GATE Exam Pattern
Mode, duration, sections, question types, marking scheme and available language options.
Paper structure visual
Understand how time, sections, questions and marking work together.
Dates, fees, cutoffs and rules can change between admission cycles. Confirm dynamic details on the conducting authority’s official portal before acting.
GATE 2026 Exam Pattern: 65 Questions, 100 Marks and CBT
GATE 2026 was a three-hour English-language computer-based test. The standard structure contained 65 questions for 100 marks: ten General Aptitude questions and 55 paper questions. Most engineering papers allocated 15 marks to aptitude, 13 to Engineering Mathematics and 72 to the remaining subject content, while listed papers followed a 15-plus-85 structure or their specialised sectional design.
Verified framework
| What to verify | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| MCQs have one correct option and carry negative marks for wrong responses | Verify it in the current official document before acting. |
| MSQs can have one or more correct options with no negative or partial marks | Verify it in the current official document before acting. |
| NAT responses are entered through a virtual keypad and carry no negative marks | Verify it in the current official document before acting. |
| One-mark MCQ error deducts one-third and two-mark MCQ error deducts two-thirds | Verify it in the current official document before acting. |
How to use this GATE 2026 Exam Pattern: 65 Questions, 100 Marks and CBT information
A reliable plan converts information into dated, documented actions. Work through the following sequence and retain evidence of every completed step. Where an institute, employer or counselling authority publishes a separate rule, that destination-specific rule must also be satisfied.
Step 1: Read each response format before attempting because guessing risk differs
Record the source, verification date, candidate-specific conclusion and deadline. Recheck after any corrigendum or portal update.
Step 2: Practise with the official on-screen virtual calculator instead of a physical calculator
Record the source, verification date, candidate-specific conclusion and deadline. Recheck after any corrigendum or portal update.
Step 3: Protect the 15-mark General Aptitude component through regular timed practice
Record the source, verification date, candidate-specific conclusion and deadline. Recheck after any corrigendum or portal update.
Step 4: Simulate the exact three-hour CBT and review unanswered as well as wrong questions
Record the source, verification date, candidate-specific conclusion and deadline. Recheck after any corrigendum or portal update.
Common mistakes and their corrections
- Applying MCQ negative marking to MSQ or NAT. Correct it through the official brochure or destination notice and documentary evidence.
- Expecting partial marks on an incompletely selected MSQ. Correct it through the official brochure or destination notice and documentary evidence.
- Ignoring Engineering Mathematics in papers where it carries dedicated marks. Correct it through the official brochure or destination notice and documentary evidence.
- Using calculator-heavy methods without learning the virtual interface. Correct it through the official brochure or destination notice and documentary evidence.
Decision checklist
- Is the information for GATE 2026 and the correct test-paper code?
- Has a newer dated notice changed the brochure position?
- Does the candidate satisfy the separate institute or employer condition?
- Are application, payment and document statuses recorded and preserved?
- Is the next action scheduled before the official deadline rather than at it?
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are in a standard GATE paper?
The brochure specifies 65 questions: ten General Aptitude and 55 subject-paper questions. Candidates should still verify the latest candidate-specific position on the official portal before acting.
Is there negative marking for NAT?
No. Negative marking applies to wrong MCQ responses, not to MSQ or NAT. Candidates should still verify the latest candidate-specific position on the official portal before acting.
Can candidates carry a calculator?
No physical calculator is permitted; calculation is performed through the supplied virtual calculator. Candidates should still verify the latest candidate-specific position on the official portal before acting.
Final verification note
GATE qualification is evidence of performance in a test paper; it is not an unconditional promise of admission, assistantship or employment. Preserve the brochure, dated notices and candidate records, and use the current rules of the institute, counselling platform or recruiter that will make the final decision.
Continue with the connected GATE eligibility guide, paper pattern, admission and counselling guide and preparation plan. Use the official GATE 2026 website for live notices and candidate services.
Exam at a Glance
- Admission LevelPostgraduate engineering, research and selected recruitment pathways
- Conducting AuthorityIIT Guwahati
- Exam CategoryPostgraduate Engineering