GATE XE 2026 Exam Analysis, Question Paper, Answer Key, Expected Cutoff

Intajur Rahaman

Updated On: February 09, 2026 11:56 AM

If you have chosen to take the GATE XE 2026 paper, you must refer to the exam analysis and answer key. The exam analysis has been updated here after the conclusion of the exam, and other information, like expected answers and actual questions, are also available on this page!
GATE XE 2026 Exam Analysis, Question Paper, Answer Key, Expected Cutoff

The GATE XE 2026 was conducted on February 7, 2026, in the forenoon shift. For students who chose this GATE paper, crucial information such as the paper analysis, expected answer key, memory-based questions, and the expected cutoff are made available on this page following the GATE exam . You can use these tools to better understand how you performed on the exam and to get ready for the next phase of the GATE admissions process.

Also Read: What to Expect in GATE 2026 from IIT Guwahati?

GATE XE 2026 Exam Analysis

The GATE 2026 XE paper analysis has been made available here after the exam was concluded on February 7. You may check the table below for the GATE XE exam analysis from last year to get an idea of the difficulty level you can expect in the upcoming exam:

Parameter

Analysis

Overall Difficulty Level

Moderate to Difficult

General Aptitude (GA)

Easy to Moderate

Engineering Sciences Section

Moderate

Mathematics Section

Moderate to Difficult

Question Nature

Conceptual with numerical application

Major Topics Covered

Thermodynamics, Fluid Mechanics, Solid Mechanics

Highest Weightage Topics

Fluid Mechanics, Solid Mechanics, Materials Science

Balance of Questions

More emphasis on core engineering fundamentals

Length of Paper

Slightly lengthy but manageable

Student Feedback

Challenging yet fair for well-prepared candidates

Overall Conclusion

Paper tested strong fundamentals across XE modules

GATE XE 2026 Question Paper

The GATE XE 2026 question paper will be officially released a few weeks after the exam concludes. You will find memory-based questions from the GATE XE question paper here after the exam is concluded. Check the GATE XE previous year paper below for reference:

Paper Code

Discipline

GATE Question Papers

GATE Solutions PDF

XE

Engineering Sciences

GATE 2025 XE Question Paper PDF

Download Here

GATE XE 2026 Answer Key

The GATE 2026 Engineering Sciences answer key is expected to be released by the end of February 2026. You will find the previous year's answer key below for reference:

Paper Code

Discipline

Final Answer Key PDF

XE

Engineering Sciences

Download Here

GATE XE 2026 Expected Cutoff

The GATE XE 2026 expected cutoff is based on factors like exam difficulty level, total number of qualifying candidates, and, most importantly, the previous year cutoff. You check the GATE XE 2026 expected cutoff in the table below:

Candidate Category

Expected Qualifying Cutoff (Marks) (Approx.)

General (UR)

37–40

OBC-NCL / EWS

33–36

SC / ST / PwD

24–27

We hope you found all the information above useful! Check out the links below to learn more about GATE 2026!

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FAQs

What are the most important topics from the GATE XE 2026 paper?

The most important topics for the GATE XE 2026 paper include Engineering Mathematics, Thermodynamics, Fluid Mechanics, Solid Mechanics, and Materials Science. Among these, Fluid Mechanics, Solid Mechanics, and Materials Science carry higher weightage and require strong conceptual understanding, numerical practice, and application-based problem-solving skills.

Where can I find the GATE XE 2026 question paper?

You will find the GATE XE 2026 question paper on the official website of IIT Guwahati and on this page once it is released officially.

How difficult is the GATE Engineering Sciences paper?

The GATE Engineering Sciences (XE) paper is generally moderate to difficult. It tests strong fundamentals in Engineering Mathematics, Thermodynamics, Fluid Mechanics, Solid Mechanics, and Materials Science. Questions are concept-driven with numerical depth, making the paper challenging for superficial preparation but manageable with consistent practice and conceptual clarity.

What are the two paper combinations for GATE XE 2026?

For GATE Engineering Sciences (XE) 2026, candidates can choose two-paper combinations. XE can be combined with Civil Engineering (CE), Mechanical Engineering (ME), or Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering (NM), depending on eligibility rules. These combinations are allowed due to overlap in core engineering subjects like mechanics and thermodynamics.

When is the GATE XE 2026 exam date?

The GATE Engineering Sciences (XE) 2026 exam is scheduled to be conducted on February 7, 2026, in a computer-based test format. The Engineering Sciences (XE) paper will be held in the Forenoon session as per the official branch-wise schedule released by IIT Guwahati.

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