PrepMaticExam glossary · GATE
GATE response sheet
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The GATE response sheet is the record of the answers your exam attempt registered, shown to you after the exam. It appears in the application portal (GOAPS) before the provisional answer keys are published. Use it to check that what was recorded is what you answered, and to work out your raw marks once the key is out.
When you see it
According to the GATE 2027 information brochure, responses appear in GOAPS first, and the provisional answer keys are published after that. We have no announced dates for GATE 2027 as of 9 October 2026, so watch the official site.
Computing your raw marks
Once you have the provisional key, compare each recorded answer with it and score as follows:
| Question type | Correct | Wrong | Unanswered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-mark MCQ | +1 | −1/3 | 0 |
| 2-mark MCQ | +2 | −2/3 | 0 |
| MSQ (1 or 2 marks) | Full marks for the exact set | 0 | 0 |
| NAT (1 or 2 marks) | Full marks | 0 | 0 |
Negative marking applies only to MCQs. There is no partial credit on MSQs.
A worked example
Suppose you got 18 one-mark questions right, 3 one-mark MCQs wrong, 22 two-mark questions right and 6 two-mark MCQs wrong. The rest were left blank.
Raw marks = 18 − (3 × 1/3) + 44 − (6 × 2/3) = 18 − 1 + 44 − 4 = 57.
These numbers are illustrative. For a paper that runs in several sessions, your raw marks are then normalised before the score is worked out, so treat 57 as an estimate of where you stand, not the final figure.
What to check on your sheet
- That each question you remember answering shows your answer.
- That MSQ answers show every option you selected.
- That NAT entries match the numbers you keyed in.
- That the paper and session shown are yours.
If anything looks wrong, note the question number straight away. Disputes about the key itself go through the answer key challenge. Past papers on the official site come with answer keys, so you can practise the same marking on older tests. See the previous year papers guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is the response sheet the same as the answer key?
No. The response sheet shows your answers. The answer key shows the correct ones.
Does the response sheet show my final score?
No. It only lists your recorded answers. Your marks and GATE score come with the result.
Official sources
- GATE 2027 information brochure: the post-exam process.
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- Answer key challengeThe GATE answer key challenge lets you contest a provisional key on set dates for a fee. See the sequence, how to prepare a challenge and what is not announced.
- GOAPSGOAPS is the GATE Online Application Processing System. See what it is used for, the GATE 2027 dates and fees, DigiLocker and photo rules, and documents.
- Normalised marksNormalised marks adjust raw marks so candidates in different sessions of one GATE paper can be compared fairly. See the formula with a worked example.
- GATE answer keyHow the GATE answer key works: viewing your response in GOAPS, provisional keys, challenging a key, and calculating raw marks with MCQ, MSQ and NAT rules.
- GATE previous year papersWhere to download GATE previous year papers (2007 to 2026) and answer keys (2021 to 2026), how to use them topic-wise and full-length, plus mock test analysis.
More in GATE
- PSU recruitment via GATEPSUs use GATE scores to shortlist engineers for trainee posts. See how the process works, why they set age limits and the POWERGRID 2027 advert details.
- Organising instituteEach year one of IISc or seven IITs acts as the GATE organising institute. See who ran 2024 to 2027, what it handles, and what it does not decide.
- Two-paper combinationGATE lets you take one paper or two, but the second must be allowed for your first. See the 2027 rules, allowed pairs for CS, EC, EE, ME, CE and DA.
- Virtual calculatorThe GATE virtual calculator is the only calculator allowed in the exam. See what the rules say, what happens if you bring your own and how to practise.
- NAT questionA NAT question in GATE has no options. You key in a number on a virtual keypad, with no negative marking. See how it is scored and how to attempt it well.
- XE paperThe GATE XE paper (Engineering Sciences) has a compulsory maths section and two of nine optional ones. See the 2027 codes, marks and textile change.
- Multi-session paperA multi-session GATE paper is held in more than one session, and you sit only one. See how sessions are assigned, why marks are normalised and the key facts.
- MSQAn MSQ in GATE has four options with one or more correct answers, no negative marking and no partial credit. See how it is scored and how to attempt it.