The GATE pattern at a glance
The table below is based on published summaries of the GATE 2026 pattern. The organising institute changes every year and details have been revised over time, so confirm the pattern for your paper code in the official brochure.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Mode and duration | Computer-based test, 3 hours |
| Total | 65 questions, 100 marks (most papers) |
| General Aptitude | 10 questions: 5 of 1 mark and 5 of 2 marks, 15 marks in total |
| Subject questions | 55 questions, 85 marks |
| Division in most engineering papers | Engineering Mathematics about 13 marks; core subject about 72 marks |
| Question types | MCQ, MSQ, NAT; 1 or 2 marks each |
Papers such as Mathematics have a different division (General Aptitude 15 marks and the subject 85), and some multi-section papers require choosing sections. Read the pattern for your own paper.
Question types and how each is marked
| Type | What you do | Marking as published |
|---|---|---|
| MCQ | Choose one correct option from four | Full marks if correct; one-third of the question's marks deducted if wrong (1/3 for a 1-mark question, 2/3 for a 2-mark question) |
| MSQ | Choose one or more correct options | Full marks only if all correct options and no others are chosen; no negative marking and no partial marks |
| NAT | Type a number with the virtual keypad | Full marks if within the permitted range; no negative marking |
The rules above are from published summaries; check the official brochure for any change in the year you apply.
What the marking rules mean
MCQ. With a one-third penalty, the break-even accuracy is 25%. After eliminating one option, a guess has an accuracy of one in three, which breaks even; eliminating two options gives 50% and a clearly positive expected value. A two-mark question wrong costs two-thirds of a mark, so the stakes double.
MSQ. No penalty, but no partial credit as published, so a question with four options has 15 possible non-empty answer sets and only one is correct. Blind guessing has roughly a 1-in-15 chance; but if you are sure of three options and unsure of one, the choice is about that single option.
NAT. No penalty and no options, so every NAT should be attempted if you have any method; a wrong number costs nothing. The risk is calculation slips, not guessing.
A worked example of scoring
Illustration for one paper: a candidate answers 20 one-mark MCQs (15 correct, 5 wrong), 15 two-mark MCQs (9 correct, 6 wrong), 8 MSQs of two marks (4 correct) and 10 NATs of two marks (5 correct). Marks:
- One-mark MCQs: 15 − 5 × (1/3) = 15 − 1.67 = 13.33
- Two-mark MCQs: 9 × 2 − 6 × (2/3) = 18 − 4 = 14
- MSQs: 4 × 2 = 8
- NATs: 5 × 2 = 10
The total is 13.33 + 14 + 8 + 10 = 45.33 marks from 53 attempted questions. The decision this supports: in the two-mark MCQs, six wrong answers cost 12 marks of potential and 4 of penalty. A candidate with this record should check whether those six were made after elimination or by blind guessing, and treat the NATs, where there is no penalty, as the place to spend spare time.
What each part asks
| Part | Typical content |
|---|---|
| General Aptitude | Verbal ability (grammar, sentence completion, reading) and numerical and analytical reasoning |
| Engineering Mathematics | Linear algebra, calculus, differential equations, probability and statistics, numerical methods, as applicable to the paper |
| Core subject | The syllabus of your discipline: concepts, derivations and numerical problems |
What to confirm each year
- Your paper code and its marks division.
- The syllabus for the paper.
- The marking rules for each question type.
- The on-screen tools allowed, including the virtual calculator.
- Exam dates, sessions, fees, eligibility and scorecard validity.
- Whether the paper has sections you must choose.
All of this is in the official GATE brochure and website of the organising institute. Because secondary websites differ on small details, do not rely on a single summary.
How the pattern shapes preparation
- Attempt by type: treat MCQs, MSQs and NATs with different policies.
- Calculator practice: practise with the virtual calculator, not a handheld one.
- Time: 180 minutes for 65 questions is about 2.8 minutes each on average, but two-mark questions need more.
- Core depth: about 72 marks come from the core subject, so mock-based practice there matters most.
Plan your mocks with the GATE mock test strategy and see the GATE hub for the full set of resources.
Disclaimer: information on this page is a summary of published material and may change. TestMint is not affiliated with GATE or its organising institutes. Read the official brochure before you apply.
