PrepMaticExam questions answered · GATE
How many questions are in GATE?
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GATE has 65 questions carrying 100 marks, to be answered in 3 hours on a computer: 10 General Aptitude (GA) questions and 55 subject questions. Every question is worth 1 or 2 marks. The test is in English only.
The numbers behind 65 and 100
Since each question carries 1 or 2 marks, the totals fix the split. If a questions are 1-mark and b are 2-mark, then a + b = 65 and a + 2b = 100, so there are 30 one-mark and 35 two-mark questions. The same arithmetic on the GA section (10 questions, 15 marks) gives 5 one-mark and 5 two-mark questions.
| Part | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General Aptitude | 10 | 15 |
| Subject (including engineering maths where it exists) | 55 | 85 |
| Total | 65 | 100 |
How the 85 subject marks are divided
It depends on the paper (GATE 2027).
| Papers | General Aptitude | Engineering Mathematics | Subject |
|---|---|---|---|
| AE, AG, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, ES, IN, ME, MN, MT, NM, PE, PI | 15 | 13 | 72 |
| CY, DA, EY, MA, PH, ST | 15 | no separate block | 85 |
| AR, GE, GG, RA | 15 | no separate block | Part A plus a Part B option |
| XE | 15 | XE0, compulsory, 15 | two sections of 35 each |
| XH | 15 | no separate block | XH0 (25) plus one section of 60 |
| XL | 15 | no separate block | XL0 (25) plus two sections of 30 each |
For example, the CS paper is 15 marks of GA, 13 of engineering mathematics and 72 of subject. Details by paper are in the GATE exam pattern guide and engineering mathematics in GATE.
Question types
- MCQ: one correct option of four, with negative marking of 1/3 mark on a 1-mark question and 2/3 on a 2-mark question.
- MSQ: one or more correct options of four, no negative marking, no partial credit.
- NAT: a number keyed in on a virtual keypad, no negative marking.
See negative marking for MSQ for worked examples.
Time and tools
Three hours for 65 questions is about 2 minutes 46 seconds per question on average. PwD candidates eligible under the O.M. of 1 August 2025 get one hour of compensatory time. You can log in up to 15 minutes late, with no extra time. The only calculator is the on-screen virtual one (is a calculator allowed in GATE).
Official source
The pattern is on the question paper pattern page of gate2027.iitm.ac.in and in section 4 of the Information Brochure.
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- MSQ negative marking in GATEGATE has no negative marking for MSQ or NAT questions, only for MCQs (1/3 or 2/3 mark). MSQs give no partial credit, so pick every correct option.
- Engineering maths in GATE papersNo. In GATE 2027, 17 papers have a separate 13-mark engineering mathematics block and XE has a 15-mark one. Others fold maths into subject sections. The list.
- Calculator in GATEGATE provides an on-screen virtual scientific calculator. Physical calculators, phones and watches mean disqualification. How to practise and other hall rules.
- GATE exam patternGATE 2027 pattern: 65 questions, 100 marks, 3 hours, MCQ, MSQ and NAT, negative marking, marks split by paper, 30 papers and two-paper combinations.
More in GATE
- Number of GATE 2027 papersGATE 2027 has 30 papers. Robotics and Automation (RA) is new, and Textile Engineering (TF) is now section XE9 of Engineering Sciences. The list and new codes.
- PSU jobs through GATEPSUs recruit engineers on GATE scores only when they advertise for your paper. How it works, a verified POWERGRID 2027 example and what GATE does not promise.
- Third-year students and GATEGATE 2027 is open from the third year of any undergraduate degree, not just final year. Which degrees qualify, from when, and the 12 October late-fee deadline.
- M.Tech stipend after GATEM.Tech students admitted with a valid GATE score can get ₹12,400 a month, generally for 22 months. Direct PhD fellowship amounts and who decides who gets it.
- Two GATE papersGATE 2027 lets you take one paper or two. The second must be on the allowed list for the first, in one application. Sample pairs, banned pairs and the rules.
- What is a good GATE score?There is no single good GATE score. What 350 and 900 mean on the score scale, how qualifying marks work and how to set a target for your institute or PSU.
- GATE score validityA GATE score is valid for 3 years from the result date. For GATE 2027, scorecards are issued only until 31 December 2027, so download yours. Key dates inside.
- GATE previous year papersThe official GATE 2027 site has question papers from 2007 to 2026 and papers with answer keys for 2021 to 2026. Where to find them and how to use them for 2027.