to at least shortlist the candidates these
GATE scores are taken into consideration. From then on it becomes easier for the
companies to interview only the shortlisted candidates selected on merits and
make a quick decision about the appointment. IOC (Indian Oil Corporation) was
the first PSU to start this trend and then on many other big companies followed
this selection criterion.
Apart from securing a good PSU job, GATE also
gives the candidate a confidence of knowledge in the chosen field of
Engineering, Technology or Architecture. When a tough test like GATE is cracked
successfully, it is easier to get admission in reputed colleges or universities
for Post-graduate studies
Since the test is online, the students are not
permitted to bring in calculators etc as they are expected to use an on- screen
virtual calculator for their calculation work. An answer key is provided to the
candidates after the completion of the session in order to verify their answers.
The results are also online through official site. This brings in total
transparency in the process and is totally unbiased in marking.
DRAWBACKS OF COMPETITIVE EXAMINATIONS
Every process has its pros and cons. The pros are
all mentioned earlier, as they benefit the candidate in securing a better future
knowledge as well as career wise. However, since these are all competitive
exams, there is a boom of coaching classes and tutorials that aim to make hay
while the sun shines. Each coaching class has lists of names of some “toppers”
who have supposedly studied at their institution. This lures others to enroll
automatically. The coaching fees are very high and by the end of it all, there
cannot be any guarantee that you too may get high scores and be satisfied with
your investment of money and time in the coaching.
There are some very good students who are
thorough in theory and are perfect book worms who grasp the book matter and
reproduce it in the test paper. Nonetheless, it does not mean that the ones who
score a bit less are not capable of good work or have the ability to study
decently in future. The GATE score parameter metes out injustice to some
candidates who unfortunately fail to make a mark through the test and yet are
intelligent enough to take up higher studies in the subject of their choice.
Competitive examination is a good way to filter out deserving candidates through
the hordes that apply for admission. Yet it should not be the only deciding
factor to seal a student’s fate.