Full Form of GATE, NEET, CAT, GMAT, GRE, IELTS

As the candidates learn the differences and the full forms of GATE, NEET, CAT, GMAT, GRE, and IELTS, they will also understand other aspects, such as their eligibility criteria and how they can register for them. All the abbreviations are entrance exams for MBA, MBBS, M.E/M. Tech, and other English proficiency to enter another country to pursue their higher education.

Full Form of GATE

Graduate Aptitude Test Engineering (GATE) is an All-India examination conducted jointly by the IISC, the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, and seven other branches of the Indian Institutes of Technology on behalf of the National Coordinating Board. With a good GATE score, you can get admission to IITs, IISC, IITs, and NITs.

Many reputed institutes like BARC consider the GATE 2025 scorecard mandatory for admissions to various courses offered by them. Some fellowships and other organisations such as DRDO and ISRO consider it the minimum requirement to permit applications.

The last benefit to having a GATE certificate is that it helps you with IES (Indian Engineering Services) preparations and B.Tech semester preparations. As for its international use, countries such as Singapore and Germany are always looking for GATE graduates.

GATE Eligibility Criteria

Before registering for the exam, it is important to know the GATE eligibility criteria, which vary based on the streams. Below are the GATE eligibility criteria.

How to Apply for GATE Exam?

The steps to apply for the GATE Exam are mentioned below:

• GOAPS (GATE Online Application Processing System) is the online portal through which a candidate can register for the upcoming exam.
• Applicants must upload a photograph, signature, and other documents such as a qualifying degree certificate from the institution and category certificate.
• While registering, the applicant must provide their email address and mobile number. They will be provided with a login ID and password, which can log in to the website.
• In the next step, the applicant must fill in their personal and educational details.
• The applicant then must preview the application form to make sure that there are no mistakes in the details.
• The applicant can pay the application form fees and wait for the admit card in the last step.

Full Form of NEET

National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) is an entrance examination conducted across India for students wanting admissions in any UG or PG medical course. The exam is mandatory for admissions to all government or private medical colleges in India. The Central Board of Secondary Education conducts NEET, and it has replaced all the individual entrance exams conducted by the states since 2013.

The basic eligibility to participate in NEET is to achieve 50% marks in subjects like Chemistry, Physics, and Biology in Class12 board exams. The candidate must have completed 17 years as of 31st December 2025. 

The NEET exam consists of three subjects, which include Biology, Physics, and Chemistry. Biology is all about theory, whereas Physics and Chemistry questions are based on applying the theory.

NEET Eligibility Criteria

The mandatory eligibility for admission is candidates must have finished class 12 with minimum passing scores, with Biology as an additional subject. The NEET eligibility criteria are as follows:

• Candidates must be born on or before 21st December 2004. This applies to all categorized candidates.
• The minimum marks are as follows:
• General: 50%
• General Physically Handicapped: 45%
• OBC/SC/ST: 40%
• OBC/SC/ST Physically Handicapped: 40%
• The candidate's nationality must be one of the following:
• Indian Nationals
• Non-Resident Indians (NRIs)
• Overseas Citizens of India (OCIs)
• Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs)
• Foreign Nationals

How to Apply for NEET Exam 2025?

The steps to apply for the NEET Exam are mentioned below.

• Step 1: Go to the official NEET website.
• Step 2: Click on the 'Apply for NEET' link.
• Step 3: Enter the contact details, followed by personal and academic details.
• Step 4: Upload your scanned copy of the recent passport-size photograph and signature.
• Step 5: Review all the details entered.
• Step 6: Click on the submit button and make payment for the application form fees through debit card, credit card, net banking, or e-challan.
• Step 7: Take a printout of the acknowledgment form.

NEET Exam 2025 Important Dates

Here are the important dates for the NEET exam 2025

Full Form of CAT

Common Admission Test (CAT) is an entrance exam conducted to admit students to MBA courses across several IIM and top MBA colleges in India. It is the toughest MBA entrance exam in India as it leads to admission to more than 5,500 seats in all the 22 IIMs such as IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Lucknow, and so on.

The basic eligibility to apply for the CAT exam is a Bachelor's degree in any of the fields. The CAT exam consists of 3 sections: Quantitative Aptitude, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning, and Verbal Ability with a Class 12 difficulty level. The questions contain multiple choices and deduct a quarter from 1 mark for each wrong answer.

CAT Eligibility Criteria

To apply for CAT, candidates must have their Bachelor's degree under any stream from a recognized university after 10+2 or Post B.Sc or Post Diploma. Key eligibility criteria for the CAT exam are mentioned below.

• Candidates currently in the final year can also apply, and they should have cleared the finals with an aggregate score of 50%.
• Candidates under reserved categories must get an aggregate score of 45% in a Bachelor's degree.
• Candidates under the General and NC-OBC Category must get an aggregate score of 50% in a Bachelor's degree.

How to Apply for CAT?

The steps to apply for CAT Exam is mentioned below:

• Step 1: Visit the CAT official website.
• Step 2: Click on the register button and fill in all the required details and submit the form.
• Step 3: You will be provided with a user id and password for further procedures.
• Step 4: Login to the website with the given user id and password
• Step 5: Fill out the form with personal and academic details (work details, if any).
• Step 6: Upload photograph and signature in the specified format. (Use an online image resize tool to resize the photo to the mentioned size).
• Step 7: Upload the caste/ category certificate if applicable.
• Step 8: Choose and select the preferred programs and examination center location.
• Step 9: Save the form and proceed to pay the application fee.

Full Form of GMAT

Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is a 3.5-hour long Computer-Adaptive Test conducted for admissions to graduate management programmes like MBA. GMAT exam includes four sections: Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA), Integrated Reasoning (IR), Quantitative Reasoning, and Verbal Reasoning.

Computer-adaptive tests introduce levels of difficulty to the test based on your performance in the exam itself. Unlike other exams, the scale is not calculated based on the number of correct answers. The benefits of taking the GMAT exam not only include bringing you admissions to renowned b-schools, but they also help you to analyze your skills.

GMAT Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the GMAT exam, the candidate must be at least 18 years, and there is no upper age limit for the candidates appearing for the GMAT exam. The eligibility for GMAT is as follows.

• A bachelor's degree holder, regardless of the stream, is eligible to apply for the exam.
• The candidate must have secured at least 60% marks.
• The candidates can only take up the exam 5 times for 12 months, with a minimum gap of 16 days to attend the exam next time.

How to Apply for GMAT?

The steps to apply for the GMAT exam are mentioned below.

• Step 1: Visit the official website of GMAT and select new registration.
• Step 2: Enter the preferred location and exam center.
• Step 3: Enter the contact details, followed by academic and personal details.
• Step 4: Complete the payment and submit the application form.
• Step 5: Take a printout for reference.

GMAT Exam Dates

As there are no particular dates for GMAT, test-takers can pick a date as per their comfort. The time gap between the two GMAT exams is 16 Days, and the number of times you can write the GMAT exam in one year is 5.

GMAT Exam Pattern

GMAT includes 80 inquiries answered within 3 hours 7 minutes. The test has no characterized prospectus and comprises inquiries concentrated on testing scientific and thinking aptitudes. GMAT is, generally speaking, scored on a scope of 200– 800.

• GMAT test has a sectional time limit, which changes with each area.
• Test takers are given three alternatives to pick the request to endeavor the four segments of the test.
• Incorporated reasoning and verbal reasoning segments are PC versatile and have various decision questions.
• In the two areas, one can't skip, come back to or change the reaction to past inquiries.
• Two-thirds of the GMAT test-takers score between 400-600.
• A GMAT score of 760+ ranks a candidate at above 99 percentile

Full Form of GRE

Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) is a test required for most masters and doctoral programmes in universities located in international countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, and so on.

The exam is administered by the Educational Testing Services (ETS). It is the most popular exam for Indian students if they wish to pursue MS abroad. GRE has seen a lot of changes throughout the years. As of today, the GRE is revised as a General Test.

According to ETS, the GRE is conducted to measure the participant's analytical, quantitative, verbal, and critical thinking skills. The questions are broadly based on math, verbal logic, and vocabulary. As for its mode of language, GRE is conducted exclusively in English.

The exam can be taken up to five times in a year from any corner of the world via Prometric Test Centers. However, there should be a gap of 21 days between each attempt.

GRE Eligibility Criteria

There is no age limit to attend the exam, but there are other GRE eligibility criteria. The eligibility criteria for GRE are as follows.

• The applicants are expected to have at least an undergraduate degree.
• The main qualification that is absolutely necessary for GRE is proof of identity; it must have your full name, and your photograph and the ID should be issued by official governmental authorities, such as a PAN card or Aadhar Card. Your driver's license or birth certificate does not apply.

Apart from those points, there are no other prerequisites set by the ETS. However, different colleges may add some more rules if they wish to acknowledge your GRE scores. You will need to contact the college representatives you're interested in and speak with them about this.

How to Apply for GRE?

The steps to apply for the GRE are mentioned below.

• Step 1: Check the rescheduling and cancellation policies before applying. The fee is INR 14,500.
• Step 2: Find the available test centers and dates.
• Step 3: Verify and fill in the registration details in the application form.
• Step 4: Enter the background information. You can also choose any test preparation materials to purchase.
• Step 5: Pay the fees as mentioned earlier.

GRE Exam Pattern

The duration of the GRE is 3 hours and 45 minutes. Listed below are the sections present in GRE:

• Analytical Writing
• Verbal Reasoning
• Quantitative Reasoning

Analytical Writing

The segment tests your capacity to break down aspects, analyze contentions, judge the displayed proof, and set forth your perspectives in the most effective, logically convincing, and organized manner.

Verbal Reasoning

The segment checks your ability to comprehend the substance creator's viewpoints and aims, organize the points made, and reach a rationally satisfying conclusion. It may be a rather precarious segment for some non-English speakers.

Quantitative Reasoning

Hopefully, you're comfortable with numbers because Quantitative Reasoning is all about that. Candidates must comprehend the issue and use mathematical models and numerical equations (from geometry, variable-based math, number juggling) to solve them. On the one hand, you can use a mini-computer to help with your calculations and prevent any logical fallacies. On the other, those with a weak mind for mathematics can easily falter.

GRE 2025 Exam Dates

There is no specific date for GRE, and the computer-based GRE can be taken throughout the year at Prometric test centers. The candidates can take the GRE once every 21 days, up to five times within a year.

However, the date's availability depends on the exam center; if the seats in the specific test center are filled, the aspirant will have to alter either their date or their choice of center. The cool thing about GRE is that it has no predisposed list of exam dates.

With that said, application seasons (between August and December) see an overwhelming response from other candidates, so obtaining a seat during that time will prove difficult due to the competition involved. So plan out your calendar for GRE.

Full Form of IELTS

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is an exam designed to assess the readiness of a candidate to study a higher education course held in English. It generally provides the profile of a candidate's English proficiency. In addition, it indicates a candidate's ability in a particular module and is a sign of overall ability.

The IELTS Exam is recognized by professional bodies, immigration authorities, government agencies, universities, and companies in many countries such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK, and the USA. It has four modules: Listening, Reading, Speaking, and Writing.

The total time duration for the IELTS examination is 3 hours, divided into two distinct categories:

• 2.45 hours is allocated between the listening, reading, writing sections.
• 15 minutes is allocated for the verbal section.

The listening, reading, and writing sections of the IELTS examinations are conducted back to back continuously. However, the speaking test can be conducted 7 days before or after the initial test. Since there are no negative markings involved, you're free to write skip questions.

How to Register for IELTS?

The steps to register for IELTS are mentioned below.

• Step 1: Visit the official IELTS official website.
• Step 2: Choose the type of test and preferred location for the test center.
• Step 3: Check for the IELTS dates and register.
• Step 4: Complete the payment process.