Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering Exam Pattern 2026
Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering Exam Pattern
GATE 2026 Exam Pattern
IIT Guwahati has released the GATE 2026 exam pattern on the official website. The exam will be held in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode for a total of 30 test papers.
Each test paper will have 65 questions for 100 marks. The duration of the exam is 3 hours (180 minutes).
Key Highlights of GATE 2026
- A new sectional test paper on Energy Science (XE-I) has been added to the Engineering Sciences (XE) paper.
- The test paper is divided into two main sections: General Aptitude (GA) and the Candidate's Selected Subject(s).
- There are three types of questions: MCQs, MSQs, and NATs.
- The language of the examination is English only.
- Negative marking applies only to MCQs.
GATE 2026 Marking Scheme
The marking scheme for GATE 2026 is based on the type of question. Negative marking is applicable only for Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs).
- MCQs of 1 mark have 1/3rd negative marking.
- MCQs of 2 marks have 2/3rd negative marking.
- Multiple Select Questions (MSQs) have no negative marking.
- Numerical Answer Type (NAT) questions have no negative marking.
GATE 2026 Distribution of Marks and Questions
The distribution of marks and questions varies for different test papers. All test papers contain 65 questions with a total of 100 marks.
| Section | Number of Questions | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General Aptitude (GA) | 10 | 15 |
| Subject Component | 55 | 85 |
| Total | 65 | 100 |
GATE 2026 Paper-wise Question Distribution
The question distribution depends on whether the test paper includes Engineering Mathematics. There are three different patterns for the test papers.
Test Papers with Engineering Mathematics
Test papers including Engineering Mathematics are AE, AG, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, ES, IN, ME, MN, MT, NM, PE, PI, and TF. These papers have a General Aptitude section of 15 marks, an Engineering Mathematics section of 13 marks, and a Subject Component of 72 marks.
XE Paper (Engineering Sciences)
The XE paper has a common and compulsory section, XE-A (Engineering Mathematics), which carries 15 marks. It also has a General Aptitude section of 15 marks and a Subject Component of 70 marks.
Test Papers without Engineering Mathematics
Test papers without Engineering Mathematics are AR, CY, DA, EY, GE, GG, MA, PH, ST, XH, and XL. These papers have a General Aptitude section of 15 marks and a Subject Component of 85 marks.
GATE 2026 Question Paper Pattern
Each question in the GATE 2026 exam carries either 1 mark or 2 marks. The total marks for the paper is 100.
- 10 questions are from the General Aptitude (GA) section.
- 55 questions are from the Subject Component.
- The exam duration is 3 hours (180 minutes).
GATE 2026 Official Resources
The syllabus for the test papers, previous years' GATE question papers, and mock examination links are available on the official GATE 2026 website. A virtual scientific calculator will also be accessible through the official website.
The official GATE 2026 website is https://gate2026.iitg.ac.in. The official exam pattern can be checked at https://gate2026.iitg.ac.in/question-paper-pattern.html.
GATE 2026 Exam Pattern
The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) 2026 will be conducted in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode. The exam will cover 30 subjects.
The exam is scheduled for February 7th, 8th, 14th, and 15th, 2026. It will be held in two sessions: 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM and 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM.
Total Questions and Marks
GATE 2026 will have 65 questions for a total of 100 marks. The paper consists of a General Aptitude section and subject-specific sections.
The presence or absence of Engineering Mathematics depends on the paper. There are 30 one-mark questions and 35 two-mark questions.
Question Types and Marking Scheme
GATE 2026 has three types of questions: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ), Multiple Select Questions (MSQ), and Numerical Answer Type (NAT).
| Question Type | Marks per Question | Negative Marking | Weightage (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| MCQ | 1 or 2 marks | 1/3 for 1-mark, 2/3 for 2-mark | 40–45% of paper |
| MSQ | 1 or 2 marks | No negative marking | 20–25% of paper |
| NAT | 1 or 2 marks | No negative marking | 30–35% of paper |
Only MCQs carry negative marking for incorrect answers. MSQs and NATs have no negative marking.
Paper-wise Question Distribution
The distribution of questions and marks varies for each paper. It depends on the sections and the presence of Engineering Mathematics.
| Test Paper Codes | Questions and Marks Distribution |
|---|---|
| AE, AG, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, ES, IN, ME, MN, MT, NM, PE, PI, and TF |
|
| XE |
|
| AR, CY, DA, EY, GE, GG, MA, PH, ST, XH, and XL |
|
Question Numbering
The first section in the GATE question paper is General Aptitude. Questions 1 to 5 in this section carry 1 mark each.
Questions 5 to 10 carry 2 marks each. Questions 11 to 65 are based on branch-specific subjects. Questions 11 to 35 carry 1 mark each, while questions 36 to 65 carry 2 marks each.
Passing Marks
The passing mark for GATE is the qualifying cut-off released after the result is declared. The passing mark varies for each branch.
In 2023, the GATE passing marks for CSE were 32.5 for General, 29.2 for OBC-NCL, and 21.6 for SC/ST/PwD. For Mechanical, the 2023 cut-off was 28.4 for General, 25.2 for OBC-NCL, and 18.9 for SC/ST/PwD.
GATE General Aptitude Section
General Aptitude (GA) is a common section in all GATE papers. It carries 15% of the total marks weightage.
The questions in GA test verbal, numerical and quantitative ability. There are 10 questions in total.
- 5 questions carry 1 mark each.
- 5 questions carry 2 marks each.
| Subject | Number of questions | Marks per Question | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Aptitude | 5 | 1 | 5 |
| General Aptitude | 5 | 2 | 10 |
| Total | 10 | - | 15 |
For paper codes AE, AG, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, ES, IN, ME, MN, MT, PE, PI, TF and XE, the weightage is divided as follows:
- General Aptitude: 15%
- Engineering Mathematics: 13%
- Subject paper: 72%
For paper codes AR, CY, EY, GG, MA, PH, ST, XH and XL, the General Aptitude section carries 15% of the total marks. The remaining 85% of the total marks are for the subject paper.
GATE Exam Pattern 2026 for AE, AG, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, ES, IN, ME, MN, MT, NM, PE, PI, TF, and ST
For paper codes AE, AG, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, ES, IN, ME, MN, MT, NM, PE, PI, TF, and ST, the question paper has three sections.
| Sections | Marks Weightage |
|---|---|
| General Aptitude | 15% |
| Engineering Mathematics | 13% |
| Core Discipline | 72% |
Apart from the 10 questions in the General Aptitude section, there are 55 questions from core discipline and engineering mathematics. 25 questions carry 1 mark each, while 30 questions carry 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 | 25 | 1 | 25 |
| AE, AG, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, ES, IN, ME, MN, MT, NM, PE, PI, TF | 30 | 2 | 60 |
| Total | 55 | - | 85 |
GATE Exam Pattern 2026 for CY, DA, EY, MA, PH and ST
Each of the GATE papers with code CY, DA, EY, MA, PH and ST has two sections: General Aptitude and Core Discipline.
| Sections | Number of Questions | Marks Weightage |
|---|---|---|
| General Aptitude | 15 | 15% |
| Core Discipline | 55 | 85% |
The detailed marking scheme for GATE AR, CY, EY, MA and PH papers is given below.
| Subjects | Number of questions | Marks per Question | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| AR, CY, EY, MA, PH | 25 | 1 | 25 |
| AR, CY, EY, MA, PH | 30 | 2 | 60 |
| Total | 55 | - | 85 |
GATE Exam Pattern 2026 for Architecture and Planning (AR)
The GATE Exam Pattern for Architecture and Planning has been revised this year. The paper now has three sections: GA (General Aptitude), Part A and Part B.
Part A is mandatory for all candidates. Part B is divided into Section B1 (Architecture) and B2 (Planning). Students choose one of the sections during the exam.
| 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 Exam Pattern 2026 for Geomatics Engineering (GE)
Geomatics Engineering is a new paper introduced in GATE 2022. The question paper for Geomatics Engineering consists of three sections: 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 Exam Pattern 2026 for Geology and Geophysics (GG)
The GATE paper for Geology and Geophysics (GG) follows a specific pattern. The details for this paper are covered under the General Aptitude and subject paper weightage rules.
GATE Exam Pattern 2026 for Geology and Geophysics (GG)
The GATE GG paper has three sections: General Aptitude, Part A, and Part B. Part B is split into Section 1 (Geology) and Section 2 (Geophysics).
General Aptitude and Part A are compulsory. Candidates must 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 candidate's selection) | Geology | 30 | 2 | 60 |
| Part B (either one based on candidate's selection) | Geophysics | 30 | 2 | 60 |
GATE Exam Pattern 2026 for Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering (NM)
Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering is a paper added to the GATE exam last year. The paper has two sections: GA and the Main Subject.
| 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 Exam Pattern 2026 for Engineering Sciences (XE)
The GATE XE paper is divided into three sections. General Aptitude and Section A (Engineering Mathematics) are compulsory.
Candidates must choose any TWO subjects from Section B-I of the GATE XE paper.
- General Aptitude: 10 questions carrying 15 marks in total
- Section A for Engineering Mathematics: 11 questions carrying 15 marks in total
- Section B-I: 22 questions carrying 35 marks each in total
The subjects under Section B-I include:
- 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
- XE-I – Energy Science (New Section)
The detailed marking scheme for the XE paper is given below.
| 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 Exam Pattern 2026 for Humanities and Social Sciences (XH)
The GATE XH paper was introduced in 2021 for students with a humanities background. The paper consists of three sections.
General Aptitude and B1 (Reasoning and Comprehension) are compulsory. Candidates must choose any ONE subject from C1-C6.
The subjects under C1-C6 include:
- XH–C1: Economics
- XH–C2: English
- XH–C3: Linguistics
- XH–C4: Philosophy
- XH–C5: Psychology
- XH–C6: Sociology
The detailed marks distribution for GATE XH is tabulated below.
| 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 Exam Pattern 2026 for Life Sciences (XL)
The GATE XL paper consists of three sections. General Aptitude and Section P (Chemistry) are compulsory.
Candidates must choose any TWO subjects from Section Q-U.
- XL-Q – Biochemistry
- XL-R – Botany
- XL-S – Microbiology
- XL-T – Zoology
- XL-U – Food Technology
The detailed marking scheme for the GATE XL paper is tabulated below.
GATE 2026 Exam Pattern
GATE 2026 is a computer-based test conducted online. The exam is held in English and lasts for 3 hours.
The total marks for the exam are 100. There are 65 questions in total, divided into 10 questions from General Aptitude (GA) and 55 from Core subjects.
Section-wise Breakdown
| Section | 1 Mark Questions | 2 Mark Questions | Total 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 Exam Pattern 2026: Types of Questions
Questions in GATE 2026 are broadly divided into three categories.
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
- Each MCQ has 4 choices, out of which one answer is correct.
- Candidates mark the correct choice by clicking the button against the option.
- Negative marking applies: 1/3rd for a 1-mark question and 2/3rd for a 2-mark question.
Multiple Select Questions (MSQs)
- Each MSQ has four choices, out of which one or more than one choice(s) are correct.
- There is no negative marking for a wrong answer in MSQs.
- There is no partial credit for choosing partially correct combinations or any single wrong choice.
Numerical Answer Type (NAT)
- NAT questions require the candidate to enter a signed real number using the virtual numeric keypad on the monitor.
- There are no choices for these questions.
- The answer can be an integer or in decimals.
- The question mentions up to which decimal places the answer needs to be presented.
- An appropriate range is considered as correct to avoid penalty due to round-offs.
GATE 2026 Syllabus
The syllabus for GATE 2026 is based on General Aptitude and Subject-specific topics.
The General Aptitude section carries a 15% weightage, while subject-specific topics carry an 85% weightage. Branch-wise syllabus is available for CSE, EE, ECE, Civil, Mechanical, and other subjects.
How to Attempt Online GATE Exam 2026
Candidates can follow the steps below to know how to attempt the GATE exam online. Attempting GATE mock tests is also advised.
- Once the exam starts, the list of questions appears on the right side of the screen.
- Candidates can navigate to any question by clicking on its serial number.
- The selected question is displayed on the screen.
- For MCQs, select one option from the 4 choices.
- For MSQs, select more than one option.
- For NAT questions, type the answer using the virtual keyboard on the screen.
- To deselect options, click on the selected options or tap the "Clear Response" option.
- To save a question and move to the next, tap the "Save and Next" option.
- To mark a question for review, select the "Mark for Review and Next" option.
- Answers are auto-submitted once the exam time is over.
GATE Exam Pattern 2025 vs 2026
The GATE 2026 core pattern is the same as GATE 2025. Both are 3-hour computer-based tests in English with 100 marks and 65 questions.
GA carries 15 marks with MCQ, MSQ, or NAT questions. Negative marking applies only to MCQs: –1/3 for 1-mark and –2/3 for 2-mark questions.
In GATE 2026, the exam pattern remains the same, with one change: the addition of a new optional subject, "Energy Science," under the Engineering Sciences.
GATE Syllabus 2026: Paper-Wise PDFs
IIT Guwahati will release the GATE Syllabus 2026 along with the official notification and brochure. Candidates can check the paper-wise GATE syllabus from the list below.
- GATE Syllabus for Aerospace Engineering (AE)
- GATE Syllabus for Agriculture Engineering (AG)
- GATE Syllabus for Architecture and Planning (AR)
- GATE Syllabus for Biomedical Engineering (BM)
- GATE Syllabus for Biotechnology (BT)
- GATE Syllabus for Civil Engineering (CE)
- GATE Syllabus for Chemical Engineering (CH)
- GATE Syllabus for CSE
- GATE Syllabus for Chemistry (CY)
- GATE Syllabus for ECE
- GATE Syllabus for EE
- GATE Syllabus for Environmental Science and Engineering (ES)
- GATE Syllabus for Ecology and Evolution (EY)
- GATE Syllabus for Geomatics Engineering (GE)
- GATE Syllabus for Geology and Geophysics (GG)
- GATE Syllabus for Instrumentation Engineering (IN)
- GATE Syllabus for Mathematics (MA)
- GATE Syllabus for Mechanical Engineering (ME)
- GATE Syllabus for Mining Engineering (MN)
- GATE Syllabus for Metallurgical Engineering (MT)
- GATE Syllabus for Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering (NM)
- GATE Syllabus for Petroleum Engineering (PE)
- GATE Syllabus for Physics (PH)
- GATE Syllabus for Production and Industrial Engineering (PI)
- GATE Syllabus for Statistics (ST)
- GATE Syllabus for Textile Engineering and Fibre Science (TF)
- GATE Syllabus for Engineering Science (XE)
- GATE Syllabus for Humanities and Social Sciences (XH)
- GATE Syllabus for Life Sciences (XL)
GATE Question Papers: Previous Year PDFs
Candidates can check previous year GATE Question Papers to understand the GATE Exam Pattern. The papers help candidates know the number of NATs and MSQs asked in the exam.
The links below can be used to download GATE Question Papers for 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018 and 2017.
- Download GATE 2022 Question Papers
- Download GATE 2021 Question Papers
- Download GATE 2020 Question Papers
- Download GATE 2019 Question Papers
- Download GATE 2018 Question Papers
- Download GATE 2017 Question Papers
Along with the links above, candidates can use the direct link to download GATE Question Paper with Answer Key for papers such as Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering along with the newly introduced subjects such as Geomatics Engineering and Naval and Marine Engineering.
General Aptitude Section Structure
All papers have the General Aptitude (GA) section, which contains 15 marks. It consists of 10 questions: 5 of 1 mark and 5 of 2 marks.
The questions include topics such as verbal ability, numerical skills, and quantitative aptitude.
Marks Distribution in Various Papers
In papers such as AE, CE, CS, ME, EE and so on, the General Aptitude is 15%, the Engineering Mathematics is 13% and the subject paper is 72%. In papers such as AR, CY, MA, PH, XL, etc., the General Aptitude 15% and the subject section 85% weightage is applied.