Exam overview
GATE CSE
Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering – Computer Science and Information Technology.
Level
Postgraduate entrance
Mode
Computer-based test (CBT)
Frequency
Annual
Conducting body
IISc + IITs (rotational)
About the exam
GATE CSE is a national-level exam for admission to M.Tech/MS/PhD programs and for PSU recruitment. It tests core computer science fundamentals, engineering mathematics, and aptitude.
Exam pattern (quick glance)
- Mode
- Computer-based (online)
- Duration
- 3 hours
- Questions
- 65 (MCQ, MSQ, NAT)
- Marks
- 100
- Frequency
- Once a year
Important dates (tentative)
- Notification (tentative)Aug 2025
- Registration windowSep–Oct 2025
- Exam dates (tentative)Feb 2026 (weekends)
- Result (tentative)Mar 2026
Latest updates (sample)
Static · RSS later- AdvisoryJul 2025
GATE 2026 official notification expected in August 2025
Tentative timeline suggests brochure release in August with registrations in September.
- AnalysisJun 2025
Previous year paper analysis suggests higher weight to Algorithms
Trend over last 3 years shows more questions from Algorithms and Data Structures.
Eligibility (summary)
- Nationality: Indian and eligible foreign nationals (as per latest brochure).
- Age limit: No official upper age limit for GATE.
- Attempts: No fixed attempt limit; you can appear as many times as you wish.
Educational qualification
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering/Technology (4 years after 10+2) or equivalent.
- Final-year students of such programs are also eligible to appear.
Syllabus (high-level)
Detailed topic-wise syllabus will be linked from the official brochure and our PYQ/practice pages.
- Engineering Mathematics
- Digital Logic, Computer Organization & Architecture
- Programming & Data Structures, Algorithms
- Theory of Computation & Compiler Design
- Operating Systems & Databases
- Computer Networks & aptitude (verbal + numerical)
Frequently asked questions
Who conducts GATE CSE?
GATE is conducted jointly by IISc Bangalore and seven IITs on a rotational basis.
Can final-year students appear for GATE CSE?
Yes, final-year students of BE/BTech/BSc (Engg) or equivalent can appear.