NPTEL starts free weekly GATE 2027 mock tests: next test on August 23

As of August 20, 2026, for the GATE 2027 cycle: NPTEL has started a free weekly mock-test programme for registered learners. The next test is scheduled for Sunday, August 23, 2026, from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM IST. Candidates must register through the NPTEL GATE Portal by Friday, August 21, at 5:00 PM IST to be enrolled for the upcoming Sunday test. Confirmed — NPTEL GATE Portal, checked August 20, 2026.

## What has been announced

| Detail | Status | |---|---| | Mock-test programme started | Confirmed — NPTEL says tests began on August 16, 2026. | | Next scheduled test | Confirmed — August 23, 2026, 2:00–5:00 PM IST. | | Cost | Confirmed — the tests are free for registered learners. | | Registration deadline for the next Sunday | Confirmed — Friday, 5:00 PM IST. | | Access after registration | Confirmed — NPTEL says access to the course and practice tests may be enabled within 48 hours after verification. | | Programme duration | Confirmed — the published schedule continues weekly, with later weekend tests listed through January 31, 2027. |

NPTEL lists practice access for Civil Engineering, Electronics and Communication Engineering, Computer Science and Engineering, Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemistry, Physics, Biotechnology, Mathematics, Life Science and Data Science. Confirmed — NPTEL GATE Portal, checked August 20, 2026. The page does not list separate mock-test categories for every GATE 2027 paper, including XE, XH, XL, TF/XE9 or Robotics and Automation. That absence is Unverified as a statement about whether additional categories may be added later; NPTEL’s current published page simply does not show them.

## Who should use this now?

This is most useful for candidates who cannot afford a large paid test series, working professionals who need a fixed weekly appointment, and re-attempters who want an early measure of speed and stamina. It is also relevant to non-CS candidates preparing for the revised GATE 2027 syllabus, because the exam cycle has six listed dates rather than four.

The GATE 2027 official website identifies IIT Madras as the organising institute and lists the examination on February 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 and 21, 2027. Confirmed — GATE 2027 official website, checked August 20, 2026. The official site also says registration has been rescheduled to August 27, 2026, with regular registration closing on September 27 and the extended period closing on October 5. Confirmed — GATE 2027 official website, checked August 20, 2026.

A weekly mock is not a prediction of your final GATE score. It is a measurement tool. For example, a Civil candidate should record whether lost marks came from structural analysis concepts, calculation time, units, or avoidable negative marking. A Mechanical candidate should separate thermodynamics gaps from slow numerical work. An XL candidate should not treat a general mock score as evidence of performance in the final optional-section combination, because NPTEL’s current page does not confirm XL-specific coverage.

## What candidates must do

1. Open the NPTEL GATE Portal and choose GATE Practice Test. 2. Select the available subject or subjects relevant to your preparation. 3. Register using an email address you can check regularly. 4. Complete registration by 5:00 PM IST on Friday, August 21 if you want the August 23 test. 5. Check for the enrolment email and allow up to 48 hours for access to be enabled. 6. Attempt the test in one uninterrupted three-hour sitting, then save your error analysis.

Confirmed — steps and timing are based on NPTEL’s published instructions, checked August 20, 2026. NPTEL says registrations completed after Friday at 5:00 PM become eligible for the following Sunday instead. Therefore, doing nothing before the deadline does not cancel your GATE attempt, but it likely means missing the August 23 practice slot and waiting for the next scheduled test. Confirmed for NPTEL’s access rule; any consequence beyond missing that mock is Unverified.

## What this source does not tell you

NPTEL’s announcement does not state whether every test follows the exact GATE 2027 paper structure, whether all revised topics are represented, how answer explanations will be provided, or whether the tests will model normalisation across sessions. Do not assume those features without a later statement from NPTEL or IIT Madras’s GATE 2027 portal.

Our recommendation is practical: use the August 23 test as a baseline, not as a rank forecast. Record attempted questions, correct answers, incorrect answers, unanswered questions and time lost by topic. Then spend the next week fixing one or two recurring weaknesses before taking the next mock. For a low-score re-attempter, that record is more useful than comparing your result with toppers or with unsupported online “expected” scores.

Sources - GATE Portal | NPTEL — GATE 2027 Mock Test Schedule - GATE 2027 Official Website — IIT Madras

_Last verified: 2026-08-20._

This is a free, independent help center, not an official GATE site. Always confirm the latest dates, results and notifications on the official GATE portal.