The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) will for the first time witness Indian candidates rubbing shoulders with aspirants from Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Ethiopia and Singapore and the United Arab Emirates this year.
GATE is the route to admission to premier research institutions for students in India and successful candidates become eligible for research fellowships.
Last year, in an effort to become visible as a choice for education internationally, the Central government decided to permit students from other countries to be admitted to the country’s premier institutions. However, the number of seats reserved for Indian students would not be compromised.
Apart from increasing the number of centres where GATE would be conducted, a paper on Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences has also been included.
Although GATE is predominantly taken for engineering subjects, candidates who aspire to specialise or do research in pure sciences also take the exam. Pravin Kumar, working as a faculty in a coaching institute, is taking the GATE for the second time to do research in Physics. “Had I not lost four marks to negative marking I would have cleared the exam last time,” he says.
While students manage to do well in the 15 marks aptitude test that includes English and Analytical Skills, they lose out in the one-mark and two-mark subject-related questions. “These questions are tricky and you need enough practice, presence of mind, good mathematical skills and familiarity with all the laws of physics,” adds Pravin, who is hoping to garner a junior research fellowship with his potential scores.
GATE is also the entry point for careers in public sector companies. “Currently around 40 Public Sector Undertakings are recruiting using the GATE score and opportunities are plenty,” says M.V. Reddy of a private coaching institute. As there are similarities between GATE and the admission test to management studies, students who have prepared for the management test would do well in GATE too, he adds.
GMAT
Nine out of 10 management institutions in the country admit students on the basis of scores in an entrance test. High scores in Graduate Management Admission Test will open the doors of institutions such as XLRI, says Mukesh R., alumnus of NIT, Tiruchi. He has enrolled in a coaching class for the purpose. “It helps to take the GMAT as the scores can be used for admission to foreign universities too. XLRI conducts its own entrance test but also accepts GMAT scores,” he says.
“GMAT scores are accepted by the Indian School of Business and for some courses in IIMs where, with five years of work experience, and GMAT scores can get you admission,” Mukesh adds.
