Five Different Exam Patterns in GATE 2017

Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) is an all India examination that tests the candidates on various subjects at undergraduate level in Engineering/ Technology/ Architecture and post-graduate level subjects in Science. The exams will be conducted on February 4, 2017, February 5, 2017, February 11, 2017, February 12, 2017. It will be conducted in two slots of Forenoon: 9.00 AM to 12.00 Noon, and Afternoon: 2.00 PM to 5.00 PM.

The relative performance level of students in a particular subject in the examination is reflected in GATE score. The score is used for admissions to post-graduate programs (e.g., M.E./ M.Tech/ Direct Ph.D.) in centrally funded Indian Institutes of higher education (i.e., Institutes which are provided with financial assistance by MHRD and other Government agencies). The score is also used by some Public and Private Sector Undertakings for employment processes in India. 23 papers (disciplines) will be conducted by an Online Computer Based Test (CBT).

GATE 2017 Exam Pattern:

The GATE 2017 paper would contain two different types of questions in various papers.

The GATE examination consists of a single paper of 3-hour duration that contains 65 questions carrying a maximum of 100 marks. The question paper will consist of both multiple choice questions (MCQ) and numerical answer type (NAT) questions.

It will have different categories of sections for different types of subject combinations.

General Aptitude (GA) Questions:

In all papers, GA questions carry a total of 15 marks. The GA section includes 5 questions carrying 1 mark each (sub-total 5 marks) and 5 questions carrying 2 marks each (sub-total 10 marks).

Compulsory Sections:

Engineering Mathematics section (Section A) or Chemistry section (Section P). Engineering Mathematics the papers bearing the codes AE, AG, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, IN, ME, MN, MT, PE, PI, TF and XE and Chemistry is compulsory for XL group.

Subject Knowledge:

The bulk of the questions come from the subjects which a student chooses as his/her specialization. Marks vary from 70% to 85%.

Marking Scheme:

(i) Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) would carry 1 or 2 marks each in all papers and sections. These questions are objective in nature, and each will have a choice of four answers, out of which the candidate has to mark the correct answer(s).

(ii) Numerical Answer Questions of 1 or 2 marks each in all papers and sections. For these questions the answer is a real number, to be entered by the candidate using the virtual keypad. No choices will be shown for this type of questions.

In the Numerical Answer Questions the answer can be a number such as 10 (an integer only). The answer may be in decimals as well, for example, 10.1 (one decimal) or 10.01 (two decimals) or 10.001 (three decimals).

Negative Marking:

For a wrong answer chosen for the multiple choice questions (MCQs), there would be negative marking. For 1-mark multiple-choice questions, 1/3 mark will be deducted for a wrong answer. Likewise, for 2-mark multiple-choice questions, 2/3 mark will be deducted for a wrong answer. However, there is NO negative marking for a wrong answer in numerical answer type questions.

EXAM PATTERNS

It is very important to understand the difference in the patterns of the exams as there are different patterns based on the nature of the different groups. Five different patterns are there in GATE-2017.

Pattern - 1 For AE, AG, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, IN, ME, MN, MT, PE, PI, TF - 15% GA, 15% EM, 70% Subject Knowledge of the paper

1. AE - Aerospace Engineering
2. AG - Agricultural Engineering
3. BT - Biotechnology
4. CE - Civil Engineering
5. CH - Chemical Engineering
6. CS - Computer Science and Information Technology
7. EC - Electronics and Communications
8. EE - Electrical Engineering
9. IN - Instrumentation Engineering
10. ME - Mechanical Engineering
11. MN - Mining Engineering
12. MT - Metallurgical Engineering
13. PE - Petroleum Engineering
14. PI - Production and Industrial Engineering
15. TF - Textile Engineering and Fibre Science

Pattern - 2 For AR, CY, EY, MA, PH exams - 15% GA, 85% Subject Knowledge of the paper

1. AR - Architecture and Planning
2. CY - Chemistry
3. EY - Ecology and Evolution
4. MA - Mathematics
5. PH - Physics

These papers would contain 25 questions carrying 1-mark each (sub-total 25 marks) and 30 questions carrying 2-marks each (sub-total 60 marks).

Pattern - 3 For GG: Geology and Geophysics exam - 15% GA, 85% Subject Knowledge (part A -25% and part B- 60%)

1. GG - Geology and Geophysics

The GG question paper, apart from the General Aptitude (GA) section, consists of two parts: Part A and Part B. Part A is common for all candidates. Part B contains two sections: Section 1 (Geology) and Section 2 (Geophysics). Candidates will have to attempt questions in Part A and either Section 1 or Section 2 in Part B.

Part A consists of 25 multiple-choice questions carrying 1-mark each (sub-total 25 marks and some of these may be numerical answer type questions). Each section in Part B (Section 1 and Section 2) consists of 30 multiple choice questions carrying 2-marks each (sub-total 60 marks and some of these may be numerical answer type questions).

Pattern - 4 For XE: Engineering Sciences exam - 15% GA, 15% EM, 70% Subject Knowledge

Engineering Mathematics section (Section A) and the General Aptitude (GA) section are compulsory in XE paper.

Section A contains 11 questions carrying a total of 15 marks: 7 questions carrying 1-mark each (sub-total 7 marks), and 4 questions carrying 2-marks each (sub-total 8 marks). Some questions may be of numerical answer type questions.

Each of the other sections of the XE paper (Sections B through H) contains 22 questions carrying a total of 35 marks: 9 questions carrying 1-mark each (sub-total 9 marks) and 13 questions carrying 2-marks each (sub-total 26 marks). Some questions may be of numerical answer type. Subjects covered in this section are:

1. XE - A - Engineering Mathematics
2. XE - B - Fluid Mechanics
3. XE - C - Materials Science
4. XE - D - Solid Mechanics
5. XE - E - Thermodynamics
6. XE - F - Polymer Science and Engineering
7. XE- G - Food Technology
8. XE- H - Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences

A candidate appearing in the XE paper has to answer the following

1. Section A – Engineering Mathematics

2. GA – General Aptitude

3. Any two of XE sections B to H

The choice of two sections from B to H can be made during the examination after viewing the questions. Only two optional sections can be answered at a time. A candidate wishing to change midway of the examination to another optional section must first choose to deselect one of the previously chosen optional sections (B to H).

Pattern - 5 For XL: Life Sciences exam -15% GA, 85% Subject Knowledge

In XL paper, Chemistry section (Section P) and the General Aptitude (GA) section are compulsory. This section contains 15 questions carrying a total of 25 marks: 5 questions carrying 1-mark each (sub-total 5 marks) and 10 questions carrying 2-marks each (sub-total 20 marks). Some questions may be of numerical answer type.

Each of the other sections of the XL paper (Sections Q through U) contains 20 questions carrying a total of 30 marks: 10 questions carrying 1-mark each (sub-total 10 marks) and 10 questions carrying 2-marks each (sub-total 20 marks). Some questions may be of numerical answer type. Subjects covered in this section are:

1. XL - P - Chemistry (Compulsory)
2. XL - Q - Biochemistry
3. XL - R- Botany
4. XL - S - Microbiology
5. XL - T - Zoology
6. XL - U - Food Technology

A candidate appearing in the XL paper has to answer the following

1. Section P– Chemistry

2. GA – General Aptitude

3. Any two of XL sections Q to U

The choice of two sections from Q to U can be made during the examination after viewing the questions. Only two optional sections can be answered at a time. A candidate wishing to change midway of the examination to another optional section must first choose to deselect one of the previously chosen optional sections (Q to U).

Test duration: 3 hours

Disclaimer: The information mentioned above has been sourced from the official website of GATE 2017.