GATE Exam Question Pattern

QUESTION PAPER PATTERN

Particulars Details
Examination Mode The test papers will be in English. Computer Based Test (CBT) [will be conducted at select centers in select cities].
Duration 3 Hours*
Number of Subjects (Papers) 30
Sections General Aptitude (GA) + Candidate’s Selected Subjects
Type of Questions Candidate’s Selected Subject(s)
(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
Distribution of Marks in all Papers EXCEPT papers AR, CY, DA, 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, DA, 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 or 2 marks
Negative Marking For a wrong answer chosen in an MCQ, there will be negative marking.
For a 1-mark MCQ, 1/3 mark will be deducted for a wrong answer.
For a 2-mark MCQ, 2/3 mark will be deducted for a wrong answer.
There is no negative marking for wrong answer(s) to MSQ or NAT questions.
There is no partial marking in MSQ.
Paper Code General Aptitude (GA) Marks Compulsory Section Subject Marks Total Marks Total Time* (Minutes)
AE, AG, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, ES, IN, ME, MN, MT, NM, PE, PI, TF; Subject marks in these papers include questions on Engineering Mathematics (13 marks), which are paper-specific. 15 85 100 180
CY, DA, EY, MA, PH, ST 15 85 100 180
AR [Part A is Common and Compulsory for all; Part B1 or Part B2 can be selected during Exam. B1: Architecture or B2: Planning] 15 60 25 100 180
GE [Part A is Common and Compulsory for all; Part B1 or B2 can be selected during the Exam.
B1 – Surveying and Mapping or B2 -Image Processing and Analysis.]
15 55 30 100 180
GG [Part A is Common and Compulsory for all; Part B can either be Geology (B1) or Geophysics (B2) — which must be chosen at the time of Application.] 15 25 60 100 180
XE [Section A (Engineering Mathematics) is Common and Compulsory for all; Applicants must select any TWO additional Sections during the Exam] 15 15 2 x 35 100 180
XH [Section B1 (Reasoning and Comprehension) is Common and Compulsory for all; Applicants must select any ONE additional Section at the time of Application] 15 25 60 100 180
XL [Section P (Chemistry) is Common and Compulsory for all; Applicants must select any TWO additional Sections during the Exam] 15 25 2 x 30 100 180