Understanding the GATE Exam
What is GATE?
The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering is an examination of great prestige in the Indian context, as it tests the comprehensibility of various undergraduate subjects in engineering and science. In most cases, GATE serves as a qualifying examination for higher education services as well as for recruitment in Government and Public Sector Undertakings.
Importance of GATE Score
Your GATE score is pivotal for a plethora of reasons. Most importantly, a high score can fetch you admission into premier institutes such as IITs and NITs for Master’s programs and will also open many public sector job opportunities. So it becomes highly important to understand how to compute your score if you want to plan your future effectively.
Components of GATE Score Calculation
Understanding the GATE Exam Pattern
The GATE exam consists of multiple choice questions (MCQs), numerical answer type questions (NATs), general aptitude questions. The total score in GATE exam is out of a total 100 marks.This also put a mark on your employability.With knowing this structure you will be able to know on how to measure yourself.
Marks Distribution
Total marks which you can score in each subject can vary but most of the subjects will have around 100 scores, so try to understand how these marks are split among various marks types to know how easy a good score can be.
**Types of Questions**
1. **Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)**: Each question comes with four possible answers, of which only one is correct. Usually, there is more than one answer that can attract a penalty.
2. **Numerical Answer Type Questions (NATs)**: Unlike the previous type, here you are required to solve problems. Additionally, NATs typically do not apply negative marking; hence no penalties for incorrect answers.
**Negative Marking System**
This is one area that can affect your overall score. In the case of MCQs, one of the most common methods of negative marking involves deducting a third of the assigned marks for a question that is answered incorrectly. Knowing this will allow you to pause and consider whether you would want to attempt the problem or skip it all together.
**Steps to Calculate GATE Score**
**Step 1: Calculate Raw Score**
Your GATE score starts with the raw score. In calculating this score, base it on the amount of questions you got right after subtracting the wrong ones.
**Example Calculation**
65 questions to attempt:
Get 50 correct
And 15 incorrect.
If each question is worth 1 mark, your calculated score would look like:
50 marks equal 50 correct answers.
And assuming a negative mark system: -5 marks for incorrect answers.
Raw score: 50 – 5 = 45 marks.Step 2: Determining the Total Number of Questions
Each GATE paper comes with a unique set of questions. Knowing this will help you determine your standing relative to the potential marks for the exam.
Calculating Score Percentage
Now that you’ve calculated your raw score, it’s time to figure out percent score:
Percentage Score = (Raw Score / Total Questions) * 100
For example, if your raw score stands at 45 and the total questions were set at 65, then:
Percentage Score = (45/65)*100 = 69.23%
Step 3: Normalize Scores (If Applicable)
In the case GATE papers are scheduled on different days, their scores have to be normalized to standardize scoring options across multiple sessions. In this case, your percent score will need variation according to candidate performance at your surmise.
Normalization Formula
There is a specific process to follow for normalization:
Normalized Score = (Your Raw Score – Mean Raw Score) / Standard Deviation of Raw Scores
This formula works towards standardizing your raw scores in relation to how difficult the exam was in your session.
Step 4: Converting your GATE Scores
Your calculated normalized score can be converted into GATE scores within a range of 0 to 1000. This score provides an insight into your performance relative to other contenders.
Final Value Assessment
The GATE scores are usually calculated using the formula below:
\
GATE Score = 1000 * [Your Normalized Score – Minimum Score in the Examination] / [Maximum Score – Minimum Score]
Different methods have been presented for evaluating your efficiency within the GATE cohort, the above mentioned provides a reasonable estimation.
Employing the Scores for Further Studies and Career Opportunities
After calculating your GATE scores, understanding how to use it optimally becomes crucial.
Admissions
Make note of the competitively selected academic institutions in your preferred region as their cutoff scores are specifically aligned with the postgraduate programs enrolled under them.
Available Career Opportunities
Government-backed firms, in most cases, set GATE scores as one of the selection criteria in their recruitment exercises. Watch out for the notifications published by these firms as they clearly define how they set GATE scores.
Addressing Disagreement with Your Evaluation
Rescoring and Evaluation Feedback
In case you feel your score was unjustified, you may appeal to the relevant authority with a request for reconsideration accompanied by adequate proof of error.
Guidance for the Subsequent Attempts
If you are still unsatisfied with your score, take time to reflect upon it and plan your study approach for the next attempt. Familiarity with the test format and consistency in approach tend to help in improving scores.
Final Thoughts
Many people focus their attention on learning how to calculate their GATE score. As much as you need to be able to figure out your GATE score, it is equally important to understand the implications and consequences of the score in relation to your aspirations and strategies. Having learned the processes involved in scoring, you can now maneuver the GATE with better planning, thereby enhancing your preparation and outcomes.
