IIT Roorkee Gambitor 2026: Complete Guide for Classes 8-12 — Dates, Registration & Prizes
Gambitor 2026 is IIT Roorkee's national-level school championship, and Season 5 is now open for registration. If you are a student of Class 8 to 12, or a dropper preparing for JEE, this free exam gives you a chance to compete with bright students across India, win prizes worth Rs 1,00,000, and earn a fully sponsored 3-day trip to the IIT Roorkee campus.
This complete guide covers everything about the Gambitor exam: eligibility, exam pattern and syllabus, important dates, the two rounds, prizes, and the step-by-step registration process.
Registration is free, the last date to apply is 24 October 2026, the first-round exam is on 25 October 2026, and the top 80 students get a fully sponsored trip to IIT Roorkee. Do not wait for the last date, fill the form early.
What Is the Gambitor Exam 2026?
Gambitor is a prestigious national school championship conducted by the Outreach Cell of IIT Roorkee. The cell handles everything: building the website, setting the papers, and conducting the exam. Even the presentation material for this season was prepared by IIT Roorkee students themselves.
One thing should be clear: Gambitor is not a Competishun exam. Competishun is an official partner supporting the championship, acting as a link between IIT Roorkee and students, because many bright students from Classes 8 to 12 and droppers study on the Competishun platform.
The exam has been running for four years and participation keeps growing. The previous season saw around 40,000 students, up from 30,000 the year before. This season, centres are expected in nearly 200 cities across India.
Gambitor 2026 Eligibility: Who Can Apply?
Students of Classes 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 can apply for Gambitor 2026. Droppers are also eligible: while filling the form, a dropper has to select Class 12, and will compete together with Class 12 students on the same paper.
Each class has its own exam name in Gambitor 2026:
| Class | Exam Name in Gambitor 2026 |
|---|---|
| Class 8 | Astrox |
| Class 9 | Aretyox |
| Class 10 | Mitiyox |
| Class 11 | Aplox |
| Class 12 (and droppers) | Athenox |
Gambitor Exam Pattern and Syllabus
The Gambitor 2026 selection happens in two rounds. Here is how each round works:
Round 1: Inception Round (online, at centres). The first round is a 90-minute online test taken at exam centres. The Gambitor syllabus for this round covers Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and logical reasoning or aptitude. The questions follow the style of NTSE-type tests. They check your logic, perception and problem-solving skills rather than rote learning. From this round, the top 20 students of each class are selected, 80 students in total. The form you fill right now is only for this Inception Round.
Round 2: Pinnacle Round (offline at IIT Roorkee). The 80 selected students travel to IIT Roorkee for the second round, held towards the end of November. This is a 3-day camp-like experience, and the stay and travel are fully sponsored by the Outreach Cell of IIT Roorkee. At the campus, students face advanced challenges and creativity tests, meet professors, interact with some of the brightest school students in the country, and explore the IIT Roorkee campus. For a school student, three days inside a premier institute can genuinely change how they think about science, technology and their own future.
Gambitor 2026: Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Registration last date | 24 October 2026 |
| Inception Round exam date | 25 October 2026 |
| Inception Round result | By end of October 2026 |
| Pinnacle Round (offline, IIT Roorkee) | End of November 2026 |
Mark these dates today. The gap between the last date and the exam is only one day, so there is no room for last-minute delays.
Gambitor 2026 Registration: How to Apply
Follow these steps to complete your Gambitor registration:
Open gambitor.iitr.ac.in, the official Gambitor website, or open the Gambitor 5.0 listing on Unstop. Both routes lead to the same registration.
Choose your class from 8 to 12. If you are a dropper, select Class 12. Your exam name (Astrox, Aretyox, Mitiyox, Aplox or Athenox) is assigned by class.
Enter your details carefully and submit the form before 24 October 2026. Registration is completely free, so there is no payment step.
Give the 90-minute online test on 25 October 2026 at your allotted centre. If you finish in the top 20 of your class, you go to IIT Roorkee for the Pinnacle Round.
Gambitor Prizes Worth Rs 1,00,000
The Gambitor 2026 cash prizes are Rs 50,000 for first place, Rs 30,000 for second and Rs 20,000 for third, with total prizes worth Rs 1,00,000. Apart from cash, there are certificates of excellence and exciting goodies. And a top-20 finish in a national championship is a genuinely strong point for your resume.
But the bigger reward is the experience itself. Seeing how a premier institute works, talking to professors, spending three days with some of the brightest school students in the country: that kind of exposure motivates a student far more than any cash prize. For students in Classes 9 and 10 especially, it opens their eyes to what is actually happening in science and technology, and what they could aim for.
Why You Should Appear for Gambitor 2026
Still thinking? Here is the honest case. It is free to register, so there is nothing to lose by trying. It tests real aptitude beyond the school syllabus, in an NTSE-like format that rewards thinking over memorising. Participation grows every year, from 30,000 to 40,000, with centres in nearly 200 cities. The finalists get a fully sponsored 3-day trip to IIT Roorkee. And a top-20 finish is a serious achievement to carry on your resume for years.
If you are in Class 8 to 12, or a dropper, fill the Gambitor 2026 form before 24 October and give the exam on 25 October. All the best.
Key Takeaways
Zero registration fee, but a national-level stage run by IIT Roorkee itself. Rare combination, worth grabbing.
Last date to register is 24 October 2026, exam on 25 October. One day of gap means no excuse for delay.
Top 20 per class get a fully sponsored 3-day camp at IIT Roorkee. That experience outweighs the cash prizes.
Frequently Asked Questions
ABJ Sir is known for making Physics simple and logical, with a focus on concept clarity over formula memorisation. His guidance sessions and exam strategy talks are followed by lakhs of JEE and NEET aspirants on the Competishun YouTube channel.
Watch the Complete Video for Full Detail
This article covers the complete Gambitor 2026 guide in brief. For the full detailed explanation, watch the complete video by Amit Bijarnia Sir:
Competishun Programs for Every Stage
Done with Gambitor and now serious about JEE or NEET? Competishun offers a dedicated program for every stage, Class 11, Class 12 and droppers, plus distance learning and a full test series, all taught by faculty with 18 to 25 years of experience.
The live interactive JEE batch with real-time classes and mentorship for Main and Advanced.
Regular JEE Main and Advanced level tests with detailed analysis to track and improve your rank.
Class 11, Class 12 and dropper batches, DLP study material and more, explore everything in one place.
