Students generally start preparing for GATE after 2nd year. But it's not necessary, you can start before or after that. The logic behind that is, that you get 2 years to study, and prepare for the exam, and another year if you want to re-attempt. Even if you don't want to join a class for GATEs, I think you should still go and enquire in a class, about the process in detail, they can solve all your doubts easily and for free because it's their business, and then you might even want to join the class based on the information. So all the best!

hi calvin,

If you want to prepare for GATE then start preparing for it from your 1st year as you will get much time in 1st and 2nd year.After that you have to carry on your studies too for semester exams.

The topics that are related with syllabus of GATE you can study them with your engineering thoroughly. Otherwise it will be beneficial to focus on your graduation subjects. And in the 3rd year you can start your preparation slowly along with your other academics studies. Because in final year you will be having Project also. You will not be getting enough time. You can carry on the studies in final year and you will not feel burdened.

All the best!!

you can know more about GATE and syllabus here

https://engineering.careers360.com/articles/gate-preparation-timetable

Hey Calvin,

For an average If You Start Preparing for GATE as Early as Possible It will be beneficiary. But mostly engineering students prefer 3rd Year to start there preparation Of GATE. With some Colleges provide Coaching for it As well. If you live in NCR there are many coaching institute you can look upon. For instance 

1- The Gate Coaching

2-Made Easy

3-IES Academy

Are some among them you could look upon.

Best Of Luck

Hello there. Preparation of gate starts at the moment you think of persuing with higher studies after you degree. Since gate paper is all set with the subject which you study during your B-TECH and those subjects comes from second year. So the preparation of gate starts from your second year when you get in touch with the topics which will come in gate exam. So if you are studying those subject with gate in mind, you might be able to prepare well for exam.

Hello Calvin,ideally its better you start your GATE prepperation in your 2nd year itself.As most of the questions seems to be the syllabus of your 3rd or 4th semester onwards hence it's preferred .

All the best.