GATE 2016 Analysis

Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering popularly known as GATE was conducted for admissions to the M.Tech, M.E courses at the IITs, NITs, GFTIs, private universities and private institutes on January 30th & 31st’16 as well as February 6th & 7th, 2016. It was conducted by IISc Bangalore. During these days, Biometric information (Photograph and Fingerprints) for some randomly selected candidates was captured before the start of the examination.

GATE 2016 was held for a total of 23 papers. A new paper –for Petroleum Engineering- had been introduced from 2016. GATE will be organized by the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore (IISc) and administered in association with:

• 7 Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs)
• The National Coordination Board – GATE
• Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD)
• Department of Higher Education and the Government of India

All the 23 papers were ONLINE Computer Based Test (CBT). The papers contained some questions for which numerical answers must be keyed in by the candidate using the virtual keypad. Rest of the questions were of Multiple Choice Question (MCQ) type.

GATE 2016 test was held on the list of the following zonal centres:

• Indian Institute of Science Bangalore - The Organizing Institute for GATE 2016
• Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
• Indian Institute of Technology Delhi
• Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati
• Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
• Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur
• Indian Institute of Technology Madras
• Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee

Pattern of Question Papers and Marking Scheme

There was a total of 65 questions carrying 100 marks, out of which 10 questions carrying a total of 15 marks were in General Aptitude (GA).

In the papers bearing the codes AE, AG, BT, CE, CH, CS, EC, EE, IN, ME, MN, MT, PE, PI, TF and XE, the Engineering Mathematics carried around 15% of the total marks, the General Aptitude section carried 15% of the total marks and the remaining 70% percentage of the total marks was from the respective subject of the paper.

In the papers bearing the codes AR, CY, EY, GG, MA, PH and XL, the General Aptitude section carried 15% of the total marks and the remaining 85% of the total marks was from the respective subject of the paper. In various papers of GATE 2016 had questions of two different types:

(i) Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) carrying 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.

Types of questions:

Candidates were presented with data, diagrams, images etc. that required analysis before a question can be answered. Some questions required a candidate to compare two or more pieces of information. Questions in this category checked candidate’s ability to recognize unstated assumptions, or separating useful information from irrelevant information.

Marking Scheme

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) were of 1 or 2 marks each in the entire paper and in all sections. For 1-mark multiple-choice questions, 1/3 marks will be deducted for a wrong answer. Likewise, for 2-marks multiple-choice questions, 2/3 marks will be deducted for a wrong answer. There is no negative marking for numerical answer type questions.

General Aptitude (GA) Questions

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

Question Papers other than GG, XE and XL

These papers had 25 questions carrying 1 mark each (sub-total 25 marks) and 30 questions had 2 marks each (sub-total 60 marks). These papers comprised questions of multiple choice and numerical answer type. For numerical answer questions, choices were given. Candidates had to enter the answer using a virtual keypad.

GG (Geology and Geophysics) Paper

Apart from the General Aptitude (GA) section, the GG question paper had 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 (Geo-physics). Candidates will have to attempt questions in Part A and either Section 1 or Section 2 in Part B.

Part A had 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 carried 2 marks each (sub-total 60 marks and some of these were numerical answer type questions).

XE Paper (Engineering Sciences)

In XE paper, Engineering Mathematics section (Section A) is compulsory. This section had 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 were of numerical answer type questions.

Each of the other sections of the XE paper (Sections B through G) had 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.

XL Paper (Life Sciences)

In XL paper, Chemistry section (Section H) was compulsory. This section had 15 questions carrying a total of 25 marks: 5 questions carrying 1 mark each (sub-total 5 marks) and 10 questions carrying2-marks each (sub-total 20 marks). Some questions may be of numerical answer type.

Each of the other sections of the XL paper (Sections I through M) had 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.

GATE 2016 Scores will be valid for three years from the date of announcement of the GATE Results. Please note that that the GATE Cutoffs are not officially released by the conducting body but the Cutoffs will be determined by the respective IITs and other institutions where a candidate is seeking admission. It also depends on the intake in each discipline in each institute.

Source: Falguni Goswami
Falguni is the Head of TestPrep Division at CollegeDekho and is also an expert in Career Counselling.