12 Month Plan for GATE 2026: A Complete Strategy to Achieve a Top 100 Rank

What is GATE exam?

The GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering) is one of the toughest exams in world, conducted by IITs(Indian institute of Technology) for admission to M.Tech and Ph.D. programs. Although the GATE exam is mainly designed for Indian students, it is also open to international candidates from countries such as Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates. Every year, approximately 8 to 10 lakh students appear for the GATE exam across multiple streams. Some PSUs also recruit candidates based on their GATE scores.

Eligibility Criteria for appearing in GATE exam

Candidates pursuing the 3rd year or higher of an undergraduate degree or those who have completed a government-approved degree in Engineering, Technology, Architecture, Science, Commerce, Arts, or Humanities are eligible to appear for GATE.

Strategy to Crack the GATE Exam

Cracking the GATE exam is neither too easy nor too difficult. However, a well-structured plan can simplify the preparation process and make it more manageable.

1. A 1-year plan is ideal for cracking the GATE exam, with the best time to start being February, March, or April.
2. In the initial days, begin at a steady pace—treat it as a challenge but avoid an overly aggressive approach. Some students start with high intensity but burn out by November, December, and January, which are the most crucial months for GATE exam preparation.
3. Start with syllabus completion syllabus must be complete within September, October, November. November is threshold time of syllabus completion, minimum 8-9 subjects must be complete until November.

Divide your preparation into three phases:

1. Syllabus Completion
2. Revision
3. Mock Tests

Syllabus Completion (Phase - 1)

1. Syllabus completion is a crucial part of exam preparation. It is recommended to start with challenging subjects, though students can choose based on their comfort level. Most candidates begin with Mathematics and General Aptitude, which is a great strategy since these subjects are essential for the exam. Together, they cover 30-40% of the syllabus and form the foundation for core subjects across all branches. Mathematics, in particular, plays a key role in solving numerical and logical problems. Therefore, it is highly recommended to start with Mathematics and General Aptitude for a strong foundation.
2. General Aptitude should be studied at a slow and steady pace. Watch one lecture each morning and solve 2-5 questions daily. The next day, revise all the problems solved over the past three days before moving forward.
3. Mathematics should be completed within 45 to 60 days at most. After that, start your core subjects in a structured, interrelated manner. For example, in the Computer Science branch, follow a logical sequence: C Programming → Data Structures → Algorithms. This approach helps in transitioning from basic to advanced concepts, as C programming lays the foundation for understanding Data Structures and Algorithms more effectively.
4. Parallel revision and solving previous years' questions are essential during syllabus completion. After completing each subject, take topic-wise tests and subject-wise tests, analyse your accuracy and speed, and work on improvements. Aim for a 60-70% score in these topic wise tests and subject-wise tests, as this will help you understand the exam pattern and the difficulty level of questions more effectively.
5. Take the detailed hand written notes of yourself.

Month-wise Syllabus Completion Plan for GATE (e.g Computer Science)

General Aptitude (Daily practice with 2-5 questions)

Feb-April: Mathematics (45-60 days)

April: C Programming & Data Structures

May: Algorithms

June: Computer Networking

July: Operating Systems & DBMS

August: Theory of Computation & Compiler Design

September: Digital Logic and Computer Architecture and Organization

Similarly, students from other branches can structure their syllabus completion in a well-organized manner following this approach.

Revision (Phase - 2)

October: The Crucial Month for Improvement

1. By October, students must become more serious than before, as this is the time to identify and fix past mistakes. If students have already completed 8-9 subjects, they are in a safe zone. However, if they are behind, they should follow crash courses and complete the remaining subjects as quickly as possible.
2. Students who have completed 7-9 subjects should take their first full-length mock test at this stage. This is the right time to analyze mistakes, improve weak areas, and fine-tune exam strategy.
3. If the syllabus has been completed in a structured manner, students can comfortably score 40-50 marks, as by early November, they would have solved all PYQs, completed topic-wise and subject-wise test series, and overcome their fear of not qualifying.
4. This month, start revising multiple subjects and take Multiple Subject Mock Tests, aiming for a minimum score of 50-60%.
5. Don't lose hope if your scores are low—it is completely normal to get single-digit marks in some tests. If your score is low, focus on understanding the problems and analyzing mistakes. Remember, mock tests are meant to evaluate accuracy and identify areas for improvement, not just for scoring high.
6. This month, focus on multiple revisions. After 3-4 rounds of revision, create short notes and use them for quick reviews. Making short notes is crucial, as they help in efficient last-minute revision and reinforce key concepts effectively.

November: (Post-Diwali: The Sprint Phase)

This is the time after Diwali when students need to push themselves harder. However, 60-70% of students give up due to fear and burnout—especially those who didn't follow a structured strategy and are now exhausted. But this is the moment to sprint forward, not step back.

Everyone must overcome their inner fears and stay focused. Wasting time at this stage can be detrimental to your final score.

1. For students who have completed fewer than 4 subjects: Prioritize finishing more subjects quickly using crash courses to reach the safe zone (8+ subjects completed). Simultaneously, revise all completed subjects and solve important PYQs.
2. For students who have completed more than 9 subjects: Start multiple subject tests and extensive revision. Identify and fix weak areas, and work on improving test scores.

December: DO or DIE Phase (Phase - 3)

Final Sprint: Overcoming Fear & Staying Focused

This is the phase where every student experiences intense fear, and climate changes can also affect health. Avoid starting any new subject at this stage. Instead, focus on intensive revision, take care of your health, and eliminate distractions. Ensure you get proper sleep and avoid unnecessary subject completion—prioritize multiple subject revisions.

1. Solve important PYQs and focus on high-weightage topics, revising them multiple times.
2. Start full-length mock tests—aim to complete 50% of your mocks this month and analyze them thoroughly to identify and fix weak areas.
3. If all subjects are not completed, focus to complete only on easy subjects like Digital Logic and Compiler Design to maximize efficiency.

Stay Motivated & Keep Pushing Forward

1. This month demotivates many students, and some even give up. Don't let fear take over—believe in yourself! Study as much as possible, stay consistent, and use this time to prove yourself.

January: YOU CAN DO IT, YOU CAN DO ANYTHING

A great teacher, Saurabh Thakur, once said, "It doesn’t matter if you start slowly, but you must finish strong."

1. Complete the remaining 50% of full-length mock tests and focus on intensive revision.
2. Take mocks, analyze mistakes, revise, and repeat—this cycle is crucial for improvement.
3. Create micro notes this month and revise them thoroughly for quick recall.
4. Stay motivated and avoid comparing yourself to others—your only competition is your past self.

The Day of Examination

This is the day that will shape your future. For all sincere candidates, those 180 minutes should feel just like another full-length mock test.

Exam-Day Tips:

1. First, go through all the questions and mark the very easy ones to solve first.
2. If a question takes too long, mark it for review and move on.
3. Get proper sleep before the exam and avoid stress. Overthinking can ruin your performance.
4. Stay calm and focused—fear and anxiety won’t help.
5. Read each question carefully before answering. Don’t rush.

Essential Documents to Carry:

1. Hard copy of your admit card.
2. A valid, updated photo ID (e.g., Aadhaar Card, Pan card, Driving Licence etc ).
3. For more information read instructions in admit card.

The Day of Result Announcement

1. Check your result from official GATE website.
2. If passed then you are the winner. You are that one who proven yourself. Enjoy and Celebrate the day.
3. If you failed then don't give up ananlyze your mistake and try again. Beleive yourself you can do it and you can do anything.

संघर्ष ही जीवन सार है, या तो हम लड़ते-लड़ते जीत जाते हैं या लड़ते-लड़ते लड़ना सीख जाते हैं। स्वयं से कहिए "हार मानूंगा नहीं।"