GATE Exam Question Pattern

GATE Exam Question Pattern

Particulars Details
Examination Mode Computer Based Test (CBT) [will be conducted at select centers in select cities]
Duration 3 Hours*
Number of Subjects (Papers) 29
Sections General Aptitude (GA) +
Candidate’s Selected Subject(s)
Type of Questions (a) Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ)
(b) Multiple Select Questions (MSQ) and/or
(c) Numerical Answer Type (NAT) Questions
Questions for testing these abilities (a) Recall
(b) Comprehension
(c) Application
(d) Analysis & Synthesis
Number of Questions 10 (GA) + 55 (subject) = 65 Questions
Distribution of Marks in all Papers EXCEPT papers AR, CY, EY, GG, MA, PH, ST, XH and XL General Aptitude: 15 Marks +
Engineering Mathematics**: 13 Marks +
Subject Questions: 72 Marks =
Total: 100 Marks
(**XE includes Engineering Mathematics section XE-A of 15 Marks)
Distribution of Marks in papers AR, CY, EY, GG, MA, PH, ST, XH and XL General Aptitude: 15 Marks +
Subject Questions: 85 Marks =
Total: 100 Marks
Marking Scheme Questions carry 1 mark and 2 marks
Negative Marking For a wrong answer chosen in a MCQ, there will be negative marking.
For 1-mark MCQ, 1/3 mark will be deducted for a wrong answer.
Likewise, For 2-mark MCQ, 2/3 mark will be deducted for a wrong answer.
No negative marking for Incorrect answer(s) to MSQ or NAT question.
Paper Code General Aptitude (GA) Marks Subject Marks Total Marks Total Time (Minutes)
AE, AG, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, CY, EC, EE, ES, EY, IN, MA, ME, MN, MT, NM, PE, PH, PI, ST, TF 15 85 100 180
AR [Part A + Part B1 or B2 (B1: Architecture or B2: Planning)]
B1 or B2 can be selected during Exam.		 15 60 + 25 100 180
GE [Part A + Part B1 or B2 (B1 – Surveying and Mapping or B2 -Image Processing and Analysis)] B1 or B2 can be selected during the Exam. 15 55 + 30 100 180
GG [Part A + Part B]
(Section 1: Geology or Section 2: Geophysics)		 15 25 + 60 100 180
XE (Section A + Any TWO Sections)
Sections can be selected during Exam.		 15 15 + (2 x 35) 100 180
XH (Section B1 + Any ONE Section) 15 25 + 60 100 180
XL (Section P + Any TWO Sections)
Sections can be selected during Exam.		 15 25 + (2 x 30) 100 180