GATE Exam Pattern

GATE Exam Pattern

GATE 2025 Exam Pattern: Subject-Wise Paper Pattern

The GATE Exam Pattern for 2025, as released by IIT, is outlined below to assist aspiring students in preparing effectively to secure high marks in the GATE Exam. Take a look at the comprehensive GATE 2025 Exam Pattern now.

Comprehensive Guide to GATE 2025 Exam Pattern: The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) stands as one of India’s most challenging competitive engineering exams. Aspirants aiming for M. Tech courses in esteemed engineering institutions and job opportunities in PSUs must prioritize clearing this exam. Achieving excellence in GATE demands a thorough understanding of the comprehensive details concerning the GATE Exam Pattern 2025, enabling candidates to secure top scores.

IIT has unveiled the GATE exam pattern for 2025, aiming to assist aspiring students in aligning their preparation strategies effectively to attain commendable marks in the GATE Exam.

Understanding GATE 2025 Exam Pattern

To comprehend the number of questions, marking scheme, and duration of the examination, aspirants must familiarize themselves with the GATE 2025 Exam Pattern. The organizing authority, IIT, has unveiled the GATE 2025 Exam Pattern alongside detailed notifications, providing students with a tentative blueprint of the question paper.

This article delves into the GATE 2025 exam pattern comprehensively, serving as a valuable resource for aspirants. It is crucial for them to absorb the details presented herein to enhance the effectiveness and success of their exam preparation journey.

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GATE 2025 Question Paper Pattern

The question papers for GATE 2025 will be categorized into three types:

1. Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ)
2. Multiple Select Questions (MSQ)
3. Numerical Answer Type (NAT)

GATE 2025 will be administered online and will have a duration of 3 hours. The examination will consist of 65 questions, with a total of 100 marks allocated.

GATE 2025 will take place online and span a duration of 3 hours. It will feature 65 questions, with a total of 100 marks allocated for the exam.

Features Description
Exam Name GATE
Duration 3 hours
Exam mode Single-paper Computer-Based Test(CBT)
Type of questions
  • Multiple choice questions (MCQ)
  • Multiple select questions (MSQ)
  • Numerical Answer type (NAT)
No. of questions 65
Total Marks 100
GATE Number of Sections Two/ Three (depending on the paper)
GATE Section-wise Number of Questions
  • General Aptitude- 10 questions,
  • Core Discipline- 55 questions
GATE Section-wise Weightage
  • General Aptitude- 15 marks,
  • Core Discipline- 85 marks
Marking Scheme Each correct answer in the exam will be awarded either 1 or 2 marks.
GATE Negative Marking
  • For 1 mark MCQ, 1/3 mark will be deducted for a wrong answer;
  • For 2-mark MCQ, 2/3 mark will be deducted for a wrong answer;
  • No negative marking for MSQs and NATs

Subject-Wise GATE 2025 Exam Pattern

The GATE Exam Pattern for 2025 varies for each paper, delineating distinct sections and marks distribution.

In every GATE paper, there exists a General Aptitude section, constituting 15% of the total marks. This section assesses verbal, numerical, and quantitative abilities. It comprises 10 questions, with 5 questions valued at 1 mark each and 5 questions valued at 2 marks each.

Subject Number of questions Marks per Question Total Marks
General Aptitude 5 1 5
5 2 10
Total 10 – 15

GATE 2025 Exam Pattern for Various Papers

For papers with codes AE, AG, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, ES, IN, ME, MN, MT, PE, PI, TF, and XE, the marks distribution will be as follows:
– General Aptitude: 15%
– Engineering Mathematics: 13%
– Subject Paper: 72%

Regarding papers with codes AR, CY, EY, GG, MA, PH, ST, XH, and XL, the marks distribution will be:
– General Aptitude: 15%
– Subject Paper: 85%

GATE 2025 Exam Pattern for AE, AG, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, ES, IN, ME, MN, MT, NM, PE, PI, TF, and ST Papers

The question paper for papers with codes AE, AG, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, ES, IN, ME, MN, MT, NM, PE, PI, TF, and ST is structured into three sections, which are as follows:

Sections Marks Weightage
General Aptitude 15%
Engineering Mathematics 13%
Core Discipline 72%

In addition to the 10 questions in the General Aptitude section, there will be 55 questions from the core discipline and engineering mathematics. Of these, 25 questions will be worth 1 mark each, while 30 will be worth 2 marks each.

Subjects Number of questions Marks per Question Total Marks
AE, AG, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, ES, IN, ME, MN, MT, NM, PE, PI, TF, and ST 25 1 25
30 2 60
Total 55 – 85

GATE 2025 Exam Pattern for CY, EY, MA, and PH Papers

Each GATE paper with the codes CY, EY, MA, and PH is divided into two sections: General Aptitude and Core Discipline.

Sections Number of Questions Marks Weightage
General Aptitude 15 15%
Core Discipline 55 85%

The marking scheme for GATE papers with codes AR, CY, EY, MA, and PH is presented in the table below:

Subjects Number of questions Marks per Question Total Marks
AR, CY, EY, MA, PH 25 1 25
30 2 60
Total 55 – 85

GATE 2025 Exam Pattern for Architecture and Planning (AR)

The GATE Exam Pattern for the Architecture and Planning paper has been revised for the current year. The updated exam pattern comprises three sections: General Aptitude (GA), Part A, and Part B. While Part A is mandatory for all candidates, Part B is divided into two sections: B1 (Architecture) and B2 (Planning). During the exam, candidates are required to select one of these two sections to attempt.

Sections Number of Questions Marks per Question Total Marks
GA 10 (5 x 1) + (5 x 2) 15
Part A (mandatory) 39 (18 x 1) + (21 x 2) 60
Part B: Part B1 (Architecture) or Part B2 (Planning) 16 (7 x 1) + (9 x 2) 25
Total 55 – 100

GATE 2025 Exam Pattern: Geomatics Engineering (GE)

Geomatics Engineering was recently added as a subject in the GATE 2022 examination. The exam pattern for Geomatics Engineering includes three sections: General Aptitude (GA), Part A, and Part B.

Sections Number of questions Marks per Question Total Marks
GA 10 (5 x 1) + (5 x 2) 15
Part A (mandatory) 36 (17 x 1) + (19 x 2) 55
Part B: Section I or Section II 16 (8 x 1) + (11 x 2) 30
Total 55 – 100

GATE 2025 Exam Pattern for Geology and Geophysics (GG)

The GATE 2025 Geology and Geophysics (GG) paper comprises three sections: General Aptitude, Part A, and Part B. Part B is further divided into Section 1 (Geology) and Section 2 (Geophysics). General Aptitude and Part A are mandatory for all candidates. At the same time, they can choose either Section 1 or Section 2 from Part B.

Sections Sub-section Number of questions Marks per Question Total Marks
GA – 10 1 or 2 15
Part A – 25 1 25
Part B (either one based on candidates selection) Geology 30 2 60
Geophysics 30 2 60

GATE 2025 Exam Pattern for Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering (NM)

Introduction of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering (NM) as a New Paper in GATE Exam 2024

Sections Number of questions Marks per Question Total Marks
GA 10 (5 x 1) + (5 x 2) 15
Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering 55 (25 x 1) + (30 x 2) 85

GATE 2025 Exam Pattern for Engineering Sciences (XE)

Here’s the section-wise distribution of marks for the GATE XE Paper:

1. General Aptitude: 10 questions carrying 15 marks in total.

2. Section A (Engineering Mathematics): 11 questions carrying 15 marks in total.

3. Section B-H: Candidates are required to select any TWO sections from Section B to Section H. Each section contains 22 questions carrying 35 marks in total. The subjects under each section are as follows:

– XE-B: Fluid Mechanics
– XE-C: Material Science
– XE-D: Solid Mechanics
– XE-E: Thermodynamics
– XE-F: Polymer Science and Engineering
– XE-G: Food Technology
– XE-H: Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences

Please refer to the following table for the detailed marking scheme of the XE paper:

Section Total Number of 1 mark questions Total Number of 2 mark questions Total Number of Questions Total Marks
GA 5 5 10 15
Section A (Engineering Sciences) 7 4 11 15
Section B (Any two of these) 9+9 13+13 22+22=44 35+35= 70
Total 30 70 65 100

GATE 2025 Exam Pattern for Humanities and Social Sciences (XH)

Introducing the Humanities and Social Sciences (XH) Paper in GATE Exam 2025

The GATE XH paper, introduced in 2021, opens avenues for students with backgrounds in humanities to partake in GATE. This paper is segmented into three sections. While General Aptitude and B1 (Reasoning and Comprehension) are obligatory sections, candidates are required to choose any ONE from C1 to C6. The subjects under C1 to C6 encompass:

– XH–C1: Economics
– XH–C2: English
– XH–C3: Linguistics
– XH–C4: Philosophy
– XH–C5: Psychology
– XH–C6: Sociology

Please refer to the following table for the detailed marks distribution for GATE XH:

Section Total Number of 1 mark questions Total Number of 2 mark questions Total Number of Questions Total Marks
GA 5 5 10 15
B1* (Reasoning and Comprehension) 5 10 15 15
C1-C6(Any one of these) 20 20 40 60
Total 30 70 65 100

GATE 2025 Exam Pattern for Life Sciences (XL)

Here’s the section-wise distribution of marks for the GATE XL Paper:

1. General Aptitude: This section is mandatory for all candidates and contains 10 questions with a total of 15 marks.

2. Section P (Chemistry): This section is also compulsory for all candidates and includes 15 questions carrying 25 marks.

3. Section Q-U: Candidates are required to select any TWO sections from Section Q to Section U. Each section comprises 20 questions carrying 30 marks in total. The subjects under each section are as follows:

– XL-Q: Biochemistry
– XL-R: Botany
– XL-S: Microbiology
– XL-T: Zoology
– XL-U: Food Technology

Please refer to the following table for the detailed marking scheme of the GATE XL paper:

Section Total Number of 1 mark questions Total Number of 2 mark questions Total Number of Questions Total Marks
GA 5 5 10 15
Section P(Chemistry) 5 10 15 25
Section Q-U(Any two of these) 10+10 10+10 20+20=40 30+30=60
Total 30 70 65 100

GATE 2025 Marking Scheme Overview

In the GATE Question Paper, comprising 65 questions totaling 100 marks across all 29 subjects, the marking scheme varies based on subsections.

– General Aptitude Section: This section, evaluating language and analytical skills, contains 10 questions worth 15 marks. Specifically, there are 5 questions worth 2 marks each and 5 questions worth 1 mark each.

– For papers with codes like AE, AG, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, ES, IN, ME, MN, MT, PE, PI, TF, and XE, Engineering Mathematics carries approximately 13% of the total marks (out of 100 marks). The remaining 72% of the marks are allocated to the subject-specific portion.

– However, for papers with codes like AR, CY, EY, GG, MA, PH, ST, XH, and XL, the General Aptitude section contributes 15% of the total marks (out of 100). The remaining 85% of the question paper is dedicated to the subject-specific portion.

Please note that the exact details of the marking scheme for each subject within the paper will be specified based on the guidelines as mentioned earlier.

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, TF, ST 15 85 100 180
AR [Part A + Part B1 (Architecture) OR Part B2 (Planning)] 15 60 + 25 100 180
GE [Part A + Part B (Section 1 OR Section 2)] 15 55 + 3- 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) 15 15 + (2 x 35) 100 180
XH (Section B1 +Any ONE Section) 15 25 + 60 100 180
XL (Section P+Any TWO Sections) 15 25 + (2 x 30) 100 180

Negative Marking in GATE 2025

In accordance with the GATE pattern for 2025, there will be negative marking for incorrect answers in Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs). However, there will be no negative marking for Multiple Select Questions (MSQs) and Numerical Answer Type questions (NATs). The detailed negative marking scheme is provided in the table below:

Type of Questions Negative Marking Scheme
Multiple-choice questions For 1-mark MCQ, 1/3 mark will be deducted for a wrong answer. For 2-mark MCQ, 2/3 marks will be deducted for a wrong answer.
Multiple-select questions No negative marking
Numerical-answer type questions No negative marking

This marking scheme ensures that candidates must choose their answers carefully, especially in MCQs, to avoid penalties for incorrect responses.

GATE 2025 Exam Paper Codes

The GATE 2025 examination will encompass 30 distinct branches of Engineering or Science, each identified by a unique code. Candidates have the option to appear in one or two papers during the upcoming GATE 2025 examination.

The table below indicates the GATE 2025 subject codes for different papers in the examination.

GATE Exam Subjects and Their Codes
Subjects Code Subjects Code
Aerospace Engineering AE Petroleum Engineering PE
Agricultural Engineering AG Geology and Geophysics GG
Architecture and Planning AR Instrumentation Engineering IN
Biotechnology BT Life Sciences XL
Biomedical Engineering BM Mathematics MA
GATE Civil Engineering CE GATE Mechanical Engineering ME
Chemical Engineering CH Mining Engineering MN
GATE Computer Science & Information Technology CS Metallurgical Engineering MT
Chemistry CY Physics PH
GATE Electronics and Communication Engineering EC
Production and Industrial Engineering PI GATE Electrical Engineering EE
Textile Engineering & Fiber Science TF Engineering Sciences XE
Ecology and Evolution EY Humanities and Social Sciences XH
Statistics ST Geomatics Engineering GE
Environmental Science and Engineering ES Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering NM

GATE Exam 2025 – Types of Questions

The GATE exam for 2024 will feature questions categorized into three types: multiple-choice, multiple-select, and numerical. Below are the types of questions commonly encountered in the examination:

1. Recall: These questions are based on factual knowledge, principles, formulas, or laws of the discipline. Candidates are expected to derive the answer directly from their understanding or through simple computation.

2. Comprehension: This type assesses the candidate’s ability to interpret and draw simple conclusions from basic concepts presented in a passage.

3. Application: In these questions, candidates must employ logical reasoning to solve problems and answer queries.

4. Analysis and Synthesis: Candidates are required to analyze provided data, diagrams, and images to answer questions. Synthesis questions may require comparison between two or more sets of information.

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