{"id":1344,"date":"2025-11-16T04:59:28","date_gmt":"2025-11-16T04:59:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vedprep.com\/exams\/?p=1344"},"modified":"2025-11-16T11:12:43","modified_gmt":"2025-11-16T11:12:43","slug":"gate-exam-pattern","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vedprep.com\/exams\/gate\/gate-exam-pattern\/","title":{"rendered":"GATE Exam Pattern 2026: Complete Subject wise Weightage, Marking Scheme, Pattern"},"content":{"rendered":"

GATE Exam Pattern 2026<\/b> has been released by IIT Guwahati<\/strong>, conducting authority. Candidates who are planning to appear in <\/span>Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (<\/b>GATE Exam 2026<\/b><\/a>)<\/b>, it is vital that you are aware of GATE Exam pattern 2026<\/strong> so that you can have a plan for how to prepare and achieve better scores. This article provides details on <\/span>GATE Exam Pattern 2026,<\/b> covering marking scheme, total marks, subject-wise weightage, and passing marks for 2026.<\/span><\/p>\n

GATE<\/strong> is a national-level exam for <\/span>ME\/ M.Tech\/PhD<\/b> admissions and recruitment in top <\/span>PSUs (ONGC, IOCL, BHEL, etc.).<\/b> GATE is administered by <\/span>IISc Bangalore and 7 IITs<\/b> (Bombay, Delhi, Kanpur, Kharagpur, Madras, Roorkee, and Bhubaneswar) and tests understanding of candidate’s understanding of concepts and their analytical abilities.<\/span><\/p>\n

GATE Exam Pattern 2026\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

Candidates appearing for <\/span>GATE Exam 2026<\/b> should thoroughly review <\/span>GATE Exam Pattern 2026<\/b> to understand its marking scheme, question pattern, total time, and other relevant details. <\/span>IIT Guwahati<\/b> will conduct GATE Exam 2026<\/strong>\u00a0for 30 different branches.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

To prepare in a streamlined and organised way, candidates should review <\/span>GATE Exam Pattern 2026<\/b>. We have provided a detailed GATE exam pattern 2026<\/strong> here<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
GATE Exam Pattern 2026\u00a0<\/b><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Particulars<\/b><\/td>\nDetails<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Exam Name<\/span><\/td>\nGATE 2026<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Conducting Body<\/span><\/td>\nIIT Guwahati<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Exam Mode<\/span><\/td>\nOnline (Computer-Based Test)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Duration<\/span><\/td>\n3 Hours (180 minutes)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Number of Papers<\/span><\/td>\n30 (including interdisciplinary papers)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Number of Questions<\/span><\/td>\n65<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Types of Questions<\/span><\/td>\nMCQs, MSQs, NATs<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
GATE Exam Total Marks<\/b><\/td>\n100<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sections<\/span><\/td>\nGeneral Aptitude + Subject-specific (with Engineering Mathematics in most papers)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

GATE Exam Pattern 2026 Marking Scheme<\/b><\/h2>\n

To maximise marks and prevent negative marking, it is essential to comprehend GATE exam scoring structure.<\/span> Marks are distributed based on difficulty level. <\/span><\/p>\n

Detailed <\/span>GATE Exam Pattern 2026 Marking scheme<\/b> with negative marking is provided in table below<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
GATE Exam Pattern 2026 Marking Scheme\u00a0<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Type of Question<\/b><\/td>\nMarks<\/b><\/td>\nNegative Marking<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
MCQ (1 Mark)<\/span><\/td>\n+1<\/span><\/td>\n\u2013\u2153<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
MCQ (2 Marks)<\/span><\/td>\n+2<\/span><\/td>\n\u2013\u2154<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
MSQ<\/span><\/td>\n +1 or +2<\/span><\/td>\nNo<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
NAT<\/span><\/td>\n+1 or +2<\/span><\/td>\nNo<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

GATE Exam Pattern 2026 Total Marks and Sectional Distribution<\/b><\/h2>\n

GATE Exam consists of three sections and a total of 100 marks. <\/span>The number of questions for general sections is decided, i.e. 15 questions. While in core subjects, the number of questions, such as MCQs, MSQs, and NATs, varies based on the stream<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

GATE Exam Pattern 2026 total marks and sectional distribution <\/b>is provided in the table below<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
GATE Exam Pattern 2026 Total Marks and Sectional Distribution<\/b><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Section<\/b><\/td>\nMarks<\/b><\/td>\nNumber of Questions<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
General Aptitude (GA)<\/span><\/td>\n15 marks<\/span><\/td>\n10 questions<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Engineering Mathematics*<\/span><\/td>\n13\u201315 marks<\/span><\/td>\nVaries by paper<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Subject-Specific<\/span><\/td>\n70\u201372 marks<\/span><\/td>\nBased on stream<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Total marks\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n100<\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

GATE Exam Pattern 2026 Subject Wise Weightage<\/b><\/h2>\n

GATE Exam Pattern 2026 Subject wise weightage<\/b> varies based on the paper. Gate Exam primarily follows two specific patterns: papers with Engineering Mathematics and Core subjects, and papers without Engineering Mathematics. General Aptitude is compulsory for both categories and contributes equal marks.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

GATE Exam Pattern 2026 subject wise weightage<\/b> is provided in table below<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Category<\/b><\/td>\nApplicable Papers<\/b><\/td>\nSection<\/b><\/td>\nMarks<\/b><\/td>\nWeightage<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Papers with Engineering Mathematics + Core Subject<\/span><\/td>\nAE, AG, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, ES, IN, ME, MN, MT, NM, PE, PI, TF, XE<\/span><\/td>\nGeneral Aptitude (GA)<\/span><\/td>\n15<\/span><\/td>\n15%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Engineering Mathematics<\/span><\/td>\n13<\/span><\/td>\n13%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Core Subject<\/span><\/td>\n72<\/span><\/td>\n72%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Total<\/b><\/td>\n100<\/b><\/td>\n100%<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Papers without Engineering Mathematics<\/span><\/td>\nAR, CY, EY, GG, MA, PH, ST, XH, XL<\/span><\/td>\nGeneral Aptitude (GA)<\/span><\/td>\n15<\/span><\/td>\n15%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Subject Questions<\/span><\/td>\n85<\/span><\/td>\n85%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Total<\/b><\/td>\n100<\/b><\/td>\n100%<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Different Paper Patterns (Subject-Specific)<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Paper Code<\/b><\/td>\nSection Breakdown<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
AR<\/b><\/td>\nGA (15) + Part A (60) + Part B1\/B2 (25); B1 = Architecture \/ B2 = Planning<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
GE<\/b><\/td>\nGA (15) + Part A (55) + Part B (30); choose between 2 subsections<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
GG<\/b><\/td>\nGA (15) + Part A (25) + Part B (60); choose either Geology or Geophysics<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
XE<\/b><\/td>\nGA (15) + Section A (Maths – 15) + Two Sections from B to H (35 marks each)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
XH<\/b><\/td>\nGA (15) + B1 Reasoning (15) + One optional section C1\u2013C6 (60 marks)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
XL<\/b><\/td>\nGA (15) + Section P Chemistry (25) + Two from Q to U (30 marks each)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

GATE Exam Pattern 2026 Negative Marking<\/b><\/h2>\n

GATE Exam Pattern 2026 Negative Marking<\/b> is applied only on MCQ type questions, and there is no negative marking on NATs and MSQs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

GATE Exam Pattern 2026 Negative Marking<\/b> is provided in table below\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Question Type<\/b><\/td>\nCorrect Answer<\/b><\/td>\nWrong Answer<\/b><\/td>\nNegative Marking<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1-mark MCQ<\/b><\/td>\n+1<\/span><\/td>\n-1\/3<\/span><\/td>\nYes<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2-mark MCQ<\/b><\/td>\n+2<\/span><\/td>\n-2\/3<\/span><\/td>\nYes<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
MSQ\/NAT questions<\/b><\/td>\nAs per the marks<\/span><\/td>\nNo penalty<\/span><\/td>\nNo<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

GATE Exam Pattern 2026 Passing Marks<\/b><\/h2>\n

GATE exam Pattern 2026 passing Marks<\/strong> will vary based on Difficulty level of question Paper, number of available seats, total no. of candidates appearing in Exam and more.<\/span><\/p>\n

Expected GATE Exam Pattern 2026 Passing Marks<\/strong> category wise are provided in table below\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Category<\/b><\/td>\nExpected Passing Marks (out of 100)<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
General (UR)<\/span><\/td>\n26\u201332%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
OBC (NCL)\/EWS<\/span><\/td>\n90% of the General cutoff<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
SC\/ST\/PwD<\/span><\/td>\n2\/3 of the General cutoff<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

*Note that across Canada, qualifying scores for admissions into higher-ranked universities and PSUs tend to be much higher than the passing scores.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Also read <\/span>GATE Cutoffs<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

GATE Exam Pattern 2026 for Multi Disciplinary Papers<\/b><\/h2>\n

Exam formats vary for some GATE papers, such as XE (Engineering Sciences), XL (Life Sciences), and XH (Humanities).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Example: XE Paper\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n