GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering) is a national-level exam conducted by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) every year for admission to postgraduate programs in engineering and technology. The exam usually takes place in February.
The GATE exam typically consists of 65 questions, with a total of 100 marks. The duration of the exam is three hours. The question paper is divided into two sections: General Aptitude and Engineering Mathematics (15% of the total marks), and the subject-specific section (85% of the total marks).
The subject-specific section comprises multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and numerical answer type (NAT) questions. The MCQs carry one or two marks each, and there is a negative marking for incorrect answers. The NAT questions carry one or two marks each, and there is no negative marking for incorrect answers.
| Particulars | Details |
| Examination Mode | Computer-Based Test (Online) |
| Duration | 3 Hours |
| Number of Papers in GATE 2024 | 29 Papers |
| Section | General Aptitude (GA)Candidate Selected Subject |
| Type of Questions | Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)Multiple Select Questions (MSQs)Numerical Answer Type (NAT) Questions |
| Design of Questions | The questions are designed to test the listed abilities Application Analysis Comprehension Recall Synthesis |
| Number of Questions | 65 Questions (including 10 questions from General Aptitude) |
| Distribution of Questions in all Papers except AR, CY, EY, GG, MA, PH, and XL | Engineering Mathematics – 13 MarksSubject Questions – 72 MarksGeneral Aptitude – 15 Marks |
| Distribution of Questions in AR, CY, EY, GG, MA, PH, XH, and XL | Questions from Subject Concerned – 85 Marks General Aptitude – 15 Marks |
| Total Marks | 100 Marks |
| Marking Scheme | All of the questions will be worth 1 or 2 marks |
| GATE Negative Marking | Two types of MCQs: MCQs – 1 mark for each correct answer; 1/3 mark will be deducted for every wrong answer. MCQs – 2 marks for each correct answer; 2/3 marks will be deducted for every incorrect response. There are no negative markings for Numerical Answer Type (NAT) questions and No negative markings for MSQ & NAT. |
| Paper Code | Exam Pattern |
| CE, CS, EC, AE, AG, BT, CH, ME, MN, MT, EE, IN, TF, XE, PE, ST, and PI | GA (General Aptitude) – 15Engineering Mathematics – 13 questions the subject of the Paper – 72 questions |
| AR, CY, EY, GG, MA, PH, XH, and XL | GA (General Aptitude) – 15Subject of the Paper – 85 |
Check the table for the GATE total marks for Mechanical, Civil, Computer Science, Electrical, and other courses.
| GATE 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 B (B1: Architecture or B2: Planning)] | 15 | 60 + 25 | 100 | 180 |
| GE [Part A + Part B (Section I or Section II) | 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) | 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 |
Check IBPS PO Prelims Exam Analysis 2026 for Shift 1, 2, 3 and Shift 4…
RBI Grade B Mains Result 2026 is out on 22 August. Check Phase 2 result…
Check the latest IBPS PO Shift Timings 2026, reporting time, exam schedule, shift-wise timing, exam…
RRB ALP Application Status 2026 is out for CEN 01/2026. Check accepted, partially accepted or…
IBPS Clerk Apply Online 2026: Get the direct link, check IBPS Clerk apply fees, last…
IBPS Clerk Notification 2026 with 11,403 vacancies, last date to apply, exam dates, eligibility, fee…
Thousands of aspirants have cleared exams using PracticeMock’s exam-level mock tests.