The purpose of expounding on the Exam Pattern of GATE is to gain an understanding of subjects, mark distribution and exam duration, that would help candidates strategize and crack the GATE Examination. The GATE Papers would have questions that test General Aptitude (Language and Analytical Skills) and Engineering Mathematics apart from the core subject. By knowing the GATE Exam Pattern, candidates would be benefitted while GATE Preparation.
Structure of the GATE Exam Pattern is as follows:
- 65 Multiple Choice Questions for a total of 100 marks
- Duration: 3 hours
- 1/3 Negative Marking
- 10 General Aptitude Questions for 15 marks
- Compulsory Engineering Mathematics Questions for a total of 15 Marks
Overall Question Paper Structure:
- Q1-25: Would be carrying 1 mark each. 1/3 marks shall be deducted for every wrong answer.
- Q26-55: Would carry 2 marks each. 2/3 marks would be deducted for every wrong answer.
- Q48: Multiple Choice Questions carrying 1 or 2 marks each across all papers and sections. These questions are mostly objective in nature and each will have a choice of four answers, out of which the candidate would be required to mark correct answers.
- Numerical answer questions of 1 or 2 marks each across all papers and sections. The questions are objective in nature, and each would be having a choice of four answers, the candidate would be required to mark correct answers out of them.
- Q56 to Q60: From General Aptitude, questions would carry one mark each. 1/3 marks would be deducted for every wrong answer given. 1/3 marks would be deducted for every wrong answer.
- Q61 to 65: Questions from General Aptitude would carry two marks each. A subtotal of 10 marks. 2/3 mark would be deducted for every wrong answer.
*Note: Each of these questions on Engineering Mathematics carries 15 marks.
IIT Delhi has announced the GATE Exam Pattern in the information brochure. Having familiarity with GATE Exam Pattern will help a candidate prepare better for the GATE Examination. Two types of questions are asked in the GATE Examination – Multiple Choice and Numerical Ability Based.
GATE would be a Computer Based Examination of a duration of 3 hours comprised of 65 questions. Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering is held for about 24 papers. Candidates are allowed to sit only for one paper.
Key highlights of the GATE Exam Pattern are as follows:
- GATE is a computer-based examination, that would be conducted in an online mode exclusively.
- GATE consists of two question types: Multiple Choice Questions and Numerical Answering Type questions.
- The questions shall be displayed on a computer screen.
- In case of MCQs, candidates would be selecting the correct answer, while for a numerical answer, the candidate would be entering a numerical answer with the use of a mouse and virtual keyboard. (Keyboard attached to the Computer would be disabled).
- The candidate would be required to complete the test in a time span of 3 hours. After the allotted three hours, the screen would automatically close wherein no further action can be undertaken by the candidates.
- Every candidate would be supplied with rough sheets where the candidate would be able to do the rough work required.
- Question Paper would contain questions related to General Aptitude in addition to subject-specific questions that would be required to be addressed by students.
Questions types are explained below:
Multiple Choice Questions:
- The questions carry 1 or 2 marks in all papers and sections.
- Questions are of an object type that consists of four options wherein one answer would have to be selected.
Numerical Answer Type Questions:
- Every question carries about 1 or 2 marks in all papers and sections.
- These are termed numerical sections, as the answer to a question is a real number which the candidate would be entering using a mouse and a keyboard.
- The answer can be an integer or a number with decimals, also a decimal number.
- The candidate shall not be given any choice for the questions.
GATE Marking Scheme:
- Each GATE Question Paper for 24 subjects would be of 100 marks and include a total of 65 questions. Of these, 10 questions would be from the General Aptitude section carrying a total of 15 marks.
- Papers with codes AE, EE, IN, ME, MN, MT, PE, PI, TF, AG, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC and XE would be inclusive of a compulsory Engineering Mathematics section carrying about 15% of total marks and General Aptitude Section carrying 15% of the Total Marks. The remaining 70% is reserved for the paper subject.
- Papers with codes AR, CY, GG, MA, PH, XL, 85% of total marks shall be devoted to the paper subject and 15% for General Aptitude.
- There will be 24 different types of question papers and candidates will appear as per opted disciple.
The GA questions carry 15 marks. For the rest 55 questions, there will be two different categories of questions:
- MCQ -The questions will be objective type and will be carrying 1 or 2 marks each.
- Numerical Answer Questions- The answers to these questions will be a real number that has to be entered manually by the candidate. These questions will be carrying 1 or 2 marks each.
For 1-mark multiple-choice questions, 1/3 marks will be deducted for a wrong answer. Likewise, for 2-marks multiple-choice questions, 2/3 marks will be deducted for a wrong answer. However, there is no negative marking for a wrong answer in numerical answer type questions.
In the papers bearing the codes AE, AG, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, IN,
ME, MN, MT, PE, PI, TF and XE, the Engineering Mathematics will
carry around 15% of the total marks, the General Aptitude section
will carry 15% of the total marks and the remaining 70% of the
In the papers bearing the codes AE, AG, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, IN,
ME, MN, MT, PE, PI, TF and XE, the Engineering Mathematics will
carry around 15% of the total marks, the General Aptitude section
will carry 15% of the total marks and the remaining 70% of the
total marks is devoted to the subject of the paper.
total marks is devoted to the subject of the paper.In the papers bearing the codes AE, AG, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, IN,
ME, MN, MT, PE, PI, TF and XE, the Engineering Mathematics will
carry around 15% of the total marks, the General Aptitude section
will carry 15% of the total marks and the remaining 70% of the
total marks is devoted to the subject of the paper.In the papers bearing the codes AE, AG, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, IN,
ME, MN, MT, PE, PI, TF and XE, the Engineering Mathematics will
carry around 15% of the total marks, the General Aptitude section
will carry 15% of the total marks and the remaining 70% of the
total marks is devoted to the subject of the paper.
In the papers bearing the codes AE, AG, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, IN,
ME, MN, MT, PE, PI, TF and XE, the Engineering Mathematics will
carry around 15% of the total marks, the General Aptitude section
will carry 15% of the total marks and the remaining 70% of the
In paper AE, AG, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, IN, ME, MN, MT, PE, PI, TF and XE,
- 15% marks - General Aptitude
- 15% marks - Engineering mathematics
- 70% marks- Subject specific questions chosen by the candidate
In paper AR, CY, EY, GG, MA, PH and XL, distribution of questions is shown below:
- 15% marks - General Aptitude
- 85% marks - Subject of the paper
The paper has to be completed in 3 hours irrespective of the subject specialization chosen
total marks is devoted to the subject of the paper.In the papers bearing the codes AE, AG, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, IN,
ME, MN, MT, PE, PI, TF and XE, the Engineering Mathematics will
carry around 15% of the total marks, the General Aptitude section
will carry 15% of the total marks and the remaining 70% of the
total marks is devoted to the subject of the paper.In the papers bearing the codes AE, AG, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, IN,
ME, MN, MT, PE, PI, TF and XE, the Engineering Mathematics will
carry around 15% of the total marks, the General Aptitude section
will carry 15% of the total marks and the remaining 70% of the
total marks is devoted to the subject of the paper.In the papers bearing the codes AE, AG, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, IN,
ME, MN, MT, PE, PI, TF and XE, the Engineering Mathematics will
carry around 15% of the total marks, the General Aptitude section
will carry 15% of the total marks and the remaining 70% of the
total marks is devoted to the subject of the paper.
In the papers bearing the codes AE, AG, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, IN,
ME, MN, MT, PE, PI, TF and XE, the Engineering Mathematics will
carry around 15% of the total marks, the General Aptitude section
will carry 15% of the total marks and the remaining 70% of the
In the papers bearing the codes AE, AG, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, IN,
ME, MN, MT, PE, PI, TF and XE, the Engineering Mathematics will
carry around 15% of the total marks, the General Aptitude section
will carry 15% of the total marks and the remaining 70% of the
total marks is devoted to the subject of the paper.
total marks is devoted to the subject of the paper.In the papers bearing the codes AE, AG, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, IN,
ME, MN, MT, PE, PI, TF and XE, the Engineering Mathematics will
carry around 15% of the total marks, the General Aptitude section
will carry 15% of the total marks and the remaining 70% of the
total marks is devoted to the subject of the paper.In the papers bearing the codes AE, AG, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, IN,
ME, MN, MT, PE, PI, TF and XE, the Engineering Mathematics will
carry around 15% of the total marks, the General Aptitude section
will carry 15% of the total marks and the remaining 70% of the
total marks is devoted to the subject of the paper.In the papers bearing the codes AE, AG, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, IN,
ME, MN, MT, PE, PI, TF and XE, the Engineering Mathematics will
carry around 15% of the total marks, the General Aptitude section
will carry 15% of the total marks and the remaining 70% of the
total marks is devoted to the subject of the paper.In the papers bearing the codes AE, AG, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, IN,
ME, MN, MT, PE, PI, TF and XE, the Engineering Mathematics will
carry around 15% of the total marks, the General Aptitude section
will carry 15% of the total marks and the remaining 70% of the
total marks is devoted to the subject of the paper.