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Updated By Abhik Das on 30 Mar, 2022 13:24
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The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) is a popular entrance examination conducted for postgraduate engineering admissions. The exam pattern of GATE 2023 consist of detailed information related to the online examination including, the type of questions, mode of examination, marks allotted to each question, number of questions, total marks, the time duration in the entrance examination, negative marking etc. GATE examination also opens doors to attractive employment opportunities in Public Sector Undertakings i.e. PSUs. Candidates looking forward to pursuing research in various fields of engineering can also appear for GATE.
Important Note: ES (Environmental Science and Engineering) and XH (Humanities and Social Sciences); for which the exam pattern will be different. The below GATE exam pattern has been specified for the Engineering subjects. All the details with regard to the GATE 2023 exam pattern can be checked on this page.
| GATE 2021, 2020 Exam Analysis |
In the table given below, candidates who will be appearing for the entrance examination will get an insight into the exam details of GATE 2023:
| Particulars | Details |
| Mode of Examination | Computer-Based Test |
| Total No. of Papers | 29 |
| Sections |
|
| Kind/ Nature of Questions | Recall, Comprehension, Application, Analysis & Synthesis |
| Total No. of Questions | General Aptitude 10 + Subject Specific 65 - 75 |
| Total Marks | 100 |
| Type of Questions | MCQs, MSQs & NAT |
| Distribution of Marks in all Papers (Except AR, CY, EY, GG, MA, PH, XH and XL) |
|
| Distribution of Marks in AR, CY, EY, GG, MA, PH, XH and XL |
|
| Marking Scheme | 1 Mark & 2 Mark Questions |
| Negative Marking |
|
| Language of Question Paper | English |
| Sectional Time-Limit | No |
The paper-wise exam pattern of GATE 2023 is as follows -
| Paper Code | General Aptitude Marks | Subject Specific Marks |
| AE, AG, BM, BT, CE, CH, CS, CY, EC, EE, ES, EY, IN, MA, ME, MN, MT, NM, PE, PH, PI, TF, ST | 15 | 85 |
Architecture (AR) Part A + Part B1 or B2 *B1: Architecture or B2: Planning* | 15 | 60+25 |
| Geomatics Engineering (GE) - Part A + Part B | 15 | 55 + 30 |
| Geology & Geophysics (GG) - Part A + B | 15 | 25 + 60 |
| XE | 15 | 15 + 70 |
| XH | 15 | 25 + 60 |
| XL | 15 | 25 + 60 |
The question paper of GATE includes 3 types of Questions- MCQs (Multiple Choice Questions), MSQs (Multiple Select Questions) & NAT (Numerical Answer Type).
In MCQs, candidates are provided with 4 choices out of which one answer is correct.
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) carrying 1 or 2 marks each in all the papers and sections.
There is a negative marking for every incorrect response i.e.
For 1 mark MCQ, 1/3 mark will be deducted for marking an incorrect answer.
For 2 mark MCQ, 2/3 mark will be deducted for marking an incorrect answer.
Numerical Answer Type (NAT) Questions carrying 1 or 2 marks each in all the papers and sections.
NAT includes questions with a value or a real number as their answer.
NAT questions will be mentioned with, up to which decimal places, the candidates need to make an answer.
The answer has to be entered using the mouse.
There won’t be any choices for these questions.
Using the keyboard must be avoided as it will lock your answer panel.
There is no negative marking for a wrong answer in NAT questions.
Each question will have a minimum of 1 to 4 correct answers, and the candidates will have to pick up all the right options.
There is no negative marking for the wrong attempt in MSQs
Candidates must take a look at the below-marking scheme of GATE 2023. The paper covers a total of 65 questions of 100 marks for each of the 27 subjects.
Each GATE paper is divided into subsections and based on it the marking scheme of GATE is defined.
For Engineering Mathematics
This will have 5 questions of 2 marks each and 5 questions of 1 mark each. The remaining 70% weightage of total marks is acquired by the subject of the paper.
Engineering Mathematics will cover approximately 15% weightage out of 100 marks for the paper bearing codes AE, AG, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, IN, ME, MN, MT, PE, PI, TF and XE.]
For General Aptitude
This will have 5 questions of 2 marks each and 5 questions of 1 mark each
For the paper codes – AR, CY, EY, GG, MA, PH and XL, the General Aptitude will cover 15% out of 100 marks, and the other 85% of the total question paper will be covered by the subject of the paper.
For Subject Knowledge
This will have 25 questions of 2 marks each and 20 questions of 1 mark each.
In NAT questions, there is no provision for negative marking in the examination.
MCQs carrying 1 mark each, for them 1/3 marks will be deducted as a penalty for marking the incorrect response.
MCQs carrying 2 marks, for them 2/3 marks will be deducted for marking the incorrect response.
There is no negative marking for MSQs
Since GATE is an online entrance examination. Therefore, all the questions will have to be answered in online mode. Candidates will be required to answer the questions as per the question palette which will be displayed showing the status of each question. The table below includes all the details regarding the question palette of GATE 2023.
You have answered the question | You have not answered the question, but have marked the question for review |
You have not answered the question | You have answered the question, but marked it for review |
You have not visited the question yet | ---- |
Along with a good preparation strategy to crack the entrance exam, candidates must have a detailed understanding of the exam pattern of GATE 2023. GATE 2023 will be held in online mode for 27 subjects (papers) with 3 sections namely, General Aptitude, Engineering Mathematics, Specific subject of the paper. In all the papers, there will be a total of 65 questions carrying 100 marks, out of which 10 questions carrying a total of 15 marks will be on General Aptitude (GA). The question paper of GATE includes 3 types of questions- MSQs (Multiple Select Questions), MCQs (Multiple Choice Questions) & NAT (Numerical Answer Type) and GATE 2023 will be 180 minutes in duration.
Want to know more about GATE
Dear Student,
Yes, the students who are in their final year of graduation or are awaiting their results can also apply for GATE Exam. However, it is important for the candidates to generate their qualification degree at the time of admission. Recently, the examination authority has made several changes to the GATE eligibility criteria. To learn about the new GATE eligibility, read GATE Eligibility Requirements.
Meanwhile, you can also go through other articles related to GATE to learn more:
GATE 2021: List of Top 25 Government & Private Colleges for M.Tech Admission
READ MORE...Dear Student,
A Diploma in Engineering student cannot apply for GATE exam as the minimum eligibility for GATE exam is to hold a Bachelor's degree.
To know about the eligibility and admission details, read GATE exam details.
You can also fill the Common Application Form on our website for admission-related assistance. You can also reach us through our IVRS Number - 1800-572-9877.
READ MORE...Dear Student,
The minimum GATE score required for M.Tech in Civil Engineering is 26-30 for General Category, 24-28 for OBC and 16-20 for SC/ ST. However, the cutoff varies for different institutes and colleges. You can check GATE cutoff to learn about the cutoff marks for different institutes for GATE Civil Engineering.
For more insights, do not forget to check NITs GATE Cutoff & M.Tech Admission Process and List of Top 25 Colleges for M.Tech Admission Through GATE.
You can also fill the Common Application Form on our website for admission-related assistance. You can also reach us through our …
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No, there are some differences for different branches of GATE.
NAT is the numerical answer type in GATe where the answer is an integer or a real number.
No there is no sectional time limit for GATE exam.
The subject-specific section is the highest scoring section in GATE
There will be 3 sections in GATE exam: General Aptitude, Engineering Mathematics and Subject Specification Section.
GATE exam will be conducted for a total of 3 hours.
There will be a deduction of 1/3rd marks for wrong answers in GATE.
No, the candidates will have to use the virtual scientific calculator provided in the GATE exam.
MCQ and NAT type of questions are asked in GATE exam.
There will be a total of 65 questions in GATE exam.
