GATE: Exam Pattern, Syllabus, Eligibility and Preparation

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GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering) is a national exam that tests your understanding of undergraduate subjects in engineering, technology, science, architecture, commerce, arts and humanities. It is conducted jointly by IISc Bengaluru and the IITs, with one institute organizing it each year. IIT Madras is the organizing institute for GATE 2027.

A GATE score is used for M.Tech, ME and direct PhD admissions, for scholarships at government-funded institutes, and for recruitment by many public sector undertakings. This guide covers GATE eligibility, the exam pattern, the marking scheme and how to prepare.

GATE at a glance

Full name	Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering
Conducted by	IISc Bengaluru and the IITs (IIT Madras for GATE 2027)
Exam level	National
Held	Once a year, usually in February
Mode	Computer-based test
Duration	3 hours
Subjects	General Aptitude plus one of 30 test papers
Questions	65
Total marks	100
Negative marking	Only for wrong MCQ answers (1/3 or 2/3 mark)
Languages	English
Leads to	M.Tech, ME, MS and PhD admissions, scholarships and PSU jobs
Official website	gate2027.iitm.ac.in

GATE important dates

These dates update automatically from Kosuki’s exam calendar. “Announced” dates come from the official notice; “Expected” months are based on past years.

!Dates can change. Always confirm on the official website. Report a wrong date · How we check dates

What is GATE?

GATE measures how well you understand the core subjects of your undergraduate degree. There are 30 test papers, such as Computer Science, Mechanical, Civil, Electrical, Electronics, Chemical, Data Science and AI, Physics and Mathematics. GATE 2027 adds a new Robotics and Automation paper.

You can write one paper, or two papers from the allowed two-paper combinations listed on the official website. The organizing institute also revised several syllabi for GATE 2027, so always download the current syllabus for your paper.

GATE eligibility

GATE eligibility is broad. There is no age limit and no minimum percentage. You qualify based on your year of study.

• B.E., B.Tech, B.Pharm or B.Arch: currently in the third year or higher, or already completed
• B.Sc., B.A. or B.Com.: currently in the third year or already completed
• M.Sc., M.A. or MCA: currently in the first year or higher, or already completed
• Candidates studying or graduated abroad: in the third year or higher of a bachelor’s degree, or holding a bachelor’s degree of at least three years
• Indian candidates need a DigiLocker account for registration, as set out on the GATE 2027 website

GATE exam pattern

Every GATE paper has 65 questions worth 100 marks, and you get 3 hours. General Aptitude is common to all papers. Questions carry either 1 or 2 marks and come in three formats: multiple choice (MCQ), multiple select (MSQ) and numerical answer type (NAT).

In papers such as AR, CY, DA, EY, GE, GG, MA, PH, RA, ST, XH and XL, the 85 subject marks do not have a separate Engineering Mathematics part.

Part	Questions	Marks (most papers)
General Aptitude	10	15
Engineering Mathematics	Part of subject questions	13
Core subject	Part of subject questions	72
Total	65	100

GATE marking scheme

The GATE marking scheme only penalizes wrong MCQs. This affects how you should treat each question type.

• 1-mark MCQ wrong: 1/3 mark deducted
• 2-mark MCQ wrong: 2/3 mark deducted
• MSQ (one or more correct options): no negative marking, but you must pick all correct options and no wrong ones to score
• NAT (type the numerical answer): no negative marking
• Unanswered questions: 0

GATE syllabus

Each of the 30 papers has its own GATE syllabus, published on the official website. Most papers share three layers.

• General Aptitude: verbal ability, quantitative aptitude, analytical reasoning and spatial aptitude
• Engineering Mathematics (in engineering papers): linear algebra, calculus, differential equations, probability and statistics, numerical methods, and complex variables in some papers
• Core subject: the main undergraduate subjects of your discipline, for example data structures, algorithms, operating systems and databases for CS, or thermodynamics, fluid mechanics and machine design for ME

GATE result, score and who uses it

GATE results are usually announced in March. Your scorecard shows your marks out of 100, a normalized GATE score out of 1000 and your All India Rank in that paper. The score stays valid for three years from the date of the result.

IITs, NITs, IISc and other institutes use GATE scores for M.Tech, ME, MS and PhD admission, often through the COAP and CCMT counseling systems. Several PSUs use GATE scores to shortlist candidates for jobs, followed by their own interviews. Qualifying in GATE does not guarantee admission, a scholarship or a job, since each institution sets its own criteria.

How to prepare for GATE

GATE rewards clear concepts and careful solving. Many questions are numerical, so you cannot guess your way through them.

• Secure General Aptitude and Engineering Mathematics first. Together they are 28 marks in most papers and need less time than core subjects.
• Map your paper’s syllabus against past GATE papers to find the high-weight subjects, then study those in depth.
• Practice MSQs and NATs heavily. They have no negative marking, so attempt them whenever you can work toward an answer.
• Be selective with MCQs. A wrong 2-mark MCQ costs 2/3 of a mark, so skip pure guesses.
• Use the virtual calculator in the official mock test. GATE does not allow physical calculators.
• Take full 3-hour mocks in the last two months. You can track subject-wise progress and mock scores in Kosuki.

How to apply for GATE

1. Create an account on the GATE online application portal linked from the official website.
2. Verify your details through DigiLocker if you are an Indian national.
3. Choose your paper, or an allowed two-paper combination, and exam city preferences.
4. Upload your photograph, signature and any certificates, then pay the fee.
5. Download the admit card when it is released and take the official mock test.

GATE FAQs

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Sources

• gate2027.iitm.ac.in
• gate2027.iitm.ac.in/question_paper_pattern
• gate2027.iitm.ac.in/eligibility_criteria
• www.iitm.ac.in/happenings/press-releases-and-coverages/iit-madras-announces-dates-syllabus-revision-new-paper

Last reviewed September 2026 against the official IIT Madras notice and information brochure. Exam rules can change from year to year, so always confirm details on the official website before you apply. Kosuki is independent and is not connected with any exam body. Spotted something out of date? Write to contact@kosuki.com.