GATE 2016 PATTERN CHANGE
The problem that the examination faced was the reduced number of examination centres. The number of centres reduced drastically from 1564 in 2013 to 660 in 2015. This was because most of the old centres were unable to provide the necessary infrastructure to conduct the online examination.
This forced the IITs to conduct the examination for the same branch in different sessions. For example, for the ECE branch (most competitive branch), 4 sessions of online examinations were held in 2014 & 2015. Till 2013, only a single exam was used to filter students from a branch, but when it became online the number of exams that need to be conducted increased to 4 (in the case of ECE). There arises the need for normalization. To make a single rank list from the 4 distinct exams, the marks obtained by the students should be normalized, hence a new pattern is expected to be rolled out.
Expected GATE Pattern 2016
Different Specialization specific exams for the same branch (Eg. VLSI, Communication for ECE)
- Candidates need to select their specialization while applying to GATE.
- Each Specialization Specific Exam will be conducted in a single session.
- No need for Normalization
- Elective Subjects will be there along with a set of Mandatory core subjects.
- 10 Subjects will be there for every specialization inclusive of the core and elective subjects.
- Rank lists for each specialization will be separate.
This Examination pattern would be a welcome sign for PG and PhD aspirants who can concentrate on their core subject areas
Advantages
- Elimination of Normalization
- Encourage a Research oriented PG Programmes.
- Candidates aspiring for a particular specialization can eliminate other elective subjects
- Rank list allotted for each specialization
Disadvantages
- Candidates need to fix their specialization while applying to GATE.
- GATE exam will become indifferent to all other engineering exams (like ESE)
- The exam pattern will not be satisfying for those approaching GATE exams for Jobs.
- Recruitment of candidates by PSU(public sector units) will become more complex.
